In 19th Century Six Mile Brook, Pictou County, there lived a miller named James Barry…
In 19th Century Six Mile Brook, Pictou County, there lived a miller named James Barry…
More than just a miller, he was also a printer and a proficient fiddle player. He wrote or transcribed hundreds of fiddle tunes over the course of his life. Fortunately, the McCulloch House Museum and Genealogy Centre holds two music books: one containing fiddle tunes by Barry while the other contains 100s he transcribed over about three decades.
Featuring 2247 tunes, the book may be the largest collection of written 19th century folk music in Canada. These historical artifacts are truly significant to Pictou County heritage and to Canadian history. The McCulloch House in association with Brock University proudly present a digital exploration of these two artifacts.
Barry created these music books for the purpose of others one day reading them. The aesthetic quality of these books is directly in line with who Barry was as a person. He was a crafts person by trade working his mill and print shop. The dedication in crafting these high quality music books is a reflection of Barry’s desire to incorporate his skills, style, and craft in a distinct aesthetic world.
Barry’s Music Books
*You can enlarge the music books by selecting the zoom options on the bottom tool bar
Pictou County miller and printer James Barry transcribed selections of music from his time. This small music book by Barry contains a number of his own compositions. Each tune was inked by hand and highlight his craftsperson’s hand. The small book is bound with red cloth and contains 36 pages, where 12 hold a total of 19 tunes.
Music Composed by James Burns Barrie (1819-1905) of Six Mile Brook, Pictou County, NS.
Contributor Name: Freda Munroe
Created/Published: Pictou County: NS [Mid to Late 1800s]
Publisher: James Barry Jr.
Language: English
Headings: Manuscript — Hand-written– mid 1800s.
Notes: Red Cloth, 36 pages, 12 pages hold 19 tunes: Held at the McCulloch House Museum and Genealogy Centre
Medium: Print: Bound and written by hand.
James Barry’s large music manuscript is not only an artifact that highlights James Barry’s dedication and mastery of the printing craft, but it is also the largest collection of traditional fiddle tunes in Canada – containing 653 pages of fiddle music. This wealth of traditional folk songs, a majority of which were composed by well known fiddlers from the period, is a significant artifact that captures a snapshot of musical interests of the late 18th and 19th centuries.
Contributor Name(s):
Created/Published: Pictou County: NS [Mid to Late 1800s]
Publisher: James Barry Jr.
Language: English
Headings: Manuscript — Hand-written– mid 1800s
Notes: 700 pages, 653 pages hold fiddle tunes. Held at the McCulloch House and Genealogy Centre
Medium: Print: Bound and written by hand.