The Maritimes - a Prince Edward Island Kitchen Party
Mary Ann Kennedy visits Prince Edward Island, introducing music from Francophone band Vishten and Anglophone group Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys.
A week of programmes from across Canada, marking Canada's 150th birthday. Tonight, a Prince Edward Island Kitchen Party: from the island where French, English, Scottish and Irish traditions meet, Mary Ann Kennedy witnesses a battle of the bands featuring Francophone band Vishten versus Anglophones Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys. Also including a Radio 3-commissioned collaboration exploring historical links between Nova Scotia and Scotland though a sound composition created by Amanda Christie, a Canadian with Scottish ancestry - it features Gaelic psalm-singing from the Isle of Lewis mixed with nature sounds from around eastern Canada. Plus a session with Teresa Doyle, a singer with Scots and Irish roots.
Programme note for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Commissioned piece by Amanda Christie: Uisgeachan CiΓΉin (Quiet Waters)
Taking inspiration from the Psalms and from nature, this sound art work spans the Atlantic using archival recordings of psalm singing from the Western Isles of Scotland and voices from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, interwoven with field recordings made in the natural landscape of Cape Breton. The piece progresses chronologically through the archival recordings, from 1964, to 1994, to 2017. The psalm singing from the Western Isles alternates with psalms being read and sung by Gaelic speakers in Cape Breton. The natural sounds in the work progress in three movements, from birds at sunrise, to a rainy mid-afternoon, to frogs at sunset. I structured the field recordings of natural sounds after the psalm singing from Scotland, so that when the Precentor is singing, only one sound from nature (usually water) is present, and then several other tracks of nature recordings swell up alongside the congregation when they sing, so that birds, wind, trees, frogs, and crickets are also singing the Psalms and the praises alongside the humans. This approach to the composition was inspired by Psalm 96: 11-12 which speaks of nature singing praises to God. As such, in this composition, all of nature joins in song with the congregation, following the same antiphonal and heterophonic structure as the traditional psalm singing.
Field recording and Composition: Amanda Dawn Christie
Male Gaelic Voice from Cape Breton: Rod C. MacNeil
Female Gaelic Voice from Cape Breton: Mary Jane Lamond
Archival Recordings of Psalm Singing from Scotland: Courtesy of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
In order of appearance:
1964: Psalm 72: v. 17 & 19
Location: High Church Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
Precentor: Angus MacLeod
1994: Psalm 23: v. 1-2
Location: Stornoway Free Church (Seminary), Isle of Lewis
Precentor: Finlay MacDonald
2017: Psalm 34: v. 17-19
Location: Tong Mission Hall, Isle of Lewis
featuring singers from congregations in the islands of Lewis, Harris, and Scalpay
Precentor: Iain Morrison.
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Music Played
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Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys
Back 40 Rip-off
Performer: Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys.- Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Recording, June 2017.
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Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys
Song to a Young Seagull
Performer: Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys.- Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Recording, June 2017.
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Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys
Pickle King Polka
Performer: Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys.- Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Recording, June 2017.
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Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys
Said Too Much
Performer: Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys.- Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Recording, June 2017.
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Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys
Maritime Lullaby
Performer: Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys.- Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Recording, June 2017.
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Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys
Goodbye City Lights
Performer: Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys.- Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Recording, June 2017.
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Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys
Black Mountain Rag
Performer: Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys.- Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Recording, June 2017.
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Trad
Stomochroi
Performer: Teresa Doyle & Patrick Brennan.- Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Recording, June 2017.
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Teresa Soyle
Jimmy's Jig
Performer: Teresa Doyle & Patrick Brennan.- Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Recording, June 2017.
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Trad
Cape Breton Lullaby
Performer: Teresa Doyle & Patrick Brennan.- Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Recording, June 2017.
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³ΥΎ±²υ³σ³ΩΓ¨²Τ
Mass Pike Flat
Performer: ³ΥΎ±²υ³σ³ΩΓ¨²Τ.- Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Recording, June 2017.
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³ΥΎ±²υ³σ³ΩΓ¨²Τ
Joe Feraille
Performer: ³ΥΎ±²υ³σ³ΩΓ¨²Τ.- Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Recording, June 2017.
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³ΥΎ±²υ³σ³ΩΓ¨²Τ
Trois Blizzards
Performer: ³ΥΎ±²υ³σ³ΩΓ¨²Τ.- Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Recording, June 2017.
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³ΥΎ±²υ³σ³ΩΓ¨²Τ
Joli Coeur
Performer: ³ΥΎ±²υ³σ³ΩΓ¨²Τ.- Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Recording, June 2017.
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Trad
Psalm 57v.1-3 to tune 'Martyrdom'
Performer: Singers from congregations in the islands of Lewis, Harris, and Scalpay.- Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Recording, May 2017.
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Trad
Psalm 72 v.17-19 to tune 'Stornoway'
Performer: Singers from congregations in the islands of Lewis, Harris, and Scalpay.- Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Recording, May 2017.
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Amanda Christie
Uisgeachan CiΓΉin (Quiet Waters)
Performer: Amanda Christie. Performer: Tong Mission Hall Congregation. Performer: Rod C. MacNeil. Performer: Mary Jane Lamond. -
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³ΥΎ±²υ³σ³ΩΓ¨²Τ
La Miracule
Performer: ³ΥΎ±²υ³σ³ΩΓ¨²Τ.- Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Recording, June 2017.
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Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys with Vishten
Bring my Clothes Back Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
Performer: Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys with Vishten.- Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Recording, June 2017.
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Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys with Vishten
Sweet Georgia Brown
Performer: Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys with Vishten.- Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Recording, June 2017.
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Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys with Vishten
Joys of Quebec
Performer: Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys with Vishten.- Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Recording, June 2017.
Broadcast
- Fri 30 Jun 2017 23:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
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Canada 150 on Radio 3—Canada 150
A series of programmes celebrating the wonderful range and diversity of Canadian culture.
Canada 150 on Radio 3
A series of programmes celebrating the wonderful range and diversity of Canadian culture.