Cape Breton's Magazine

the influence of (his) father on Dan R. probably wasn't that great. Because his father was away a lot, you know, working in the lumber woods. He was a fiddler. I suppose he passed it down in the sense that--the appreciation for the music. But as Dan R. grew up in the Judique area, he was hearing other fiddlers play. There was a MacDougall group of fiddlers near the place where he was brought up, at O'Handley's--that would be his grandfa? ther, I guess, on his mother's side. And he was hearing them playing. He would of? ten go over to listen to them. Very often the old gentleman would have to go looking Intemationat Gathering ofiheCkms Whether you've got a wee bit of Scot in you or just a healthy respect for a good time, the summer of 1991 in Nova Scotia promises to be special. Because for only the fourth time ever, the International Gathering of the Clans will be held right here in Nova Scotia. Come to the Gathering, It has been said that there is no place so far from the Heart of Midlothian that it has not come under the influence of Scottish industry and leadership. And there is, perhaps, no better example of this than the New Scotland of the New World • Nova Scotia. It was appropriate enough that the sea-bound province should be the first place outside of Scotland to host the International Gathering of the Clans, and on three occasions • in 1979, 1983, and 1987 • Nova Scotia Scots, men and women • a convention of almost all clans and septs, mustered from one end of New Scotland to the other, where people from the Highlands and Lowlands have settled during the past three-and-a-half centuries. It all brought new cohesion to the Scots who live here • in places like Antigonish, New Glasgow, Ingonish, Some of the more Mabou Ceilidh, Mabou Nova Scotia International Tattoo, Halifax Gatliering ofTlie Clans and Fisherman's Regatta, Pugwash Metro Halifax Scottish Festival and Highland Games, Halifax Whycocomagh Summer Festival, Whycocomagh Judique on the Floor Days, Judique Antigonish Highland Games, Antigonish Festival of the Tartans, New Glasgow Big Pond Concert, Big Pond Broad Cove Concert, Broad Cove Chestico Days, Port Hood Canadian Highland Dance Championships, Halifax Highland Village Day, lona St. Joseph du Moine Scottish Concert, St. Joseph du Moine Hector Festival, Pictou Annapolis Valley Highland Games, Middleton Scottish Societies Formorc information on the 1991 Association of Nova Scotia International Gathering of the Clans P.O. Box 512 5, Halifax and all events happening, write to: Nova Scotia, Canada B3L 4M7 '''4.'-''4'''''4' for him!... They always knew where to go. He was over listening to the fiddle music. At the MacDougalls'. And I suppose--actually, Dan R. played some of his (father's) music. I used to hear him play certain tunes I hadn't heard before. I'd ask him where he heard it, and he'd say, "Well, my father used to play that." So he did hear him play. Like, "The Sunnybrae Jig"--it's very nice. His father worked in the woods up at Sunnybrae, Pic? tou County. Then there's another tune that The Five MacDonalds had recorded on their album. And Johnny Archie MacDonald told me that it was Dan R.'s father that first in? troduced that tune. He didn't know if he wrote it or what. It's a very good reel, on A. It's "Marguerite Mac- Donald's Reel," I think. So, it could be that he had a natural instinct to compose, be? cause of his fa? ther- -perhaps his father was a composer. But I suppose, going on from there--I don't know--how he would get into the music so--I don't know. I suppose because he wasn't mar? ried, or his formal education stopped fairly early. I suppose playing--he was playing for dances around that time--to pick up a few dollars. And I suppose he sort of got into it that way--it kept him going. He played with fellows like Kitchener Mac? Donald from Why? cocomagh. And Sandy MacLean from Strath- lorne. And he always said good words for Sandy MacLean. Sandy was an older, more experienced Elgin, St. Andrews, Dunvegan, Glencoe and lona, which ring with the sound of the pipes and the fiddle. Commencing with the official Opening in Halifax on June 30, 1991, a program of Scottish Gatherings and Activities will carry through the summer until the end of August 1991. You'll be able to enjoy such traditional events as the Highland games where you can watch the lads test their mettle throwing the caber. Or the Nova Scotia International Tattoo that sports some of the most spectacular piping and drumming you'll ever hear. Plus there are ceilidhs, dance championships, over 50 clan gatherings and lots more to keep you and your family busy for a week or a summer. So come to Nova Scotia the summer of 1991 and celebrate your Scottish heritage. than 80 events. June 27 -July 1 June 30 -July 6 Julyl July 5 -July 7 July 12-July 14 July 12 -July 14 July 12 -July 14 July 17-July 21 July 21 July 28 July 29 - August 4 August 1 - August 4 August 3 August 11 August 14 - August 18 August 24 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991