The University of British Columbia’s School of Music is holding a tribute concert on Friday for late NWT fiddler and politician Wally Firth.
The evening of music at the Roy Barnett Recital Hall, on UBC’s Vancouver campus, begins at 7:30pm PT and is free to attend. It’ll feature performances from the school’s strings chamber music program, including traditional fiddling songs.
Conductor Eric Wilson said he met Firth through his involvement with Theatre of Fire. The non-profit arts organization collaborated with Dene leaders on the multimedia project Dehcho: A Musical Journey Along the Mackenzie River.
“When he passed away quite recently, we were very saddened by that,” Wilson said of Firth, a former NWT MP, who passed away at the age of 89 last month.
“Since he was a fiddle player and such an avid and wonderful enthusiast, we thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if we just did a tribute to him?'”
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Wilson said the event will feature a short film about Firth’s life and politics, as well as video of him talking about and playing fiddle music.
He said attendees can expect to learn about the kind of person that Firth was and his importance in Canada, as well as experience the rich culture of fiddling.
“He had such warmth,” Wilson said of Firth, describing him as “so genuinely interested in people and their activities.”
“He loved music,” Wilson said. “He had great stories that he would tell.”
