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Track
Listing (notes
written by Paul and Tracey)
Rural
Attitudes
- I Would Have Preferred
You First, But Not Now Sir...Traditional
- The Widow's
Rant…Traditional
- Rural Attitudes...Paul
K. MacNeil (SOCAN)
This group of dusty jigs
was put together for the "Celtic Colors Festival" in 1998.
The first two jigs can be found in the 'Glen Collection'.
The Widow's Rant, also known as The Highlander's March or I
Would Go Quickly is a jig we grew to enjoy and appreciate
after hearing it sung in Gaelic on the recording "Celtic
Mouth Music". Although originally we were going to name this
recording 'Rural Attitudes', alas, all of the techno-geeks
out there mounted an army no one could defeat and now
everyone has a computer. Oh well, if you can't beat them...
Although we changed our minds on the name of this recording,
this medley as well as those that follow is a representation
of our rural attitude.
Acoustic
Guitar...Gordie Sampson
Forty Mile
Stone
- Sabastopol
March...Traditional
- Ethel Fraser...Brenda
Stubbert (SOCAN)
- Barbara Magone's
Visit...Brenda Stubbert (SOCAN)
- Forty Mile
Stone...Traditional
- The Dundee Burns
Club...J. Scott Skinner
- Janet and Wilfred
Burke...Brenda Stubbert (SOCAN)
Dave & Tracey have
been working together now for many years. Dave is held in
our highest regard for his knowledge, appreciation and
interpretation of music but most importantly for his
friendship. Sabastopol March was uncovered by Dave in the
'Logan Collection'. Ethel Fraser, Barbara Magone's Visit as
well as Janet and Wilfred Burke are tunes composed by Brenda
Stubbert and are available in her tune book 'Brenda
Stubbert's Collection of Fiddle Tunes'. Forty Mile Stone was
the inspiration for this medley. We first heard it played by
Maireid Ni Mhaonaigh and the late Frankie Kennedy on their
duo CD entitled "Ceol Aduaidh". Finally, J. Scott Skinner is
always good for a "frilly" tune. The Dundee Burns Club can
be found in the 'Harp & Claymore Collection'.
Acoustic
Guitar...Dave MacIsaac
Upright Bass...Eddie Woodsworth
Snare...Matt Foulds
The Barra Glen Road
- The Barra Glen
Road
- Miss Annie of
Ballintyre...D. MacPhedran
- The Barra Glen
Road...Paul K. MacNeil (SOCAN)
This group commemorates
the people who walked or traveled the Barra Glen road over
the years and the stories fashioned from their experiences.
The flow of this medley is reminiscent of the twists and
turns, as well as, the people you may encounter as you
travel this dirt road near Iona, Cape Breton. Matt Foulds'
eclectic experiences lead him to play the udu on this medley
providing a very subtle, earthy accompaniment.
Acoustic &
Electric Guitar...Gordie Sampson
Udu & Shaker...Matt Foulds
Upright Bass...Eddie Woodsworth
Nighean
Donn...Domhnall
MacPharlain
Nighean Donn was written
by the late Domhnall MacPharlain from Margaree and was often
sung by the late Joe Lawrence MacDonald of Boisdale, Cape
Breton. Paul's father, Roddie C. MacNeil sings the lead
vocal track here. Words cannot be written to express the
love and respect we have for this man. The night this track
was recorded was a binding family experience that we will
always enjoy remembering. The chorus singers include Paul's
mother Helen, his uncle Jamie, his brother Timmy, his sister
Rosemary and two of her three sons Michael and Nicholas; his
brother Lorne and his three children, Joseph, Daniel and
Sarah as well as a life-long friend Alanna Campbell and her
three daughters Alex, Brenna and Erinn.
Hundred Years of
Fiddling
- Captain Archibald
Leslie...D. Campbell
- Hundred Years of
Fiddling...Traditional
- Dave MacIsaac...Brenda
Stubbert (SOCAN)
- Alex
Dan's...Traditional
- Dave MacIsaac...Brenda
Stubbert (SOCAN)
- Malcolm
MacPhail…Brenda Stubbert (SOCAN)
This medley is a
combination of tunes either composed by Brenda or brought to
our attention by Dave. The march is a tune Dave found in the
'Glen Collection'. The first strathspey can be found in
Brenda's book although we first heard this tune played by
Buddy MacMaster on the recording "Cape Breton Connection"
released by Stephen MacDonald Productions. Dave learned the
first reel from his father Alex Dan and passed it on to
Paul. The second reel is actually the second strathspey; put
to reel tempo by Paul. All of Brenda's
compositions are
available in her book so be sure to check it out.
Acoustic
Guitar...Dave MacIsaac
Angie's
- Miss Angie
Logan...Paul K. MacNeil & Tracey Dares
(SOCAN)
This tune is the result of
a joint effort between Paul and Tracey. Originally the first
turn was written primarily for pipes in the key of D Major
(Eb Major on the pipes). When the second turn was composed,
the melody line was taken outside of the piping scale and
the final version was finished in the key of F Major. Kyle's
haunting performance adds to the longing sensation of this
tune. It was composed in June of 1999 when our niece, Angie
Logan, was graduating from High School in Beaverlodge,
Alberta. Angie's energetic grace and style reflect a way of
life worthy of admiration. Hopefully this tune reflects some
of that splendor.
Acoustic
Guitar...Gordie Sampson
Bowed Bass...Eddie Woodsworth\
Viola...Kyle MacNeil
Fat Free
Reels
- Ruidhlidh Na Coilich
Dhubha…Traditional
- Loch An
Duin...Traditional
- Harris
Dance...Traditional
- North Shore
Reel...Traditional
This group of four reels
had a very "light" feeling about them from the beginning,
hence the reference "fat free"...a feast for the
conservatorically, calorically conscious. This set, a group
of old Gaelic song type tunes, was arranged for a
performance at Highland Village Day in Iona, Cape Breton in
August 1999. The first tune was recorded by Mary Jane Lamond
on her CD entitled "Suas e". The second tune is one Paul
learned from the former Scottish band Ossian. Harris Dance
is available in the 'Patrick MacDonald Collection', circa
1764. As the story goes, the last reel in this medley was
sung in the North Shore area of Cape Breton
Island.
Acoustic
Guitar...Dave MacIsaac
Fiddle & Viola...Kyle MacNeil
Upright Bass...Eddie Woodsworth
Keltic
Drive
- Reflection…Paul
K. MacNeil (SOCAN)
- Mrs. Campbell of
Shiness...Roddie Campbell
- Keltic Drive...Paul K.
MacNeil (SOCAN)
The combination of
Gordie's nostalgic chords and Stewart's soaring flute has
caused this medley to take flight, hope you will too. The
first two tunes have a turn that is written in the key of E
minor. This is a rarity on the pipes. The tune, Reflection,
came from the skeleton of an old jig. We have the book it
came from but the melody has changed so much we can't find
the tune. The last tune was composed during a labor dispute
in the summer of '96.
Acoustic
Guitar...Gordie Sampson
Eb Wooden Flute...Stewart MacNeil
She Didn't Want To
Leave
Paul composed this air for
his mother's sister Theresa MacRae. After hearing a tune
composed by Paul's sister Rosemary, Theresa requested that
someone write a tune for her. Theresa was very supportive of
Paul & Jamie's previous recording "Fosgail an Dorus" so
Paul named this tune after her. Although it was originally
written in _ time, Tracey created a new arrangement while
having a mellow moment one day. Our friend, Ed Woodsworth
who plays bass on this recording, plays with heart &
soul creating a performance outclassed by none. Eddie's
visits to our home were always a total pleasure.
Fretless
Bass...Eddie Woodsworth
Acoustic & Electric Guitar...Gordie Sampson
Drum Kit...Dave Burton
Percussion...Matt Foulds
The Big
Hollow
- Air Faillirinn
Iu...Traditional
- Lorient
Macalish...Allan MacDonald (MCPS)
- Mrs. MacInroy of
Lude...Joseph Lowe
- Salmon
Fishers...Traditional
- Mrs.
Webster...Traditional
- Willie
Murray's...Traditional
- Chuckie
MacLellan...Cameron
Chisolm
So much of our musical
inspiration has been assimilated from the great oral
tradition of the area in which we live. One of our favorite
nature walks takes us through the BIG HOLLOW near our home
in CastleBay...Air Faillirinn Iu has been sung by many
Gaelic singers in our area. Allan MacDonald, a phenomenal
piper and Gaelic scholar from Glen Uiag, Scotland composed
the march. It can be found in his book entitled 'The Moidart
Collection'. The strathspey in this medley is one we heard
played by the MacLellan Trio and was arranged to fit the
pipes by Tracey. The first three reels are traditional with
the 3rd and 4th turns of Willie Murray's having been
composed by G.S. McLennan who is renowned in the piping
world for his dynamic compositions. Margaree fiddler,
Cameron Chisolm, composed the last tune.
Acoustic
Guitar...Gordie Sampson
Culturally
Challenged
- Bob Thomson's...Pipe
Major William Robb
- The Left-handed
Quick-step...Traditional
- Irish
Jig...Traditional
- The Three Little
Drummers...Traditional
This is the group we felt
had that "electric kind of sound" …bring on the bass
and drums! One of our all time favorite drummers is Dave
Burton. He plays with both passion and authority making him
fascinating to watch and hear. Jamie MacInnis found the
first tune in the 'Cowal Collection'. Jamie has been a close
friend of ours for many years and has inspired and
influenced Paul's style of piping as well as his practice of
searching through old music collections and sharing good,
old tunes. The Left-handed Quickstep can be found in the
'Glen Collection'. The traditional Irish jig came out of the
'Northern Fiddler'. Jamie originally arranged The Three
Little Drummers from a recording of his father Dan Joe.
Between Jamie and Dan Joe they had four turns on the tune;
we stretched it a little bit further.
Acoustic
Guitar...Gordie Sampson
Electric Guitar...Dave MacIsaac
Electric Bass...Eddie Woodsworth
Drum Kit...Dave Burton
The Crest of the
Wave
- Barr nan Tonn...Allan
MacDonald MCPS
- The Little
Cascade...G.S. McLennan MCPS
These two composers make a
good pair. Allan's love and dedication to the history of the
Gaelic language, song and music is inspiring. He appears to
have come from a different place in time. The work of G. S.
McLennan, whose compositions were truly ahead of his time,
has also been a great source of enthusiasm and motivation.
His tune, The Little Cascade, was written circa 1920. The
arrangement you hear on this recording was created by Tracey
& Paul. This medley was recorded the day we lost a great
friend, a friend who moved us both personally and musically.
We offer this group to the memory of John Morris
Rankin.
Acoustic
Guitar...Gordie Sampson
Alex's Last
Dance
- Alex John J….Paul
K. MacNeil (SOCAN)
Alex John J. MacLean was a
carpenter by trade but an incredibly witty man by nature...
"Gentlemen, if I may abuse the term...and…He had a face
on him so long he could eat oats out of a churn..." were
some of his favorite sayings. These are good memories of
Alex; with this air we hope to return a little bit of his
warmth.
Acoustic
Guitar...Gordie Sampson
Fretless Bass...Eddie Woodsworth
11/2/2000
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