Valentine Ryan was born to a musical family on February 14th, 1930, in North Harbour, St. Mary’s Bay. His father and six brothers played various instruments, and there was often music at the Ryan home on Sunday afternoons. Val was employed most of his life as an emergency linesman with Newfoundland Power. He was often called away to various stormbound regions of the Atlantic Provinces, where he learned many fiddle tunes. Later in life, living in St. John’s, he often performed with Sheila’s Brush, a local music & theater troupe, and at local folk music nights and festivals. Val passed away in 1996. 

Collector’s Note: The tunes transcribed here are from a tape recorded in the mid-1970s by Genevieve Lehr at a gathering in the home of Mose Harris, a singer from Lethbridge, Bonavista Bay. Val contributed to the proceedings with some fine fiddle playing. He also played Big John McNeil, Growling Old Man, Ramblers Hornpipe, Ragtime Annie, Girl I Left Behind, Red Wing, St. Anne’s Reel.