Annotation:Dusky Meadow

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 DUSKY MEADOW. AKA - "Dusty Miller." Canadian, Strathspey. Canada; Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island. A Mixolydian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. Dunlay and Greenberg state there are several theories as to the origin of this strathspey. It is said to have been published by Elias Howe of Boston, who printed several collections in the 19th century, but they were not able to find it; Cape Breton fiddler Bill Lamey, they report, was one who was convinced it came from a book (his accompanist, Lila Hashern, suggested it was from a pipe collection). Famous Cape Breton fiddler and composer Dan R. MacDonald thought it might have been connected with Simon Fraser's unpublished second collection, though Paul Cranford (Little River, Cape Breton) could not locate in his microfilm copy of the manuscript). Joan MacDonald Boes suggests in was 'Little' Jack MacDonald who brought the melody to the attention of Cape Breton fiddlers. Finally, the composition has been attributed to Donald MacLellan (e.g. by Cranford), who suggested there existed four parts to it. See also dissertation by Earl V. Spielman entitled "Traditional North American Fiddling" (1969). The alternate title, "Dusty Miller," is the name of several tunes and became attached to "Dusky Meadow" (at least with some Cape Breton musicians) due to its being called by the "Miller" title on a recording by Bill Lamey and Joe MacLean (Kate Dunlay).   Source for notated version: Carl MacKenzie (Cape Breton) [Dunlay & Greenberg].  Printed sources: Dunlay & Greenberg (Traditional Celtic Violin Music from Cape Breton), 1996; p. 31.  Recorded sources: Celtic 20, Five MacDonald Fiddlers. Celtic CX 043, CX 1, CX51, Bill Lamey & Joe MacLean (c. 1950. Appears as "Dusty Miller"). CLM 1006, Carl MacKenzie - "Celtic Ceilidh" (1986). Green Linnett GLCD 1087, Seamus Connolly - "Notes From My Mind" (1988. Learned from fiddler Kate Dunlay {Wayland, Mass./Ontario). Marimac C-6501, Peter Chaisson - "The Old Time Fiddlers of P.E.I." (1993). Nimbus NI 5383, John Morris Rankin & Howie MacDonald - "Traditional Music from Cape Breton Island" (1993). E25Q 7243 8 82013 2 2, Jonh Morris Rankin & Howie MacDonald - "Grey Dusk of Eve" (1995). RDRC 850, Raymond Ellis - "Dedicated to Mom and Dad" (1994). Rounder 82161-7032-2, Bill Lamey - "From Cape Breton to Boston and Back: Classic House Sessions of Traditional Cape Breton Music 1956-1977" (2000).  See also listings at: Alan Snyder's Cape Breton Fiddle Recordings Index Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index

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