Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
The Island Fiddler
The Newsletter of the Prince Edward Island Fiddlers Society
Vol. 10, Issue 1 March 2012
An Afternoon With Jackie Biggar
by Barry Thompson
Jackie Biggar was born and raised
in Tyne Valley to a very musical
family. Jackie's grandfather, the
late Clifford Biggar, participated in
the famous Fiddle Contest of 1926
and placed 4th in a class of 75
fiddlers from all over PEI. Jackie's
father, the late Johnny Biggar, was
a respected fiddler and played for
dances in the area. His mother, the
late Ruby Biggar, played mandolin,
guitar, and some fiddle. Jackie's
sister Anita was a fine piano player.
In his very early years,
Jackie was naturally curious about
the fiddle. He relates that as a small
boy he found a fiddle his father had been fixing and
discovered that it rattled when he shook it. He couldn’t
find the cause for the noise so he took it to the
chopping block by the woodpile and hit it with the axe.
He discovered that the cause of the rattle was a small
stick in the fiddle; he got his first look at a sound post.
Jackie always liked music. His first instrument
was a mandolin. With the help of his mother he soon
learned how to play Rubber Dolly. His father,
understandably, was a bit wary of Jackie handling his
fiddle. One day his mother told him to try it out but put it
back the same way he found it. He started from there.
The first tune he learned on the fiddle was Heather on
the Hill. Jackie stated it was a popular tune then and
most fiddlers played it and people liked to dance to it.
Jackie credits his father for his style but he developed
the "Scottish twist" by listening to the late Elmer
Robinson. Other mentors he credits are the late Ervin
Sonier, Dan MacCormack, Russell Warren and Bill
Wagner. He especially admired the music of Winston
Scotty Fitzgerald and later Buddy MacMaster, as well
as a host of other Cape Breton Fiddlers. He went on to
say that fiddle albums and tapes were scarce when he
was a child. Tunes were learned by listening to other
fiddlers. It was rare for fiddlers to read music.
A highlight of Jackie's early years occurred
when he was 11 years old and was asked to play on a
For about 5 years Jackie put his fiddle away, only playing on rare occasions. One day he stopped by Ervin Sonier's barber shop in Summerside and Ervin played the Mug and Brush Reel that he had recently composed. Ervin handed Jackie his fiddle and asked Jackie to play it back for him. After Jackie played the tune, Ervin informed Jackie that there were some fiddle players practising locally called the Prince County Fiddlers and asked Jackie if he would like to participate. Jackie accepted the invitation and has been a valued member of the group ever since.
When asked what tunes are his favourites, he
admits that he is partial to "anything Scottish". He
enjoys playing in the key of A and B flat. His favourites
vary from time to time. Currently, he has been playing a set of tunes consisting of the slow air Hector the Hero, Hills of Glengarry, 78 Highlanders, and Paddy on the Turnpike in A. He also enjoys playing the Twin Sisters, Brothers Letter and Pigeon on the Gate Post in the Cape Breton setting.
Jackie is more versatile than he readily admits.
He can be heard playing many different tunes: waltzes,
jigs, polkas, hornpipes and of course strathspeys.
This submission on Jackie Biggar was the
product of a few hours spent with him at his home in
Summerside. After the talking came the music. We
played at least an hour’s worth of tunes. What a great
way to spend a February afternoon.
radio program that featured local entertainers. It was called WestPrince Party Line produced by thenCJRW in Summerside. Tyne Valley hosted Island Fiddle and step dancing competitions for many years. Fiddlers and step dancers participated before a panel of three judges. Contestants were required to play a waltz or slow air, a jig and a reel. Jackie won the provincial championship in 1981, 1987 and 1988.