North America's Only Coal Miners Choir: Entertaining Audiences Since 1966
HISTORY, NEWS AND REVIEWS
02-16-2009
The Men of the Deeps
(A Short History)
The Men of the Deeps is a choir of working and retired coal miners from
the island of Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, Canada. Organized in 1966 as
part of Cape Breton's contribution to Canada's Centennial Year (1967),
the group's inception was an effort by the people of Cape Breton to
preserve in song some of the rich folklore of that island's coal mining
communities.
Since 1967 the group has been singing of the work and lifestyle of
the
Cape Breton coal miner to audiences throughout most of Canada and the
United States. In 1976 they became the first Canadian performing
group to tour the People’s Republic of China after diplomatic relations
between the two nations were restored in 1972. And as recently as
September 1999 the men traveled to Kosovo in the former Republic of
Yugoslavia at the request of Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs,
where they performed in a gala festival organized by actress Vanessa
Redgrave on behalf of the United Nations Children’s Fund. The
group’s most recent tours have brought the choir as far north as the
Ekati diamond mines in the Northwest Territories, and as far south as
Arizona, Alabama, Florida and the Appalachian coal mining communities
of Kentucky, Virginia and Pennsylvania. In September
2008 the group was invited to perform in Las Vegas at the
international MineExpo conference where sold out audiences enjoyed its
unique blend of songs and stories for six consecutive nights.
The musical director of the Men of the Deeps is John C. O'Donnell,
Professor of Music at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova
Scotia. For most of the choir's 43 year history, Professor O'Donnell
has been travelling almost weekly to Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, where he
rehearses the singing miners: a round trip distance of 485 kilometres.
In 1983 the government of Canada honoured Professor O’Donnell’s efforts
when he was awarded the prestigious Order of Canada. More recently the
University College of Cape Breton recognized his efforts when the
degree Doctor of Letters was conferred upon him at its May 1993
Convocation.
In addition to the historical tour to the People's Republic of China
and the groundbreaking trip to Kosovo, some of the group's interesting
concert tours have included two visits to the United States for
performances before the United Mine Workers of America at their
conventions in Cincinnati, Ohio and Denver, Colorado. In their own
country the men have toured the mining communities of Labrador and
Northern Manitoba; they have sung in most major centres across Canada
and countless smaller towns from coast to coast. The group celebrated
its 20th anniversary year with a successful 2-˝ week engagement at
Vancouver's Expo '86 where it performed in concert with Cape Breton
singer, Rita Mac Neil and the RCMP Concert Band. In June 1989 the Cape
Breton miners performed in Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall as part of a
month-long International Choral Festival that featured many of the
world's outstanding choral organizations.
From 1994 to 1996 the Men of the Deeps teamed with school choirs
throughout Nova Scotia in a province-wide "Light the Darkness" tour to
promote awareness of the Canadian Red Cross. In 1996, 1997 and again in
the spring of 1999 the choir completed successful tours of Ontario
where it played to sold-out audiences from Toronto's Massey Hall to
Windsor's Chrysler Theatre. During its spring 1999 tour of Ontario the
group recorded a program for CBC's On Stage at the Glenn Gould Theatre
and sang the opening anthems for a Blue Jays game at the Sky dome. The
1998-99 season also brought the group to Western Canada, Newfoundland
and New Brunswick. And in October 1999 the Men of the Deeps completed a
successful tour of Ontario and the eastern United States with popular
Cape Breton singer and songwriter, Rita Mac Neil.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s the group released four long-play record
albums, one on the Apex label and three on the Waterloo label. The last
three recordings, which are also available on cassette tape, were
produced by Waterloo Music Company in Waterloo, Ontario. In 1992 the
group released its first compact disk entitled Diamonds in the Rough:
Twenty-Five Years with the Men of the Deeps. A second CD, Buried
Treasures, a compilation disk featuring a variety of selections from
the three Waterloo recordings, was released in April 1995 on the
Atlantica-EMI label. To honour its 30th year anniversary in 1996, the
Men of the Deeps released its third CD, Coal Fire in winter, In 2004
the CD "Their Lights Will Shine" was produced, and to celebrate their
40th year in 2008, The CD "40 Years Young" was produced.
The Men of the Deeps are no strangers to the media. The group has
appeared in two films produced by the National Film Board of Canada. It
has been heard frequently on CBC radio in Canada and the list of
television performances includes CBC's popular Front Page Challenge,
and CTV's Canada AM. In 1982 the men were a special guests on the Anne
Murray Christmas Special seen throughout North America on the CBS and
CTV television networks. In 1986 the CTV network did a special
documentary honouring the 20th anniversary of the Men of the Deeps. It
was shown throughout Canada on the program Canada in View. In 1988 the
men performed with Rita Mac Neil on Canada's Juno Awards seen coast to
coast, and in 1993 they were special guests on Rita's Christmas
Television Special and Anne Murray's 1993 television production "Anne
Murray in Nova Scotia." In October 1995 the Men of the Deeps were
special guests of Rita Mac Neil when they were featured on the popular
CBC Television show "Rita and Friends;" and in March 1998 the group
appeared again with Rita's on her CTV network special: A Celtic
Celebration. Most recently, the group has recorded a choral backup on a
new CD by Roger Whittaker, which was released in September 1999.
Special 25th year anniversary honours for the Men of the Deeps came on
March 23, 1991, when the group received Nova Scotia's "Ambassador of
the Year" award from the Tourist Industry Association of Nova Scotia
(TIANS), and again on November 30, 1991, when the group and its
director were honoured with a 25th Anniversary Banquet hosted by the
business community of Industrial Cape Breton. That banquet was also the
setting for the release of a book documenting the group's 25-year
history: Diamonds in the Rough, by well-known Cape Breton songwriter
and author, Alistair MacGillivray.
The Men of the Deeps received a unique honour on May 13, 2000, when the
University College of Cape Breton bestowed an honorary doctoral degree
on the entire group in recognition of the group's contribution to Cape
Breton culture over the past thirty-four years. Although the choir's
full membership was present at the convocation, current president Fred
Gillis accepted the honour on behalf of the group.
The musical repertoire of the Men of the Deeps is gathered from mining
communities around the world. Many of the group's songs are "home
grown" - composed by contemporary Cape Breton bards, or traditional
songs which trace their roots to their Celtic fore bearers in the old
country. Professor O'Donnell has become an expert on coal mining songs
in Canada, and published a major collection entitled And Now The Fields
Are Green: A Collection of Coal Mining Songs in Canada (Sydney, Nova
Scotia; University College of Cape Breton Press: 1992).
To belong to the singing group a man must have worked in the mine. The
ages of the men range from the mid-thirties to the upper-seventies,
about one-quarter of which have been with the group since it was
organized in 1966. A special sense of authenticity is given to the
group by the presence of several retired coal miners who recall vividly
the days when coal miners were looked upon as "second class" citizens,
forced to eke out a living mining coal in hazardous conditions while
their lives were almost entirely dependent upon the company.
Today the Men of the Deeps are more than a singing group -it is a
social institution. There is a comradery amongst the members of the
group that carries over to their audiences wherever they perform. Clad
in coveralls and hard hats, they make an impressive impact when they
enter a concert hall in total darkness with only the lamps on their
helmets for light.
The Ottawa Journal described the group's visit to China as the "best
people-to-people exchange ever." Anyone who attends a concert by the
Men of the Deeps cannot help but come away with the feeling that a
special breed of men has touched them.
The Documentary, “The Men Of The Deeps” recently Premiered in Toronto, Ont. & Sydney, NS. here are some of the reviews
Saturday April 26.
CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
(HOT DOCS 2003)
TO PREMIER MEN OF THE DEEPS
FILM
TORONTO, APRIL 26
Opening Night, Canadian Spectrum Series
Written and directed by John Walker, Men of the Deeps is a moving portrait of a group of former miners gathered together by their love of song. Through testimonials from the miners and their wives, evocative images of the mining pits and the hauntingly beautiful voices of the choir, Walker explores the last days of coal mining in Cape Breton, helping maintain a more than 270-year-old oral history. Featuring 16 outstanding songs, Men of the Deeps captures the grace and dignity of men whose livelihood has been lost but who use their voices to inspire and uplift. Produced by John Walker Productions Ltd. and Picture Plant Ltd. (Terry Greenlaw) in co-production with the National Film Board of Canada. SCREENING: Saturday, April 26, 7:00 pm, 52 minutes - Bloor Cinema.
[The film will be shown on the CTV television network later in the year.]
This article appeared in:
Among the Canadian films, however, the most truly inspiring was Men of the Deeps, another NFB production. Montreal-born director John Walker has composed a masterful portrait of the men who once mined the coal in Cape Breton. Now, with the mines shut down, they keep the 300-year tradition alive with a choir called Men of the Deeps. Walker intercuts the choir's stirring performances with interviews and footage of miners underground. The men tell funny, terrifying and tragic stories, like soldiers who have gone through combat and forged bonds that make life in the aftermath seem pale by comparison. One ex-miner now works in a call centre, mining complaints instead of coal. If the mine reopens, he vows he'll go back underground without even bothering to clean out his desk.
Today, the vast majority of documentaries are made on video. But Walker shot Men of the Deeps on 35-mm film. "I don't want to sound like a snob," says the 50-year-old director, who has always worked with film. "To argue against video is like arguing against acrylics. I'm like an oil painter. For what I'm doing I need film. It's more human and more tactile." On the other hand, adds Walker, "when I started at the NFB, the hard thing was getting access to technology. Now it's like paper and pencil, which is great -- my 11-year-old daughter can make a film. But we have to focus on what we have to say."
Reviews From Past Concerts And Albums
Tuesday, October 21, 1997
Cape Breton band mining for melodies
Men Of The Deeps draws on experience to bring authenticity to songs
By MIKE ROSS -- Express Writer
Enough about the coal miners' daughters - what about the coal miners themselves?
If you think you have a tough job, try pulling a 12-hour shift shovelling sooty rock in a dark hole, 10 km out under the Atlantic Ocean. Coal mining isn't quite as dangerous and dirty as it was in the old days, when young boys would inherit the jobs of fathers who died in accidents, but the miners still sing a merry tune to get them through the long, lonely trip down to the abyss.
One group of Cape Breton miners liked their underground music so much that they brought it up to the surface in 1966. Men of the Deeps, as it was dubbed, has been touring the world ever since. Performing tomorrow in the Winspear Centre, this is no ordinary choir. They aren't exactly what you'd call "choirboys."
If you want to join, vocal ability is not enough. Being from Cape Breton isn't enough. Even being able to drink a pint of Cape Breton "silver" (like Newfoundland screech, but "better") in one gulp isn't enough.
"You've got to have proven mining experience," says group spokesman Yogi Muise, 60, who did his pit-time in the '60s before becoming a high school teacher.
"They want the group to be authentic," he goes on. "We've got some great singers around here that would be good additions, but they can't prove they've been in a coal mine, so they wouldn't even get to audition.
"So when you see the group on stage, you're looking at authenticity. The guys are real. We sing about people losing their lives. I got a guy who sings bass right along side of me, and he lost his only son in a coal mining accident. Quite often, I look at him and there's a tear going down his eye."
Mixing sober songs like No. 26 Mine Disaster with more upbeat numbers like Cape Breton Silver and a healthy dose of clowning results in a show that Muise describes as a "roller coaster of emotions."
It may be faintly absurd to imagine a couple of dozen coal miners singing songs about coal mining culture in deep voices (the highest they have is a tenor) illuminated by their own headlamps, but Men of the Deeps has made quite a name for itself. The group toured China in 1976, has recorded several albums which have been released on a major record label (on Atlantic, suitably enough), appeared in films, on television and on radio. They're a favorite of fellow Caper Rita MacNeil, who paid them tribute in a poignant tune called Working Man.
Muise says it can be hard for people to imagine what it's like to work in a coal mine, but thanks to groups like his, it's been romanticized in song almost as much as the railroad.
"It was kinda rough when the weather was nice outside," he recalls. "You knew where you were going. You were going down under the ocean and it wasn't always a pleasant chore. But it was a job."
Compared to that, being on the road with an all-male choir has to be a walk in the park.
Men of the Deeps, Diamonds in the Rough (self-produced, 1992)
Having been thoroughly wowed by Men of the Deeps on their 1996 studio recording, I eagerly looked forward to delving further back into the group's long history in Diamonds in the Rough: 25 Years with the Men of the Deeps. It was a worthy experience.
This album is a little rougher -- the voices aren't quite as polished, the recording isn't always as clean. That is a product of being, in part, a live album, not a studio production, and the live energy makes up for the polish lost.
As on Coal Fire in Winter, you'll find tracks here which feature the entire chorus of coal-miners in concert (such as "Thirty-Inch Coal," "Coal Tattoo," "Man with a Torch in His Cap" and gorgeous a capella "Dust in the Air") and some spotlight vocals (including Bob Roper on "Dark as a Dungeon," Ray Holland on "Sixteen Tons," Gordon Sheriff on "Coal is King Again," Gerry Forbes on "Are You from Bevan?" and more). Combined, Diamonds in the Rough is a dynamo of raw emotion in music, both a celebration and a dirge for the mining life that all of these singers know well. It's a moving album, in some ways uplifting.
The album includes three studio tracks from the group's 1975 and '76 vinyl releases, an additional track recorded live at the Miner's Museum in Glace Bay and released on their 1983 LP, nine live tracks from a 1989 performance at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto and three tracks from a 1992 studio session. The latter 12 tracks were never before released.
Deserving special notice is the album's hauntingly beautiful rendition of "No. 26 Mine Disaster," featuring Nipper MacLeod on lead vocals. This song by Allister MacGillavry tells the story of a Nova Scotian mine collapse, and it includes the somber refrain: "There are 10 men gone." The words are sung with a sacred, cathedral air that always leaves my spine tingling. The album ends with the optimistic Leon Dubinsky song "Rise Again," which dispels any lingering gloom.
Again, printed lyrics would be a nice touch in the liner notes, but this is a sparse package: little more than a list of tracks, vocal soloists and instrumentalists. There isn't even a list of names of chorus members, which is a shame -- these guys deserve the recognition.
The rich history and musical culture of Cape Breton continues to astound me. Men of the Deeps are a worthy part of that heritage, and they deserve broader exposure in the world.[ by Tom Knapp
Men of the Deeps, Coal Fire in Winter (Atlantica, 1996)
Some albums are so packed with power, they're hard to describe. Somehow, I need to convey just how special this one really is.
Men of the Deeps is a choir of miners, working and retired, from the depressed industry of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. When I first heard of the group's existence, I imagined a chorus of rough, poorly trained voices joined together in enthusiastic but unremarkable song. I couldn't have been more wrong.
Coal Fire in Winter is my first exposure to this group, which had existed (with a somewhat fluid membership) for 30 years at the time of this album's release. Despite so many years together, touring throughout Canada and around the world (including the People's Republic of China in 1976 and Kosovo, Yugoslavia in 1999), this is only their third CD recording. Based on this sample, the band is woefully underrepresented on disc.
Most of the songs relate, as you'd expect, to mining, miners and miners' kin. You might expect mostly boisterous, lively songs to hold off the darkness below ground, but these songs are mostly slow, soulful, full of romance, light and life. There's often a sense of the tragic in the songs, the knowledge that these men and their sons are likely trapped by circumstances in the miner's life, but there's an amazing amount of hope and joy here, too.
I was surprised when the first track, Jimmy Rankin's "Tramp Miner," began with a solo voice (Fred Gillis) and a fairly standard folk-band background. Where, I wondered, was the choir? Well, they came in quickly enough for each chorus, but it still wasn't what I considered a choral recording. Never fear, that came soon enough.
"Coal, Not Dole," by Kay Sutcliffe, features the trio Mickey MacIntyre, Jackie MacQueen and Jerry Forbes, is a short but touching anthem to their declining industry, with moving lyrics such as "They'll never realize the hurt / They caused the men they treat like dirt." Next, Bobby Roper leads the way on Leon Dubinsky's "Billy, Come With Me," a soulful lullaby to a miner's son rendered with achingly beautiful solo vocals and a haunting chorus. The album picks up pace for the proud and peppy traditional song, "Dad's Old Dinner Pail," with solo vocals by Bill MacPherson.
Nipper MacLeod takes over lead vocals for a bittersweet love song, the solo and a capella "She Loves Her Miner Lad." He retains lead for a second love ballad, Gordon Lightfoot's "Sweet Guinevere," which features guest J.P. Cormier on fiddle. Next, Jackie MacQueen presents Allister MacGillivray's "You'll Be Home Again"; his solo singing is good enough, but when the crew joins him for the lullaby chorus, it becomes magic.
If things seem too slow, the album picks up again for the traditional "Miner's Life," sung with great harmonies and a carnival air by the full chorus. Kevin Edwards leads the group through the melancholy traditional song, "The Banks of Newfoundland," before Jerry Forbes takes over to lead them on a whaling journey for "Rolling Down to Old Maui." The Men next turn to thoughts of home with "If I Can't Take the Island With Me," a paean to Cape Breton written by Shauna Lee McKillop and Aaron Lewis, with Shane MacLeod on lead vocals.
Yogi Muise leads 'em through the call-and-response "Coal Town Road," by Allister MacGillivray. Gordon Sheriff gives a time-laden recitation of Al Provoe's poem "Who Are They?" while Bobby Roper provides a soulful harmonica backdrop. Then, Nipper MacLeod resumes lead to bring the album to a close with Rita MacNeil's uplifting "Working Man."
If you didn't get it all the first time, hit the repeat button and listen through again. And again. And again.
I wish desperately that the album included lyrics in its notes, but the space was given instead to a two-page track list, a two-page history of the group and a two-page list of the group's present membership (26 singers, four of whom play instruments, too, plus a director/pianist and five guest musicians) as well as 60 former members.
A depressed economy can put a lot of people out of work and into despair. These miners have, for more than three decades, staved off despair and held onto their pride in part by creating and sharing incredible music with the world. They may not be as polished as some musicians on the market, but it's hard to match their spirit. This album is a monument to that spirit, and a testament to hope in the face of adversity. It's almost a bonus that the music on Coal Fire in Winter is so very, very good.
Rita MacNeil and The Men of the Deeps, Mining the Soul Tour Royal Theatre, Victoria, BC December 9, 2000
Recently I attended a Chieftains concert at the Royal Theatre, and was rather stupefied as I'd never thought to be seeing them in person. Well, this concert was another one that left me awestruck. Rita MacNeil is a Canadian icon, and one whose name is pretty much known in every household. She had a Christmas special on television December 3rd, 'Rita MacNeil's Christmas,' which I purposely missed so as not to have any previous conceptions regarding the 'Mining the Soul' tour. (Although, I did keep her recipes for Old fashioned Dressing and Stilton, Walnut and Port Pate that were included in the TV Guide.)
There was a time, not too long ago, that Rita had her own show, 'Rita and Friends' which aired every Sunday evening on CBC. The talent that she has performed with and showcased in her shows is just fantastic. This year's Christmas special was no exception, including such guests as John McDermott, Patti Labelle, and Natalie MacMaster. Rita is a down-to-earth Cape Breton'er who has a zest for life she shares through her music.
Rita is a recipient of the Order of Canada, and she also holds five honorary doctorates. She has won silver, gold, and platinum awards from the Canadian Country Music Awards. And according to the concert program, "Rita has starred in numerous highly rated television specials during her career which have been broadcast on the BBC in the UK, PBS in the US, and CBC and CTV in Canada."
Joining Rita for this tour are 'The Men of the Deeps.' They are North America's only male chorus. Based in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, this chorus is comprised of not only retired coal miners, but also working miners, ranging in age from their mid-thirties to their late seventies. They have been together since 1967, and have performed in China, Yugoslavia, the U.S., and Canada. Their musical director, John C. O'Donnell, was also awarded the Order of Canada for his work with the group.
'The Men of the Deeps' are Matthew Breski, Fred Gillis, Ike Lambert, Mickey MacIntyre, John MacLeod, Nipper MacLeod, Gerald Burke, Kevin Edwards, Jerry Forbes, Shane MacLeod, Eddie Tighe, Paul White, Bill MacPherson, Jackie MacQueen, Don Matheson, Bobby Roper, Gordon Sheriff, Jackie Beaton, Ray Holland, Jim MacLellan, Alfie Matheson, Yogi Muise, Tommy Tighe, Jude Kelly, Tony Aucoin, Marshall Poirier, and Matt Hawley.
The stage was decorated like a living room, with a rose tapestry antique chair, a small side-table, a lamp with a fringed burgundy shade, and a delicate yellow and cream porcelain rose adorning the table. There was also a very small tree, more like a sturdy pine branch, decorated with lights. All of this induced a rather relaxed, homey atmosphere. That atmosphere was only enhanced when Rita made her entrance in a beautiful burgundy velvet skirt and top, offset by stunning pearl and diamond earrings. And much to the delight of my friend and me, Rita had decided to forego her shoes and was in stocking feet. It is nice to see a performer so comfortable with themselves and with their audience.
This is the first 'Mining the Soul' tour, and also the first joint CD. However, there is hope for more collaboration in the future. Rita was, as she said, "happy to be back in our beautiful theatre, in our gorgeous city." That put a smile on most faces, as she launched into an evening of original and not-so-original pieces. Rita sang the most beautiful rendition of 'Silent Night' I think I have ever heard, and it caused my arms to prickle in goose flesh. It was an almost magical moment, and the song is one of Rita's personal favourites. That song contained the spirit of Christmas, and it floated free and flooded the theatre, riding the echoes of Rita's singing.
Rita also performed "In a Town This Size," which pretty much sums up small town gossip -- when you are from a small town, such as Rita's Big Pond, Nova Scotia, you learn all about gossip. A number of different tunes were sung, but Ben Harper's "I Shall Not Walk Alone," signalled the end of Rita's solo set.
'The Men of the Deeps' made their entrance through the audience. Walking smartly down the aisles of the darkened theatre, with their headlamps burning brightly. It created quite a stir in the audience, who I don't think were expecting them to arrive on stage in that way. Gordon Sherriff took the center microphone, and recited Al Trovo's "And Now the Fields Are Green." Al joined the chorus in 1968; however, he has since passed away. This lyrical poem, summed up so much that is of import to the miner's lives. I personally found the poem and its delivery quite enthralling.
The choir performed a number of songs about mines and mining, one of which was an Appalachian tune, "Coal Town Road," which I believe is by Alistair McGilvery. I also learned about coal tattoos. These are blue in colour, and come about if one gets cut in the mine and coal dust manages to infiltrate into that cut. It leaves a permanent blue tattoo, which is not a rarity in the mining business. We were also treated to a solo performance of an old Merle Travis hit, "16 Tons." And a really wonderful treat for the audience, a home grown song about BC's Bevan mine. The Miner's ended their set with the Cape Breton tune, "Rise Again." And I'd not be honest if I didn't mention that I kept expecting the Rankin Family to make their entrance and join in the song. Thankfully, I was not the only one.
There are only five of the founding members of 'The Men of the Deeps' remaining with the chorus, but they are still going strong. Apparently in the U.K., mills and mines all have their own choirs. It is nice to see we are borrowing a bit of their tradition, and making it our own. 'The Men of the Deeps' are an inspiration, sharing the hazards and the joys of the way in which they make their living. You can almost tell their job positions, by both the stance and how their belts are positioned. The men are all dressed in their work garb, dark blue Cape Breton Mine overalls, black t-shirts underneath, steel-toed work boots, and of course, their black miners hats with the headlamps.
The third set saw Rita and the Miners together. A rousing response was elicited from the audience when they sang a traditional folk song, "Farewell to Nova Scotia." I found my own mind wandering during the singing, thinking of what these men risk each and every day, working miles out under the ocean, deep in the earth's womb. This is a place where life is precious and an accident can mean ruin for many men and their families. I have to look upon them with awe; it may only be a job, may only be survival, but they are a breed apart from the common man.
We were also treated to the contemporary Irish ballad "Emigrant Eyes," and "Plain Ole Miner Boy." The song which I think caught me most off guard was a lively interpretation of Devo's "Working In A Coal Mine." It chased away the shadows of the sombre mood and had me laughing with surprised delight. Rita sang an original number entitled "Carollers," then had the miners dedicate a mining Christmas song to her, which was written by one of their members and sung by Billy MacPherson. This prompted another tree to be brought out. This one the miners had decorated with Pepsi cans and whatever else was to hand. Not only was it adorable, but it sent out the message loud and strong. When you're underground on Christmas Day, you make do with what is at hand. Be thankful for what there is and what you have.
There was also a wonderful display of jigging, by Johnny Flatley, also known as John MacLeod. And another case of the goose bumps with "Joy to the World." The final song, "Working Man" brought a thunderous standing ovation. The applause went on for a time, then the Miner's and Rita returned for a final number. After which there was yet another standing ovation, but one which was not responded to. The miners made their way off of the stage the same way they had arrived. Slowly they mixed and mingled with the crowd, and were enfolded in some good old British Columbia appreciation. And unlike the previous shows I have been to at the Royal Theatre, the majority of the audience this time appeared to be mostly the World War II crowd, in their late '60's, early '70's, although there were a few younger faces in the sold-out theatre.
I'd like to say thank you to Wade Langham of Lupins Productions in Nova Scotia for the great seats, and the wonderful show. Maybe one day we can meet for some home cooking at Rita's Tea Room restaurant in Big Pond, Nova Scotia. If any of you have the chance to go there, I'd recommend it. You may even find Rita there on occasion.
Hidden under a huge hat, I saw a shy, barefoot woman-of-size and her pianist open a Women's Day show in Yellowknife. More than twenty years later, a still lovable, more confident Rita MacNeil now heads the bill joined by The Men of the Deeps. This cross-country tour began in Vancouver and will work its way East so Ms MacNeil and The Men can reach home in Cape Breton before Christmas.
On opening night, there were a few glitches. The programmes failed to arrive. The sound system squeaked at one point and remained silent at another. (Jokes were made each time.) During some numbers, the volume was too loud. And the spotlights failed to follow soloists when they performed at front stage. These errors aside, the concert delighted Ms MacNeil's adoring fans.
When she sang, "I'll Take the Rose Tonight," a number of women laid red roses on the stage. One woman wearing a Rita MacNeil T-shirt offered a rose and teddy bear in a small, red stocking to the star. With gentle jokes about the weather and her family, the singer-songwriter moved smoothly between songs of sweet memories ("Late December," "All Around the World Tonight,") and rocking gospel numbers ("He's Leading Me On," "Christmas Time is Here at Last").
Towards intermission, the lights went down. In total darkness, with only their lamps on for light, The Men of the Deeps streamed down the centre aisles. Clad in mining overalls and hard hats The Men made an impact as with thumbs hooked into their belts, they sang their opening number, "Oh Lord, Have Mercy on a Miner's Soul". Under the Musical Direction of Jack O'Donnell, the rich, robust, earthy voices of The Men continued with numbers like Gordon Lightfoot's "Sweet Guinevere" (soloist Stanley MacLeod) and finger-clicking crowd-pleasers such as "Sixteen Tonnes."
It's been a few years since the Westray mine disaster yet The Men of the Deeps were visibly moved by Gordon Sheriff's rendition of the poem, "A Tribute" and his cousin Shane MacLeod's, "Their Lights Will Shine (for those they left behind)". Other songs of gratitude to working people were "Let Us Thank You" and the moving "Immigrant Eyes."
After the intermission, Rita MacNeil and The Men of the Deeps sang of "Cape Breton in My Dreams." Then former mine manager, Jim McLellan, told the audience that the two criteria for being a member of The Men of the Deeps were that you had to have been involved in mining and were able to sing. He then had the audience hooting with laughter as he recounted mining tales. Ms MacNeil continued the lightness: "We were very poor in our home but there was a lot of love. We didn't find gifts under the tree but we often found relatives (pause) and they weren't even gift wrapped."
As the evening progressed, the white lights on the little tree twinkled centre stage. The band played. Ms MacNeil sang Christmas carols ("Hope Deliver," "I'm Not Going to Keep it to Myself What the Lord Has Done for Me") and The Men of the Deeps carried their harmonies, sang songs, and told more stories.
Before graciously thanking the band members individually (J.P. Cormier and his wife opened the show and he played four different instruments) Rita MacNeil and The Men sang her life-altering song, "It's a Working Man I Am." It was a stunning moment when the men turned their lamps back on at the end of the number. During the encore number, "Joy to the World," we were treated to Mr Cormier's fast fiddling finger work and the fancy footwork of a choir man's East Coast jigging.
Ms Rita MacNeil graciously asked, "May we have the privilege to be invited back?" With the success of their joint albums and the magic of their combined voices, Ms MacNeil and The Men of the Deeps, we welcome your return.
Men of the Deeps, Coal Fire in Winter (Atlantica Music, 1996) Men of the Deeps, Diamonds in the Rough: Twenty-five Years with the Men of the Deeps (The Men of the Deeps Music, 1992)
I recently had the pleasure of seeing this fantastic choir, along with Canadian icon Rita MacNeil, and I was extremely impressed, not only with their exceptional talent, but with all that this group symbolizes. This all-male choir was brought together in 1966, as part of Cape Breton's contribution to Canada's Centennial Year (1967). This was the method Cape Breton chose to preserve some of the rich folklore of its mining communities, and a better one would be impossible to find.
Based in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, this chorus is composed of both retired and working coal miners, ranging in age from their mid-thirties to their late seventies. Since their nascence, they have performed in China, Yugoslavia, the U.S., and Canada. Their musical director, John C. O'Donnell, was also awarded the Order of Canada for his work with the group. John is a professor of music at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. He possesses one of the most extensive collections of mining songs in Canada.
The Men of the Deeps are Matthew Breski, Fred Gillis, Ike Lambert, Mickey MacIntyre, John MacLeod, Nipper MacLeod, Gerald Burke, Kevin Edwards, Jerry Forbes, Shane MacLeod, Eddie Tighe, Paul White, Bill MacPherson, Jackie MacQueen, Don Matheson, Bobby Roper, Gordon Sheriff, Jackie Beaton, Ray Holland, Jim MacLellan, Alfie Matheson, Yogi Muise, Tommy Tighe, Jude Kelly, Tony Aucoin, Marshall Poirier, and Matt Hawley.
There are only five of the founding members of The Men of the Deeps remaining with the chorus, but they are still going strong. Apparently in the U.K., mills and mines all have their own choirs. It is nice to see we are borrowing a bit of their tradition, and making it our own. The Men of the Deeps are an inspiration, sharing the hazards and the joys of the way in which they make their living. You can almost tell their job positions, by both the stance and how their belts are positioned. The men are all dressed in their work garb, dark blue Cape Breton Mine overalls, black T-shirts underneath, steel-toed work boots, and, of course, their black miners' hats with the headlamps.
Diamonds in the Rough is a compilation of twenty-five years of their material. The title is borrowed from Allister MacGillivray's book, documenting the twenty-five year history of this unique chorus. With a total of 16 tracks, of which some are original compositions, this disc will help you to pass almost an hour's time. It is a blend of both rare and popular mining tunes, such as Merle Travis' "Sixteen Tons," which is performed here by Ray Holland.
"Are You From Bevan?" is a personal favourite of mine, but that is a biased opinion as it originates from my own home turf, Vancouver Island. There are many markers of mining tragedies here in the Cumberland area, and gazing at them makes you really see the risks that these men take, day after day. Their strength and courage has to be admired; I know I could never do their job.
"No. 26 Mine Disaster" will give any listener goosebumps. Any mining disaster would be a horrible way to die, and this one in 1979 saw the loss of ten lives. The harmonies of the chorus are almost enough to call forth tears, and Nipper MacLeod's solos are nothing if not haunting. This song is a heartfelt continuing eulogy for those miners and their families.
Coal Fire in Winter is equally as enjoyable as Diamonds in the Rough and contains 14 tracks, both original and traditional. The booklet includes a list of choir members, both old and new (and the number of former members is astounding!), as well as a brief but interesting history on the chorus. The only tracks shared between the two CDs are: "Working Man" by Rita MacNeil, and "Coal Town Road" by Allister MacGillivray. Both of these are well worth hearing again.
The first track is one which I have recently heard done by the Rankin Family, "Tramp Miner." It is a delightfully upbeat song, and a wonderful way to begin a disc, although due to the accident which caused the death of John Rankin, it does have a bit of overhanging shadow on it. Fred Gillis does a great job with the vocals in this rendition.
Gordon Lightfoot's "Sweet Guinevere," a rather melancholy look at love and survival in a coal town, is done justice by Nipper MacLeod, accompanied by a fiddle crying a soft lament. In contrast, "Miner's Life" is an upbeat traditional song, comparing the lives of miners and sailors. And there are a sizable number of similarities involved! The track also gives a good demonstration of the choir's range.
"Who are They," is a touching poem written by Al Provoe, a former member of the chorus. The recitation of this rendition is by Gordon Sheriff, while the keyboards are supplied by John O'Donnell. This particular track was recorded at the Cape Breton Miners' Museum and gives a good depiction of who and what a miner is. It is a touching and inspirational track, and another which can raise those pesky goosebumps if you're not careful.
The Men of the Deeps are well worth the listening. They are talented, and they have a rich history to share with you. The history of miners, from the days long ago to present time, resides in these songs, and is a treasure worth more than any gold. Thank you to the Men of the Deeps for sharing this rich tapestry of history with us, in this unique manner. May your lamps never go dim.
A MINING THE SOUL CHRISTMAS
