The Men of the Deeps

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The Men of the Deeps are a male choral ensemble composed of former coal miners from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.

History

Formed in 1966, the group has a mandate to preserve the traditional settler music and folklore of the

United Mine Workers of America
.

From the group's inception until his retirement in 2017, the musical director was John C. (Jack) O'Donnell,

Professor Emeritus of music at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. In 1983, O'Donnell's contribution was recognized by the government of Canada, as he was awarded the Order of Canada. In 1993, he was further honoured when he received an honorary Doctor of Letters from the University College of Cape Breton (now Cape Breton University), an honour that was bestowed upon the group as a whole in 2000. O'Donnell died October 25, 2018, age 83.[1]

In 1977, the group became the first Canadian musical ensemble to tour the People's Republic of China. In 1999, they went to Kosovo and performed a concert on behalf of the United Nations Children's Fund.

Performances

The Men of the Deeps have toured most of the major cities in

Gemini Award
.

Discography

  • Men of the Deeps (1966)
  • The Men of the Deeps I II & III (1976)
  • Diamonds in the Rough (1992)
  • Buried Treasures (1995)
  • Coal Fire in Winter (1996)
  • Mining the Soul (2000) (with Rita MacNeil)
  • Their Lights Will Shine (2004)
  • 40 Years Young (2007)

References

  1. ^ Willick, Frances (25 October 2018). "Longtime Men of the Deeps conductor John O'Donnell dies". CBC News. Retrieved 28 October 2018.

Further reading

  • MacGillivray, Allister. Diamonds in the Rough: 25 Years with The Men of the Deeps (1991). The Men of the Deeps Music.
    ISBN 978-0-9695755-0-4

External links
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