On a sunny afternoon in May, surrounded by the acoustic brilliance of a century-old church in Charlottetown, 40 fiddlers settled into their chairs, picked up their fiddles and bows, and eagerly anticipated what was about to begin. They had learned the new tunes, perfected the changes and endings, and challenged themselves to play to the best of their abilities. A year of practicing was over, it was recording day. 

The fiddlers in the group represented the past, present, and future of traditional fiddle music on Prince Edward Island. The older players, some of them in their eighties, had been with the group since it was formed in 1977. The younger players, still in elementary school, added an element of youthful enthusiasm and the promise that the music would continue to be played on PEI. 

For the next ten hours, forty fiddles would play as one: sometimes haunting and solemn, and sometimes flat out with energy. As the notes soared and the harmonies echoed around them, a musical dream became closer to a reality. 

The dream had begun as the vision of one man, Father Charles Cheverie. Father Charlie is one of the group’s longest-serving and most-dedicated members. It was Father Charlie’s belief that the group had a musical message to share and he believed that its members had the talent to do so. 

We thank Father Charlie for starting what turned out to be a magical musical journey and for inspiring us and staying with us every step of the way. And for twenty years of inspiration, we dedicate this recording to you. 

To Father Charlie Cheverie
Forever in our music