Atlantic Canadians resonate

with homegrown fiddler

by Diane Trail

SAINT JOHN , NB – Known as a passionate worship leader, Stephanie Mainville officially launched her debut album – Family – on March 14.  Family is refreshingly God-centred, capturing a unique Maritime sound bursting with high-energy fiddling, rocking inspirational praise and deeply moving, intimate worship.

Family is an accomplished collection of 14 original compositions highlighting Mainville’s lively fiddling.  Mainville wrote [both] music and lyrics, with the exception of “The Winds of God” (although she created a new arrangement, the lyrics are not original).  Graham Ord helped refine some of the lyrics on “He’s A Faithful God” and “We Will Arise.”

Mainville explains that fiddling is “a style of music that resonates with people.”  She longs to see “the sound of the fiddle being reclaimed for worship.”  Her music conjures up visions of windswept highland, ocean spray and the voice of God.

Although the Maritimes is renowned for its fiddling and Celtic dance, fiddling has long been frowned upon in some religious circles and rarely heard in church worship as it was considered to be the “instrument of the devil” so much so, that some senior Atlantic Catholics can recall when fiddles were gathered and burned in their parishes.

Mainville recalls praying about her longing to record a Celtic/gospel album at a worship conference in Saint John , New Brunswick in the fall of 2001.  After declaring her willingness to be the Lord’s vessel, she asked, “Lord, where are the songs that represent the sounds of our region and Your heart in destiny for us in Atlantic Canada?

She says God was quick to answer.  “That very night I wrote the lyrics to what is now “The Maritime Song,” explains Mainville.  The lyrics read: “Flow Lord, make our people free/Take us to Your sea/Our hearts hear Your voice through the wind and the waves/There’s a sound that’s calling me/God of the islands and all who smell the sea – the Atlantic, you Maritimes, rise up!/The Lord comes to meet you and He’s dancing.”

As many people reacted positively to her song, Mainville felt an increasing awareness of God’s distinctive plan for her.  “God just kept giving me a heart for our region, our area.  I continued to be open to Him to use the sound of the fiddle to express worship and thanks to the God who made us to be, and for our history and who we are going to become.”

Born in New Brunswick , Mainville began writing songs while in her church choir and later joined a band in the early ‘80s that played for youth events in the southern part of the province.  She played violin with the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia youth orchestras, and has since traveled many countries of the world playing formally and on mission outreaches.  She has sung on CBC Radio, played fiddle on a number of Maritime artists’ recording projects and enjoyed many opportunities to lead worship in local churches and conferences.

Family has been nominated for Inspirational Album of the Year at the Shai Awards 2005, Canada’s version of the People’s Choice Awards for gospel music.

For more information,

Visit www.stephaniemainville.com