So summer's over in a week, and I haven't done half the things I had on my list to do. Go for that hike in the Helderbergs; start horseback riding again; read War & Peace. (No. I made that one up.)
Anyway, I always liked fall best. It's my favorite season: crackling leaves, cool, crisp air, beautiful mosquito-free evenings looking at the stars. Plus it means it'll be cool enough to want to be inside more so we can learn more new tunes.
Anybody going to hear any Irish music soon? I don't even know what's happening -- I'm on my own little planet. How 'bout if you guys give me an update, eh? I do know about a few things coming up in October, though:
The Joe Banjo Burke Festival is happening for the first time on October 5-8, 2007: www.joebanjoburke.org. It looks to be a very, very nice fall weekend festival that includes instrument classes, dancing, sessions, concerts and much more.
I encourage everyone to participate in some way, for two reasons: 1) it's Irish music, and it's the real thing. Go hear it, play it, share it, live it! and 2) the organization fundraises for research for Parkinson's Disease, which took Joe's life way too soon, and supports the cultural aspects of Irish life (music, dance, language, sport). They even have a "talent instrument clearinghouse" for deserving students who don't have an instrument. Father Charlie Coen has generously donated several beginner instruments, and I know they can use more, so if you'd like to donate an instrument you're not using or learn more about the program, visit the website.
The Irish Traditional Arts Advisory Board for this organization is full of pretty amazing musicians, including Joanie Madden, Mike Rafferty, Jerry O'Sullivan, Brendan Dolan, and more. They'll be looking for officers for the organization soon, so if you're interested, get in touch with them and get involved!
The other important event to note is The East Coast Pipers Tionol on Oct. 26-28, 2007 (www.eastcoastpipers.com). It's a weekend of classes in pipes and fiddle, sessions, a fabulous concert, and cameraderie in the music. This year, as you noticed the O'Connell Lounge has a distince Kosher flavor, the Tionol will be held up at Gavin's Golden Hill Resort. Make sure you check out the registration info so you can get accommodations if you need them.
These two events, in addition to the thriving Catskills Irish Arts Week, could bring that little sleepy town back to life! Now, if you know anyone who lives in the area, please pass along the info and help us figure out how to publicize these festivals!
OK, down off my soapbox. Enjoy the last hazy days of summer...
The Trad
8.26.2007
8.16.2007
Tanglewood Schmanglewood
Yeah. We played Tanglewood last night. Pshhhh. Weren't nuthin'. I can do that anytime I want. Phhttt. Whatever.
[silence]
[followed by bursts of laughter]
OK, I Lied!!!!! It was so cool!!!!! We had such a great time! We met so many great people! WOW! Yeah, baby, that's what I'm talkin' bout!
Anyway, we were asked to play by one of BSO's own violinists, so the quartet was made up of Bonnie, Bass-man Ben (also of the BSO), Trusty Companion, and Yours Truly. We had a rollicking good time up there on the steps of the Main House, which overlooks only one of the greatest views I've ever seen (at a gig certainly, but no, pretty much anytime -- it was gorgeous). I tell you this mainly because I want to brag on them. Bonnie and Ben are consummate musicians, really fun to work with, and have a great ear for the music. It was a real pleasure to be asked to join them.
We had a lot of fun playing tunes together, and hearing each other's favorites. Bonnie played a delightfully bittersweet waltz, called Josephine's, which I think I understand is Swedish. Jeff, our slow session waltz man*, and I agree we should work on it in September. Jeff has heard a recording of Alisdair Fraser playing it. It is also on a Natalie MacMaster recording. I know Dervish recorded it on "At the End of the Day." It is also on their compilation album "Decades". I personally know of it because I heard Vasen, a Swedish group, play it both live and on recordings.
*Note to Jeff: Bring your recording of Alisdair so we can hear it. I'll try to get my hands on Vasen's version...if anyone has the Dervish version, please bring it in September. We'll have a listening party.
By the way, gang, I was surprised when I heard how few of you are actually listening to Irish music on a weekly basis. Don't be afraid...There's nothing wrong with trying it out -- it won't hurt your ears, I promise. If you're willing to play it yourself, you should really be listening to the real thing! It will inform your playing -- you'll begin to hear the phrasing and the esprit that is unique to this type of music. Now, I'm not mocking you. I'm not harrassing you. Wellllll. Just a little. I just want to know how you can sit in an Irish slow session and tell me you don't listen to any of it?! My point is that if you're listening to all those other kinds of music, and playing them as well, what is holding you back from listening to the Irish stuff?
Are you afraid of it? (maybe.) Are we too damn serious for you? (not really, we're just concentrating.) Do you think you'll discover you aren't any good at it? (not likely!)
Your assignments, should you choose to accept them, are 1) to go out and get your hands on a current traditional Irish music recording.
By that I mean: De Danaan, Bothy Band, Planxty, Altan, Dervish, Open House, Patrick Street, Craobh Rua, Lunasa, Tommy Peoples, his daughter Siobhan Peoples, Mike & Mary Rafferty, Matt Cranitch, Chris Droney, Brian MacNamara, Michael Rooney & June MacCormack, and a million other people that aren't entering my brain right now. Go to the Catskills Irish Arts Week web page on the links section below and see who the instructors are, and buy a recording.
And 2) to listen to it. Just pop it in the player in the car. Don't study it, just let it wash over you. Enjoy it. You might even like it! We expect a full report on September 12!
Thanks for reading. As always, we do welcome your comments. Or reviews of concerts or albums. Or tips on good sessions to go to. Or whatever...
You're all invited to come and see us, Lawson (a trad Irish duo) on Saturday nights from 9-close at the Morgan House, 33 Main Street, Lee, MA. If Mike and Connie are feeling better they'll dance for you, and maybe tell a story. Food is awesome. No cover charge....
[silence]
[followed by bursts of laughter]
OK, I Lied!!!!! It was so cool!!!!! We had such a great time! We met so many great people! WOW! Yeah, baby, that's what I'm talkin' bout!
Anyway, we were asked to play by one of BSO's own violinists, so the quartet was made up of Bonnie, Bass-man Ben (also of the BSO), Trusty Companion, and Yours Truly. We had a rollicking good time up there on the steps of the Main House, which overlooks only one of the greatest views I've ever seen (at a gig certainly, but no, pretty much anytime -- it was gorgeous). I tell you this mainly because I want to brag on them. Bonnie and Ben are consummate musicians, really fun to work with, and have a great ear for the music. It was a real pleasure to be asked to join them.
We had a lot of fun playing tunes together, and hearing each other's favorites. Bonnie played a delightfully bittersweet waltz, called Josephine's, which I think I understand is Swedish. Jeff, our slow session waltz man*, and I agree we should work on it in September. Jeff has heard a recording of Alisdair Fraser playing it. It is also on a Natalie MacMaster recording. I know Dervish recorded it on "At the End of the Day." It is also on their compilation album "Decades". I personally know of it because I heard Vasen, a Swedish group, play it both live and on recordings.
*Note to Jeff: Bring your recording of Alisdair so we can hear it. I'll try to get my hands on Vasen's version...if anyone has the Dervish version, please bring it in September. We'll have a listening party.
By the way, gang, I was surprised when I heard how few of you are actually listening to Irish music on a weekly basis. Don't be afraid...There's nothing wrong with trying it out -- it won't hurt your ears, I promise. If you're willing to play it yourself, you should really be listening to the real thing! It will inform your playing -- you'll begin to hear the phrasing and the esprit that is unique to this type of music. Now, I'm not mocking you. I'm not harrassing you. Wellllll. Just a little. I just want to know how you can sit in an Irish slow session and tell me you don't listen to any of it?! My point is that if you're listening to all those other kinds of music, and playing them as well, what is holding you back from listening to the Irish stuff?
Are you afraid of it? (maybe.) Are we too damn serious for you? (not really, we're just concentrating.) Do you think you'll discover you aren't any good at it? (not likely!)
Your assignments, should you choose to accept them, are 1) to go out and get your hands on a current traditional Irish music recording.
By that I mean: De Danaan, Bothy Band, Planxty, Altan, Dervish, Open House, Patrick Street, Craobh Rua, Lunasa, Tommy Peoples, his daughter Siobhan Peoples, Mike & Mary Rafferty, Matt Cranitch, Chris Droney, Brian MacNamara, Michael Rooney & June MacCormack, and a million other people that aren't entering my brain right now. Go to the Catskills Irish Arts Week web page on the links section below and see who the instructors are, and buy a recording.
And 2) to listen to it. Just pop it in the player in the car. Don't study it, just let it wash over you. Enjoy it. You might even like it! We expect a full report on September 12!
Thanks for reading. As always, we do welcome your comments. Or reviews of concerts or albums. Or tips on good sessions to go to. Or whatever...
You're all invited to come and see us, Lawson (a trad Irish duo) on Saturday nights from 9-close at the Morgan House, 33 Main Street, Lee, MA. If Mike and Connie are feeling better they'll dance for you, and maybe tell a story. Food is awesome. No cover charge....
8.07.2007
Vertigo Sucks.
Last month I cancelled Slow Session because my Uncle Bob passed away. We just got the autopsy information back, and learned that he had some kind of a lymphoma -- a brain cancer. Additionally there was lots and lots of Alzheimer's plaque floating around in his brain. All of this could have made for a very unpleasant end of life. Instead, they think ultimately his brain suffocated. A bad fall knocked some of that plaque loose and blocked the blood/oxygen flow. On the whole, while I know it was plenty unpleasant for him and the rest of the family, we all got to say goodbye, and he was not kept lingering for too long.
Beginning on Saturday last, I woke up from a dream of Vertigo. I've dreamed a lot of vivid things, mostly wonderful, but on Saturday I woke up from a dream in which I HAD Vertigo. And, when I awoke, I did, in fact, HAVE Vertigo. Let's just say IT SUCKS. Right now I'm feeling pretty woozy, and wishing I hadn't come to work. Maybe they won't notice if I slide under the desk...Or hork on the floor....
Anyway, hopefully we'll have a session tomorrow. We're going to try for a "real" session this time. I think I'd like to have it be a "round robin" and let people start their sets of tunes. This is such an awesome group of people! I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again....I just hope they have the good grace not to tilt to one side while I'm trying to talk to them....
Well, maybe I'll go lie down.
Beginning on Saturday last, I woke up from a dream of Vertigo. I've dreamed a lot of vivid things, mostly wonderful, but on Saturday I woke up from a dream in which I HAD Vertigo. And, when I awoke, I did, in fact, HAVE Vertigo. Let's just say IT SUCKS. Right now I'm feeling pretty woozy, and wishing I hadn't come to work. Maybe they won't notice if I slide under the desk...Or hork on the floor....
Anyway, hopefully we'll have a session tomorrow. We're going to try for a "real" session this time. I think I'd like to have it be a "round robin" and let people start their sets of tunes. This is such an awesome group of people! I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again....I just hope they have the good grace not to tilt to one side while I'm trying to talk to them....
Well, maybe I'll go lie down.
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