In My Hands ... Natalie MacMaster

tune information, links and notation

 

Track 12
Moxham Castle

 

Moxham Castle
Mr. Thomas Forbes(J. Scott Skinner
The Moving Cloud  (Neil O'Boyle)
Sheldon MacNeil's  (Raymond Ellis)
London Lasses  (Traditional)

  • Almost every Cape Breton fiddler plays a few Dan R MacDonald tunes. Moxham Castle is one of his most popular strathspeys. It was published in The Heather Hill Collection, the 1st volume of Dan R's compositions a book which although out of print remains in great demand.
  • Mr. Thomas Forbes is a Skinner strathspey which is often associated with Winston Fitzgerald. His setting is in his book. Skinner's original is found in the Skye Collection
  • The Moving Cloud is a tune which Natalie picked up from Irish sessions. Neily Boyle was a fine fiddle player from Donegal who recorded a few 78s and allegedly composed this three part reel. He can be heard on Milestone at the Garden (a CD compilation of 78s) The Moving Cloud apparently started out as a fiddle tune in F ... but eventually the aural traditions ... sessions with flutes, boxes etc. moved it to the key of G which is the key Natalie heard it in.
  • Sheldon MacNeil's  is a new tune by Cape Breton fiddler Raymond Ellis. Raymond teaches and performs regularily in the Baddeck area.
  • The late Donald Angus Beaton of Mabou is the likely source of London Lasses. Natalie plays a setting much like Donald Angus ... a version which is more or less as notated in Jerry Holland's Collection. The Irish setting differs. It cn be seen in the O'Neill Collection.

S heldon MacNeil's Reel

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Cranford Publications
8/24/99