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The Mystery of the Ookpik

The Victoria Fiddle Society is pleased to host the screening of the documentary film, “The Mystery of the Ookpik“, by producer, Joe Weed.

Joe Weed and Daniel Lapp will introduce this amazing documentary and may even play us a few tunes. Bring your instruments, there’ll be a Jam after the screening!

Canadian fiddler Frankie Rodgers composed Ookpik Waltz in 1965. By the early 1970s, it had lost its title, its composer was unknown, and fiddlers around North America had invented a mythical provenance for it, based on Hollywood’s inaccurate portrayals of Native American and First Nations’ music.

The ‘Mystery of the Ookpik‘ film restores credit to Frankie Rodgers and his rich performing and recording career. It shows how his Ukrainian heritage colored his composition and performance of Ookpik Waltz. It explains his move to New Zealand, after Canadian radio’s adherence to American broadcast trends left him without an audience. It details how Ookpik Waltz entered the fiddle contest scene, and how it was folk-processed so that Rodgers’ original recording is viewed as “wrong” by contemporary audiences.

Join us for the screening of the documentary film, with an introduction by Joe Weed, the producer of the film, and Daniel Lapp. There will be a Q & A session after the film and a JAM – we’ll play the Ookpik Waltz and other favourites!

Mark your calendar and check out this trailer: https://youtu.be/03-6_R3VnW8

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