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The Ceòlacanth Project features lively players of traditional Scottish and Irish music in the St. Paul/Minneapolis region of Minnesota, all of whom are 65+...Ceòlacanth – It’s Alive!
The Coelacanth is the “living fossil” of the sea, thought to have become extinct 80 million years ago. Its discovery in a fishing net off the east coast of South Africa in 1938 was the zoological find of the century, and a few dozen more have been found since. The Irish word for music is “Ceol” and the Scottish Gaelic word is “Ceòl”. Hence, this perfect pun, "Ceòlacanth". Thank you Barry Foy for thinking of the Coelacanth and thank you Dáithí Sproule for the pun.
"Coelacanth" is pronounced "SEE-luh-kanth"
"Ceòlacanth" is pronounced "KyOHL-uh-kanth"
The Ceòlacanth Project results in a hardcopy CD featuring duo performances of traditional Scottish and Irish Music, plus one Breton track. Playing and singing on the album, Laura MacKenzie joins a few of her colleagues:
Barry Foy, fiddle
Dáithí Sproule, guitar
Ross Sutter, voice and guitar
Tom Schaefer, fiddle
Jo Ann Vano, button accordion
Patrice Pakiz, piano
Jim Moss, bouzouki
Bob Walser, button accordion
Laura MacKenzie joins them on wooden flutes, concertina, whistles, Scottish smallpipes and voice.
If you would like a CD or digital download, please contact: laura@lauramackenzie.com
Tracks include: (all music traditional unless otherwise noted)
Ode to Friendship (music: Dáithí Sproule; lyrics: Barry Foy)
Dáithí Sproule, guitar; Laura, voice and flute (LYRICS)
Ewie Wi' The Crookit Horn/Chickens Gone to Scotland/Yellow Tinker
Dáithí Sproule, guitar; Laura, whistle.
Heather Island/A.A. Cameron’s Strathspey/The Ale is Dear
Tom Schaefer, fiddle; Laura, flute
Will You Come Down to Limerick/To Limerick We Will Go
Tom Schaefer, fiddle; Laura, flute
The Presbyterian Hornpipe/The Monkey (P. James)
Patrice Pakiz, piano; Laura, concertina
Clover and Thistle (B. Humphrey, arr. Pakiz and MacKenzie)
Patrice Pakiz, piano; Laura, flute
MacKenzie Hay (J. Scott Skinner)/Walsh’s Hornpipe
Barry Foy, fiddle; Laura, flute
Hector the Hero (J. Scott Skinner)/Foxhunter’s Reel
Barry Foy, fiddle; Laura, Scottish smallpipes
Bonny at Morn
Ross Sutter, voice; Laura, voice
Joy of My Heart (H. Roberton, arr. Sutter and MacKenzie)
Ross Sutter, voice and guitar; Laura, voice and flute
John Anderson, My Jo/Linkumdoddie
Jim Moss, bouzouki; Laura, Scottish smallpipes
Kerfank 1870/Hanter Dro/Zelda (P. Plard) (Breton medley)
Bob Walser, button accordion; Laura, boxwood whistle
Coleman’s March/Dornoch Links/The Gypsy Princess
Jo Ann Vano, button accordion; Laura, hawthorn flute
Recorded by Gary Rue, New Music Arts,
at The Chicken Lounge, St. Paul, Minnesota
Mastered by Rare Form Mastering
Produced by Laura MacKenzie
Sleeve and Graphic Design by Tom Klein
This project and the recording are dedicated to the memories of Martin McHugh, Pete Tritz and Bob Douglas, stalwart members of our traditional music community, recently lost, now resting in peace. They are dearly missed.
Laura MacKenzie is a fiscal year 2022 recipient of a Creative Support for Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
