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On Saturday, June 16, 2024, Fabric of Life welcomed award winning Cape Bretton fiddlers Troy MacGillivray and Mari Black to Western Massachusetts.

Before the concert, Troy & Mari arrived at the Bassett Road Homestead in Shelburne to teach two intimate fiddle workshops. Eight musicians with a range of experience and skills tried out new tunes, experimented with ornamentation and playing styles, and even soaked in a bit of history about the composer of one of the songs they learned. Participants eagerly soaked up Troy’s enthusiastic playing and teaching style, and had a chance to try out the newly learned tunes to Troy’s piano accompaniment. Everyone took a short break to socialize over light snacks before the second portion of the workshop. Mari began by teaching a simple yet catchy song and then discussed the composer’s intention around how it would be played. She demonstrated two very different approaches to playing the tune, one in a more formal style, and one with the driving Cape Breton feel. Participants were delighted with their ability to alter the sound of the tune based on their technique.

While the workshop was taking place, preparations were underway at the Buckland Public Hall for the evening’s planned Cape Breton Fiddle Concert. Carolyn Wheeler of Wheel View Farm generously loaned us tables from the family’s farm museum for the event. Unique hand-woven table cloths were provided by Vävstuga Weaving School and each table was adorned with a beautiful arrangement of Carolyn’s peonies. Seating was arranged in rows, eagerly anticipating the arrival of an audience that would nearly fill the hall.

At 5pm, concert-goers were lined up outside the hall, able to catch a glimpse of the performers through the hall’s windows as the sound check was completed. Once the doors opened, every available seat was soon occupied, most with local residents who had come out to see these accomplished musicians. Some had ties to Cape Breton, others were also musicians, and all came for the pure enjoyment of the evening’s music. Once Troy, Mari, and accompanying guitarist, Noah Fishman took to the stage, the crowd was all ears as they listened to the trio play an engaging first set of songs. During a brief intermission, folks mingled about, chatting about Cape Breton, fiddle music, families, the hall, and sharing a sense of community.

When Troy, Mari, and Noah began to play again, the room went quiet, with folks nodding in time, tapping their feet, and clapping along to the music. During a waltz, the musicians encouraged dancers to get up from their seats and, as Mari put it: “Make dance music no longer theoretical.” Couples twirled throughout the hall, and spilled over into the entryway to find more space for their fancy footwork. And they weren’t the only dancers – both Mari and Troy took turns bringing the music to life as they played while also dancing on stage.

After the conclusion of the concert, a buffet supper was served, featuring a variety of fun desserts, such as jello creations in the shape of a lobster, a cornucopia, a pineapple, a rooster, a fish, and many others. Cucumber sandwiches, salad, and of course, cheese and crackers, and trays filled with desserts were enthusiastically picked up as tables and chairs were rearranged to make space for the after-dinner square set. After a short break for supper, the music resumed, and folks danced and laughed together until the joyous evening came to an end.

The staff at Fabric of Life is honored to have been involved with bringing these talented and captivating musicians to our rural Western Massachusetts community and hope the memories and joy folks took home with them will last a lifetime. We hope to see many of the concert attendees at our future events and are humbled by the feedback from our community about the joy, music and connection we have been able to foster.

Troy MacGillivray

Troy MacGillivray was raised in Lanark, Nova Scotia and has been involved in music since his childhood. By the age of six, Troy was already impressing audiences with his step dancing skills. By 13 he was teaching piano at the renowned Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts in St. Anne’s, Cape Breton. He has completed grade seven of the Toronto Conservatory of Music for classical piano, has spent four years in a stringed orchestra and has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in music from St. Francis Xavier University. He has a number of albums, including Boomerang (2003) and Musical Ties (2001), which received East Coast Music Award nominations as well as Music Industry Association of Nova Scotia nominations. MacGillivray’s third solo album, ELEVEN, is a tribute to his Highland heritage. His 4th album, Live At The Music Room, was awarded the 2008 ECMA Instrumental Recording of the Year and contains a wide variety of strathespeys, reels, jigs, polkas, a hornpipe and a piano air. His most recent album, When Here Meets There, is a unique collaboration with Canadian & US National Fiddle Champion Shane Cook. In 2004, he was the recipient of the “Auleen Theriault Young Tradition Award” from the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival in Goderich, Ontario. Troy has toured around the world, including appearances at Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow, Scotland, the East Coast Music Awards, Celtic Colours International Festival in Cape Breton, the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, the Barbados Celtic Festival and the Edinburgh Fiddle Festival.  Troy is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for outstanding contributions to culture.

Learn more about Troy.

Mari Black

Called “one of the brightest fiddlers around today” (Brian O’Donovan, WGBH radio’s A Celtic Sojourn), multistyle violinist and champion fiddler Mari Black delights audiences around the world with her energetic playing, sparkling stage presence, and dazzlingly virtuosic fiddling. Mari’s dynamic performances are infused with her sense playfulness and deep love of the history behind the music, as she weaves together driving dance tunes with beloved stories that bring the music to life. Raised on a rich blend of traditional musical styles, Mari burst onto the international stage when she became Scotland’s Glenfiddich Fiddle Champion, 2-time U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion, and 2-time Canadian Maritime Fiddle Champion, all within a three-year period. Ever since, she has been spreading her love for dance-based music, performing as a featured artist at performing arts centers, Celtic festivals, Scottish Highland Games, celebrated folk venues, world music concert series, and acclaimed classical venues including Carnegie Hall. Mari’s passion for dance-driven music extends far beyond the concert stage, as reflected in her work as a teacher, composer, dancer, competition judge, and musical ambassador committed to connecting people through music. Having earned her Doctorate in Education from Columbia University and a Masters in Performance from the Yale School of Music, Mari is a master teacher who is dedicated to helping students of all ages and levels explore the joy of making music.

Learn more about Mari.

To learn more about upcoming Fabric of Life events, please visit our calendar.