Trent Bruner

Hi, everyone!

My month of August turned into Canadian fiddle mode after returning to Canada August 19th and arriving in Saskatchewan August 20th. The first part of this trip was for a short family visit and to play for a fiddle show and dance in the Canwood Elks Community Centre Tuesday, August 23rd. This served as a warmup for all Saskatchewan participants attending the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Competition in Winnipeg, Manitoba later that week. This article is released for my Facebook pages and at www.trentbruner.com. My full title for this article is "The Canadian Grand Masters Sendoff From Canwood, Saskatchewan: Memories and Community."

Hello, everyone!

I hope you are having a good musical summer. For those living in Saskatchewan, check the events calendar for a family fiddle show and dance in the Canwood Elks Hall Tuesday, August 23rd at 7:00 PM CST that I will be playing at. Check the events posting on my artist page and webpage calendar, and please share with others so we can fill the hall!

From August 3rd – 7th, 2022, Norway’s old time dance music competition, “Landsfestivalen”, took place in Våga, in eastern Norway. Because of schedule changes for me in 2022, our whole family attended this competition and festival for the first time. For those who have never attended this event, here’s what we learned about it this week. This article is for my Facebook pages and www.trentbruner.com.

Hi, everyone!

As I promised July 19, 2022, here is part two of the article I started. I’ll title this second portion as “Music in the Family.” Both daughters will be going on in school as well, with Hannah Moira entering Grade 13 and Ingrid Sofie entering Grade 10. Time flies quick when the kids grow up, but here’s what happened with them since the start of 2022!

Hi, everyone!

Since my last article December 21, 2021, life has been almost normal for us since corona restrictions were lightened in Norway during February 2022. I trust that this story is the same for you and others as well where you are. Some of my composing projects have been put on hold in the past few months while other projects have taken priority. Family musical success has also been a major part of being a supportive father as best as possible in this time period. This article will be divided into two sections over the next two postings: Trent’s music work and family music accomplishments so far in 2022. This updated summary is posted for my Facebook artist page and www.trentbruner.com. 

Hi, everyone!

Since my last article on August 13, 2021, life went back to closer to normal for us, but at the same time, it has gone back to the way it was for most of 2020 and the majority of 2021 in Norway. I’m sure this story is the same for many others as well. But regardless, this updated summary is again posted for my Facebook artist page and www.trentbruner.com.

Hello everyone! 

This edition is a shorter article than usual at this time of the year for Facebook and www.trentbruner.com on account of the corona pandemic, but here is the latest news from us.

Bonne fête du Canada! Happy Canada Day to all Canadians around the world! My way of celebrating this special day over the past few years has been three fold. First, when our family is in Norway at home, I make "Canadian Breakfast:" Scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, shredded hashbrowns, a fruit plate, and sometimes pancakes with our youngest daughter Ingrid Sofie, depending on the day. Secondly, I play "O Canada" on the piano at 12:00 Noon Norway time. My third thing is to release some new music for sale; usually in print form. Again, this year, due to the Corona virus, I was able to finish two additional new books of 60 new original fiddle tunes each!

Hello everyone!

I hope that all of you have had the best Christmas celebration possible during the corona pandemic. It has been a different Christmas than usual, but thankfully, we have stayed safe from the corona virus as per this article. We realize there are others who have it harder than us as COVID-19 has taken its toll in some ways while opening doors in others’ lives. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to all who are having a difficult time at present. For those of you who are able, please contact anyone you know in your family/social network to give them an ear to hear, an eye to see, a mind to understand and a heart to respond. Here is the latest musical and family news from us since the August 31, 2020 article for Facebook and www.trentbruner.com.

 
Bonne fête du Canada! Happy Canada Day to all Canadians around the world! My way of celebrating this special day over the past few years has been to release some new music for sale; usually in print form. This year, due to the Corona virus, I was able to finish two new books of 60 new original fiddle tunes each!

Hello everyone.

It is with deep sadness that I learned this week that the three major contests I was supposed to play back home in Canada this summer have been cancelled because of the Corona virus; the 23rd annual John Arcand Fiddle Fest in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, the 31st annual Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Competition in Winnipeg, Manitoba and the 45th annual Pembroke Old Time Fiddle and Step Dance Contest in Pembroke, Ontario. I also learned today that that The Cleavers’ Old Time Dance planned for Saturday, August 15th in Spruce Home, Saskatchewan has been postponed to August 2021.

Hi everyone! As I wait in Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris, France to take my flight back to Norway and rejoin my wife and family, I have a moment to update the happenings in Pembroke, Ontario with their 44th annual Fiddle and Step Dance Contest for Facebook and www.trentbruner.com.

Good morning from Saskatchewan!

The music book from The Cleavers' third album "Leave it to The Cleavers" is now available for sale! You can purchase in either hard copy format for $30.00 or in PDF format for $25.00 through the webshop at www.trentbruner.com! Please spread the word to all your friends!

Hi Everyone!

A brand new book of original fiddle tunes is now available for sale! I took time over the past few months to review original fiddle tunes I had written by myself and with others and put together 55 tunes that come from me, me and some of my fiddle friends (John Arcand, Calvin Vollrath, Stephanie Cadman, Cammy Romanuck-Murphy, Ben Beveridge, Shamma Sabir, Taylor Buckley and Nancy Padilla) and our 13 year old daughter, Hannah Moira Midtbø-Bruner, with harmonies arranged by me and her big sister, Silje Midtbø Vevle.

Hello everyone! When I was playing at the 19th annual John Arcand Fiddle Fest outside Saskatoon, Saskatchewan from August 11th-14th, I was given my own personal parking spot by the organizers so I could be close to the stage to load and unload my instruments. But what I did not expect was that I would be close to the portable toilets as well. On my own Facebook page, I asked the question to everyone who read my post; a personal parking spot? Or a personal toilet? The answers I got were certainly varied and humerous!

Since my last article, I have been able to complete some other music work as well perform with others back home in Canada. Here is the latest music news.

Hi again everyone!  During my time off between performances, I have been busy checking my piano composing archives and have been refining ideas from years gone by or notating new compositions that have been composed recently. At this point, I have eight new piano compositions that have been released since the beginning of August. The latest additions are as follows:

Hello everyone! Thanks for checking into the latest news from my August 2014 performances in Saskatchewan.

After I was finished at the John Arcand Fiddle Fest in Saskatoon and the Northern Lights Casino in Prince Albert, I went to teach and play for the second year in a row at the Northern Lights Bluegrass and Old Tyme Music Camp and Festival at the Ness Creek site, northeast of Big River, Saskatchewan. The weather was comfortable for a busy but positive week in 2014 as camp registrations were up and festival attendance was up as well.

Mid-May to mid-June 2014 has been a time of highs and lows for me and my family. After my father's passing on May 12, 2014, this meant travel back to Canada to help plan my father's funeral. Because of this, I had to withdraw from playing at Norway's 200th annual celebration of the founding of the Norwegian consitution which happens every May 17th; specifically those events both in the Village of Valestrand, Norway and with a Lutheran Church mission in the neighbouring hamlet of Hjellvik. I played a wonderful album release party that took place with Calvin Vollrath in Alberta, I had choir rehearsals for a Norwegian national choir competition, and my temporary contract as a school music teacher in Bergen was finished. Lots of things have happened over these four weeks.

Hi everyone!

For those of you who were unable to attend the 24th annual Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championship in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, it was a magical experience for me as one of the two house accompanists for our national fiddle championship. For those who organized and participated in this event, the end result was truly special as it went beyond expectations in a big way. This was the first time that Canada’s national fiddle championship was held outside the Ottawa, Ontario region, and after the results of this special weekend that took place August 23rd-25th, it will go down as one of the most memorable times in the history of Canada’s national fiddle championship. The atmosphere was electric, the audience was energetic, and the memories will live on for many years to come.

Hello everyone! Thanks for checking into the latest news from my August 2013 performances in Sasktchewan.

After I was finished at the John Arcand Fiddle Fest in Saskatoon and the Northern Lights Casino in Prince Albert, I went to teach and play at the Northern Lights Blurgrass and Old Tyme Music Camp and Festival for the first time at the Ness Creek site, northeast of Big River, Saskatchewan. The weather was clear and hot, not to mention that it was a busy but positive week!

Hello everyone! I had a busy three weeks since my last update, so here is the latest news from my schedule!

Friday, August 12th was a day of celebration as Silje and Hogne Midtbø Vevle (known as Ambos) had released their debut CD Our Way at the John Arcand Fiddle Fest. These two hardanger fiddlers opened the Friday night show for Cape Breton fiddler, guitarist and vocalist J.P. Cormier and the Elliott Brothers. Also, The Cleavers performed for the Friday night dance after J.P.'s show. Read on to learn more....

Hello from Osterøy! Tuesday, May 3rd was the last of four concerts in Norway with Patti and Alex Lamoureux, concluding at the Osterøy Museum in Gjerstad. It was hard to believe the tour was reaching an end, but the audience in attendance enjoyed the old tiime music from both Norway and Canada this evening and from other earlier concerts on the tour.

Hello from Bergen! Monday, May 2nd was the third of a four concert tour of Norway with Patti & Alex Lamoureux as we played the concluding concert in Columbi Egg's 2010-2011 concert series. We were part of a double bill with Norwegian fiddler Ragnild Furebotten from Moen, Norway, along with guitarist Bendik Lund Haanshus and accordionist Skjalg Bjørstad. For the third show in a row, we had a Canadian from in the audience, this time from Ottawa via Winnipeg!

God dag fra Oslo!  Greetings from Oslo! Thursday, April 28th, 2011 was the second performance of the four concert tour of Norway that I´m doing with Patti and Alex Lamoureux. We had a night filled with talk, performing and jamming with the local musicians afterwards.  We even had another Canadian in the house for this evening!

Hello, everyone!  With Manitoba fiddlers Patti and Alex Lamoureux, I had the chance to play for the Full Moon Concert Series organized by the Klepp Kommune (municipality) in the district of Orre, southwest of Stavanger, Norway on Monday, April 18th, 2011.  It was truly a full house under the full moon!

Hi, everyone! I trust you are well wherever you are. I have some music activities coming up from March to June 2011 where I will be active in both Western Canada and Norway.

Hello, everyone!  It has been a while since I posted a news article on the website, but 2010 has been an interesting year and 2011 promises to be interesting as well. Here's an update on what has been happening with me since my last article from summer 2010.

Hello, everyone!  I trust that you had a wonderful summer and that you're ready to resume all your regular activities where ever you are.  Here's the latest news from me from summer 2010.

Thursday, June 10, 2010 was a special day for me and my family as I received my Masters degree in ethnomusicology (the cultural study of music) from the University of Bergen in Norway.

Hi, everyone!  I'm glad to announce that I have posted performance video clips on You Tube with fiddlers and myself as a soloist.

Hello, everyone!

North Atlantic finished three performances and taught one workshop in Bergen and vicinity this past April 17th, 18th and 19th, 2009.  Here's a summary of the weekend events.

Hello, everyone!  It's been a while since the last news update on North Atlantic, but because our April 17-19 weekend shows and workshop are getting close, we now have some details we can share on the upcoming Osterøy workshop and concert with Felaliv on Sunday, April 19th at the Osterøy Museum in Gjerstad, Osterøy, Norway.  Plase pass this on to anyone who might be interested in attending.

On Saturday night, March 28, 2009, before playing with Justin Bell for an old time dance in Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan, Canada, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Robert Dumont of their bilingual community FM radio station CFRG-FM 93.1.  Most of the interview focuses on my work with Les Danseurs de la Rivière La Veille, but it also discusses the beginnings of my work in music and in the fiddle community.  To hear the interview, follow the link http://cfrg.ca/englishinterviews.html, find my photo, press play on the web player and enjoy the interview!

My usual "Rite of Spring" is to travel back to Western Canada anywhere between three to six weeks each year for various music engagements.  Some apearances are the same from year to year while others can be different in nature.  This 2009 spring trip for me was no different. 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!/Joyeux Nöel et Bonne Annee!/God jul og godt nyttår!

November 2008 was a time for me that I learned a lot about the local music scene on the island of Osterøy and area.  Through my membership with Osterøy Spel- og Dansarlag (the local fiddle and dance group) I had the chance to see performances from three local groups and share the stage with them.

If my webmaster ever needs to make upgrades or other improvements to my website, if you want to check some photo albums from my various performances, activities and travels over the years, and/or you if wish to join my "fan club", you can do so through the artist page I have through Facebook link on this website!

During 2007 and 2008, I have had the honour of working with a gentleman from Voss, Norway named Leif Rygg on a special project celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Norwegian fiddle legend Sjur Helgeland.  One album and five performances later, this project has been an education for me with one of the biggest names in Norwegian fiddling.

Newsflash:  If there is ever a problem with checking back to this website, fear not!  Here's some other places to find me and some of my musical friends!

Hello again!  After the Canadian Grand Masters was completed, I ended up with a busy week of music work in the Ottawa Valley and vicinity.  Here's the latest from late August 2008.

For many years now I have made travels from Saskatchewan to Ontario for various fiddle events.  The fiddle events I perform at most often have been the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championship in Ottawa and the Pembroke Fiddle and Step Dance Contest about 150 kms northwest of Canada's capital city.  This article is about my time in Ottawa this year.

Hello, again!  Here's some news from early August on what happened at the John Arcand Fiddle Fest and the Kenosee Lake Kitchen Party.

Who would have ever thought you would have a chance to meet people like Alastair Fraser, Alan Jabbour, Pierre Schryer, Anne Lederman, Ivan and Vivian Hicks and many other musicians of note in the same setting? The people at Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland didn't hesitate to take advantage of this opportunity when offered the chance.

Hello, everyone!  I trust that you are having a wonderful summer and that you're ready to resume all your regular activities where ever you are.  Here's the latest news from me from July 2008.

Do you still have cassette players in your house or vehicle? Do you not have a Cleaver album yet? Are you looking for a bargain on some good fiddle music?

For my February news update from "Bruner's Brood", the latest news is threefold:

The spring edition of "Bruner's Brood" has come out a little later than first planned, so my apologies for not getting this out sooner.

Welcome to the first edition of "The News from Bruner's Brood!" This will be a news edition that will keep everyone informed as to the latest with me and my music work. I trust that this will help you keep informed as to my musical activities as there have been many newsworthy items of note, so here's a summary of what has been happening.

As promised, here is my performance calendar as updated June 17, 2008. Note that I will update this page as new dates are confirmed, so do check back often and pass on the information to all your family and friends.