Hi everyone.. My name's Matt MacIsaac, check out my profile I guess if you want to know anything about me.. Just thought I'd poke my head in and say hi.. great site, hope to contribute a little and learn a lot.
Welcome, Matt. I'd think it's safe to say that most of us here know who Natalie MacMaster is...! Are you interested in playing Irish tunes? I've always wanted to learn to play Cape Breton properly, but it's probably going to take me the rest of my life to learn Irish, forget another style on top of that! (I started quite late.) So, sadly, I've had to limit myself to Irish...but I'm still fascinated talking to Cape Breton and Scottish players (Scottish being the other style I regretfully must put off learning...).
Theres a lass from Nova Scotia comes to our session now and then. Wonderful rich singing voice. Sings wistful songs and makes ye cry. Called Diane. I expect you know her. ;o)
Hi Matt
Nice to now there is another GHB player here.
Are there any recordings of genuine Cape Breton Ceilidh style players?
I've read a lot about how the trad style differs from modern Army type Piping but the information is to generalised to be of use.
Thanks for the welcome.. I'm am not related to Ashley or Wendy, though they're related to each other. I know Wendy pretty well..
There's a great recording of Paul MacNeil and Tracey Dares, one of the best Cape Breton style pipers and THE best Cape Breton style pianists from the island... Called Castle Bay Music. Great album.
Im'not actually a Cape Breton style player.. I grew up playing in the competitions and the modern competitive style. I only started playing CB tunes with Natalie.. thouhg I am from Cape Breton.
My style actually leans toward irish.. my whistle playing definately does, as does my guitar and bouzouki.
Great to hear from you all.. if you have any questions about anything at all feel free to ask, as I will do the same
Wow, that's some fine playing on Natalie's album! I'm sorry I missed her gig on Thursday (sold out) as the venue is just down the street from my house. I think the "Jig Party" set on the album is my fave and the whistle adds a great lift to the set.
For those of you who haven't got Natalie's excellent new album yet, you can hear clips thru this link:
Matt, you may wish to contact Otis Thomas in Baddeck if you're interested in a 'zouk. His website is www.fiddletree.com. Boyd MacNeil (of Slainte Math) has been playing one of Otis' octave mandolins for about 7 years and loves it. That's one of Otis' mandolins on the cover of the new Celtic Colours CD. Oh yeah, his fiddles are world-class too ;>)
Wow. That's cool, Matt. You're just one year younger than I but playing so many instruments. And good to know whistle is being played in Cape Breton. I thought there are only fiddlers and pipers there.
I started playing Scottish and Cape Breton music on whistle last year in Edinburgh, and so it's a shame now I only play and listen to Irish stuff in the real session. But I'm still playing some C.B. tunes by myself and you will find them on this site. Anyway, I'm always thinking I was born in a wrong place.
Hey Matty and Welcome!
I ventured up to Cape Breton this past summer to take lessons at the Ceildh Trail School so that I could get a more firm feel of the Cape Breton style. I did better than that made some lasting friends with some beautiful people...stress is not part of the vocabulary there just beauty and music! I reccomend the school at least once...We were lucky this year because we got to play with Buddy! as Well as J.P. Cormier Joe Cormier and Brenda Stubbert. They were all excellent teachers and wonderful people. (in a way it was a dream come true to play with some of my heros) And my playing jumped forward about 5 years! No doubt. The Cape Breton Style is sweet and depending on where exactily the music comes from there is varriation in the styles...for example Joe's from Cheticamp just far enough north east and across the Margaree to have more of a French influence (check out his CD "The Dances Down Home" and you'll see what I mean...Now for more Irish check out Brenda's stuff (any of it) I went with little knowledge of Brenda but after listening to her style and getting a sense of her musical history I fell in love with her (hello Brenda if you are reading this Her father played a distinctly Irish style but she was brought up in the Cape Breton style with greats like "Winston Fitzgerald" and "Jonny Wilmont" dropping in on there kitchen to jam...well and ceildh (them folks love to dance as much as they love to fiddle)....Anyway I am looking forward to goin' back soon...the link to the school is www.ceilidhtrail.com
and don't forget Charlie's (when you get up that way you have to find a place called Charlies it is on the Cabot Trail on the way to Ceticamp, easy to find, he has the best collection of Cape Breton CD's and Tapes...some rare recordings as well)
Well as for the Irish style. You can't pin it down either from county to county in Ireland the heartbeat changes enough to generate many different styles...I've read that just because we can learn many different styles and meld them together doesn't mean we should....there is much to learn in just one style...and a certain mastery in the process...But I certainly understand the love of the Cape Breton Style!...For many of us (in North America)whose families emmigrated through PEI, we may have a more recent connection with that style and it may have more familiure sense of the heartbeat there...its great to be part of something that significant.
Thanks for the thread!
Tim
Hey Matt you related to Dave MacIsaac in New Waterford? I worked with him about 3 years ago. You know Lennon Delaney? He's a real great CB fiddler, I met him when he went to URI. I think he & his family moved out to Toronto.
I've got to get up there next summer.
Thanks Sarah! Wow that's really nice... I'm trying to remember which show that was... where was the theatre? Was it that old church? Maybe that was Eugene...
Anyway.. We had a great time on that tour, and just finished another.. I'm actually in the Toronto airport lounge typing this..
I did a video of the guitar player and I having a few tunes on my Burke Low F whistle.. man I love that whistle. When I get my site up and running I'll post it hopefully....
Matt - it's so cool to find you on here! I recently just discovered this website myself. Also, I just saw you play with Natalie in St Paul on April 5th. I was bowled over by seeing Natalie's abilities in person. I'm 25 but I've only been fiddling for about a year now, after a bad teacher in my younger years killed my interest in strings (Cello).
I thought your performance at the concert was brilliant - I was really impressed by your talents on so many instruments (I liked your outfit too - very sharp!). My father is a piper, hence I grew up with Irish & Scottish music of many variations.
I discovered you because of the Natalie concert, and I'm really happy I was able to find some info on you online. Now I just have to go track down your album....
Hope to see you stay active on here - it's great to see more established / experienced musicians on this site, as you have so much to offer.
New here...
New here...
Hi everyone.. My name's Matt MacIsaac, check out my profile I guess if you want to know anything about me.. Just thought I'd poke my head in and say hi.. great site, hope to contribute a little and learn a lot.
# Posted on December 12th 2003 by Mattrick
Re: New here...
Welcome to the session
# Posted on December 12th 2003 by gian marco
Re: New here...
Welcome, Matt. I'd think it's safe to say that most of us here know who Natalie MacMaster is...! Are you interested in playing Irish tunes? I've always wanted to learn to play Cape Breton properly, but it's probably going to take me the rest of my life to learn Irish, forget another style on top of that! (I started quite late.) So, sadly, I've had to limit myself to Irish...but I'm still fascinated talking to Cape Breton and Scottish players (Scottish being the other style I regretfully must put off learning...).
# Posted on December 12th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: New here...
Yes. Natalie is brilliant. You're no related to Ashley or Wendy, by any chance?
John
# Posted on December 12th 2003 by Johannes J
You're no---- Sorry, that was a typo-not my scottish accent.
# Posted on December 12th 2003 by Johannes J
Re: New here...
Hello Matty.
Come in, take off your coat.
Theres a lass from Nova Scotia comes to our session now and then. Wonderful rich singing voice. Sings wistful songs and makes ye cry. Called Diane. I expect you know her. ;o)
Dave
# Posted on December 12th 2003 by showaddydadito
Re: New here...
Hi Matt
Nice to now there is another GHB player here.
Are there any recordings of genuine Cape Breton Ceilidh style players?
I've read a lot about how the trad style differs from modern Army type Piping but the information is to generalised to be of use.
TTFN
PP
# Posted on December 12th 2003 by Pied Piper
Re: New here...
Thanks for the welcome.. I'm am not related to Ashley or Wendy, though they're related to each other. I know Wendy pretty well..
There's a great recording of Paul MacNeil and Tracey Dares, one of the best Cape Breton style pipers and THE best Cape Breton style pianists from the island... Called Castle Bay Music. Great album.
Im'not actually a Cape Breton style player.. I grew up playing in the competitions and the modern competitive style. I only started playing CB tunes with Natalie.. thouhg I am from Cape Breton.
My style actually leans toward irish.. my whistle playing definately does, as does my guitar and bouzouki.
Great to hear from you all.. if you have any questions about anything at all feel free to ask, as I will do the same
Matty
# Posted on December 13th 2003 by Mattrick
Re: New here...
Hi Matt,
Wow, that's some fine playing on Natalie's album! I'm sorry I missed her gig on Thursday (sold out) as the venue is just down the street from my house. I think the "Jig Party" set on the album is my fave and the whistle adds a great lift to the set.
For those of you who haven't got Natalie's excellent new album yet, you can hear clips thru this link:
http://www.nataliemacmaster.com/recordings/blueprint.htm#soundclips
Matt, you may wish to contact Otis Thomas in Baddeck if you're interested in a 'zouk. His website is www.fiddletree.com. Boyd MacNeil (of Slainte Math) has been playing one of Otis' octave mandolins for about 7 years and loves it. That's one of Otis' mandolins on the cover of the new Celtic Colours CD. Oh yeah, his fiddles are world-class too ;>)
Cheers,
Greg
# Posted on December 13th 2003 by octogreg
Re: New here...
Wow. That's cool, Matt. You're just one year younger than I but playing so many instruments. And good to know whistle is being played in Cape Breton. I thought there are only fiddlers and pipers there.
I started playing Scottish and Cape Breton music on whistle last year in Edinburgh, and so it's a shame now I only play and listen to Irish stuff in the real session. But I'm still playing some C.B. tunes by myself and you will find them on this site. Anyway, I'm always thinking I was born in a wrong place.
Hiroyuki
# Posted on December 13th 2003 by slainte
Re: New here...
Ack, are my roots showing?
Just kidding, welcome Matty... do ye ever get the chance to play much with Chris Norman?
# Posted on December 13th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: New here...
Hey Matty and Welcome!
Her father played a distinctly Irish style but she was brought up in the Cape Breton style with greats like "Winston Fitzgerald" and "Jonny Wilmont" dropping in on there kitchen to jam...well and ceildh (them folks love to dance as much as they love to fiddle)....Anyway I am looking forward to goin' back soon...the link to the school is www.ceilidhtrail.com
I ventured up to Cape Breton this past summer to take lessons at the Ceildh Trail School so that I could get a more firm feel of the Cape Breton style. I did better than that made some lasting friends with some beautiful people...stress is not part of the vocabulary there just beauty and music! I reccomend the school at least once...We were lucky this year because we got to play with Buddy! as Well as J.P. Cormier Joe Cormier and Brenda Stubbert. They were all excellent teachers and wonderful people. (in a way it was a dream come true to play with some of my heros) And my playing jumped forward about 5 years! No doubt. The Cape Breton Style is sweet and depending on where exactily the music comes from there is varriation in the styles...for example Joe's from Cheticamp just far enough north east and across the Margaree to have more of a French influence (check out his CD "The Dances Down Home" and you'll see what I mean...Now for more Irish check out Brenda's stuff (any of it) I went with little knowledge of Brenda but after listening to her style and getting a sense of her musical history I fell in love with her (hello Brenda if you are reading this
and don't forget Charlie's (when you get up that way you have to find a place called Charlies it is on the Cabot Trail on the way to Ceticamp, easy to find, he has the best collection of Cape Breton CD's and Tapes...some rare recordings as well)
Well as for the Irish style. You can't pin it down either from county to county in Ireland the heartbeat changes enough to generate many different styles...I've read that just because we can learn many different styles and meld them together doesn't mean we should....there is much to learn in just one style...and a certain mastery in the process...But I certainly understand the love of the Cape Breton Style!...For many of us (in North America)whose families emmigrated through PEI, we may have a more recent connection with that style and it may have more familiure sense of the heartbeat there...its great to be part of something that significant.
Thanks for the thread!
Tim
# Posted on December 13th 2003 by Tim_Fiddler
Re: New here...
Hey Matt you related to Dave MacIsaac in New Waterford? I worked with him about 3 years ago. You know Lennon Delaney? He's a real great CB fiddler, I met him when he went to URI. I think he & his family moved out to Toronto.
I've got to get up there next summer.
# Posted on December 13th 2003 by Mad Baloney
Re: New here...
hi matt
i heard you with natalie in portland, oregon a few weeks ago. your playing was really amazing.
sarah
# Posted on December 13th 2003 by eleyne
Re: New here...
Sarah,
Please clarify "amazing". Hee Hee
# Posted on December 14th 2003 by Joe Quinn
Re: New here...
Thanks Sarah! Wow that's really nice... I'm trying to remember which show that was... where was the theatre? Was it that old church? Maybe that was Eugene...
Anyway.. We had a great time on that tour, and just finished another.. I'm actually in the Toronto airport lounge typing this..
I did a video of the guitar player and I having a few tunes on my Burke Low F whistle.. man I love that whistle. When I get my site up and running I'll post it hopefully....
# Posted on December 14th 2003 by Mattrick
Re: New here...
Hello Matt!
Really enjoy your latest disc. Am looking forward to your concert here in Feb!
Deb.
# Posted on December 15th 2003 by Agnes Nutter
Re: New here...
> Sarah,
> Please clarify "amazing". Hee Hee
uh, pretty damn good???
and matt, it was the concert at the aladdin theater, a fairly ornate (but small) former movie house.
sarah in portland
# Posted on December 15th 2003 by eleyne
Re: New here...
Matt - it's so cool to find you on here! I recently just discovered this website myself. Also, I just saw you play with Natalie in St Paul on April 5th. I was bowled over by seeing Natalie's abilities in person. I'm 25 but I've only been fiddling for about a year now, after a bad teacher in my younger years killed my interest in strings (Cello).
I thought your performance at the concert was brilliant - I was really impressed by your talents on so many instruments (I liked your outfit too - very sharp!). My father is a piper, hence I grew up with Irish & Scottish music of many variations.
I discovered you because of the Natalie concert, and I'm really happy I was able to find some info on you online. Now I just have to go track down your album....
Hope to see you stay active on here - it's great to see more established / experienced musicians on this site, as you have so much to offer.
# Posted on April 11th 2005 by ainefidileir