The sounds of Hector Week 1923

The sounds of Hector Week 1923

This selection of music, “H-E-C-T-O-R spells ‘Hector'", was composed in 1923 by Montreal musicians Rene Kennedy Morton and Louis MacNeil to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the ship Hector in Pictou, Nova Scotia, with early Scottish immigrants.

It was hailed by The Eastern Chronicle as the first ever “Scotch foxtrot”.

Catchy, full of pep and go

Described as “catchy, full of pep and go,” this song made its debut at New Glasgow’s Roseland. It was also sung via a Magnavox amplifier at the Highland Ball, and featured as the “leading number” at community singalongs in Pictou County.

We are deeply appreciative to Ken Bezanson and Kory Bayer for making this piece of music come alive after 100 years.

The credits are as follows:
Piano - Ken Bezanson
Recording, mixing, mastering – Kory Bayer

A copy of the original score and lyrics for “H-E-C-T-O-R” is available on the HAGGIS portal, courtesy of The McCulloch House Museum & Genealogy Centre:

http://haggis.mccullochcentre.ca/document/1130

http://haggis.mccullochcentre.ca/document/1131

http://haggis.mccullochcentre.ca/document/1132