Paul Cranford Biography
Looking out from the St.
Paul Island light Lighthousekeeper,
fiddler, composer Paul Cranford is well known amongst
traditional musicians everywhere. For the last twenty
five years he has published many books of fiddle music
including the five volume Cape Breton Musical Heritage
Series. In additon to being a fiddler and publisher, his
compositions are being played around the world in
sessions from Ireland to Tasmania. Some of the musicians
who have recorded his tunes include The Barra MacNeils,
Jerry Holland, Sharon Shannon, Kendra MacGillivray, Ray
Legère, Joe Doucette, Slainté Mhath, Laoise
Kelly, Maire O'Keeffe and David Greenberg. A resident of Cape
Breton's North Shore, he works 28 days on 28 off on the
last manned lighthouse in the Maritimes, Machais Seal
Island. Originally from Toronto, Paul arrived in Nova
Scotia in 1975. Within a week he got a job as a
lighthousekeeper on remote St. Paul Island. Over the
years working a month-on month-off lighthouse rotation
has given him the opportunity to become a solid Cape
Breton fiddler. During his time off, he learns tunes and
techniques from other musicians. When he returns to the
light, the isolation gives him the time and space to
digest what he heard ashore at house parties and dances.
Over the years his enthusiasm for the music has resulted
in the building up of a large and diverse
repertoire. His publishing career
began in 1979 with the reissue of one of the most
influential Scottish tune books, The Skye Collection,
(first published 1887.) He followed up in 1982 with the
reissue of The Simon Fraser Collection (first published
1816) and later with The Alexander Walker Collection, a
19th century book of original Scottish fiddle tunes.
These three books provided a solid foundation for his
work in the composing and publishing of traditional
music. Later, in collaborating
with well known recording artists Jerry Holland and
Brenda Stubbert, Paul started The Cape Breton Musical
Heritage Series ... music books which highlight the
talents of Cape Breton fiddlers who are not only adept at
arranging traditional and contemporary tunes, but are
continually adding original compositions to their
repertoires. When away from his
current lighthouse posting, Paul is ever ready to sit and
play with any traditional musician. He has played in
kitchens and pubs from Cape Breton to California, Boston,
Toronto, Ireland and Scotland. In 1996 Paul completed his
book The
Lighthouse Collection
and its companion recording - The
Lighthouse CD
Photographs from The Lighhtouse Collection
