In the 19th century, immigrants from Scotland settled on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, which, because of its geographical isolation, allowed the musical traditions of those first settlers to pass to future generations essentially free of outside influences. In the 1970s, people began to realize that many tunes, instrumental techniques, and dance steps that are extinct in Scotland were alive and thriving in Cape Breton. The Heart of Cape Breton, recorded in 2000, gathers some of the finest traditional fiddlers on Cape Breton, including Jerry Holland, Brenda Stubbert, Jackie Dunn MacIsaac, Buddy MacMaster, Wendy MacIsaac, and Kinnon Beaton. All of the tracks were recorded live at dances and concerts, and although you can occasionally hear the shuffle of dancing feet in the background, the sound only acts as a reminder that the masterful fiddling on the jigs, reels, strathspeys, and flings is designed to get you out of your chair and onto the dance floor. --Michael Simmons
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