About the Music Cape Breton Dance Suite is a suite of five Cape Breton dance tunes arranged for woodwind quintet. While Cape Breton Fiddle Sets are traditionally arranged from slowest to fastest this arrangement has the works organized to provide contrasts in both style and key, much like the keyboard suites of the Baroque Period. The opening movement, Dowd’ s Favourite is a well-known reel on the Island and first appeared in print as a march/strathspey. Over time it evolved into the reel we know to- day in the hands of Irish fiddlers. Interestingly, for a tune with Scottish origins adapted by Irish musicians, it has returned to a mostly-Scottish tradition on Cape Breton, where it has entered the repertoire there through the playing of many of the island’s fiddlers. The next movement is a setting of the waltz, Crossing to Ireland. This movement presents the musical materials in a number of contrasting sections with some interesting harmonic language. The music eventually fades into a lone note held by the flute much like the ferry one takes from Scotland to Ireland would fade from sight. On the Road to Boston is the third movement and is a march. Marches have fallen from favour in Scottish fiddle music but are still an important feature of the music of Cape Breton. The tune’s title reflects on the fact that many Cape Bretoners found that they needed to move to cities, such as Boston, for economic reasons. The Maritimes have always had a close connection to the New England states, and Boston at one time had a large ex-pat population of Islanders. The fourth movement, Robertson’s Rant, is a traditional strathspey in melody only. The Strathspey is a slow graceful dance in 4/4 time that is characterised by frequent use of the “Scotch Snap,” a short-long rhythmic figure. Over time this “Scotch Snap” has become synonymous with Scottish Music. I chose this tune given its connection to my family name in Scotland’s Clan system. The harmonies and musical setting here are an exploration beyond the traditional features associated with this style of dance. The last movement is the reel Put Me In The Big Chest. This movement melodically and harmonically brings the suite to a close.
