Cape Breton music

[Avi Ziv]

Hi,

I know very little about Cape Breton music and would like a listening list - old and new. Although I've listened to and played Irish/Scottish music for years, I am lacking in my musical education when it comes to this region. I'm aware of Jerry Holland, and like his music a lot, but (embarrassed to say) it pretty much ends there.

Anyone?

Thanks,
Avi

[Tom C]

Natalie McMaster. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[billkilpatrick]

i wasn't aware of either of those people but thanks for the info..

i hitch-hiked through the maritime provinces maaaannnny years ago with a little transistor radio and all i heard was "irish/scottish" music. didn't really appreciate it then but i certainly do now.

there's an mp3 on site from a "new england" band called "three bean salad" (listed under the name of the mandolin player, mike black.) never heard of "new england" music before either but i would think cape breton falls under that category.

[PaulD]

Natalie MacMaster is an excellent suggestion; marvelous musician and great to watch at a live performance. If you want Cape Breton music, though, you're best off getting one of her earlier albums like "My Roots Are Showing" rather than "Blueprint". Don't get me wrong... Blueprint is great, but it's a little more Nashvillized but you do get to hear Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, and Jerry Douglas back her up on some traditional tunes.

Cape Breton music is probably different from anything that would be called New England. IIRC it was settled by Scottish immigrants but was very isolated and the music took on a flavor of its own.

pd

[Steve L]

Buddy McMaster
Dave McIssac
Ashely McIssac
John Campbell
Winston Fitzgerald
Joe Cormier
Brenda Stubbert

[Steph]

I have a CD by the Scottish fiddler Alisdair Fraser backed by Jody Stetcher on guitar (and mando) - the premise is that the isolation of Cape Breton has kept the style of music "pure" (or you could argue frozen in time) - the album is called "The Driven Bow" referring to the particular fiddle style that apparently disappeared from Scotland but is still to found in Cape Breton. It's a great collection of tunes and according to the sleeve notes most of them are in finger busting keys like Bflat. I haven't heard a lot of the McMaster clan but would venture to guess that they are typical of musicians who are now bringing this style of music to a larger more commercial music.

[Jonathan Reinhardt]

Cape Breton music is extremely varied - traditional to modern - #and dependent on the musician(s). #Yes, like most music and genres.
Here in northern New England there is a huge Cape Breton influence and presence.

Jerry Holland (NS) is a sweeter fiddler than some, for the most part, but can honor the older, rawer sound. Natalie McMaster (NS) can knock yer socks off with her awesome traditional skills, and she also pushes the envelope with modern innovation. The others listed above are equally fabulous and individual.


I have been with Cape Breton fiddlers who drove me from the room after a short while - not because they weren't excellent musicians, but because the sound was such a raw and overwhelming sound. (Some Cajun fiddlers also can produce this effect on me!)

A few other notable Cape Breton musicians/or students thereof:
Harvey Tolman (NH -USA) - if you want to hear the real thing, pure and simple.
Brendan Cary Block (NH -USA) (and his new band with co-virtuoso Mari Black) - jawdropping, traditional, and full of youthful energy and inspiration. Look out, Natalie.
The Rankin Family (NS) - you'll never think Cape Breton in the same way after you hear the lovely vocal harmonies they create and the love for the music of Cape Breton they evoke.

rasa

[jmcgann]

Kimberley Fraser is a great young fiddler I had the pleasure of playing with at last year's Celtic Colours Festival (an 8 day long event, with venues all over Cape Breton, great music from all over the Celtic map.) She is one of the most expressive players that I've ever heard, with incredible dynamic and emotional range.


never heard of "new england" music before either but i would think cape breton falls under that category.

New England music is totally different from Cape Breton music. Cape Breton (which is many hundreds of miles away from New England, in Maritime Canada) is considered to be the heritage of the music of Scotland from before the days of Scott Skinner and "classical influences". New England music is often a synonym for contra dance music, which is a melting pot of various styles from Southeastern fiddle to Irish styles.Some NE Contra info here (http://www.greatmeadowmusic.com/)<a href="http://www.sbcds.org/contradance/whatis/" target="_blank">

And here.</a>

"New England" music does include some Cape Breton repertoire, but the Cape Bretonners are generally very guarded against "outside influences"; I like to think of it as a very specific tradition that has unique characteristics apart from Irish (and the 89 subcatagories thereof), "modern Scottish" or any other styles.

A Google search will lead you to a lot more information about these styles.

[Jonathan Reinhardt]

John is very correct re: NE music, but I would like to say that I pointed out several musicians who, although NH residents, have studied extensively with Cape Breton masters, and whose music is Cape Breton. Brendan is a nationally known champion fiddler, at 20. Harvey is a local electrician who, although in demand on the contra dance circuit, also plays a pure Cape Breton style, learned in Cape Breton as a young man.
Up here, we have many Scots, and quite a few are from NS, or have ties to there. Played a wedding the end of October, SWNH, bitter cold, outside, groom and family/friends in traditional dress.

In my opinion, there is no clearcut NE music, it is a mix of many styles, as John says. Contra musicians differ in their influences, but overall, and to the average person, there is a stong similarity to the repetoire and presentation. But the veteran dancers will tell you that there are bands they prefer not to dance to.
Throughout NE there also are individuals and acoustic bands who have little to do with contra dance, and are equally definitive of NE music. Something in the spirit that is distinctly NE rather than from some other part of the country.

rasa

[glauber]

Also check out flutist Chris Norman (http://www.chrisnorman.com/).

[Wendy Anthony]

Here's a few links to some Cape Breton fiddle recordings, artists, tune & News lists:

Cranford Publication Cape Breton Recordings (http://www.cranfordpub.com/prices_terms.htm#Recording%20prices) (scroll down the page to Recordings) with notation & downloadable mp3 sound clips for many tunes

Cape Breton Fiddle Recording Artist Index (http://www.cbfiddle.com/rx/artlist.html) with notation & MIDIs of first few measures of the tunes

Great Canadian Liner Notes (http://www.backtothesugarcamp.com/Linenote.htm) of Canadian Fiddlers' recordings (Go to alphabetized artist list - includes many from Cape Breton, NS)

Cape Breton Music Online (http://www.cbmusic.com/core.html) NewsList of Cape Breton music with searchable CB Music List archives

Keepin' tuned ...
Wendy Anthony

[danb]

New England music is totally different from Cape Breton music.
Preach it brutha!

New England Music has a lot of the "Spark" of Cape Breton. It's a pretty good bet if you like one, you'll like both, and take it from me.. you'll like 'em.

I personally hitch the purple "special exhibit, qualified for state fair" award on Frank Ferrel's CDs. His "Yankee Dreams" disk is an all-time favorite, and happens to have John McGann on it, as well as a favorite tune titled "John McGann"!

Frank's playing I'd describe as "The best kind of cocky fiddling". Very bold, assertive, and just whoops you off your backside, in much the same way Natalie's does. I'm normally fairly analytical when I listen to music that falls into the space that I play, but I gotta say.. I just get whooped evertime I hear Frank Ferrel or Natalie.

[Avi Ziv]

Thanks everyone. As usual, Cafe members come through generously. I have plenty to dig into here and keep me out of (or get me into) trouble for a long time.

Avi

[Dagger Gordon]

JP Cormier is a great guitarist and fiddle player and singer-songwriter, who (most importantly) has made a mandolin album. Haven't heard it myself.

He's also married to Hilda Chiasson, who played great piano on a lot of records. Worth noting that the piano in CB music is quite different from what you get in most accompaniment - seems to me to owe as much to barrelhouse as anything else. Really great.

Some are some good guitarists who play tunes, such as Dave MacIsaac.

The only thing I don't like about CB music is that their songs can be really naff. The Barra MacNeils have great instrumentals, but the songs are very mixed. The actual singing is usually quite good though.

If you can get in on a late night session with a piano, that's the way to hear it. They go for hours.

[whistler]

I am not by any means a connoisseur of Cape Breton music, but I would like to point out that, aside from the fiddling, there are strong traditions of piping (Great Highland Bagpipes), Gaelic singing and stepdancing. As an offshoot of the piping tradition, there is also some mean whistle playing.

[PaulD]

The only thing I don't like about CB music is that their songs can be really naff.
What's "naff" mean?
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
Paul Doubek

[billkilpatrick]

ah ...

"naff" is british for passé ... outmoded ... a little corny as well. it also means tacky or cheap. it's an anagram for that part of the british military that organized social activity for the troops during wwII. what they got were usually has-beens and second raters and what the colonel's wife thought the lower ranks should be watching.

[PaulD]

Thanks for clearing that up for me, Bill. I've never come across that one before! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

pd

[billkilpatrick]

yea', i have walked amongst them and learned their ways ... ogled their beautiful women ... drunk their appalling beer ...

[danb]

yea', i have walked amongst them and learned their ways ... ogled their beautiful women ... drunk their appalling beer ...
Thems fightin' words son..

Gnat's pee chilled to -30f doth not a tasty beer make

[Dagger Gordon]

Let me make it clear that I'm not suggesting the Barra MacNeils or anyone else are 'has-beens and second raters'!

Some of their songs are grand, but I have to admit that others aren't really to my taste. They usually go down well, though, so who am I to say.

I actually find that the songs I like best by them are specifically about Cape Breton, such as The Canso Causeway and The Coal Town Road. Their Gaelic song arrangements can be quite good as well, and they're great step-dancers.

You could probably say much the same about the Rankin Family.

[billkilpatrick]

being the gent' that you are, i think it's understood you meant something like "quaint" or "staid" when you said naff ...

... divided by a common language and all that.

[OlderThanWillie]

The residents of Cape Breton are so proud of their fiddlers that many towns have the highway sign outside of town stating that the town is "The Home of The Beaton Family" or whoever is the local fiddler or fiddling family.

One interesting fact that hasn't been mentioned yet is that the piano is the most commonly used instrument to accompany the Cape Breton fiddlers. Both of the following two CDs have piano accompaniment.

The Smithsonian Folkways Recordings has a great CD of The Beaton Family of Mabou. The UPC code on my copy is 0 93074 05072 9. This has a lot of great music on it.

Buddy MacMaster is Natalie's 81 year-old uncle and is a fiddling legend on Cape Breton. His CD is Rounder #82161-7052-2. He'll play a nice long concert and then play for another hour or two for the dance that follows. He's a very nice person.

Natalie MacMaster is a great one too, but she has a lot more production in her music - horns, drums, guitars, etc. Fit As A Fiddle is Rounder 7022. And how she can step dance while playing the fiddle is beyond me!

[PaulD]

And how she can step dance while playing the fiddle is beyond me!
That's one of the things that blows me away when seeing her live too... that and she's drop-dead beautiful! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Granted, I'm a weak fiddle player, but I can't imagine maintaining intonation and timing while kicking my feet as high as my head, but I've seen her do it. She's a great musician and performer! I've been meaning to pick up some of Buddy's music to compare.

Paul Doubek

[Clawhammermedic]

J.P.Cormier,
This guy is truly amazing!!! Guitar,Fiddle,Mandolin,Banjo the guy is a monster player, not to mention a deep well of CB tunes. His solo guitar rendition of "Take Five" is astounding.

[iampeterfonda]

I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet but: http://www.capebretonlive.com/ has become just about my favourite site these days. #Free audio streaming of concerts, ceilidhs, and house parties. #John McGann (who posted above) has some amazing mando stuff on show number 15.

I'd also like to plug the Cape Cod Celtic Festival scheduled for June 22-25, 2006. #We are focusing on Cape Breton artists this year. #So far we've confirmed Beolach, Kimberly Fraser, & Troy MacGillvary and we are working on a few others. There will be concerts, including a masters concert, workshops, & sessions.

Not Cape Breton, but I am excited to say that The Boston Edge (Joe Derrane, Seamus Connally, & John McGann) will be opening the festival and teaching a number of workshops.

[billkilpatrick]

dear "youaredelusional" - thanks very much for posting the cape breton radio station address. at the moment here in not-so-sunny-tuscany it's cold and grey with a bitter north wind and an imminent threat of snow ... perfect weather for rounding out the "cape breton" experience!

thanks again.

toetappingly - bill

[billkilpatrick]

lately, the capebretonlive.com address has become a favorite of mine as well.

could someone please explain what comprises the rhythm section for most of these groups? other than tapping toes and dancing feet there's something that sounds like tapping on a washboard in 8/8 time - reminds me a little of cajun music.

i think it's absolutely hypnotic - i'm leaping around the kitchen like a maniac. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[iampeterfonda]

It could be snare.

[FlawLaw]

I have the new CD, "Forerunner" from the Cottars. #They are all teenagers of Scottish descent from Cape Breton. #The singer, Fiona MacGillivray, only 16 years old and has a hauntingly beautiful voice.#The fiddler is Roseanne MacKenzie and is only 15 years old and plays very beautifully. #No mandolin on this album, but an octave mandolin, I think.

[otterly2k]

Will-- I got one of their CD's (On Fire!)..in fact, I think it was on your recommendation, when I was in Nova Scotia last June... they are terrific... VERY talented young people carrying the traditions on. Great vocal harmonies, accomplished instrumental work, etc. all round.

[8ch(pl)]

Kendra and Fiona MacGillivray are children of Alistair MacGillivray. He wrote Coal Town Road, Out on the Mira, Away from the Roll of the Sea and other Nova Scotia Standards. They came by their musical talent honestly. They are very accomplished and really well spoken of here.

[otterly2k]

Whoops... I think it was Glen's recommendation. (that info looks familiar!)

Sorry, buddy. Didn't mean to dis ya.

[Spruce]

NS is on my very short list of places to check out...

Can someone recommend a good time to visit? #Maybe during Celtic Colours (http://www.celtic-colours.com/core.php)?

Or maybe a smaller gathering that's a little more off-the-charts?

Thanks in advance....

[otterly2k]

Bruce... I suppose it depends on what you want to do when there...I happened to be there (for work purposes) at the time of the first (expected to be annual) Celtic Feis in Halifax last early June, which had a very decent line-up... you might check to see if/when it's happening again this year. It was only JUST the beginning of spring at that time, and apparently had been raining for a solid month.

We had only a couple of days there, so only saw Halifax and then the area south of there about as far as Lunenberg. Gorgeous area, water EVERYwhere, enjoyed kayaking and quaint shops and excellent seafood and beautiful scenery.
I'm told whale watching is great in the Bay of Fundy and up by Cape Breton in the mid-late summer.

My impression of NS was that it has all the natural beauty of Maine without the overdevelopment and ostentatious wealth of the touristy parts of Maine. Even the touristy areas we went to were uncrowded, unspoiled, and the people were very friendly everwhere we went.

You will enjoy it... I hope to go back.
KE

[Spruce]

"I suppose it depends on what you want to do when there.."

I guess I want to meet and hang with the locals, pick my brains out, eat some seafood, cut up a red spruce, go fishin', and hear some great music....

Does that sound like a great trip or what?? #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[PaulD]

"I suppose it depends on what you want to do when there.."

I guess I want to meet and hang with the locals, pick my brains out, eat some seafood, cut up a red spruce, go fishin', and hear some great music....

Does that sound like a great trip or what?? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif
Throw in some sailing and I would call it the perfect trip! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

pd

[otterly2k]

ROAD TRIP!!!

(kayaking for me rather than sailing... but any time on water is good)

[mikeyes]

Consider coming to Irishfest (http://www.irishfest.com) this year. #The Roots stage will have Cape Breton musicians (JP Cormier, Jerry Holland and more) and very likely the summer school will have at least one class on the subject. #Last year the Roots stage included Bruce Molsky and Mick Moloney had Greenfields of America there along with a Cherish the Ladies/fathers reunion. #A great time.

[billkilpatrick]

... beware of the "no-see'ums."

[mikeyes]

I was wrong, it is the Nova Scotia Kitchen Party (http://www.irishfest.com/entertainment/index.htm) at Irishfest this year with a lot of the musicians you want to see &lt;G&gt;

[OlderThanWillie]

If you go during the Celtic Colours time you will see some great shows but I believe they are what I would call "auditorium" shows-- big shows with lots of big names. The last time I was there it was after all the Colours shows and the summer festivals were done for the year. All that was left was to go to the small shows where you sit 6 feet from the performer and during the break they come and sit by you to ask where you're from because they haven't seen you before. We were there for 7 days and attended 6 different celiedhs. There are shows almost every night and on all weekends in Cape Breton or Nova Scotia. The distances are short so it's not difficult to get to any of them with a little planning. You'll hear differing styles of fiddling as well. There's the "down east" style, the maritime style, and the Cape Breton style (as in Buddy MacMaster).

A weekly Sunday dance in Upper Musquodoboit at the Community Center will even let you on stage to play for the dancers -- jigs, reels, etc. You put your name on a list when you come in and that's the order of appearance on the stage. If you play another instrument you are invited to back up the fiddler for as long as you feel up to it. Everyone is as friendly as they could be. They don't even mind it when you dance with their wives.

[FlawLaw]

Canada is really fortunate to have tons of great celtic music. #I am lucky that I can just cross the border into Southern Ontario to enjoy some of it.