Fit As A Fiddle
Release Date: 1993
CD OUT OF PRINT

Recorded at CBC Studio H., Halifax, May 1993. Produced by Glenn Meisner and Dave MacIsaac. This is Natalie's first recording released on CD and is full of lively and fresh arrangements and includes many noteworthy musicians.

1993 saw Natalie back in the recording studio to update her sound and take it to another level. This is a traditionally based recording which has stood the test of time like few others. 

Recorded before her recording contracts were in place and world wide touring schedules were in full flight, this is still Cape Breton fiddle music in a very basic but beautiful setting. The accompaniment is top-notch with Dave MacIsaac on Guitar, Tracey Dares and Howie MacDonald on Piano, Jamie MacInnis on Highland Bagpipes and Sandy Moore on Harp.
Featured prominently are Celtic guitarist extraordinaire, Dave MacIsaac and piano player Tracey Dares. Highlights include: the beautiful, "If Ever You Were Mine" and the ever popular, "Jean’s Reel". The artwork was changed completely for this title in 1996. The recording was also remastered at that time.

"... Fit as a Fiddle is a brilliant album. 13 tracks, mostly sets of strathspeys and reels or jig sets with acouple of airs and a waltz thrown in, fairly jump off the CD with excitement and driving rhythms."
-- Northern Journey

"... Her playing does justice to those slow but methodical strathspeys with their sudden surprises of multiple triplets, and the jigs and reels are infectiously fun. Her snappy bow work adds bounce to the tunes. She knows how to "drive 'em" as they say down East"
-- Gordon Fisch, Northern Journey

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All tunes traditional unless otherwise noted
 

	Track 1 John Campbell's   Miss Ann Moirs Birthday Lady Georgina Campbell Angus On The Turnpike Sheehan's Reel
	Track 2 My Dungannon Sweetheart   Scaffies Cairet Juniper Jig
	Track 3 Carnival March Miller Of Drone MacKinnon's Brook Lucy Campbell Annie Is My Darling Gordon Cote Bird's Nest Maid Behind The Bar
	Track 4 Nancy's Waltz
	Track 5 Compliments To Sean Maguire President Garfield Miss Watt Casa Loma Castle
	Track 6 O'r The Moor Among The Heather Traditional Lady Mary Ramsay Jenny Dang The Weaver The Lassies Of Stewarton Garfield Vale
	Track 7 Jean's Reel
	Track 8 I'll Always Remember You
	Track 9 The Girls At Martinfield Bennett's Favorite The Green Fields Of Glentown
	Track 10 Counselor's The Rakes Of Kildare The Lark In The Morning
	Track 11 The Lass Of Carrie Mills Lennox's Love To Blantyre Archie Menzies Reichwall Forest
	Track 12 If Ever You Were Mine
	Track 13 The MacNeils Of Ugadale Maclaine Of Loch Buie Colville's Rant Pibroch O'Donal Dhu

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Natalie MacMaster: Fiddle, Step Dancing
David MacIsaac: Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Bass
Howie MacDonald: Piano
Tracey Dares: Piano and Synth
Tom Roach: Drums and Percussion
Jamie MacInnis: Highland Pipes
Sandy Moore: Celtic Harp

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Thanks to everyone who helped me with this project, especially Jeanette Gillis, Kay Beaton, John Donald Cameron, Buddy MacMaster, Archie Neil Chisolm, Wally Hayes, Doug Aucoin, Bob and Jennifer Quinn, and a sincere thanks to David and Nancy for the use of your home and all your hospitality.

Thanks to Mom & Dad for all your help and support, not only in this project but in everything I do. To Paul MacDonald, thank you so much for your research and for all your help in this project.
Thank you to all the composers for permission to use your beautiful compositions.

Special thanks to Tracey Dares, Dave MacIsaac, Howie MacDonald, Tom Roach, Jamie MacInnis and Sandy Moore. Not only are these musicians masters of their instruments,
but they are super people to work with too.

A big thank you to Pat and Karl for your patience and your expertise. To Glen Meisner ... it was a privilege to work with you and I sincerely appreciate everything you did for me.

Yours in music,
Natalie MacMaster
May 1993