The Utah Symphony will be getting in the Celtic spirit of things this weekend with guest artist and Celtic fiddler Natalie MacMaster, who is from Cape Breton, an island off the east coast of Canada near Nova Scotia.
"The music itself that I play is what I would play even at a square-dance hall in Cape Breton," MacMaster said by phone from her home in Cape Breton. "I've got some great arrangers of music, and they take the traditional fiddle tunes and they arrange them for symphony. So basically I'll be doing a lot of what you would hear on my records — but play those tunes with the symphony."
Drawing from previously released albums, a soon-to-be-released CD called "Yours Truly," and never-recorded material, the concert will be a collection of mostly up-tempo material. "A lot of symphony shows you go to tend to play more mood pieces, beautiful slow pieces. So this is a little more upbeat than a regular symphony performance, and also there are some beautiful old Celtic ballads, as well — plus a bit of step-dancing."
The Utah Symphony will also be featured at the beginning of the program, playing such related orchestral pieces as Malcolm Arnold's "Four Scottish Dances" and Mendelssohn's Scherzo assai vivace from Symphony No. 3 ("Scottish").
MacMaster said she'll be bringing her band — composed of guitarist Brad Davidge, pianist Allan Dewar, drum/percussionist Miche Pouliot, bassist John Chiasson and Matt MacIsaac on pipes, whistle and banjo) — to perform for the first time on "Yours Truly." "This is my 10th recording, but this is the first with my band."
She added that the album got its name from all of the personal input that MacMaster has had on this album — from start to finish. "The reason it's called 'Yours Truly' is because I feel it's more 'me' than what I've done before — just because I've written so much of it, and helped arrange so much of it, and helped produce it with my husband."
MacMaster said she wrote 70 percent of what's on this album, whereas previous albums had maybe 5 percent original material. She added that she had some help from co-writers, and Davidge, the band's guitarist.
Musicality runs in her genes. From the time MacMaster was born, she's been immersed in music. "My mother is a step-dancer and she taught me to dance when I was 5. My dad plays a little bit of fiddle, but he's got an incredible ear for music, so he got me started on the fiddle when I was young.
"And my uncle is probably the most famous Cape Breton fiddler. His name is Buddy MacMaster. And I have other aunts and uncles that play fiddle and play piano and play in bands. Both sides of my family; a long history of music as far back as anybody can remember."
Cape Breton, where MacMaster grew up, is a very musical place, she said, with many functions going on that offer traditional music. "So really, I received from my bloodline, from my immediate family, and from my community."
MacMaster will now keep the music going through the bloodline with the birth of her new daughter, Mary Frances. At 4 months, Mary Frances follows her mother around during her very busy schedule. "She is just a darling, and she travels very well," said MacMaster. "I'm touring with her. She's coming with me to Utah."
As she was asked about the experience of motherhood, MacMaster was stifling a big yawn. Then she laughed. "How's that for an answer? Perfect timing. It's tiring, but it's wonderful."
If you go . . .
What: Natalie MacMaster, Utah Symphony
Where: Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple
When: Friday and
Saturday, 8 p.m.
How much: $20-$48
Phone: 355-2787 or 888-451-2787
Web: " TARGET="_blank">www.arttix.org
Also: Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Val A. Browning Center, Ogden, $16-$32 (801-626-7000)
E-mail: rcline@desnews.com