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 大象传媒 Radio Commissioned piece by Amanda Christie: Uisgeachan Ci霉in (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 大象传媒
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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Canada 150 鈥� Uisgeachan Ci霉in (Quiet Waters) by Amanda Christie
Duration: 15:01
Music Played
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Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys
Back 40 Rip-off
Performer: Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys.- 大象传媒 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.- 大象传媒 Recording, June 2017.
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Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys
Pickle King Polka
Performer: Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys.- 大象传媒 Recording, June 2017.
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Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys
Said Too Much
Performer: Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys.- 大象传媒 Recording, June 2017.
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Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys
Maritime Lullaby
Performer: Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys.- 大象传媒 Recording, June 2017.
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Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys
Goodbye City Lights
Performer: Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys.- 大象传媒 Recording, June 2017.
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Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys
Black Mountain Rag
Performer: Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys.- 大象传媒 Recording, June 2017.
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Stomochroi
Performer: Teresa Doyle & Patrick Brennan.- 大象传媒 Recording, June 2017.
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Teresa Soyle
Jimmy's Jig
Performer: Teresa Doyle & Patrick Brennan.- 大象传媒 Recording, June 2017.
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Cape Breton Lullaby
Performer: Teresa Doyle & Patrick Brennan.- 大象传媒 Recording, June 2017.
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痴颈蝉丑迟猫苍
Mass Pike Flat
Performer: 痴颈蝉丑迟猫苍.- 大象传媒 Recording, June 2017.
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痴颈蝉丑迟猫苍
Joe Feraille
Performer: 痴颈蝉丑迟猫苍.- 大象传媒 Recording, June 2017.
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痴颈蝉丑迟猫苍
Trois Blizzards
Performer: 痴颈蝉丑迟猫苍.- 大象传媒 Recording, June 2017.
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痴颈蝉丑迟猫苍
Joli Coeur
Performer: 痴颈蝉丑迟猫苍.- 大象传媒 Recording, June 2017.
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Psalm 57v.1-3 to tune 'Martyrdom'
Performer: Singers from congregations in the islands of Lewis, Harris, and Scalpay.- 大象传媒 Recording, May 2017.
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Psalm 72 v.17-19 to tune 'Stornoway'
Performer: Singers from congregations in the islands of Lewis, Harris, and Scalpay.- 大象传媒 Recording, May 2017.
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Amanda Christie
Uisgeachan Ci霉in (Quiet Waters)
Performer: Amanda Christie. Performer: Tong Mission Hall Congregation. Performer: Rod C. MacNeil. Performer: Mary Jane Lamond. -
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痴颈蝉丑迟猫苍
La Miracule
Performer: 痴颈蝉丑迟猫苍.- 大象传媒 Recording, June 2017.
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Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys with Vishten
Bring my Clothes Back Home
Performer: Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys with Vishten.- 大象传媒 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.- 大象传媒 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.- 大象传媒 Recording, June 2017.
Broadcast
- Fri 30 Jun 2017 23:00大象传媒 Radio 3
Featured in...
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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.