1.
Red Haired Lass
Red Haired
Lass Reel
Gravel Walk
Mrs. Beatty Wallace (Dan R. Mac Donald)
Upside Down in Edencourt (Gordon Duncan)
Red Haired Lass, Gravel
Walk and Upside Down in Eden Court are tunes that I
learned over the years having heard them played at
sessions and dances. Mrs. Beatty Wallace can be found in
the Heather Hill Collection of Fiddle Tunes by Dan R. Mac
Donald.
2. Highland Set
Peggy's Jig
(Mike Mac Dougall)
Jessie Ann's Favorite (Gordon Mac Quarrie)
Highland Jig
St. Nicholas Boat (J. Scott Skinner))
This is a great set of
jigs that I learned in the years when I first began
playing, while attending C.B. Fiddler practices, and
festivals at the Gaelic College in Cape Breton. The
Highland Jig and St. Nicholas Boat (full title is So I'm
Off with the Good St. Nicholas Boat) can be found in the
Brenda Stubbert Collection of Fiddle Tunes, and were
recorded in the early sixties by legendary fiddler,
Winston "Scotty" Fitzgerald.
3. This Flower I
Pick For You Slow air Jennifer Roland
There is a very special
story behind this air that I'd like to share. I composed
it in late October '04, after a visit with my dad at the
MacGillivray Guest home in Sydney, NS. Shortly after the
initial recording of this piece, my father, who endured a
humble battle for 13 years with Parkinson's disease,
peacefully passed away surrounded by myself, my mom and
my brothers and sisters. He left behind a legacy that he
was truly proud of and loved with all of his heart; his
family, his music, as well as his love for the sea. This
piece was inspired by, and written for my hero who is my
dad, and is dedicated in his beautiful memory to the
Parkinson's Society of Canada for which I am honored to
be the musical ambassador and spokesperson. The official
flower of Parkinson's is the tulip. The flower in the
title is represented by the melody of this tune that was
inspired by my fathers love for music and his influence
in my life. He is always in my heart and continuously
drives my passion and devotion towards music and
life.
4. Editor's
Favorite
Miller of
Drone (Nathanial Gow)
Editor's Favorite
Neil R. Mac Donald's (Dan R. Mac Donald)
The Hurricane (J. Scott Skinner)
The Red Shoes (Dan R. MacDonald)
Castle Hornpipe (King Colbath)
This is a selection of
well-known tunes that have been played by many Cape
Breton players both young and old. I learned Miller of
Drone from the Skye Collection, Neil R. MacDonald's is a
great strathspey by Dan R. and can be found in his book,
The Heather Hill Collection. The Red Shoes is published
in the Winston Fitzgerald Collection. The Hurricane can
be located in the Scott Skinner Collection. Castle
Hornpipe is found in the One Thousand Tunes Book
sometimes referred to as Ryan's Collection.
5. Master
Crowley's
Master
Crowley's
I learned this tune and
its version from renowned fiddler, Ivonne Hernandez from
Vancouver, B.C. This tune can be found in many Irish
Session Books and has numerous arrangements with
variations. This version is in the key of E minor, up a
full tone from where it is written in most of the
above-mentioned books.
6. Alyssa Crystal
Dawn's Waltz Waltz Robert Randle
I learned this tune
from a great composer, fiddler, and friend, Robert Randle
from Kam Valley, Ontario. He wrote it for a fiddle
student of his. Robert is one of those special people
that I have met throughout this musical journey who
shares with me the same true love, understanding and
passion for music. I have great respect for this
gentleman, for he possesses a true spirit for the gift of
music.
7. Cape Dauphin Set
Allie
Bennett's (Jennifer Roland)
Mary Gloria's (Jennifer Roland)
Kyle Mac Neil's New Fiddle (Jennifer Roland)
Road to Cape Dauphin Jennifer Roland (SOCAN)
These jigs came to me
one summer afternoon while playing tunes in the kitchen.
The first jig is for my good friend, Allie Bennett who
produced all three of my recordings. Kyle Mac Neil of the
Barra Mac Neils, was my teacher when I was little. The
second is written for my sister Gloria. Cape Dauphin is
for a special group of friends of mine with whom I get
together and enjoy lots of good tunes each summer in Cape
Dauphin, which over looks the ocean and Bird Islands of
Cape Breton.
8. Five Way
Street
Linnea's Lilt
(Rob Randle)
William Norbert's (Doris Mason)
Way Street (Rob Randle)
Both Linea's Lilt and
Five Way Street, are composed by Rob Randle whom I
previously introduced. These tunes hold proof that he is
an accomplished composer. I learned the tune William
Norbert's from Jason Kempt, which was written by a
wonderfully talented gal, Doris Mason from New Glasgow,
NS with whom I've had the pleasure to work with on
several occasions over the course of my
career.
9.Johnny
Cope
Johnny
Cope
An Angus Chisholm Strathspey
The Braes of Tullymet
Kam Valley Fiddlers
East of Neuk O'Fife
Raelynn's (Jennifer Roland)
Johnny Cope is a
classic tune and is one of my favorite tunes to play. I
composed the reel Kam Valley Fiddlers, for a group of
young ladies and their instructor Rob Randle, who are
special friends of mine from the Thunder Bay area. The
strathspeys are traditional ones introduced years ago by
the late Angus Chisholm. East of Neuk O'Fife is a
timeless tune of Scottish tradition. The variations
played here are from the J. Scott Skinner book, The
Scottish Violinist. The final reel is a tune that I wrote
for a wonderful student and friend of mine, who is one of
many of my students who was born with the natural love of
music.
10.Thunderhead
Lewis' Squak
(Jennifer Roland)
Brett James' (Jennifer Roland)
Thunderhead (Grey Larsen, Sleepy Creek Music/BMI)
Garrett's (Jennifer Roland)
The first tune was
written for my little feathered friend, Lewis, who made
sure I knew he was in the room while I tried to
concentrate on writing it. I learned the Thunderhead jig
from a great band from Cork, Ireland called North Cregg,
with whom I had the pleasure of traveling overseas in
both March of '99 and '00. Garrett's Jig is for my newest
little nephew. He always brings a smile to my
face.
11. Sadie's Waltz
Sadie's Waltz
(Jennifer Roland)
Anyone who knows me
will agree that my family is a tremendous part of my
life. My mom is my best friend and one of my greatest
influences. She has given me so much love and compassion
throughout my life and has taught me the importance of
following my heart as well as never under-estimating the
power and significance of faith and love. Her abundant
strength and genuine love deeply overwhelm me in such an
inspiring way. Mom, I love you with all of my
heart.
12. The Accents Set
Lady Catherine
Stewart
House of Hamil (Ed Reavy)
Maudabawn Chapel (Ed Reavy)
Mc Arthur's Road (Dave Richardson)
This set was
collaborated for a theatre show I had the pleasure to be
part of called "Accents on Summer", which showcased the
talent of the former band called The Accents. The title
stuck with the medley.
