Jean Carignan, a renowned Canadian fiddler from Quebec, was born on December 7, 1916, in Lévis, Quebec. He spent his early years in Sherbrooke and later Trois-Rivières before moving to Montreal with his family at the age of ten.
As a child, Carignan received instruction from the celebrated Quebec fiddler Joseph Allard, in addition to studying the works of the great Irish fiddlers Michael Coleman and James Morrison, as well as the Scottish fiddler James Scott Skinner.
Throughout his life, Carignan maintained a close friendship with the prominent violinist and conductor Yehudi Menuhin.
In recognition of his exceptional skill, Carignan was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 1974, with the distinction of being hailed as "the greatest fiddler in North America".
Carignan passed away on February 16, 1988, at the age of 71, leaving behind a legacy of his remarkable talent and dedication to the art of fiddling.
In his performances, Carignan was praised for his exceptional technique, which was matched only by the joy and energy he brought to his music. As noted by The Folk Music Sourcebook, "Carignan's technique is amazing, but more so the joy and energy with which he applies it. There are few players in any music who reach his degree of virtuosity without sacrificing feeling or originality" (Sandberg and Weissman, 1976, p. 84).
Carignan's approach to fiddling was characterized by his unwavering commitment to authenticity, as he sought to master a repertoire of over 7,000 pieces, learned from esteemed fiddlers such as Coleman, Skinner, Allard, Wellie Ringuette, and many others.
