|
|
|
 From Cape Breton to
Tokyo, Dallas to Denmark, Edinburgh and back to the Glencoe Dance Hall,
Kendra MacGillivray has played them all. She's one of Nova Scotia's
busiest young performers. She has played and danced her way into the
hearts of audiences with her Scottish/Cape Breton style fiddling, from one
Canadian province to the other, throughout the United States, Europe, the
UK, Iceland Scandinavia, Mexico, Barbados and Japan.
Her music is lively and her high spirited, smiling personality shows through on every note, a true ambassador for the Scottish music and Nova Scotians. Because of her success within the entertainment industry, Kendra was designated a notable grad from her alma mater, St. Francis Xavier University. Brought up in a rich musical family Kendra began playing fiddle at the ago of nine. She was influenced from the very beginning by her grandfather, Her piano accompanist is her younger brother, Troy MacGillivray, also an accomplished fiddler and step dancer. At ceilidhs and concerts, they each play fiddle solos, accompanying each other on piano and they often play double fiddles, sometimes step-dancing at the same time! Whether they're playing together or with a full back-up band, the traditional music of Nova Scotia's Highland Scots shines through. She's also sometimes accompanied by her sister Sabra, a champion highland dancer.  Along with performances, Kendra has
instructed fiddle and step dancing workshops at many of the festivals and
highland games she has attended. Her experience comes from a decade of
teaching fiddle in her hometown of Antigonish and presently at the
Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, a highly respected music and
dance school in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Kendra has also been a favorite
workshop instructor at the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts & Crafts in
Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
On compact disc and cassette, Kendra has recorded Antigonish's Own at the age of seventeen. In the fall of 1996, she released her second recording, Clear the Track, which caught the attention of noted musicians and producers. This independent project also earned her a roots/traditional showcase at the 1998 East Coast Music Awards Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In addition to the showcase, Kendra was featured on the Nova Scotia tourism commercial which was aired nationally on CBC television during the Gala Awards Show and numerous times since then.  Kendra has also just released her latest effort
"Over The Waves" on October 31, 2000. The album was recorded in
Halifax, Nova Scotia and features a host of talented musicians such as
Troy MacGillivray, Dave MacIsaac, John Chiasson and many more. Over The
Waves is a collection of contemporary and traditional tracks.
Kendra continues to tour internationally, bringing audiences around the world to their feet with her dynamic playing and dancing. Be sure to take a look at Kendra's Tour Schedule to see where you might catch her live. |
|
|
|
At age 21, Troy proudly continues this tradition on-stage with exciting displays of musical genius and off-stage with a perfectionist's approach to hard work. Troy began impressing audiences with his step dancing at age six and soon decided to master the piano and fiddle. By age thirteen, Troy was teaching piano at the renowned Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts in St. Anne's, Cape Breton. Troy soon developed into a capable piano and fiddle soloist. It is his unique approach to piano accompaniment, however, for which Troy is most recognized and highly sought after for by instrumentalists and vocalists alike. As an accompanist, Troy has had the opportunity to delight audiences across Canada and the US and overseas from Switzerland to Australia. Troy's remarkable sound can be heard working with ECMA recognized performers such as his sister Kendra MacGillivray, Patricia Murray, Dave Gunning, and Glenn Graham. Troy has spent the last several years working with his sister Kendra, sharing his talent for performing and arranging both on the stage and in the studio. Troy's brilliant accompaniment and musical arrangement provide a foundation for two of Kendra's CDs including her latest recording, "OVER THE WAVES," which earned her two ECMAs in 2002 (Female Artist and Instrumental Artist of the Year). The opening tune on "OVER THE WAVES" is one of Troy's original compositions, "The Trolley." CBC Mainstreet host Matt Rainnie liked Troy's tune so much that he now uses "The Trolley" as the show's theme.
|
Hi Kendra & Troy! Thanks for allowing us to do an interview with you for The Canada Celtic Cafe. (Kendra and Troy) It's a pleasure. Thank you for your interest.
You sound like you've been performing your whole
life. What got you started in step-dancing and playing the fiddle/piano?
Which did you learn first?
(Kendra) I started to dance before
playing any musical instruments. I began highland dancing
lessons when I was six, took piano when I was seven or eight and
then fiddle when I was nine. There was always music in the
house, so I wanted to try it all and my parents gave me the
opportunity.
(Troy) I started stepdancing at age 6, playing the piano at age 7 and playing the fiddle at age 10. I really became interested in playing and dancing because my sister Kendra and mother Janice were playing in concerts and for dances when I was younger and I loved listening to them play in house and I began sitting on my mom's lap when she would be chording for Kendra and then I watched and listened and began trying to chord in between her arms. I was maybe 5 or less. I really began chording at 7 and then when I was 11 I began playing fiddle tunes on the piano. The Rankins first album, "The Rankin Family" came out and had a awesome set by John Morris on the piano which put me on the right track. For someone who is new to your music, how would you describe it?
(Kendra) I play a very upbeat style of
fiddle music that is great for dancing. I play all kinds of
tunes mostly within the Scottish tradition. i.e. marches,
strathspeys, reels, jigs, hornpipes, polkas, rags, waltzes.
(Troy) I would have to say that it is very rhythmic with a sense of nostalgia. It is wonderful to go to a dance and feel the floor moving in the hall and everyone "smoothly flying" around the hall dancing! In our type of music, you spend a lot of time thinking about the players and their tunes (meaning their favorites) that came before us and I really think about my grandfather, Hugh A. MacDonald, who worked so hard everyday of his life and would go off in the night, almost every night, and play for a dance somewhere in the community or county of either Antigonish, Pictou or Port Hawkesbury. And my grandmother, Winnie, was very much everywhere he was as she was the piano player in the duet and they played all the time. I think that is so cool. Tthey were so happy and got as much in as possible. I know from studying classical and jazz music in depth that most music has great history attached. I just feel a special connection to Scottish music for the above reasons, and that is almost how I can describe Celtic music for me. It holds a special value.
Do you have any other musicians in your family?
Are your parents musical? Siblings?
(Kendra) My mom, Janice, plays the
piano and fiddle, my dad, Tony, plays guitar and fiddle, my
sister, Sabra, is a highland and stepdancer and percussionist, and
Troy is a fiddler and piano player. My grandmother,
Winnifred, also plays fiddle and piano. I think the most
well known relative who played was my grandfather, Hugh A.
MacDonald, who played fiddle and piano but was well known for his
fiddling and pioneer recordings back in the 1930s. He
received a Stompin' Tom Connors Award at the 2001 ECMAs for his
contribution to the music industry.
(Troy) My parents Janice and Tony both play and are very musical. Our mother plays piano quite well and is actually on my CD as well as my dad on guitar. And well, you all know Kendra is my sister but we have another sister who is Sabra. She is a beautiful highland-dancer and has won many provincial championships and came sixth in the world championships in Scotland in 1997. She was invited to be a part of the Edinburgh Tattoo in 1997 also. Every night, a different dancer would dance in the guest spot during the Ceilidh Dance section of the Tattoo. Sabra was part of that group. How amazing. Sabra performs fairly regularly with Kendra and I nowadays. She enjoys performing very much and the audiences love watching her dance. Although, she was highland dancing for all previous events, in her performances with Kendra and I, she mostly step dances now. Do you play any other instruments besides the fiddle/piano?
(Kendra) No I don't.
(Troy) I try the accordion from time to time, I started guitar when I was 8 but couldn't keep it up as it was really hard on my hands. I am presently learning bass guitar.
Troy, What is the difference between Cape Breton
piano accompaniment vs. regular piano accompaniment?
(Troy) For my style of piano accompaniment,
it is important for the piano player to cover not only the chords.
It is more than accompanying. You are the drums and rhythm
section. Your left hand has a stride style which replaces the bass player and
sometimes a guitar will sit in, but not necessary. You don't really
lose the traditional feel without guitar, although it makes for a
great mix! Most Celtic players, on the east coast in
particular, myself anyway, have to edit our runs and structure when
we are put in a band setting because you have to be together with
the band. But when there is no band, we are always playing a
different chord in a different place and trying out a new run and
it can sometimes be a nightmare for bands to follow. We rarely
do the same thing twice. I don't know if that is good or bad!
Kendra, being that you're not actually from Cape Breton, do you play the Cape Breton style of fiddle or is it more a mainland style? Is there a difference?
(Kendra) My style most closely resembles
the Scottish/Cape Breton style, but I have developed my own style of
playing because of my musical background. I like to play many
different styles of tunes no matter who composed them. This is
very evident on the new CD, Over the Waves.
I see on your CD's that there are a couple of your own compositions. Do you compose a lot of your own tunes? Will we perhaps see more of your own on future recordings?
(Kendra) I haven't composed many tunes,
but I like doing it. I think I've composed four tunes, a
waltz, march, hornpipe and reel. There are quite a few tunes
composed for me too which is a real honor.
(Troy) I have composed about 10 tunes to date and hope to compose some more. How long have you been composing? Do you find it to be a hard process? Do you have to get inspired to write a tune or can you write whenever you want to?
(Kendra) Well, I wrote my very first
tune, "Stuart & Mary's Anniversary", a reel composed
for Stuart and Mary Beaton, the couple who sold me my last fiddle.
I recorded it on my first tape back in 1990. I also recorded
"It's the Berrie's Waltz" on that tape too. So,
I've been composing for about twelve years, but haven't made many
tunes. I just do it when I feel a tune come to me.
(Troy) I can go either way. I have done "The Trolly" in less than an hour because I wanted to. Sometimes tunes come to my head and I just write them down and they work. How do you choose the tunes you're going to record?
(Kendra) Well, I try not to record
tunes that other fiddlers from this area have recorded. It's
nice to learn new tunes and introduce those tunes to the avid
music followers. It's always nice to compose tunes for CDs
and find tunes that are really different.
(Troy) I usually try to find tunes that haven't been recorded. But sometimes they make it on an album having been chosen just because I like them so much, or if I like how the performer who recorded them before me played them, I will play them to. What's your take on why Celtic Music, especially Canadian, is so popular these days in other parts of the world?
(Kendra) It's a very rhythmic and
melodic style of music. It's easy to understand and being
instrumental, appeals to every culture, no matter the language.
(Troy) I am really not sure. There are many great styles of music that are high in popularity and this happens to be one of them I guess. You've attended (or are attending) St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. What did you (are you taking) take there?
(Kendra) I graduated from St. Francis
Xavier University in 1995 with a Bachelor Degree in Business
Administration (BBA).
(Troy) I am entering my fourth year. I will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Music and a minor in Math and Computer Science. Who are some of your musical influences?
(Kendra) My teachers - Stan Chapman
taught me fiddle, Bob Murray taught me Classical violin, and my
piano teacher was Sr. Rodriquez Steele. I would also have to
say that Howie MacDonald was an influence on me as well. When
I was learning to play his first album was released and I used to
play with that record all the time. I think I still know all
the tunes and sets on it. I also remember going to house
parties and playing with Jerry Holland. That was so exciting.
(Troy) Of course John Morris Rankin, Tracey Dares and Doug MacPhee. But also players like Denis Frechet (Quebec), Denis Lanctot (Ontario), and Paul Dacier (Quebec). Denis Lanctot is actually married to Tara Lynn Tousnard's sister, Krista. Tara Lynn, who died in 1994 in a car accident (very sad), and her sister Krista were wonderful players. They were in the Cape Breton Summertime Revue together. What do you enjoy to do when you're off the road?
(Kendra) I enjoy spending time with my
friends and sometimes that includes a new found past time, golf.
(Troy) I like to paint walls...like my bedroom or at my Grandmothers. Someone always wants something painted! lol. I like to play my fiddle without any accompaniment in the kitchen and make sure I get to West Mabou at least once during the summer.
What have been some of the highlights of your
career so far?
(Kendra) I've opened for Great Big Sea
at St. F.X., played on the Mainstage at the Glengarry Highland
Games in ON, Riverfront Jubilee in NS, Come Home 2000 Celebrations
for St. F.X., Vancouver Celtic Festival and played at Festivals
such as Fiddles of the World, Celtic Colours, and Stan Rogers.
(Troy) I have to say everything I have experienced has been a highlight. Just everything. I love traveling which is a big highlight. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
(Kendra) I'd like to record more CDs and
continue teaching. I would also like to be playing at new
festivals and events all the time with bigger bands.
(Troy) I hope to have a couple of more records on the go and be very busy in whatever I take on in life. I can't wait to see though, I often wonder myself!! Where have you toured?
(Kendra & Troy) We have been all over the
place - Japan (twice), Australia, Germany (five times), Luxembourg,
Iceland, England, Scotland, Barbados throughout Canada and the US.
Is there a place that you have yet to tour that you would like to visit?
(Kendra) I've never been to Ireland yet and
I would love to go there.
(Troy) I would like to go to Spain.
Now for some more entertaining questions!
What's your favorite TV show?
(Kendra) I don't watch much TV, but I
like Will & Grace, sometimes Oprah.
(Troy) Even though my TV time is very limited, if I sit down to watch TV, I can usually find Drew Carey on and that is usually all I will watch.
Who are your favorite singers/instrumentalists?
(Kendra) I really like Faith Hill and
the Rankins.
(Troy) I like all the Daves! Dave Matthews, Dave Gunning, Dave MacIsaac...lol. I really like Jewel and the Dixie Chicks too! I had the honor of getting to see a Dave Matthews band concert in Detroit last June. It was simply amazing. What a band! If you could perform with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
(Kendra) I think it would be really
neat to play with someone like Garth Brooks because the energy he
puts into his shows is out of this world and the music is so good.
(Troy) I would like to play with Dave Matthews, Jewel, Chantel Kraviazuk, and the Dixie Chicks. They are all great and so much fun. They have wonderful bands and great musicianship. Best of luck with your careers in the months and years to come! (Kendra and Troy) Thank you. Kendra & Troy MacGillivray |
For the latest tour dates, please visit Kendra MacGillivray's Website and Troy MacGillivray's Website. |
For more info on Kendra & Troy MacGillivray, check out their websites at http://www.kendramacgillivray.com and http://www.troymacgillivray.com Booking Info - Kendra & Troy MacGillivray, RR 4 Lanark, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, B2G 2L2, Canada, Email: kendra@kendramacgillivray.com or troy@kendramacgillivray.comTo order Kendra MacGillivray's CD - in Canada, visit HMV's website, in the US, visit Portland America's website or visit her website at http://www.kendramacgillivray.com To order Troy MacGillivray's CD - visit his website at http://www.troymacgillivray.com If you're interested in more Canadian Celtic Music, visit www.islandviewcreations.com/canadacelticmusic |
Troy
MacGillivray is a multitalented musician who was born into a rich musical
tradition. For generations, the MacGillivrays on his father's side and the
MacDonalds on his mother's side have been proprietors of the Gaelic
tradition in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. 
In
2001, Troy released his own debut CD entitled, "MUSICAL TIES."
The independent release marks the beginning of a transition for Troy from
the shadows of accompaniment wizardry, into the spotlight as one of the East
Coast's most pleasing young performers.
