A Homecoming CD
Four generations of a remarkable family whose Gaelic-speaking forebears emigrated from the Isle of Canna, Moidart and Glengarry between 1820 and 1840.

A Newfoundland Homecoming Cèilidh - Price £ 5 (including P&P) - order below

This compilation represents four generations of a remarkable family whose Gaelic-speaking forebears emigrated from the Isle of Canna, Moidart and Glengarry between 1820 and 1840. Their people settled in the fertile Codroy Valley, southwest Newfoundland and retained their language, songs and old Highland customs till the late 1960s. After the coming of electricity in 1962 and the Trans-Canada Highway in 1966, English gradually took over. When I first visited in 1968, however, there was still a vibrant tradition among the older generation, particularly in the home of the late Allan MacArthur. Singer, piper, fiddler, accordion player, step-dancer, story-teller and historian, Allan MacArthur was one of the most remarkable tradition bearers I have ever met either side of the Atlantic.

The playlist draws from fieldwork recordings made in Newfoundland between 1968 and 2007 and new recordings by three generations of the family—all direct descendents of the first settlers. Homecoming Scotland 2009 will see the ever group of Scottish Newfoundlanders on a cultural tour of ‘the Old Country’. Not only will they visit the land of their forebears but also will share songs, tunes and old-style dances—we hope you will share our Homecoming Newfoundlanders Cèilidh.
Margaret Bennett
Perthshire, 2009

Notes
1. MacArthur’s Island - Allan’s grandson, Gordon Cormier sings lead on his song about the old homestead. (With Loretta Cormier and Mallory Johnson). Album Title: The Shamrock, Thistle & Rose. Produced by Rick Hollet & The Cormiers. Produced by Rick Hollet & The Cormiers.

2. ’Illean Bithibh Sunndach - Allan MacArthur (1884—1971), with sons George, Martin and John & Margaret Bennett. Margaret Bennett Folklore Archive Collection, 1969. [According to Allan, “this song was composed in Scotland. It was a crowd that left ..., crossing the Atlantic from an t-Eilean Sgitheanach,]

3. Ocean Blue - Allan’s great-grand-daughter, Mallory Johnson - Album Title: The Cormiers Comin’ Home.

4. Trip to Mabou Ridge & High Road to Linton Allan’s son Sears . Margaret Bennett Folklore Archive Collection, 1990.

5. Fear a’ Bhàta. Allan’s son, Frank (1917—1997) Margaret Bennett Folklore Archive Collection, 1990.

6. In It Another of Allan’s great-grand-children, Don Brownrigg - Album Title: Wander Songs. Weewerk Records, 2007.

7. Calvin’s Mandolin set .Allan’s grandson Calvin Cormier (mandolin) and uncle Sears MacArthur (guitar) and his brother-in-law Stan Farrell (spoons). Margaret Bennett Folklore Archive Collection, 1990.

8. Out of My Mind Allan’s great-grand-daughter Vanessa MacArthur - Album title: MacArthur Drive.

9. A Mhàiri Dhubh - Allan MacArthur sang this song along with three of his sons, George, John and Martin. Margaret Bennett Folklore Archive Collection, 1969.

10. Pat Murphy’s Meadow Margaret Bennett, . Album Title: In the Sunny Long Ago

11. King George IV (strathspey), Muileann Dubh (reel )- Leonard & Sears MacArthur. Margaret Bennett Folklore Archive Collection, 1990.

12. Saturday Night Ceilidh -Allan’s grand-daughter Loretta Cormier - Album title: The Cormiers

13. Bha Mi ’n Raoir ag Òl - Allan’s son Martin Margaret Bennett Folklore Archive Collection, 2007.

14. Cock o’ the North Pipe set - Allan MacArthur - Margaret Bennett Folklore Archive Collection, 1969.

Thanks to all who made this tour a reality
with contributions on every level: Highland Legacy 2007; Homecoming Scotland 2009 [homecomingscotland2009.com]; the Colquhouns of the Lodge on Loch Lomond
& the Inn at Inverbeg [www.loch-lomond.co.uk & www.Innatinverbeg.co.uk];
Perth and Kinross Council; Laggan Heritage Committee and the community of Laggan
[www.laggan.com]; Fèis Rois in Ullapool [www.feisrois.org]; Clan Donald Centre in Skye
[www.clandonald.com]; Glenuig Community Association [www.glenuig.org.uk];
Caledonian MacBrayne [www.calmac.co.uk]; Friends of Canna House (Isle of Canna) and the Gaelic Books Council [www.gaelicbooks.org].
Thanks also to Margaret Bennett [www.margaretbennett.co.uk] who planned, negotiated, collaborated and MC’d the Newfoundlanders’ Homecoming Cèilidh Tour 2009 and to
Gonzalo Mazzei [Grace Note Publications] for helping at every stage.
Thanks to all fundraisers in Newfoundland for their generosity, NL Music
as well as friends and family, to Bernie Benoit and Joe Bruce for rehearsal time
and to all the performers at the Newfoundlanders’ Homecoming Cèilidh:
Martin MacArthur (Gaelic songs)
Sears MacArthur (melodeon, guitar, choruses)
Leonard MacArthur (fiddle)
Helena MacArthur (step-dancer)
Vanessa MacArthur (solo vocal, ‘set’ dance)
Loretta (Cormier) Johnson (solo vocal, guitar)
Gordon Cormier (solo vocal, guitar, melodeon)
Mallory Johnson (solo vocal, tap dance)
Calvin Cormier (mandolin, set dance)
Don Brownrigg (solo vocal, guitar)
with set dancers and ‘milling’ singers Loretta (MacArthur) &
Gerard Brownrigg, Karen Farrell and Gennie Gale

 

Information at:
Grace note Publications CIC
Grange of Locherlour, ochtertyre by Crieff
Perthshite PH7 4JS
Tel: +44(0) 1764 655 979
Email:books@gracenotereading.co.uk