Since 1966 I have been actively involved with Cape Breton Island's Coal Miners' Chorus
Men of the Deeps.  With the exception of a short period between 1968 - 1973, I have served as
musical director and conductor of the group for most of the past forty years.  Because the mandate of the group is to assist in the preservation of songs associated with Cape Breton's coal mining industry,  I have cultivated an interest in the music of coal mining communities, not only of Cape Breton, but all of Canada.  And because much of the music of Canada's coal mining communities shares a common heritage with mining communities of the entire English speaking world, my research interests have expanded to include the music of many industrial communities throughout the world -- particularly those in the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

     Some of the songs which I have collected have been the subject of research articles published in selected journals (see my list of publications); many are documented in my book, And Now The Fields Are Green; and many have formed the repertoire of the Men of the Deeps.  By performing these songs in concert* and on commercial recordings (see the Men of the Deeps list of recordings), the Men of the Deeps choir has contributed in some small way to keeping the songs alive.

     I would be most interested in hearing from any researchers or collectors of folk songs who might share this interest.
 
 

*Click here to view the Men of the Deeps Concert Tour Schedule for the year 2001.
Go back to Jack O'Donnell's Home Page