The hustle and bustle of life with seven young children is evident in just one short conversation with Natalie MacMaster. The Canadian fiddling legend, who is married to another fiddle superstar, Donnell Leahy, has not only made beautiful music as a solo artist and in collaboration with here eminently talented spouse, but the two have also collaborating on a lucky seven brood of healthy, happy and talented kids, ranging in age from 12 to six months old.
It’s a testament to MacMaster’s eminent patience and professionalism that she is able to conduct a lively and engaging interview, whilst also doing the various and sundry requirements of maintaining a busy household.
That’s right, you read that correctly, the couple recently welcomed yet another new addition to the family in the personage of little Maria. She follows a six-pack of little Leahys, starting with eldest daughter Mary Frances, who is 12, followed by 11-year-old Michael, Claire (9), Julia (7), Alex (6) and four-year-old Sadie. All are incorporated, to some degree, in performances by their parents, including their current A Celtic Family Christmas, which is traversing Canada throughout the month of December.
The tour began in late November on the west coast, and is currently heading east through Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, before entering Ontario on Dec. 8 with a show in Thunder Bay. It then moves on to Sault Ste. Marie, St. Catharines, Brockville, Brampton, Ottawa, Kitchener and Toronto before wrapping up with three shows in Peterborough – two on Dec. 21, and the final one on Dec. 22 and Showplace Performance Centre. Peterborough is just down the road from where the Leahy family live near Lakefield.
“We’ve loved doing these tours over the years at the holidays, and this year we’re very excited to announce that we are having an actor in our show for the first time. And it was inspired by some ideas that Donnell has been thinking about for years. We went to Las Vegas a few years ago and were really impressed with their shows, and we loved how theatrical side really enhanced the music. And then my husband and son Michael, who is nuts about fighter planes, went to see a show called Billy Bishop goes to War, a one man play, and the actor was William Colgate. Donnell got home from that and said it’s something we should explore. One thing led to another and sure enough William Colgate is going to tour with us. We’ve managed to collaborate and find a way to have him sort of invent a character that can better explain the history of Donnell and I, the history of our music, the history of our ancestors throughout the course of the show,” MacMaster explained.
“It’s really fun, and light hearted and doesn’t tamper with the music in any sort of way. It’s a character; I wouldn’t use the word narrator because he is involved in the show, not just coming on and off to introduce things. We’re still performing all or music, we’re just adding to it with this element. And as far as the show and the material goes, it’s Christmas, so we have some Christmas music, that we feel sounds really good on the fiddle.”
Interestingly, MacMaster said she didn’t actually play holiday music onstage until she was in her 30s and married with kids.
“I never played a Christmas tune on the fiddle until then. Everything that was played at Christmas, including what was played at church, was fiddle tunes. We all played in the church at Christmas time, but going out of the Midnight Mass, I always played a jig – a regular fiddle jig,” she said.
“And at the house parties, music was front and centre and there was always just our traditional music. And of course, for these shows we have our children come out with us, and they are a big part of it. They are more a part of these shows than our regular show because they lend themselves so well to Christmas and the magic of Christmas and the excitement and sweetness of it all.”
She said folks who many only have a passing affinity for holiday inspired music will enjoy the show as much as those who are passionate fans of the genre because of the quality of the musicians and the liveliness of their performances as part of A Celtic Family Christmas.
“Christmas music is what it is, and you go through stages in your life where you just love it and it gives you that warm feeling. And at other times you’re like, ‘oh my goodness, I have had it with all of that’ and you’re just not in the mood. but I find that as I am getting older and I am noticing that in the crowd these things have that have history and deeper meaning and longevity are things that are being looked at differently and appreciated more because they’re not the norm any more, but are a little gem. It seems as though the music is valued more by some because it’s valued less by others, if that makes any sense,” said MacMaster.
“We have just a great band, and there is nothing fludd about this show. There’s a really deep musicianship on the part of our band. The arrangements, I think, are really nice and groovy and some are more traditional and some are really fresh and innovative, and it’s just nice. People tell us all the time, ‘it’s so nice to see the family out there.’ And at Christmas that means so much more.”
MacMaster, as has been well documented, grew up in Nova Scotia, while her husband grew up in rural eastern Ontario. But in both instances, the family aspect of Christmas, as well as the long-held traditions, were and continue to be pre-eminent.
“For us, Christmas is a lot of pandemonium, in a good way. It’s very alive. We are celebrating the birth of Christ, and we do celebrate the traditions that we grew up with in that sense. We do all the other stuff, like the stockings and we go out every year and the kids get a tree. It’s surprisingly a big deal for them. We’re realizing that it’s one of the things that we just can’t stop, as much as I would like to just go spend 20 bucks at Canadian Tire, they seem to really love the process of getting a tree,” she said.
“And we decorate the tree together, although I am not always thrilled with the final outcome. From the halfway point down, its plastered with decorations, so sometimes I fix the thing up a bit when they go to bed and tell them the elves came in to do that. Donnell and I have this little Christmas ritual where we have a shot of Bailey’s and sit there and wrap … and wait for Santa of course.”
It is a remarkable lifestyle being led by MacMaster, Leahy and their expansive family – remarkable for its normalcy, or at least as ‘normal’ as any family with seven children can be. Although internationally renown musicians and recording artists, Natalie and Donnell eschew the trappings of celebrity when off the road, as they not only home school their kids, but run a working farm that sees the young ones doing the requisite chores of any children of farming stock. It literally grounds the entire family and gives them all a sense of solidity and stability, as well as inculcating the children with a sense of the importance of family, hard work and co-operation. The family that works together, and plays together, thrives together, could be said to be the overriding philosophy.
“There’s no question that they all want to do music, and the older ones are really beginning to focus on their own things, but that being said, I haven’t seen any strong independent streaks yet, although I still wonder how long it will be like this. Right now, they are very diligent and obedient, and they tend not to question things, at least at this point, although they are still pretty young. And we are postponing that as much as we can as parents to try and maintain the sweetness and innocence of childhood. We want to keep them in that stage as long as we can without it being a detriment to them. Let’s face it, in today’s world, young teenagers struggle with a lot of issues, so we want to keep them in a bubble for as long as we can,” MacMaster explained.
“So, living on a working farm is part of that. They were out vaccinating cattle today with Donnell and doing things like that for sure helps maintain that sense of family. We also home school too. But, listen, I don’t want to give the impression that we are just confined to this are and that we live inside our own little world. That’s not the case at all. Obviously, they children are all very well travelled. They were over in Germany a few months ago performing on their own without Mommy and Daddy, just doing all sorts of cool things, so they have a pretty full social life and performing life, that gets them out into the world.”
As much as the children are becoming integral parts to these sorts of shows, there is still the ‘brand’ of Natalie MacMaster and the brand of Donnell Leahy to be considered. MacMaster said work has been ongoing for recording projects under those banners but incorporating the kids more and more as they get older.
“Donnell and I talk about this all the time, about all the projects we want to do if. We must have 20 of them, and not all of them are with family. We know we will never do all that we want to do, because there are so many things that we want to do. Donnell is working on a solo CD and that will come out next. And then it will be time to do something with the two of us together. By that time, the kids will be old enough to help out in the recording in some way, if it’s right,” she said.
“The one thing is that we like to give them opportunities if we can, if it makes sense. There is a certain amount of including them that is too much. I think right now it’s about 15 minutes out of a two-hour concert. It’s just enough to give them a little chance and really to enhance the show, because we give the audience enough that it leaves them wanting more. How and when and the exact nature of our solo stuff and our work together unfolds, I am not sure. Life will go on and things will be determined as life dictates and circumstances dictate. All we know is well will just keep doing this as long as we can.”
For more information on the Celtic Family Christmas Tour, and other news and happenings of Natalie MacMaster, Donnell Leahy and their family, visit https://www.natalieanddonnell.com.
- Jim Barber is a veteran award-winning journalist and author based in Napanee, ON, who has been writing about music and musicians for a quarter of a century. Besides his journalistic endeavours, he now works as a communications and marketing specialist. Contact him at jimbarberwritingservices@gmail.com.
