File: smithmary06-oh-musichome_M.mp3
Speakers:
MS – Mary Smith
MS: I was born in a lighthouse in North Rustico. My Dad [George Pineau] was a lighthouse keeper and he was a fisherman. And he was a lighthouse keeper for 34 years.
KP: You say he played the fiddle and other instruments?
MS: He played a great mouth organ, and he was a great story teller. And he played a little bit of fiddle, he didn't play very much fiddle but he loved the fiddle.
KP: Who were the fiddlers in this area?
MS: There was only one actually that I knew, and his name was Leo Allen. When I was growing up, he was the only fiddler around. And Alphonse, Alphonse Gallant played a little bit of fiddle. But they were the only two that I knew. And my uncle played a little bit, but he didn't play well – Benny Pineau. But my Dad George, he was a great mouth organ player. They all step-danced. My Mom and Dad – There was always people coming to the house. Dad was a real friendly guy and liable to bring two or three people home for dinner, or seen them at the shore when he was fishing and tourists of course – He was always interested in people from different parts of the world. He'd bring them home, invite them to stay for the evening, and they'd call somebody in and they'd cook up a bunch of fish and potatoes, and have somemake some music etc. I remember they had a little bit of a carpet in the dining room. And they'd roll that up and move the table and chairs, and they used to square dance, at them times. Even if they didn't have any music, my Dad used to jig [sing] the old tunes. But we all step danced at home. And my brother plays guitar really well.
KP: Do you remember which kind of square-dancing they did in this area?
MS: They were Lancers, the old Lancers. That's lost now, nobody does it.