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September 6, 2006
Fiddling
Legend Buddy MacMaster to be
Honoured by Cape Breton University
(Judique,
NS) - Everyone is invited to a special convocation at St.
Andrew's Parish (Judique) beginning at 5:15 p.m. Monday,
October 9 as Cape Breton University confers an honorary
Doctorate of Letters on the man widely known as the Master
Cape Breton fiddler, Hugh A. (Buddy) MacMaster.
The
University is issuing an open invitation to the community to
join in the recognition of Buddy's lifelong dedication to
sharing Cape Breton's cultural traditions. The special
convocation is being held in Buddy's hometown, on the same
day that he will perform in the 10th annual Celtic Colours
Festival in a concert called "The Judique Flyers."
"Buddy
MacMaster is one of the most celebrated Cape Breton fiddlers
of all time," says CBU President John Harker. "He has been a
mentor to many, many young musicians at home in Cape Breton
and around the world. Although he might not call
himself a teacher, at Cape Breton University we consider him
to be the dean of Cape Breton fiddling."
His style
of playing and his generosity and commitment to others
exemplify the old Scottish style of fiddling, in which
techniques and tunes are passed down from one generation to
the next simply by listening, watching and playing. "Buddy
has always honoured that tradition selflessly and has
influenced countless musicians as a result. Without him,
Cape Breton fiddling might not have traveled as far and been
celebrated in so many corners of the globe," notes Harker.
Buddy was
named a Member of the Order of Canada in 2000, was awarded
the Order of Nova Scotia in 2003 and received the East Coast
Music Association's Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement
Award earlier this year.
He has
recorded five albums of fiddling music, all in the last two
decades since his retirement from the Canadian National
Railway company.
Buddy, 81,
says it is important for Cape Breton University and others -
like the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre in Judique and the
Celtic Colours International Festival, for example - to
work hard to maintain the old musical traditions. But, he
adds, the fiddle players are the ones that will do the heavy
lifting.
"Many
tourists come to Cape Breton for the music and the
dancing, and it would be too bad to lose that," Buddy says.
"But we've got lots of good young players coming up and I
don't think the music is going to die out anytime soon."
During the
special convocation, entertainment will be provided by
special musical guests. Following the ceremony, everyone is
invited to join Buddy across the street at the Celtic Music
Interpretive Centre for tea and oatcakes.
The
special convocation for Buddy MacMaster will be held in
advance of a larger fall convocation at the University. The
event in Judique is the third time in CBU's history that a
convocation
ceremony has been held off-campus. The first was a Mi'kmaq
convocation ceremony in Wagmatcook in 2004 and the second
was at the Sydney Marine Terminal last year, when CBU
presented an honorary degree to international humanitarian
Stephen Lewis.
The
special convocation in Judique is one of a number of events
celebrating culture and community being hosted or sponsored
by Cape Breton University during October.
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