Cape Breton's Magazine

From Mike MacDougall'sTapef or Fr. Hector' Mike MacDougall served Ingonish and Cape Breton well. He was a fine fisherman, a good friend, and an ambassador for Cape Breton music and goodwill to the world. He was exceedingly generous with his music. Unfortunately, with the exception of some cuts on anthology albums, he left us no disc recording. Just prior to his death, Mike had had plans for a record--he and guitar accompanist Tim Donovan had put in some studio time--but the project was nev? er completed. But Mike was willing to make tapes for friends. And in 1980, about two months before he died, Fr. Hector MacDon? ald had asked for a tape, Tim was visiting in Ingonish--and together they made a good quality reel-to-reel tape. With permission of Mike's wife, Peggy, Tim Donovan, and Fr. Hector, Cape Breton's Mag? azine has produced "Mike MacDougall's Tape for Fr. Hector" on an hour-long cassette-- manufactured from the original taping. The tape can now be ordered directly from the magazine. Paul Cranford (lighthouse keeper, St. Paul's Island, and publisher of reprints of the Skye Collection and the Simon Fra- ser Collection of fidHle music) has pre? pared transcriptions of 9 tunes based on Mike's playing on this tape. Paul wants to make it clear that they are not precise transcriptions of Mike's playing, and that they are an attempt to include some of the variations as played by other fiddlers. Paul: "They try to capture the essence of the melody as played by various Cape Bret- oners . If you use this written notation a- long with Mike's tape and your ears, you will be able to learn the tunes and bring them to life once more." In other words, these are "working" transcriptions, in? tended to walk the fine line between note- reading and playing-by-ear--a subject of vigorous debate. So they are ultimately brave renderings. After the transcriptions, there is a com? plete list of the common "book titles" to the tunes on the tape, as well as details on how to order the cassette. Paul has sup? plied us with some brief comments regard? ing the tunes. Munlochy Bridge MUNLOCHY BRIDGE Is a strathspey taken from the Highland bagpipe repertoire. It was previously published in K. N. MacDonald's Gesto Collection (1895). I first learned this tune in the home of Doug and Margaret MacPhee in New Waterford. This is a fiddle setting. You couldn't play it exactly like this transcription on the Highland bagpipes. There's one extra note (high B) in the melody, outside the range of the bagpipe. Strathspey Cape Breton Setting LeBlanc Siding Ltd. '"' ESTIMATES We Install Authorized Dealer for I'JiYCAN Aluminum & Vinyl Siding imargaree windows Aluminum Windows & Doors - Shutters Softfit - Fascia - Awnings 109 Reservoir Road Sydney Professional installation of Aluminum & Vinyl Siding in Cape Breton County for over 10 years. Free Estimates for R.R.A.P., N.S.H.C., & C.M.H.C. Programs and all other siding inquiries. Call collect: SONNY MacPHERSON 539-4626 ,(17)