One of my favorite tunes

by adminKFS on · 2 comments

I have a very special affection for pipe tunes and this is one of my favorites. This is the pipe version of ‘Caber Feidh’ or the Deer’s Antler’s. There is also a very common version in the key of C.

What I find fascinating about this tune is that it is pretty much the same tune as the ‘New Copperplate’ from the Irish repertoire. That tune is in the key of G major with the melody containing C naturals while the pipe version of Caber Feidh is in A modal with C#’s. Even though the tune starts on the G chord, the tonal center is A.

I first heard this tune from the playing of Mike MacDougall who was a great Cape Breton fiddler from Ingonish. Both Mike’s father and grandfather were pipers and this piping influence is very evident in his style and repertoire.
Here is a clip of Mike playing this tune from documentary that was aired after he passed away. (this particular tune is played around the 1:35 minute mark).

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April 2, 2012 at 9:07 am, Randy said...

Cool tune. Is that a C or C# in the last measure? I’m guessing C# like the last measure of the first section.
Do you know of an mp3 or recording of a fiddle playing this, like you playing it?

    April 2, 2012 at 11:58 am, Kimberley SessionsAdmin said...

    Hi Randy,
    Yes, you are right, it is a C#. Thanks for catching that. I don’t know of a recording but thanks for the idea- I’ll post one!

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