Introduction

    The region of Canada known as the "Atlantic Provinces" is made up of the four provinces on the Atlantic Ocean. They are the three small maritime provinces, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, and the island province of Newfoundland. The Atlantic provinces share much of the same history, economy and rich culture, and many of the people share a similar lineage. This is also one of the first areas in North America to be settled by Europeans. The total population of the four Atlantic Provinces is 2,327,638 people. The population of the entire country of Canada is 33,476,688. Even though the region only contains only 7% of the country's population, the Songbook, “Folk Songs of Canada”, which was the first comprehensive collection of folksongs in Canada and was published in 1954 is dominated by Atlantic Canadian songs. Twenty-one of the 64 songs have undisputed Atlantic origins, and 15 more sung in French are of either Acadian (New Brunswick) origin, or Quebec origin. That's more than half. In subsequent posts I will attempt to explore some of the meanings, significance, and origins of the folk songs that have been so influential on the entire Canadian music scene.