The Heart of Cape Breton: Fiddle Music Recorded Live Along the Ceilidh Trail

by HEART OF CAPE BRETON: MUSIC ALO

Overview

This 72-minute CD is the result of eight days of recording, in Cape Breton and at live events, in July 2000. The fiddle music of Cape Breton, in Nova Scotia, is strongly influenced by Scottish folk, as much of the community was established by Scottish immigrants in the 19th century. The most popular Cape Breton fiddlers, Ashley MacIsaac and Natalie MacMaster, actually aren't on this compilation, which includes the work of almost ten different combinations of musicians, with individual musicians frequently found in more than one combination. To the casual listener, it will sound like much Celtic music, particularly in the danceable fiddles and the frequent reels, or reel-like structures. It differs from much of the music from which it's derived, though, in the frequent use of piano to complement the fiddles, giving it a depth and drive of a different nature than traditional Scottish music. Too, the beat is more pronounced than it often is in Celtic music. You can sometimes hear the musicians' feet stomping out the time, particularly in the 4/4 strathspeys, which are often dance tunes in Cape Breton, though they're often slow reels in Scotland. There's not enough variation in the tunes to win over the non-specialist. But there is variation, particularly when the foot-beating gives it a solid bottom, gathering full-steam energy in extended medleys like the closing strathspeys and reels by Brenda Stubbert, Brian Doyle, and Richard Wood. The sound quality is good, though these were recorded in performance in halls, arenas, schools, and dances. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	02/26/2002
Label:	Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
UPC:	0093074049129
Rank:	51518

Tracks

1. My Great Friend John Morris Rankin/The Flax in Bloom/A Northside Reel  - Brian Doyle  - Brenda Stubbert
2. Traditional Strathspey/Stumpie/Primrose Lass/A Bright May Morning  - Wendy MacIsaac
3. New Haven Reel/Mrs. Norman MacKeigan's Reel/Glenquey Reel/The High ...  - Betty Lou Beaton  - Kinnon Beaton  - John Campbell  - Gordon Duncan  - Dan R. MacDonald  - William Marshall
4. In Memory of Herbie MacLeod/Christy Campbell/Anthony ...  - Allan Dewar  - Jerry Holland
5. The Way to Judique/Compliments to the Boys of the Lough/The Canadian ...  - Joey Beaton  - Frank Ferrel  - Buddy MacMaster
6. Pipe Major George Ross's Welcome to the Black Watch March/Duke of ...  - William Lawrie  - Wendy MacIsaac
7. Kitty of Oulart/Traditional/Inverness Jig/Memories of Mac/Little House  - Betty Lou Beaton  - Kinnon Beaton  - Jerry Holland
8. The Rosebud of Allenvale/Tom Dey/Miss Dale/Maggie Cameron/The Devil in the  - Joey Beaton  - Buddy MacMaster  - J. Scott Skinner
9. Thomas MacDonnell's Strathspey/Traditional/Mrs. Norman MacKeigan's ...  - Betty Lou Beaton  - Donald Angus Beaton  - Kinnon Beaton  - Dan R. MacDonald
10. The Sort Grass Jig/The Braes of Elchies Jig/Traditional ...  - Wendy MacIsaac
11. Michael Rankin's Reel/Pretty Marion/Wesley Gillis Reel/The Marquis ...  - Betty Lou Beaton  - Kinnon Beaton  - Jerry Holland  - Dan R. MacDonald  - John Morris Rankin
12. Traditional Strathspey/The Devil in the Kitchen/Calum Crubach/Donn ...  - Brian Doyle  - William Ross  - Brenda Stubbert

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Brenda Stubbert   Primary Artist,Fiddle
Betty Lou Beaton   Primary Artist,Piano
Jerry Holland   Primary Artist,Fiddle
Kinnon Beaton   Primary Artist,Fiddle
Wendy MacIsaac   Primary Artist,Piano
Buddy MacMaster   Primary Artist,Fiddle
Joey Beaton   Primary Artist,Piano
Brian Doyle   Primary Artist,Guitar
Allan Dewar   Primary Artist,Piano
Richard W.G. Wood   Piano

Technical Credits

Buddy MacMaster   Performer
Gordon Duncan   Composer
Dan Sheehy   Production Supervisor
D.A. Sonneborn   Production Supervisor
Frank Ferrel   Composer
William Ross   Composer
Gary Samson   Photography
Charlie Pilzer   Mastering
John Campbell   Composer
John Morris Rankin   Composer
Pete Reiniger   Mixing,Engineer
William Lawrie   Composer
Kinnon Beaton   Composer
Donald Angus Beaton   Composer
William Marshall   Composer
J. Scott Skinner   Composer
Mary Monseur   Production Coordination
Carla Borden   Editorial Assistant
Dan R. MacDonald   Composer
Brenda Stubbert   Composer
Burt Feintuch   Photography,Annotation,Producer
Jerry Holland   Composer