Reel de Mattawa

Notes

Reel de Mattawa

“Reel de Mattawa” is a quintessential, high-energy French Canadian fiddle tune that perfectly encapsulates the driving, syncopated spirit of the Québécois and Ottawa Valley traditions. Composed by the renowned contemporary Quebec fiddler Richard Forest, the tune pays homage to Mattawa—a historic logging town in northeastern Ontario located at the confluence of the Ottawa and Mattawa Rivers, a geographic crossroads long traveled by Indigenous peoples, voyageurs, and lumberjacks.

Musically, the tune stands out for its evocative, slightly haunting modal flavor. Played in the key of E minor (often leaning into the bright, raised sixth of the E Dorian mode), it avoids the purely melancholic feel of standard minor keys. Instead, the melody feels urgent, powerful, and deeply grounded.

• The A-Part establishes a relentless, pulsing momentum with cascading strings of eighth notes that alternate beautifully between E minor and D major harmonies.

• The B-Part shifts into a brilliant modal progression, stepping down through C major and B minor. This creates a soaring, expansive texture that mimics the rolling, rhythmic motion of a river current before snapping back to a classic, crisp cadence.

For a session group, “Reel de Mattawa” is an absolute powerhouse. On the fiddle, it invites crisp, accented bowing and short, percussive slurs that lock seamlessly into the traditional French Canadian podorythmie (seated foot-tapping). On the mandolin, the tune’s linear, driving nature provides a satisfying workout for fast alternate picking, where the open E and D strings can be exploited for a rich, ringing resonance.

Whether tucked into a medley of fast reels or used to ignite a kitchen party, “Reel de Mattawa” is a masterful bridge between traditional roots and modern composition, carrying a momentum that makes it nearly impossible for listeners to keep their feet still.