Cranford Publications Cape Breton Island

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Cranford Publications specializes in Celtic fiddle music from Cape Breton, Ireland and Scotland. Proprietor Paul Cranford is a fiddler and composer firmly rooted within the traditions of music he sells. This site provides resources for a continuing tradition. We create and distribute books of music notation and related recordings; materials intended to help you learn music as interpreted by traditional fiddlers. We also link to many other educational sites.

Featured Items

Deluxe hardcover book & 70 minute CD The Fiddletree by Otis Tomas Already well-known as a luthier, Otis has crafted a book as beautiful as any of his work. The remarkable Fiddletree story tells a 17 year tale - from cutting down the tree to building a set of instruments. A cast of internationally renowned musicians perform Otis' tunes on the CD. Music notation and photos included. 2011 RELEASE - $30 The Celtic Colours Collection In 2011 Paul Cranford devoted his time to this new book which was compiled to celebrate15 years of Cape Breton's Celtic Colours International Festival. Featuring new music created as a result of festival experiences, in addition to tunes and songs from 44 different composers, it includes photos, stories, bios and more Softcover book $25 Specials A sampling of popular Cape Breton books & CDs @ $15. Includes Jerry Holland , Ashley MacIsaac, Buddy MacMaster, The Barra MacNeils. Natalie MacMaster, Brenda Stubbert and more Jerry Holland's popular CD Special - $15 FEATURE- Digitally remastered archival & 78 recordings from Cape Breton, Ireland and Scotland - go here (Angus Chisholm, Bill Lamey, Michael Coleman, James Morrison, Paddy Killoran, Sean Ryan and Hector MacAndrew). Angus Chisholm & Bill Lamey 78s Newly Listed Scottish & Irish Books (from Other Publishers) - go here Some are old classics, others contemprary. Glengarry Collection - The Highland Fiddle Music of Angus Grant 136 page book and 2 hour DVD. Includes 164 tunes with stories, history and photographs NEW Book-DVD $29.95 Cape Breton Girl - Natalie MacMaster (2011) NEW - Natalie's first staight-up traditional CD since My Roots are Showing. More info. CD Special - $15 Different Strokes New CD Brenda Stubbert (2011) With Howie MacDonald, Dave MacIssac, Kenneth MacKenzie, and Nuala Kennedy CD Special - $15 Aires in Bloom Lloyd MacDonald (2011) A Cape Breton octagonarian's first CD - soulful slow airs etc. With Seamus MacNeil & Doug MacPhee and many more.

As you explore this site you will find links to thousands of tunes. Check out the pages featuring books and CDs and on most you will find links to tunes as free, on-screen musical notation. sound clips, midi files, ABCs or to articles, photos and descriptions - most relating to books and CDs which we also make available in our on-line store.

Cape Breton Fiddle music	Our on-line store allows secure credit card purchases for all the books and recordings we feature. For those who prefer the old school we also take phone and mail orders.	Featured Recording
	Paul Cranford is the editior of The Cape Breton Musical Heritage Series (currently 7 books). In 2010, after a 34 year career as a lighthouse keeper, he released More Tunes from the Lighthouse a recording of over 100 previously unrecorded tunes which he had arranged and composed during his many years of isolation. The series is now available as a specially priced 7 book bundle, as individual book-CD bundles or alternately, as separate books and recordings. ALL SEVEN BOOKS - The Complete Musical Heritage Series Limited time Special $88.	Soundclips, notation & chords posted for the every tune!

Our ABC Tunes include transcriptions of tunes from a featured recordings or book. Note that even after a recording or book becomes unavailable its associated tunes and sound clips remain accessible. ABC TUNES For ABC beginners, we also guide you through the how-to convert ABCS to standard notation or midi files. Paul worked as a lighthousekeeper from 1975-2009. He started publishing books of fiddle music in 1979 with a reproduction of The Skye Collection. Lighthouses proved to be an ideal place to write and practice. His final posting was Machias Seal Island a bird sanctuary located on the Canadian-US border in the Bay of Fundy. Since retiring from lighhtouses, Paul has settled into fulltime life in Cape Breton. In 2009, he was artist in residence for The Celtic Colours International Festival. In 2010 he released a double CD of original music titled More Tunes from the Lighthouse. This year, 2011, he once again worked with Celtic Colours, this time producing The Celtic Colours Collection, a book of music to celebrate the festival's first 15 years. Clearance - Cassettes and Video Tapes VHS Instructional Video $ 7.95 Piano Cassettes $6.00 - Supply Limited!! Cape Breton Fiddle