Well, we enjoyed our annual wee break before Labour Day.
We are back at it now though, and fired up after the rest!
Mike Hall and Jennifer Bowman got the autumn lineup started and we had a great night.
Winning the "Who Came the Farthest?" Prize was a woman from London, England. Author Glenn Gray gave us a few of his publications to use as giveaways at the ceilidh. They are full of local antics and humour.
The last week of August, we had a young lady grace us with an etude on the piano. Kira, of St. Catharine's Ontario, had just finished her Royal Conservatory exam on piano before leaving for her Nova Scotia vacation. Good job, Miss! Keep it up! You have many musical days ahead of you.
We have found music to be tremendously beneficial as well as simply pleasurable. Though it requires time and work to excel, it is well worth it, for the enjoyment it brings to ourselves and others, and the beauty it contributes to the human experience, not to mention how it strengthens mental fortitude, intellect, and muscle training and coordination.
Simply put, we love it, and couldn't imagine life without it. Judging by the sea of beaming faces we see every night, we are not alone in this estimation.
Maybe your face will soon be beaming at one of our ceilidhs?
Comment and let us know if you have been to Baddeck Ceilidh, and what were your thoughts?
See you at the ceilidh!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Out on the Ocean
More stories from our visitors! We love it!
As an admiral of the Canadian Navy posted in Halifax for 25 years, Gordon learned a few maritime songs. Out on the Mira, by Allister MacGillivray, is one of those songs. He is requested to sing it regularly at a session he frequents in Halifax, and as he had just been out on the Mira in his kayak, quite literally, the day before, he saw fitting to sing it for us this Wednesday night. Marion Dewar provided her ready and able accompaniment to make the presentation of the selection.
Mike Agranoff is a character of a fellow, storyteller, and musician, who was visiting our ceilidh from New Jersey. A multi-instrumentalist, he chose from his bag of tricks to tell for us the classic Irish mythological story of the Selkie. According to traditional lore, the selkie is a part-seal, part-human creature, who occasionally sheds her seal skin to visit the land of men.
In this tale, for which Mike provided emotive and often eerie accompaniment on his English concertina, a fisherman fell in love with her. In order to keep her on land, albeit against her will, he stole her seal skin, and compelled her to make a home with him. Even after having a family with the fisherman, the poor creature was never content out of the sea. Finally the day came that she found where he had hidden her skin, and without remorse or goodbyes, she fled back to her watery home. The poor fisherman was just left to his tears.
Mike also played a song of PEI origin, the Ballad of St. Anne's Reel. As if they had rehearsed all day, Jennifer and Mike played the song together in close complement, finishing off with the popular tunes, St Anne's Reel and the Mason's Apron.
See you at the ceilidh!
As an admiral of the Canadian Navy posted in Halifax for 25 years, Gordon learned a few maritime songs. Out on the Mira, by Allister MacGillivray, is one of those songs. He is requested to sing it regularly at a session he frequents in Halifax, and as he had just been out on the Mira in his kayak, quite literally, the day before, he saw fitting to sing it for us this Wednesday night. Marion Dewar provided her ready and able accompaniment to make the presentation of the selection.
Mike Agranoff is a character of a fellow, storyteller, and musician, who was visiting our ceilidh from New Jersey. A multi-instrumentalist, he chose from his bag of tricks to tell for us the classic Irish mythological story of the Selkie. According to traditional lore, the selkie is a part-seal, part-human creature, who occasionally sheds her seal skin to visit the land of men.
In this tale, for which Mike provided emotive and often eerie accompaniment on his English concertina, a fisherman fell in love with her. In order to keep her on land, albeit against her will, he stole her seal skin, and compelled her to make a home with him. Even after having a family with the fisherman, the poor creature was never content out of the sea. Finally the day came that she found where he had hidden her skin, and without remorse or goodbyes, she fled back to her watery home. The poor fisherman was just left to his tears.
Mike also played a song of PEI origin, the Ballad of St. Anne's Reel. As if they had rehearsed all day, Jennifer and Mike played the song together in close complement, finishing off with the popular tunes, St Anne's Reel and the Mason's Apron.
We failed to mention a phenomenal storyteller last week- Bill Carrall, from Tarbot, Cape Breton. What an amazing epic poem he had composed and recited for us! If you think poetry is boring or slow, you certainly haven't heard Bill recite one of his compositions. Such witty use of language and vocabulary, one was at once on the edge of their seat, totally captivated and engaged listening, and laughing aloud at the humble and unsuspecting humour. A real treat, and a true rarity to come across a story teller of this caliber in our modern day, where most would fail to slow down long enough to learn or even enjoy such a craft as his. They are missing out!
What next? What will be tonight? Come and see!See you at the ceilidh!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Belfast to Istanbul!
Lots of visitors have taken the stage in the last couple weeks of the ceilidh.
We've seen and heard from:
Ian Finn from Belfast. He is a lovely guitar player, who sang us a song, accompanying himself, and then finger-picked a lovely air. Very nice, indeed. As were his dear family: wife, son and 2 sweet daughters who were all travelling together in this Cape Breton holiday.
Lydia Thornton from Somerville, Massachusetts sang She Moved Through the Fair, which you can hear at her myspace page again to reminisce, if you were there, or if you weren't, find out what you missed! Lydia is focusing primarily on the singer-songwriter genre at present, though she has a strong familial heritage in traditional Celtic music and song. After listening to the other songs on her page, I recommend you having a listen as well. They were very enjoyable, and I am glad to have found this lovely gem of a songstress. Just click her name above! Find out for yourself!
Yeliz Christensen from Istanbul, Turkey. After dancing in our nightly square set, she sang one of her family's favourite traditional Turkish songs. Yeliz is a professional musician in Turkey; she sings and is a cellist.
You never know what you might miss at our ceilidhs! The musicians on the schedule may very well only be the beginning...
See you at the ceilidh!
We've seen and heard from:
Ian Finn from Belfast. He is a lovely guitar player, who sang us a song, accompanying himself, and then finger-picked a lovely air. Very nice, indeed. As were his dear family: wife, son and 2 sweet daughters who were all travelling together in this Cape Breton holiday.
Lydia Thornton from Somerville, Massachusetts sang She Moved Through the Fair, which you can hear at her myspace page again to reminisce, if you were there, or if you weren't, find out what you missed! Lydia is focusing primarily on the singer-songwriter genre at present, though she has a strong familial heritage in traditional Celtic music and song. After listening to the other songs on her page, I recommend you having a listen as well. They were very enjoyable, and I am glad to have found this lovely gem of a songstress. Just click her name above! Find out for yourself!
Yeliz Christensen from Istanbul, Turkey. After dancing in our nightly square set, she sang one of her family's favourite traditional Turkish songs. Yeliz is a professional musician in Turkey; she sings and is a cellist.
You never know what you might miss at our ceilidhs! The musicians on the schedule may very well only be the beginning...
See you at the ceilidh!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
A Welcome Judique Surprise
Due to the disruptions in the Newfoundland ferry service, Mike Hall was stranded on the Rock, having made a trip over on the weekend, and he was unable to return to play our Monday night ceilidh. Thankfully, we got a hold of Glenn Graham of Judique originally, and he was able to come and grace us with his driving fiddle style, with Jennifer Bowman accompanying him on piano.
Glenn is a strong proponent of Cape Breton music. His playing and knowledge of the music and related history make him an asset to the tradition, and his scholarship is readily evident in his informed explanations and demonstrations.
We also enjoyed some visitors- Ceilidh regulars, Rachel Davis, Anna MacDonald and Anita MacDonald. Anita gave a demonstration of the Cape Breton step dancing tradition for the visitors. Anita is one of the best dancers around, and is a tradition bearer well beyond her years, being still in her teens. Anna MacDonald, whose great dancing and dance instruction you might remember if you attended the ceilidhs last year, was visiting the area again and gave us a few of her dandy steps! Welcome back, Anna! You've been missed!
Then for a rollicking finale number, Rachel, Anita, Jennifer and Glenn played a group fiddle number with Buddy MacDonald accompanying on guitar.
If you missed the chance to buy some of Glenn's music directly from him at the ceilidh, don't fret! You can visit his website with one click on his name above. His music can be purchased under the Recordings tab here. He also has a 2 books in print: a tune collection of his own musical compositions, as well as a book exploring the roots of the Cape Breton style.
See you at the ceilidh!
Glenn is a strong proponent of Cape Breton music. His playing and knowledge of the music and related history make him an asset to the tradition, and his scholarship is readily evident in his informed explanations and demonstrations.
We also enjoyed some visitors- Ceilidh regulars, Rachel Davis, Anna MacDonald and Anita MacDonald. Anita gave a demonstration of the Cape Breton step dancing tradition for the visitors. Anita is one of the best dancers around, and is a tradition bearer well beyond her years, being still in her teens. Anna MacDonald, whose great dancing and dance instruction you might remember if you attended the ceilidhs last year, was visiting the area again and gave us a few of her dandy steps! Welcome back, Anna! You've been missed!
Then for a rollicking finale number, Rachel, Anita, Jennifer and Glenn played a group fiddle number with Buddy MacDonald accompanying on guitar.
If you missed the chance to buy some of Glenn's music directly from him at the ceilidh, don't fret! You can visit his website with one click on his name above. His music can be purchased under the Recordings tab here. He also has a 2 books in print: a tune collection of his own musical compositions, as well as a book exploring the roots of the Cape Breton style.
See you at the ceilidh!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Week Four - and the tunes keep pouring in...
Last night Susan MacLean came in to fill in for Marion Dewar on piano, joining Jennifer Bowman for the first time in a few years. A happy reunion! Jennifer and Susan played many Baddeck Ceilidhs together over the years, but haven't had the opportunity recently.
Susan's experience chording for many in her family, including her grandfather, Michael Anthony MacLean, and her uncles Carl and Hector MacKenzie and many many others, have given her a broad knowledge of the tradition and has armed her to sit ready, full of music, with any fiddler who finds themself in her company. Her sensitive style and solid timing provide a great support and foundation for the fiddler, and her humility allow the music to shine in its own natural beauty and worth, without flash or flaunt.
Two bright faces in the crowd turned out to be two very talented young people: sister and brother, Elizabeth and Ben Anderson, aged 15 and 11 respectively. Elizabeth and Ben were visiting Nova Scotia with their parents from Westborough, Massachusetts. Both violinists, they are regular attendees at the Boston Harbor Fiddle School, and are learning the Scottish fiddle style as well as becoming accomplished in their classical music studies. They played a medley together for the crowd, including Cape Breton tunes Dusky Meadow and Mortgage Burn, the first of which is purported to have been composed by Donald MacLellan, and the latter by local pianist Gordon MacLean. Susan accompanied them.
Also in the crowd were a couple from Dublin, Ireland, and the lady sang us a humorous song in Irish Gaelic, An Poc Ar Buile, about a cranky billy goat.
Go raibh maith agat as d'amhráin, a Bhean Uasal!
See you at the ceilidh!
Susan's experience chording for many in her family, including her grandfather, Michael Anthony MacLean, and her uncles Carl and Hector MacKenzie and many many others, have given her a broad knowledge of the tradition and has armed her to sit ready, full of music, with any fiddler who finds themself in her company. Her sensitive style and solid timing provide a great support and foundation for the fiddler, and her humility allow the music to shine in its own natural beauty and worth, without flash or flaunt.
Two bright faces in the crowd turned out to be two very talented young people: sister and brother, Elizabeth and Ben Anderson, aged 15 and 11 respectively. Elizabeth and Ben were visiting Nova Scotia with their parents from Westborough, Massachusetts. Both violinists, they are regular attendees at the Boston Harbor Fiddle School, and are learning the Scottish fiddle style as well as becoming accomplished in their classical music studies. They played a medley together for the crowd, including Cape Breton tunes Dusky Meadow and Mortgage Burn, the first of which is purported to have been composed by Donald MacLellan, and the latter by local pianist Gordon MacLean. Susan accompanied them.
Also in the crowd were a couple from Dublin, Ireland, and the lady sang us a humorous song in Irish Gaelic, An Poc Ar Buile, about a cranky billy goat.
Go raibh maith agat as d'amhráin, a Bhean Uasal!
See you at the ceilidh!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Hardly a boring Wednesday at the office.
What a night!
We have all heard good music, nominal music, music that is pleasant or interesting: but sometimes we are met with magical music. It is otherworldly, it moves you. It touches something deeper in you than just sound waves in your ears.
We write this having just experienced some of the magical variety at our very own ceilidh.
It makes sense that often in Celtic folklore, the best musicians were rumoured to have received their gift from the fairies. Listeners could find no natural explanation for those sounds which left them speechless and full of joy. How is it, that these waves of sound can lift my spirit and thrill me?
We seek answers in vain. Beauty, be in it a sunset, or in the strains of a violin or piano, is enigmatic and elusive to description. It is ready to be enjoyed, however, and that, Friends, we are, here in Baddeck! Cape Breton has been blessed with a multitude of wonderful musicians and a good number are featured at our ceilidh nightly. The last few nights are good testament to that. Our humble parish hall has been filled to capacity with many congregating on the step to hear whatever they can manage.
Last night Leanne and Marion were on fire! Marion was all over that piano as we have come to expect from her! Leanne, fresh from a year in Ireland, was full of good tunes and had her characteristic powerful drive in full swing.
Robbie and Jennifer were fantastic tonight- there was magic in the air, indeed! They traded places effortlessly between fiddle and piano, giving each other a turn at the lead chair. For those who arrived unsuspecting, what a treat they received!
Robbie Fraser, together with his brother Isaac, have just released their 3rd cd, Everything Old is New Again. It is hot off the presses, only coming off the truck in the last couple weeks. Based on what we heard tonight, this is not one to be missed.
If for some reason you were unable to get their recording tonight, or find it elsewhere, Robbie did leave some with us at the ceilidh, so Everything Old is New Again will be available for purchase nightly at the Baddeck Gathering along with Mike Hall's recent release, A Legacy, Not to Be Forgotten. Both are $20 each.
See you at the ceilidh!
We have all heard good music, nominal music, music that is pleasant or interesting: but sometimes we are met with magical music. It is otherworldly, it moves you. It touches something deeper in you than just sound waves in your ears.
We write this having just experienced some of the magical variety at our very own ceilidh.
It makes sense that often in Celtic folklore, the best musicians were rumoured to have received their gift from the fairies. Listeners could find no natural explanation for those sounds which left them speechless and full of joy. How is it, that these waves of sound can lift my spirit and thrill me?
We seek answers in vain. Beauty, be in it a sunset, or in the strains of a violin or piano, is enigmatic and elusive to description. It is ready to be enjoyed, however, and that, Friends, we are, here in Baddeck! Cape Breton has been blessed with a multitude of wonderful musicians and a good number are featured at our ceilidh nightly. The last few nights are good testament to that. Our humble parish hall has been filled to capacity with many congregating on the step to hear whatever they can manage.
Last night Leanne and Marion were on fire! Marion was all over that piano as we have come to expect from her! Leanne, fresh from a year in Ireland, was full of good tunes and had her characteristic powerful drive in full swing.
Robbie and Jennifer were fantastic tonight- there was magic in the air, indeed! They traded places effortlessly between fiddle and piano, giving each other a turn at the lead chair. For those who arrived unsuspecting, what a treat they received!
Robbie Fraser, together with his brother Isaac, have just released their 3rd cd, Everything Old is New Again. It is hot off the presses, only coming off the truck in the last couple weeks. Based on what we heard tonight, this is not one to be missed.
If for some reason you were unable to get their recording tonight, or find it elsewhere, Robbie did leave some with us at the ceilidh, so Everything Old is New Again will be available for purchase nightly at the Baddeck Gathering along with Mike Hall's recent release, A Legacy, Not to Be Forgotten. Both are $20 each.
See you at the ceilidh!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Week 2: 2009 Season
By now we've seen and heard most all of our regulars: Shelly Campbell, Rachel Davis, Buddy MacDonald, husband and wife team Melody & Derrick Cameron, Susan MacLean, Jennifer Bowman and Mike Hall, as well as Dwayne Cote, who made a wonderful appearance with Kevin Levesconte on piano of the 4th of July. Dwayne and Kevin are two great players that we don't often get the opportunity to hear.
We would also like welcome Helen MacDonald and Scott MacKenzie to our weekly lineup this year.
Every night has been great. Fantastic crowds and music to match.
Tuesday the 7th we had a tour visiting whose leader presented the Chariots of Fire theme on the piano. There was also a Quebecois fiddler visiting as well, and he cracked out a few tunes for us. It is always a treat for us to discover what talents are waiting to be enjoyed in our audience! Please don't be shy when you come to visit us!
Wednesday the 8th, we had a Baddeck Gathering first. Our square set participants got so excited, and were having so much fun, they couldn't manage to finish the square set! In all our 10 years, that has never happened! We all collapsed in our seats with eruptions of laughter, wiping a tear from the eye, we were laughing so hard. They were a fun group. Oh to be a fly on the wall of THAT bus!
We will be hearing Chrissy Crowley tonight. Chrissy counts as close blood family the renowned musical family, the Chisholms of Margaree: Archie Neil, Cameron, Maybelle, Margaret. Come out and listen to see if you can hear that famous Margaree sound.
See you at the ceilidh!
We would also like welcome Helen MacDonald and Scott MacKenzie to our weekly lineup this year.
Every night has been great. Fantastic crowds and music to match.
Tuesday the 7th we had a tour visiting whose leader presented the Chariots of Fire theme on the piano. There was also a Quebecois fiddler visiting as well, and he cracked out a few tunes for us. It is always a treat for us to discover what talents are waiting to be enjoyed in our audience! Please don't be shy when you come to visit us!
Wednesday the 8th, we had a Baddeck Gathering first. Our square set participants got so excited, and were having so much fun, they couldn't manage to finish the square set! In all our 10 years, that has never happened! We all collapsed in our seats with eruptions of laughter, wiping a tear from the eye, we were laughing so hard. They were a fun group. Oh to be a fly on the wall of THAT bus!
We will be hearing Chrissy Crowley tonight. Chrissy counts as close blood family the renowned musical family, the Chisholms of Margaree: Archie Neil, Cameron, Maybelle, Margaret. Come out and listen to see if you can hear that famous Margaree sound.
See you at the ceilidh!
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Day 1, 2009 Season
Well that was certainly a good start to a new year of ceilidhs!
Jennifer Bowman and Marion Dewar were crackin' the jigs and reels all night, and there were smiles on every face! We especially enjoyed a couple toddlers who were givin' a few steps and showing their unashamed enthusiasm. What a treat!
Jennifer was fresh from playing at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre in Judique last Sunday, and was ready to get the ball rolling Wednesday night.
We enjoyed visitors from the entire length and breadth of North America: there were very few border states from the US that were not represented! We also had around 6 from Germany and a couple from Denmark.
Now that we've tasted the fun again, we are hooked. We'll have to do this every night!
Don't just take our word on it that it's good, however. Come out and join us!
See you at the ceilidh!
Jennifer Bowman and Marion Dewar were crackin' the jigs and reels all night, and there were smiles on every face! We especially enjoyed a couple toddlers who were givin' a few steps and showing their unashamed enthusiasm. What a treat!
Jennifer was fresh from playing at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre in Judique last Sunday, and was ready to get the ball rolling Wednesday night.
We enjoyed visitors from the entire length and breadth of North America: there were very few border states from the US that were not represented! We also had around 6 from Germany and a couple from Denmark.
Now that we've tasted the fun again, we are hooked. We'll have to do this every night!
Don't just take our word on it that it's good, however. Come out and join us!
See you at the ceilidh!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Are you ready? We are!
The 2009 season of the Baddeck Gathering Ceilidhs is about to kick off! The fiddlers are rosining their bows, dancers are tying up their shoes, and the pianos are tuned up.
In a mere 24 hours, everything will be underway as Jennifer Bowman takes the stage with her fiddle and Marion Dewar at her side, keeping time at the piano.
It is sure to be a great one, Folks! We hope you are able and planning to join us for some Scottish Cape Breton culture and refreshments, any night this summer at the St. Michael's Parish hall here in Baddeck.
We'll be letting you know how it goes here on the blog as much as we can, but a second-hand report is certainly nothing like being there! Our music and dance truly must be experienced first-hand, in person. We are certain anyone who has ever been to our ceilidhs or local dances will wholeheartedly attest to that. There's nothing like feeling the driving beat of the strathspey in your chest, the jigs and reels that compel your feet to tap (and dance!), and the sweet tenderness of the slow airs that touch the heart. There is just nothing like it in the world.
We love our music so much, we know you will too!
So come out, have a cup of tea, and take in the beauty of Baddeck, and enjoy the music that lives only here in Cape Breton.
See you at the ceilidh!
In a mere 24 hours, everything will be underway as Jennifer Bowman takes the stage with her fiddle and Marion Dewar at her side, keeping time at the piano.
It is sure to be a great one, Folks! We hope you are able and planning to join us for some Scottish Cape Breton culture and refreshments, any night this summer at the St. Michael's Parish hall here in Baddeck.
We'll be letting you know how it goes here on the blog as much as we can, but a second-hand report is certainly nothing like being there! Our music and dance truly must be experienced first-hand, in person. We are certain anyone who has ever been to our ceilidhs or local dances will wholeheartedly attest to that. There's nothing like feeling the driving beat of the strathspey in your chest, the jigs and reels that compel your feet to tap (and dance!), and the sweet tenderness of the slow airs that touch the heart. There is just nothing like it in the world.
We love our music so much, we know you will too!
So come out, have a cup of tea, and take in the beauty of Baddeck, and enjoy the music that lives only here in Cape Breton.
See you at the ceilidh!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Mike Hall cd release info is here!
We knew it was coming, and now Mike Hall has finished his much anticipated first release, A Legacy, Not To Be Forgotten. Congrats, Mike! Great work!
The official launch will be held:
June 13th from 2 -5 pm
at Rollie's Wharf in North Sydney.
Mike will be accompanied by piano legend Tracy Dares-MacNeil. A square dance will follow at the Westmount Legion from 9pm - 1am with music provided by Marc Boudreau, Joel Chiassion, and Mike.
The CD features Joel Chiasson on piano and Michael Hall on fiddle. Having had the privilege to hear some samples from it, I can say that it is a must-buy, and I for one will be first in line to pick up my own copy!
For more information about Mike and a list of all his other upcoming events and opportunities to hear his music live, check out his website at http://www.mikehallmusic.com/ .
See you at the ceilidh!
The official launch will be held:
June 13th from 2 -5 pm
at Rollie's Wharf in North Sydney.
Mike will be accompanied by piano legend Tracy Dares-MacNeil. A square dance will follow at the Westmount Legion from 9pm - 1am with music provided by Marc Boudreau, Joel Chiassion, and Mike.
The CD features Joel Chiasson on piano and Michael Hall on fiddle. Having had the privilege to hear some samples from it, I can say that it is a must-buy, and I for one will be first in line to pick up my own copy!
For more information about Mike and a list of all his other upcoming events and opportunities to hear his music live, check out his website at http://www.mikehallmusic.com/ .
See you at the ceilidh!
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