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Bill Stevens, a Gwich'in Indian from Alaska's Interior near Fort Yukon, now lives in Fairbanks. He is an Athabascan fiddling legend and recipient the Alaska Governor's 2002 Award for the Native Arts. Bill's style - Athabascan Old-Time Fiddling - is derived from the music that was introduced to the Indians of Northeast Alaska, the Yukon and Canada's Northwest Territory in the late 1840s by traders from the Hudson Bay Company. These traders brought with them violins and they played lively tunes from their homelands in Scotland, Ireland, the Orkney Island and French-Canada. Their tunes influenced the traditional Gwich'in Athabascan music. In the latter days of the 19th century and early 20th century the waltzes, jigs and two steps, tunes that were brought by prospectors during the gold rush in Alaska and the Klondike were also incorporated into this unique musical style. Learn more about Athabascan Music and Gwich'in Fiddling from Craig Mishler's "The Crooked Stovepipe" and Bill Steven's own pages found at: FiddleChicks.com |
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