Epcot: New Instrument, Music Added to"Off Kilter"
The Walt Disney World Resort just announced that beginning later this month, the famous rock band “Off-Kilter” (that plays on the stage right next to the Canada pavilion at Epcot) will now feature a newly-introduced instrument called fiddle, commonly heard in both traditional and rock music from Canada. This instrument will replace the existing keyboard, and according to Disney, this will enable the group "to perform even more Canadian rock songs and traditional French-Canadian music."
Guests will hear the new musical selections in the upcoming months as the band will have to take the time to rehearse. We are positive that we will continue to love their music, no matter what!
the fiddle is a welcome addition, will give a more authentic sound to the band. Off Kilter are already the best band at WDW by a long stretch, the fiddle will add a new dimension to their sound. Can't wait to hear it when I'm there in October!
ReplyDeleteI recently got hooked on French-Canadian fiddle music. It's beautiful. As wonderful as the band is, they're more Scottish than Canadian. They don't even know a single Stan Rogers song! Canadian folk is an iconic part of Canada's cultural history so an authentic detail like this is a HUGE step in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteThe one thing I dislike about Epcot is their stereotyping of Canada. Canadian rock music does not have violins(aka fiddle)and being a high school teacher, there is not one student I know of who would listen to Off Kilter. Removing the keyboard for a violin does not make it more Canadian. Maybe Off Kilter should remove the guitar and use spoons- another old world "instrument" for old folk music. Give Canada a little more credit for taste!
ReplyDelete@Anon #1: Actually Off Kilter is more American than Scottish.
ReplyDeleteNo. Canadian Rock doesn't have violins. But its folk has it! Your complaints about Canadian stereotyping is the same reason the American Adventure lost its charming colonial costumes in favor of boring flight attendant uniforms. How stereotypical is the Canada pavilion really? The Chateau Laurier, A Northwest trading post, aboriginal art, and a stunning landscape. How does that not represent Canada's cultural heritage? It's no more stereotypical than Norway's viking boats or America's colonial architecture. It's supposed to be the disney-fication of a country's history. Epcot has been that way since day one. Granted, the gift shop could use some work. But that beaver butt chap stick is straight from Alberta...
ReplyDeleteSo silly... It's Canadian folk music (although as other commenters have said, there's a bit too much Scottish in there), not popular Canadian music. Of course your music students don't listen to folk music in their free time. No American student would listen to the music piped through American Adventure either.
ReplyDeleteI think the previous poster would rather Canada be represented through the tunes of Justin Bieber. And the thought of this makes me sad and terrified.
ReplyDeleteVancouver 2010 certainly thought the fiddle was an iconic symbol of Canadian folk:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX4QJ57QXKo
Actually, the fiddle has been used in the past with Off Kilter, usually when Jamie (bagpipes) is off. Although, I think it is shame that we are losing Tony!
ReplyDelete