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CB fiddle, dance, at centre stage in Limerick Nov. 3

Posted by Mike Hunter on October 29, 2015

Fresh from Celtic Colours International Festival, Mats Melin and Liz Doherty are hosting a celebration of Cape Breton dance and music on their home turf—Ireland.

The Cape Breton Fiddle Companion, by Liz Doherty, and One With the Music: Cape Breton Step Dance Tradition and Transmission, by Mats Melin, were launched at Cape Breton University during the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention and Celtic Colours on October 14.

Mats and Liz will now launch their respective books closer to home, at an event November 3, at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick.

The launch will be followed by a Cape Breton square set and performance of Cape Breton step dancing with members of piping and fiddle ensemble Nuallan (Kevin Dugas, Kenneth MacKenzie and Keith MacDonald) and dance group Fileanta (Margie Beaton and Jenny MacKenzie) and guests.

Sounds like quite the party! Best wishes to Liz and Mats as they launch their books among colleagues, family and friends.

Fresh from Celtic Colours International Festival, Mats Melin and Liz Doherty are hosting a celebration of Cape Breton dance and… Continue»

CB step dance author giving workshop in Glasgow this weekend

Posted by Mike Hunter on October 23, 2015

Fresh from the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention (October 13-17, 2015) and the launch of his book, One With the Music: Cape Breton Step Dance Tradition and Transmission, dance scholar Mats Melin is taking part in TradFest this weekend at St. Andrew’s in the Square, in Glasgow, Scotland.

In addition to a book launch, Mats is giving a workshop entitled “Are we learning Dances, or Dancing?”

Traditional Dance: Transmission & Evolution, is being facilitated by the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh.

Fresh from the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention (October 13-17, 2015) and the launch of his book, One With the Music: Cape… Continue»

Story on the story behind the story

Posted by Mike Hunter on

There’s a great article/interview with Tracey Rombough, in a recent edition of The [New Glasgow] News. Tracey’s debut novel, Immortal Air, is enjoying brisk sales here in Nova Scotia and in the Kingston, ON, area.

A number of years ago, while doing some renovations at her Millhaven, ON, home, Tracey uncovered a dirt-encrusted ruby ring, inside of which was engraved “to Ella Mae.”

Research revealed that Ella Mae Emigh, a former resident of the home, was married to George Frederick Cameron, a Confederation poet and former editor of a Kingston-area newspaper. Cameron grew up in New Glasgow, NS, was educated in Boston and died tragically near Kingston.

Tracey’s curiosity and a few years chasing research – from Nova Scotia, to Boston, to Vancouver and Kingston – became a wonderful biographical novel.

You can read Adam MacInnis’s article here.

There’s a great article/interview with Tracey Rombough, in a recent edition of The [New Glasgow] News. Tracey’s debut novel, Immortal… Continue»

Two books to launch during fiddle convention

Posted by Mike Hunter on October 13, 2015

International research on Cape Breton music and dance

Music lovers from around the world are drawn to Cape Breton for its iconic fiddle music and step dance traditions – Celtic Colours International Festival is one, highly successful, example. The North Atlantic Fiddle Convention (NAFCo 2015 edition) is another.

Two new books from CBU Press related to Cape Breton fiddle and step dance will be launched during NAFCo, Oct. 13-17, taking place in Sydney and Baddeck.

One With the Music: Cape Breton Step Dance Tradition and Transmission, by Swedish-born dance scholar Mats Melin, and The Cape Breton Fiddle Companion, by Irish fiddler and scholar Liz Doherty, will both be officially launched on October 14 at a reception hosted by NAFCo.

A third book will also be introduced to the local audience. Seanchaidh na Coille / Memory-Keeper of the Forest: Anthology of Scottish-Gaelic Literature of Canada, by Michael Newton, was officially launched in Toronto and Guelph, ON, earlier this month.

Liz Doherty, well-known to Cape Breton artists and audiences and a Celtic Colours 2015 Artist in Residence, has been researching Cape Breton fiddle tunes, literature and personalities for nearly twenty years. The Companion, is an encyclopedic record of that research.

With the assistance of a veritable who’s who in the tradition, and without claiming to be complete, the book is an amazing account of the people, places, tunes and tricks that is both fascinating and entertaining.

“The fiddle music of Cape Breton has its own sound, artistic standards, performance practices and etiquette,” writes Doherty.

“The Cape Breton fiddler of the 21st century is performing a music that was transplanted from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland in the 18th and early 19th centuries, adapted and evolved through several generations while also making it relevant for contemporary audiences, which today are as likely to be international as local.”

Fiddler and step dancer Rodney MacDonald, CEO of Colaisde na Gàidhlig / The Gaelic College, says that Doherty sheds new light on the traditions, with her “detailed overview of Cape Breton’s remarkably rich heritage of fiddle music.”

MacDonald’s lifelong relationship with the music is, of course, chronicled in the Companion. His comparable background in Cape Breton style step dancing is also chronicled in Mats Melin’s One With the Music – being launched at the same time.

Melin has worked and performed extensively in Scotland, Sweden, Canada, the United States, Russia and New Zealand. He has a vast knowledge of all aspects of dance in the Scottish tradition, but specializes in Cape Breton step dancing.

Ethnomusicologist Heather Sparling (Cape Breton University) calls Melin’s book “a warm, generous and thoughtful gift to the community.”

“We benefit from Mats’s profound understanding, not just of Cape Breton dance, but of Scottish dance and its analysis more broadly,” writes Sparling.

Open to the public, the launch (Wednesday, Oct. 14, 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Rooms at Cape Breton University) is being held in conjunction with the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention and precedes the popular CBU Jam Session and Celtic Colours “North Atlantic Fiddles” concert (a ticketed event).

International research on Cape Breton music and dance Music lovers from around the world are drawn to Cape Breton for… Continue»

Reader review: “A good read – highly recommend!”

Posted by Mike Hunter on September 24, 2015

There’s been another spate of comments on Joy Steele’s The Oak Island Mystery, Solved (CBU Press 2015).

In Atlantic Books Today (#78), reviewer Dan Soucoup says Joy’s theory is “convincing.” And, “in addition to pointing us in a fascinating new direction …she’s done a fine job presenting important research into an essential but often ignored aspect of our region’s historic lumber trade.”

—

An Amazon (.ca) customer writes “this book satisfies….” She goes on to say that Joy “has done painstaking research only to boil everything down into an easy to read and enjoyable explanation.”

“…many people have risked lives and fortunes to find the treasure at Oak Island. It will be a hard blow to find out the truth.” “A good read – highly recommend!”

—

Still another Amazonian reviewer says “of all the solutions that have been proposed, this is one that is completely different and there is very good discussion about much of the evidence and items that have been found.”

“The history of the British, the use of slavery, the South Sea Company, and the naval stores are all revelations and interesting.”

“The book is a very interesting read and presents a whole new solution to the Oak Island Mystery.”

There’s been another spate of comments on Joy Steele’s The Oak Island Mystery, Solved (CBU Press 2015). In Atlantic Books… Continue»

A.J.B. Johnston to read from his latest, “Crossings”

Posted by Mike Hunter on September 18, 2015

A.J.B. Johnston is launching the third novel of his Thomas Pichon series with a reading at Halifax Central Library on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m., part of HPL’s “Author’s Stage.”

On October 2 (7 p.m.) the Colchester Historium in Truro will also host a reading.

A.J.B. Johnston is launching the third novel of his Thomas Pichon series with a reading at Halifax Central Library on… Continue»

“Exactly what we need”: Review

Posted by Mike Hunter on

A timely and very favourable review of Michael Newton’s new book – Seanchaidh na Coille / Memory-Keeper of the Forest: Anthology of Scottish-Gaelic Literature of Canada – was just published in Dàna, the Scottish Gaelic e-zine. (Favourable because, well, the book deserves it, and timely because the book’s official launch is set for next weekend in Toronto – more on that here.)

The original Gaelic follows the below translation. You can read the full review (in Gaelic) at here.

[Translation] “It is true to say that a complete picture cannot be put together of anything that relates to the Gaelic world that excludes those Gaelic sources. The story of Highland emigration is the same. Gaelic is unavoidable and fundamental to every story. And that is one of the greatest obstacles that has created the situation in which we find ourselves – not many people are familiar with the sources, or understand the sources, or pay much heed to the sources.

“And for those who understand Gaelic, or who are entirely willing to use Gaelic sources, the lack of source materials about the lives of Gaels in Canada is another obstacle. For scholars and students of Highland emigration, the complete picture cannot be gained entirely through Scottish sources. Both sides are needed. A handful of worthwhile books were printed some years ago of poetry, songs and oral narratives. [Seanchaidh na Coille / Memory-Keeper of the Forest] adds to that effort by also including a selection of prose. It also gives us the other part of the story that is not so well researched. What really happened to the Gaels after they reached their destination? Where did they go? What did they think about the emigrant experience, or Gaelic, in the Old Country, in the “Gloomy Forest” or on the Prairies?…

“The writings on this subject are scattered and that makes it difficult for people to go into the topic without formal training. Michael’s writings open this culture up to the general public, in Scotland and abroad. And, in my opinion, that is exactly what we need in North America in order to begin to give a proper education to the “Highland Diaspora” who lost their heritage in the “Gloomy Forest.”

“Seanchaidh na Coille is the jewel in the crown of Michael’s scholarship, providing scholarly commentary and new materials together in one place, for Gaels, for scholars and for those who have an interest in Gaelic heritage in Canada.

“There are many people in North America who did not get a fair chance to inherit their culture, due to many years of the decline and distortion of their heritage. Here is your chance.”

Liam Alistair Crouse is Gaelic Development Officer at Ceòlas and editor of Dàna, Scottish Gaelic’s first e-zine.

Tha e fìor ri ràdh nach fhaighear an dealbh coileanta de rud sam bith a tha a’ buntainn ris an t-saoghal Ghàidhealach às aonais nan tùsan Gàidhlig sin. Tha sgeul eilthireachd nan Gàidheal san aon rud. Tha a’ Ghàidhlig do-sheachanta agus bunasach dhan sgeul. Agus ’s e sin aon de na cnapan-starra mòra a b’ adhbhar don t-suidheachadh anns a bheil sinn – nach eil tòrr eòlach air na tùsan, a’ tuigsinn nan tùsan, neo a’ toirt suim do na tùsan.

Agus dhan fheadhainn a tha a’ tuigsinn na Gàidhlig, air neo aig a bheil làn-tograidh na tùsan Gàidhlig a chleachdadh, tha gainnead de stuth truiste mu bheatha nan Gàidheal an Canada na chnap-starra eile. Do sgoilearan agus oileanaich eilthireachd nan Gàidheal, chan ann tro sgrùdadh litreachas à Alba a gheibhear an sealladh coileanta. Feumaidh an dà thaobh. Chaidh cnap leabhraichean ionmholta a chur an clò bho chionn grunn mhath bhliadhnaichean — bàrdachd, òrain, is sgeulachdan. Tha an leabhar seo a’ cur clach air a’ chàrn ud, le bhith cuideachd a’ toirt beagan roisg na lùib. Tha e cuideachd a’ toirt dhuinn an leth eile dhen sgeulachd, nach eil cho rannsaichte. Dè dha-rìreabh a thachair dha na Gàidheil nuair a chaidh iad a-null? Càite an deach iad? Ciamar a bha iad a’ gabhail beachd air eilthireachd neo a’ Ghàidhlig, san t-Seana Dhùthaich neo sa Choille Ghruamach neo air a’ Phrèiridh? …

Chan eil sgrìobhainnean a’ chuspair ach sgapte agus sin a’ fàgail gu bheil e doirbh do dhaoine a dhol a-steach dhan chuspair gun fhoghlam foirmeil. Tha leabhraichean Mhìcheil a’ fosgladh an dualchais dhan mhòr-shluagh, ann an Alba agus thall thairis. Agus, na mo bheachd-sa, ’s e sin a tha a dhìth oirnn ann an Aimeireaga gus tòiseachadh a dhèanamh air oideachadh ceart a thoirt do ‘Chlann nan Gàidheal’ a chaill an dìleab sa Choille Ghruamaich.

Tha Seanchaidh na Coille mar sheud sa chrùn aig sgoilearachd Mhìcheil, a’ toirt sgrìobhainn sgoilearach agus stuth ùr còmhla ann an aon àite, dha na Gàidheil, dha na sgoilearan, agus dhan fheadhainn aig a bheil ùidh ann an dualchas nan Gàidheal an Canada.

’S iomadh duine ann an Aimeireaga nach d’fhuair cothrom na Fèinne air an dualchas, air sgàth bhliadhnaichean de chrìonadh agus claonadh na dìleibe. ’S e seo do chothrom.

A timely and very favourable review of Michael Newton’s new book – Seanchaidh na Coille / Memory-Keeper of the Forest:… Continue»

U of T Scottish-Gaelic Concert to launch new book

Posted by Mike Hunter on August 11, 2015

Canada’s Scottish-Gaelic literature subject of new book

Michael Newton’s new book, an anthology of Gaelic poetry and prose recovering select writings of Canadian Gaels will be launched with events at the University of Toronto and at the University of Guelph in late September.

Seanchaidh na Coille / Memory-Keeper of the Forest: Anthology of Scottish-Gaelic Literature of Canada gives voice to the experience of Gaelic Canadians through a broad set of themes: migration, politics, religion, family life, identity, social organizations and more. It’s the first book of its kind in Canada.

For the Toronto launch, Michael will collaborate with Nova Scotian Gaelic poet and singer Lewis MacKinnon, author of two collections of Gaelic poetry from CBU Press, Famhair, agus dàin Ghàidhlig eile (Giant, and Other Gaelic poems), 2008 and Rudan Mì-bheanailteach is an Cothroman, Dàin (Intangible Possibilities, Poems)

The pair will read and perform a number of excerpts from the anthology, a selection of songs and recitative readings describing Highland migration to Ontario and documenting the challenges to their settlement and existence as a people, as well as celebrating their survival.

The event will be hosted by University of Toronto’s Celtic Studies Course Union and Comunn Gàidhlig Thoronto / Gaelic Society of Toronto on Friday, September 25, 2015, at 7:30 p.m., at Sheraton Hall at Wycliffe College, 5 Hoskin Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 1H7. Tickets are available from the Comunn Gàidhlig Thoronto website. Michael Newton will also speak at the 2015 Guelph Scottish Studies Symposium on Saturday, September 26.

Michael Newton has written extensively about Scottish Gaelic tradition, culture, history and literature, in Scotland and North America. His most recent publications are The Naughty Little Book of Gaelic: All the Scottish-Gaelic you need to Curse, Swear, Drink, Smoke and Fool Around (CBU Press, 2014) and Celts in the Americas, an edited collection of papers on the subject.

Lewis MacKinnon is a Nova Scotian Gaelic poet, singer and advocate, the author of two collections of Gaelic and English poetry and he is the reigning Scottish Bard, the first poet from outside of Scotland in the more than 100-year history of the Royal National Mod. He is also Executive Director of Gaelic Affairs, a Division of the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage, Government of Nova Scotia.

Canada’s Scottish-Gaelic literature subject of new book Michael Newton’s new book, an anthology of Gaelic poetry and prose recovering select writings of Canadian… Continue»

What they’re saying about The Oak Island Mystery, Solved

Posted by Mike Hunter on July 27, 2015

The Editors: “Solved” is not just a subtitle, to us it’s a statement.

Michael Harmon, Archaeologist, U.S. Forest Service: “When I read about the Oak Island mystery in my youth, I never imagined the ‘mystery’ could be anything but buried treasure. Finding my first tar kiln while working with the U.S. Forest Service in North Carolina led me to study the development and spread of the naval stores industry. These two events were completely unrelated until I began corresponding with Joy. Initially I was skeptical of her premise, but her enthusiasm and meticulous research have convinced me that the so called treasure is actually part of our forgotten maritime history. Kudos!”

Terry Deveau, Senior Scientist, Ocean Acoustics, Jasco Applied Sciences: “Your book came in the mail today. […] I must say, I am impressed. You’ve done a remarkable job. Congratulations!”

Frank Morrison, BSc, Ottawa, ON: “Please accept my deepest congratulations on your meticulously researched and documented book. I am satisfied that you have indeed solved the mystery! […] I am in complete agreement with your assertion that the real treasure is to be had in a realization of the history you have uncovered!”

“Your book should be required reading in every Nova Scotia high school and part of the history programs at all universities at least in North American studies.”

Jo Atherton (http://www.oakislandtreasure.co.uk/) recently posted: “I have known Joy for a number of years and am delighted to finally see her work in print. She has a dogged determination when it comes to research and I am looking forward to reading her thorough investigation of the Oak Island mystery. The evidence brought to light and reconsideration of many established theories will undoubtedly spark new discussion around the popular mystery, between enthusiasts and experts alike.”

Susan E. Avery (Parker, CO, USA) in a recent blog post: “PS – Hey you all. I can’t put Joy Steele’s new book down. It is so good. Anybody associated with the Navy like I am (born at the Annapolis Naval Hospital and had and still have the initials SEA) will love reading it.”

The Editors: “Solved” is not just a subtitle, to us it’s a statement. Michael Harmon, Archaeologist, U.S. Forest Service: “When… Continue»

Anna Swan’s story shortlisted for Rocky Mountain Book Award

Posted by Mike Hunter on

We are delighted to learn that The Extraordinary Life of Anna Swan, by Anne Renaud, has been shortlisted for the 2016 Rocky Mountain Book Award.

Started by a group of teachers, teacher-librarians, children’s and educational librarians and booksellers, the Rocky Mountain Book Award was born of the conviction that as so much competes for the young person’s attention, it behooves that adults around them present only the very best of the hundreds of books available. This children’s choice book award is the only Alberta program of its kind and is aimed at increasing the literacy level of Alberta grade 4-7 students. This population includes 180,000 students who have free access to this program via the Internet.

A shortlist of twenty current Canadian fiction, non-fiction and poetry books is selected annually. The list is then made available through the website, a full-colour poster and brochure is sent to each Alberta school and participating Public Libraries.

A teacher or adult leader registers a reading group made up of a minimum of three children on the Rocky Mountain Book Award website. Students are encouraged to read as many of the titles as possible to provide the most well informed vote, but must have read or have read aloud to them, a minimum of five books from the combined list. They vote electronically via the award’s website. In addition, the students are encouraged to submit book reviews to the website, sharing their insights and enthusiasm for the titles. The book receiving the most votes wins and the winner is announced on World Book and Copyright Day on April 23 (2016).

At birth, Anna Swan weighed an amazing 6 kilograms (13 pounds) – almost twice the size of an average newborn. Growing to an astonishing size – nearly 2.5 metres (almost 8 feet) tall, she was billed as “The Nova Scotia Giant Girl” at P.T. Barnum’s American Museum in New York. But despite her unusual and challenging physical attributes, she rose above adversity and led a life of love, happiness and great accomplishments. Hers is a moving and remarkable story.

Congratulations Anne Renaud!

We are delighted to learn that The Extraordinary Life of Anna Swan, by Anne Renaud, has been shortlisted for the… Continue»