What’s New for the 27th of September: A tribute to Cape Breton music

Living in Cape Breton, it’s really all about fiddle music, so it’s not like there were other instruments out there that tempted me and it was like I had to decide which one. It was automatically fiddle, because it’s the predominant instrument in Cape Breton Island. — Natalie MacMaster

Gary, our Music editor. has done such a nice job rounding up a selection of Cape Breton music for you to consider listening to that we think we’ll leave it right there. So get yourself a pint of Alexander Keith’s India Pale Ale, the beloved Nova Scotian beer, and see which recordings here you’ll be listening to. And for your listening pleasure, we have a reel by Natalie MacMaster,  ‘Killiecrankie’ off her Sketches album.

(He somehow forgot to include his review of Natalie MacMaster’s Yours Truly, a most excellent album. He says of it that, ‘ This disc is a very nice example of the whole range of MacMaster’s music, from straight traditional Cape Breton to contemporary Celtic to some flat-out rock ‘n’ reel. She is joined by a cast of some of the biggest names in contemporary Celtic music, as well as some less well known musicians from Cape Breton with some very Nova Scotia names like Chiasson and MacIsaac.’)

With the coming of the autumnal equinox my thoughts quite often turn to the music and people of Cape Breton. This is the time of year for the Celtic Colours International Festival, and also for the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday. As the island community recovers from heavy wind and flooding earlier this month they will have lots to be thankful for, and the 30th version of the festival will go on. You can read about it on their website or Facebook. In the meantime, let’s look back at some Cape Breton music reviews in the Archives.

A chap named Duke Egbert way back in the day reviewed Ashley MacIsaac’s hi, how are you today? for Folk Tales. He rightly called MacIsaac’s music ‘an oddly fascinating juxtaposition of traditional Celtic fiddling and fly-in-the-face-of-tradition pop and rock. On his only CD currently available in the U.S., hi how are you today, he merges the two traditions almost seamlessly into music that alternates between lyrical and quirky, subtle and forceful, and it’s a delight to listen to so long as you have an open mind.’

I got a lot of positive feedback from family members and other musicians when I reviewed Bill Lamey’s Full Circle. This Rounder CD collected home recordings of house parties and dances where Lamey played. ‘The music is spellbinding. It’s clear why the man was so influential on today’s generation of fiddlers, including Jerry Holland, Natalie MacMaster and Alasdair Fraser.’

Another one I reviewed remains one of my favorite albums to listen to when I’m in a certain autumnal mood. ‘This gorgeous album Seinn by Mary Jane Lamond & Wendy MacIsaac transported me back to the community halls and concert venues, the vibrant autumn landscape, the tart maritime air and the hospitality of Cape Breton.’

Naomi de Bruyn reviewed a classic disc for Folk Tales that presaged the explosion of music coming from Cape Breton Island, Paul Cranford and Friends’ The Lighthouse. ‘Should you like good Cape Breton fiddling and original compositions, then this is the disc for you. Paul Cranford is a talented fiddler with sensitive fingers and impassioned playing.’

Pat Simmonds gave a lovely write-up to a very popular and influential CD, Buddy MacMaster’s Cape Breton Tradition. ‘Recorded in the relaxed environment of pianist Gordon MacLean’s living room, with daughter Mary Elizabeth MacMaster MacInnis at the keyboard, it is an object lesson in how to bring dance music to the recorded environment and make it work. No flash, no overdubs, nothing that doesn’t belong where it is – great tone and a beautiful relaxed rhythm.’

I’ll finish up with a live review of two concerts at my first Celtic Colours in 2002. ‘Among the 44 concerts and workshops at this year’s Celtic Colours year were a few known as “heritage concerts,” in which the community honors the musicians of an older generation. Among them this year were “Winston’s Home,” “Tribute to Bill Lamey,” and “Kinfolk,” of which I attended the latter two.’

So let’s have a choice of music from Natalie MacMaster. It’s ‘Killiecrankie’ off her Sketches album. It is another one of her lovely reels. Here it is for your listening pleasure.