Heather on the Hill

Kind of Tune
reel
Composer
Dan R. MacDonald, Cape Breton (1911-76)

Heather on the Hill is one of a handfull of Cape Breton tunes that players from every Island region have thoroughly adapted to their respective styles. Since the tune appears in highly elaborated form on "archival' recordings by such fiddlers as Russell Warren (available here) and Jack Webster, my guess is that it was enthusiastically adopted by Island players not long after its composition.

The change of title on PEI from its original form (The Heather Hills) may well have resulted from conflating the name of this tune with that of the hit song Heather on the Hill, from the 1950s Broadway musical Brigadoon by Lerner and Lowe.

Notation for this tune as played by "Young Peter" Chaisson is in Fiddle Music of Prince Edward Island.

Tune Selections

Heather on the Hill (home recording) Musician: Russell Warren Accompanied by: Lowell Huestis, pno West Prince info
Duke of Gordon's Birthday / Sheehan's Reel / Heather on the Hill / Poppy Leaf / College Hornpipe Musician: "Young Peter" Chaisson, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Kevin Chaisson, gtr Northeast Kings info
Duke of Gordon's Birthday / Heather on the Hill / Tom Ward's Downfall Musician: "Old Peter" Chaisson, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Ken Perlman, bjo Northeast Kings info
Coilesfield House / Heather on the Hill Musician: Carl Webster, Musician: Jackie Webster, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: John Webster, gtr Central Kings info
Heather on the Hill Musician: William Koughan, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Arlene Koughan Powers, pno; Ken Perlman, bjo Eastern Queens info
Arsenault, Delphine - Heather on the Hill Musician: Delphine Arsenault Accompanied by: Zélie-Anne Arsenault Poirier pump organ Evangeline Coast / East Prince info
Poirier, Zelie-Anne Arsenault - Heather on the Hill (harmonica solo; 1974) Musician: Zélie-Anne Arsenault Poirier Unaccompanied Evangeline Coast / East Prince info
Space Available / Heather on the Hill / Paddy on the Turnpike Musician: Fr. Charles Cheverie, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Ken Perlman, bjo Northeast Kings info
Heather on the Hill Musician: Dennis Pitre, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Irene Gallant, pno; Vincent Doucette, gtr West Prince info
Heather on the Hill / Farmer's Reel Musician: West Prince Fiddlers, Recordist: Ken Perlman, Musician: Ken Matthews, Musician: Frank O'Connor, Musician: George O'Connor, Musician: Elmer Robinson Accompanied by: Dorothy Dalton Rogers or Cyrus Gallant, pno; Jack Arbing, mand info
Heather on the Hill / Dragger's Reel Musician: Louise Gallant Arsenault, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Philippe Leblanc, pno Evangeline Coast / East Prince info
Heather on the Hill Musician: Connie Gallant, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Ken Perlman, bjo Northeast Kings info
Arsenault, Albin - Heather on the Hill Musician: Albin Arsenault Accompanied by: Béatrice Gallant pump organ Evangeline Coast / East Prince info
Hughes, Earl - EarlHughes Air#1 / Royal Scots Polka / EarlHughes Reel#1 / Heather on the Hill / Paddy on the Turnpike / Earl Hughes Reel#2 Musician: Earl Hughes Accompanied by: Joan Hughes pno & Gary Hughes gtr Eastern Queens info
Heather on the Hill Musician: Eddy Arsenault, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Amand Arsenault, gtr Evangeline Coast / East Prince info
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