The son of two well-regarded Cape Breton fiddlers, Ronald and Cassie MacIntyre, Sandy MacIntyre inherited a great love of Cape Breton fiddling and has spent the past forty years performing this music as well as teaching fiddle and step-dancing in the city of Toronto. MacIntyre is a regular performer at Down East venues in Toronto such as The Bow & Arrow, The Stonecutters, Quigleys, and The Rose and Thorn. A congenial, gifted teacher, as well as performer, MacIntyre has devoted much of his career to nurturing and passing on the Cape Breton style. As a result, many of his students are carrying forward the special Scottish fiddle tradition that is unique to Canada. For his tireless work in promoting traditional music, MacIntyre received the Winston `Scotty' Fitzgerald Porcupine Award for Celtic Fiddling in 1996.

Fittingly, the title of MacIntyre's first CD is Steeped in Tradition (1996). Intended partly as a learning aid, Steeped in Tradition contains extensive, excellent liner notes about many of the finer points of the Cape Breton style, all demonstrated in the sets on the album. Whether you're a student of Cape Breton fiddle, or simply someone who loves the music, MacIntyre's first-rate recording is a worthwhile purchase.

Accompanying MacIntyre on Steeped in Tradition are Mary MacIntyre (Sandy's sister) on piano, Brian MacIntyre (Sandy's son) on guitars, Mickey Andrews on steel guitar, and Damien Walsh on bass.

Steeped in Tradition
1996 Sandy MacIntyre (SMCD 9607)

Anthony Murray/Kilrack's/Greig's Pipes/Miss Hume's/Appin House/Mrs. McLeod Raasay; Lament for the Death of Rev. Archie Beaton; Golden Rod Jig/The Bank of Turf/Traditional/Traditional Irish Jig; Wild Rose of the Mountain/The Gentle Lassie; Miss Elspeth Campbell/Maggie Cameron/Hogtie's Reel/Cailleach Liah Rarsaidh; Bee's Wing/Princess; The Bonnie Lass O'Bon Accord/Miss Lyall/George the IV/The Old King's/The Kings; Tulloch Gorum/Paresis/West Mabou/Bear in the Buckwheat; John Roy Lyall; The 91st at Modder River/Muileann Dubh/Traditional Bagpipe Reel/Upside Down in Eden Court; Grand Narrows Bridge/Gordon Graham's/Queensville Jig; Sitting in the Stern of a Boat/The Foggy Dew; The Bonfire/The House of Hamill/Mrs. Bremner/The Manse/Glen Bucket Reel/The Grant's Hornpipe; Muldron Glen/Pibroch of Domhnall Dubh/Farewell to The Tay 58:14