Roy Johnstone, MusicianAbout Roy Johnstone
"One of the Island's most accomplished fiddlers " Doug Gallant, the Guardian
Roy Johnstone has been active in the East Coast musical community for the past thirty years. Not only is he one of the most accomplished fiddle players in Atlantic Canada but he has also received accolades for both his music compositions and his studio production. He is an active recording artist and has 4 solo albums to his credit for which he has multiple nominations for ECMA awards. His most recent CD, entitled "Longshore Drift" with Steve Sharratt was released in the fall of 2008 and he recently re-released in digital format his ECMA nominated recording Rolling Waves.
His music has also been featured in award winning NFB and independent film productions and he has been invited to perform with many of the region's most noted artists such as J.P. Cormier, Laura Smith, Lennie Gallant and jazz pianist Doug Riley. The Highland Council of Scotland commissioned Roy to write music to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Scottish settlers coming to Prince Edward Island. This music is featured in a new international recording entitled An-t Eilean, the Island.
His musical career has taken him to Iceland, Scotland, Mexico, Cuba, and the United States. He was presented with a Government of PEI Official Musical Ambassador award and he is often requested to highlight many dignitary events such as the recent Governor General's visit to Charlottetown, two Royal Visits, a Canadian Trade Mission to Iceland, Maritime tourism promotion to New England, a Maritime Premiers Conference and an Ireland Trade Commission in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
North Atlantic Fiddle Convention
Roy has been invited to present a talk and workshop on his original composiitions at the 2008 North Atlantic Fiddle Convention being held this year in St John's , NL. Fiddlers from Europe and the USA will be attending this prestigious convention.
Workshop details below.
title: Hybrids
I
Abstract:
PEI Fiddler's Newsletter
Roy contributes a regular column entitled Fiddle Shoptalk to the PEI Fiddler's newsletter. Catch his latest talk on learning a new tune, Millie's Waltz. The Winter/Spring 2009 issue of the Island Fiddler Newsletter can now be found on the PEI Fiddlers Society website - http://peifiddlers.com/
Sunday Session at Brennan's Pub, Charlottetown
"great crac" for a Sunday afternoon. Photos by Don Clark.
Fiddle Shop Talk No.5
Fiddle Shop Talk no. 5 deals with a general discussion about developing your own style of playing. This "talk" is from the Queen's County Fiddler's Newsletter.
Writing this column is a bit of a challenge because trying to illustrate aspects of playing the fiddle by trying to describe specific details without the reader being able to see and hear what is being descibed is hard to do. I would appreciate any feed back to let me know if any of this stuff is useful. Did any of you try the pentatonic scale last issue or use the ten minute focused practice interval? Send me an email and let me know what you want to learn about.
Playing the Fiddle
This forum will be more about the technical aspects of playing the fiddle. I have included my "Fiddle Shop Talk "articles that I wrote for the Queen's County fiddler's newsletter and you can add comments or questions or new topics.
Fiddler’s Shop Talk No 1
The fiddle is not an easy instrument to learn but with practice and a degree of ability everybody can make music on it. It’s easier if you learn a few basic principles when you’re starting out rather than trying to correct things later, but it’s never too late. Here’s a few I’ve gleaned over the years playing and talking with other fiddlers.
Mabel's Saga Receives Multiple Film Awards
Island film animator Jodie Samuelson has received several distinguished awards for her film Mabel's Saga. The film was co-produced by Jodie and the NFB . The film has charmed audiences wherever it has been shown.The film featured several tracks from Atlantic musicians including one by Island fiddler Roy Johnstone. The original music composed by Jodie was also recorded at Roy's studio in Argyle Shore.
Queen's County Fiddlers Receive Music Award
The Queen's County Fiddlers recently received a PEI Music Award for their recording Forty Fiddlers Flat Out.. This is the first recording by the fiddlers in many years and it has been very well received . Produced by Queen's county president Ward MacDonald, the CD represents many hours of practice and dedicated work by the group. The recording was engineered and mastered by Island fiddler Roy Johnstone.
Last Chance to view the Orwell Corner Fiddle Museum
The fiddle museum will be taken down shortly.
Recently, I played at a benefit to raise money to set up a fiddle musuem at Orwell Corner historic village. A sold out crowd jammed into the Orwell hall and the rafters were vibrating with all the great fiddle music from the likes of J.P. Cormier, Richard Wood, Nathan Condon, Chad Mooney, Courtney Hogan, Tristan Jeffrey and myself.
DFO Purchases CCNB Video
Department of Fisheries and Oceans has just purchased the rights to the video Musquash produced by the Conservation Council of New Brunswick. The sound track features music from Island fiddler Roy Johnstone's CD "stark ravin". The Musquash show will be broadcast as part of a web broadcast public education initiative from DFO.
Fiddle is SOLD but I have some fine gear and other instruments for sale
Hand made bodhran with tipper and learning CD for $150, fiddle pre amp $50.00, seiko tuner $20, Radio Shack wireless microphone $100, Samson wireless DI and microphone $150.
Please contact Roy Johnstone at 902-675-2541 or email at hello@royjohnstone.com.
