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The Cape Breton Fiddle of Elmer Briand

By Elmer Briand


  1. My Beautiful Dinan
  2. The Margaree Valley
  3. The Loria Briand
  4. The Acadian
  5. My Loving Elizabeth
  6. Kimberly Jacquline
  7. Anna Mae Grant’s
    Mary MacDonald Lehto’s
    My Son Don
    Rodie The Plumber
  8. Mrs. Kathleen Beaton’s
    The Chéticamp
  9. The Temperance
    Johnnie Wilmot’s Fiddles
  10. Ferguson Lake
    Blaine Corey’s
  11. Beautiful Lake Ainslie
    Carlisle Lasses
    Bonnie Lass Of Ballantrae
    Carnie’s Canter
  12. Mrs. J. Forbes
    As A Thoiseach
    Prince Charlie

Two comments

“The Cape Breton Fiddle of Elmer Briand”

Celtic - LP - Stereo SCX56
Side 1 - tracks 1 - 6 are waltzes

Elmer Briand - fiddle
Kathleen Beaton - piano
Donald MacKinnon - guitar

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NOTES * from the LP:
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ELMER BRIAND was born of French Acadian parents on June 8, 1922, in the small community of L’Ardoise, Richmond County, Cape Breton. Here it was commonplace for people to gather together and spend their free time in a community effort of entertainment. It was not surprising, therefore, that Elmer started playing the fiddle at the age of 12. However, life and times were hard and he soon joined the shore fishermen and later the deep sea fishermen. But because life was difficult Saturday nights were enjoyed much more.

Elmer left Cape Breton to come to the “big city” of Halifax. However, times became worse as the Second World War broke out and he joined the Merchant Navy. When Elmer returned after the war he began playing over CHNS and CJCH radio stations and also played for artists like Hank the Yodeling Ranger and Pop Brown and His Merry Makers. It was here that he met Don Messer. He soon began to compose music for Don and made three guest appearances on his television shows and was later invited by Don to make an appearance on his 90 minute movie produced by The Canadian Film Board.

Elmer also visited Shelburne, Ontario for the Champion Fiddlers Contest and on one occasion was judged in the top ten out of 129 contestants.

Elmer has two children and two beautiful grand-children who are both being introduced to music.

KATHLEEN BEATON - Piano - was born in Inverness, Cape Breton, and has made her home in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

DONALD MacKINNON - Guitar - was born in Inverness, Cape Breton, at Lake Ainslie, and has since made his home in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Recorded at AUDIO ATLANTIC STUDIOS, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Engineer: Al Feeney

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* The notes given are not credited, though likely not Elmer himself , possibly the Engineer Al Feeney? There are spelling problems and I’ll try and clear those up later, both with regards to any problems with the track lists and these notes.