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Noted C.B.
Scottish Pianist Mourned
By
Greg MacVicar, Halifax Herald
 SYDNEY RIVER —
The life of a
legendary Cape Breton pianist was celebrated Saturday
morning as family, friends and fellow musicians gathered at
Our Lady of Fatima Church in Sydney River to remember Marie MacLellan.
"All I ever read about was
harps in heaven, but I’m sure there’s a piano somewhere,"
said Rev. Norman MacPhee, who officiated at Ms. MacLellan’s
funeral mass. "She was given to the world. Now she is given
to God."
Ms. MacLellan, 84, died in
Sydney on Thursday after a long illness.
"It’s been a long vigil for
you up at the hospital all those days," Father MacPhee said
to Ms. MacLellan’s sister, violinist Theresa MacLellan.
"It’s a great loss to you and we acknowledge that loss."
The sisters played together at
dances, ceilidhs and concerts for more than 70 years,
starting out as girls in their native community of
Riverside, Inverness County.
Over the years, the names
Theresa and Marie became synonymous with tuneful, driving
traditional Scottish music. Their late brother Donald, also
a violinist, completed the MacLellan Trio.
Their father was the legendary
violinist Big Ronald MacLellan, who was supposed to have
received his first violin bow as a gift from the fairies,
and their mother, Mary Ann, was a strong supporter of
Scottish music.
After the funeral, friend and
fellow pianist Doug MacPhee of New Waterford remembered Ms.
MacLellan’s generosity and good humour.
"The word ‘no’ wasn’t in
Marie’s vocabulary when it came to giving of her music,"
said Mr. MacPhee. "She was happy, jolly and loved to be with
people. She had a lot of life and drive to her music, with a
Gaelic feeling."
Donnie Campbell, who hosts a
weekly Celtic music show from Sydney, said as an accompanist
Ms. MacLellan always made fiddlers sound good, from
beginners to legends such as Winston (Scotty) Fitzgerald,
Joe MacLean and Angus Chisholm.
"It didn’t matter who she was
playing with, she got the best out of them," said Mr.
Campbell. "She played with everyone and she never
complained. That’s the type of woman she was."
Carl MacKenzie led a large
group of fiddlers at the end of Ms. MacLellan’s funeral in a
lively set that included one of her favourite tunes, Captain
Carswell March, and wrapped up with some old strathspeys and
reels.
"I played a lot with Marie,"
said Mr. MacKenzie.
"She had great life and she
had great flavour."
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Above photo:
Margaree
Poto by: Victor Maurice Faubert
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