Obit: fiddler/composer Jerry Holland (July 2009)

Subject: Obit: Jerry Holland
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 08:55 AM

Cape Breton fiddler and composer Jerry Holland has passed on. Cape Breton mourns!

Jerry

Subject: RE: Obit: Jerry Holland
From: jeffp
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 09:51 AM

Awwwwwwwww! So sorry to hear this. Jerry was a wonderful, friendly bear of a man with an extroardinary talent. I met him several times at the Augusta Heritage Center Irish Week and he was always very nice to me and remembered me even though I wasn't one of his students. I will miss him greatly.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jerry Holland
From: Connacht Rambler
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 10:29 AM

He had a beautiful style of playing.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jerry Holland
From: meself
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 11:37 AM

Shocking, sad news. His contribution to the culture of Cape Breton fiddling has been enormous. I saw him perform a number of times, and spoke with him a few times; I always found him amiable, and encouraging of lesser fiddlers (like myself). In fact, I've never heard a bad word said of him.

There will be a sad, empty place in the hearts of all Cape Breton fiddlers for a long while ...

Subject: RE: Obit: fiddler/composer Jerry Holland (July 2009)
From: Beer
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 01:55 PM

Oh! No!
Sympathies to all his love ones.
Adrien

Subject: RE: Obit: fiddler/composer Jerry Holland (July 2009)
From: Zhenya
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 04:10 PM

I'm very sorry to hear this news. I had the pleasure to hear him in person just twice, but these are lovely memories. The more recent time was last September at the ICONs festival in Massachusetts, where he did some fantastic sets backed up by John Doyle. His playing was so outstanding! And he seemed to have the nicest personality as well. Yes, he will be missed.

Subject: RE: Obit: fiddler/composer Jerry Holland (July 200
From: Sugwash
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 05:21 PM

I'm sorry to hear that, he was a very fine player and a genuinely warm man.

Subject: RE: Obit: fiddler/composer Jerry Holland (July 2009)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 09:16 PM

Another loss.

Linn

Subject: RE: Obit: fiddler/composer Jerry Holland (July 2009)
From: Stewart
Date: 18 Jul 09 - 12:53 PM

About six years ago at the Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins, W. Virginia, I remember one evening listening to Jerry and a couple other musicians jam for several hours on one of the porches. He was freely sharing his music with those around him. It was wonderful. He will certainly be missed.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Obit: fiddler/composer Jerry Holland (July 2009)
From: GUEST,Amy
Date: 18 Jul 09 - 06:43 PM

Jerry is loved so much by his friends/students in Vermont. He has taught us all so many tunes, dispensed so many hugs, told a lot of jokes-some of which you could repeat, played beautiful music to us, and brought us generously into his world of music and Cape Breton culture. I don't know if he ever forgot a name. We love him and we'll miss him. What a wonderful musician and human being. We have been privileged to be with him. Thanks, Jerry.

Subject: RE: Obit: fiddler/composer Jerry Holland (July 2009)
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 18 Jul 09 - 07:42 PM

Jerry was well-known and loved here in Nelson, NH as well. He.will be sadly missed.

Subject: RE: Obit: fiddler/composer Jerry Holland (July 2009)
From: Lady Nancy
Date: 18 Jul 09 - 08:08 PM

I was privileged to attend a weekend workshop with Jerry in the Yorkshire Dales a handful of years ago. Lovely guy. I still have the music for the tunes we did with him, and some of them are in my head and played "out" often.

Inspriational, enthusiastic and very encouraging to all of us who attended. Such a shame.

LN

Subject: RE: Obit: fiddler/composer Jerry Holland (July 2009)
From: Declan
Date: 18 Jul 09 - 08:26 PM

I had the privelege of hearing him play live on a couple of occasions as well as hearing many of his recordings.

His untimely loss will be felt across the whole world of tradional music.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Subject: RE: Obit: fiddler/composer Jerry Holland (July 2009)
From: Jim Lad
Date: 19 Jul 09 - 01:14 AM

Just found out tonight.
That was a long, tough battle.
May he rest in peace.

Subject: RE: Obit: fiddler/composer Jerry Holland (July 2009)
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 01:32 AM

I don't know his music as well as I should, and never had the privilege of crossing paths with him, but "My Cape Breton Home" is in the top 5 of the waltzes I love to play.

So sorry to hear that he's gone and of his struggles at the end. R.I.P.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Obit: fiddler/composer Jerry Holland (July 2009)
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 04:48 AM

This is very sad. I was in Cape Breton a couple of times in the late 80s and all the musicians I met were extremely friendly and welcoming to me - not least Jerry. A great piano player and friend of Jerry's, Doug MacPhee, took me under his wing while I was there and during that time I went to a wonderful house party at Jerry's house at Margaree Harbour (if I remember correctly) where most of the best CB musicians of the time were present, and I was priveleged to share a few tunes with most of them. Jerry was terrifically friendly and welcoming even though he didn't know me from Adam. A wonderful memory that has stayed with me ever since.

My condolences to his family and his many friends.

Subject: RE: Obit: fiddler/composer Jerry Holland (July 2009)
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 03:22 PM

sad news, I met at a performance here in Vancouver maybe 10years ago,
a great guy and great musician.
Thanks for the tunes Jerry.
pEtr

Subject: RE: Obit: fiddler/composer Jerry Holland (July 2009)
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 07:08 PM

Jerry Holland RIP