Hudson Valley Trad

Cancelling for Tonight -- but don't forget Old Songs Festival & Irish Arts Week!

2008-06-11T13:19:00.004-05:00

Tonight
Out of the whole group, I've only had two positive responses for tonight. I'm cancelling the session.

July
I'll e-mail everyone in preparation for July 9, and if I have enough positive responses (and the folks at Old Songs will let us use the building), we'll have a session in July.

Old Songs
Stay cool, everyone, and remember that even if you're not camping this year, at least plan to come for one of the days or concerts at Old Songs!

For Irish fans: Liz Carroll and John Doyle (another lefty fiddle player, btw, as well as brilliant guitarist and singer) and Andy Irvine (Irish/Greek bouzouki, gorgeous songs) will be at the festival.

For Celtic fans: April Verch (Ottawa fiddler/dancer extraordinaire!), Malinky (Scottish), Le Vent du Nord (Quebecois)

My personal favorites: Scott Ainsley (blues guitar/song, Vermont), John Kirk & Trish Miller (traditional & original music, song, dance). BTW, these two are the most generous, talented and friendly people you ever want to meet!

Some Memorials:
I've just heard they're having a memorial for Jackie Alper at the festival -- Jackie was an amazing woman, folk music, folklorist and radical! If you don't know who I am talking about, please don't miss the opportunity to learn more about her.

Old Songs will also be celebrating the life and contributions of U. Utah Phillips, a rambler, hobo, wobbly and folk legend. This is another don't miss.

The Visitors -- A Folk Opera
Andy and friends have outdone themselves yet again. If you didn't get to see The Visitors, a tale of the Adirondacks, you need to do so. A performance will be held on Friday afternoon of the festival, so make time to catch this moving, inspiring and highly informative theatre piece about the life, times and music of Adirondack people. Features an all-star cast!
_______________________________________________________
And now, my little advertisement for...
CATSKILLS IRISH ARTS WEEK!!!! July 13-19, including classes in music, song, dance and craft. Features sessions, ceilis, concerts, and much more! Culminates in Andy McGann Irish Festival on Saturday, July 19. If you're not signed up, you should get to it! Or at least plan to come down on a couple of weeknights and have tunes -- no charge for access to the sessions, which happen all over town all week! Weeknight evening concerts are affordable and star-studded.
For more info: http://www.east-durham.org/irishartsweek/

Sorry! Slow Session is THIS Wednesday -- May 14!!!

2008-05-12T10:08:00.002-05:00

Yes, guys! I'm sorry -- we've had some upheavals around the ranch this month, and I haven't been paying much attention to my blog or to you all.

Please come on Wednesday, May 14 at 7:30 PM.

I will have tunes planned out and don't forget to practice your session sets! We'll be reviewing Otter's Holt, Galway Bay (in the waltz set), Eagle's Whistle/Inisheer, and much more!

See you soon! Instruments up! Players ready! Let's go......!!!!

The Trad

Nicely Done...

2008-04-10T05:39:00.003-05:00

Yes, my friends! I think we can safely say that was the best slow session yet! Keep up the great work playing those tunes. I had a lot of fun, and it sounded like you all did too. Excellent! That's the goal.

We played!
Boy, did we play! We played:

Gentle Maiden Munster Cloak (Waltzes)
Galway Bay (April 08 Waltz o' the Month) -- next month, we'll work on inserting it in between the two waltzes in the set above. Probably best to think about playing each waltz only twice in that case.
Mountain Road Swinging on a Gate Merry Blacksmith (Reels)
Kesh Jig Father O'Flynn (Top O' Cork Road) Blackthorn Stick (Jigs)
Eagle's Whistle (March slow tune o' the month) Inisheer
Hinchy's Delight (two part April jig o' the month) Rose in the Heather (Jigs)
Father Kelly's Speed the Plough (more Reels)
Birthday Cake somewhere in there....yum!
The Otter's Holt (April reel o' the month) Earl's Chair (NEW tune) (Reel)
Tonra's Tobin's Morrison's Out on the Ocean
The Swallow's Tail Cooley's Come West Along the Road (Reels)

I think that was about it. A few of us messed around a little with Long Golden Hair in two keys, and I got some suggestions for tunes to play next time. Elaine brought a March/Polka, and says she has a few suggestions. David (whistle) gave me some tune suggestions.

Your May Challenge: Come up with a tune to go after The Otter's Holt! If you're feeling creative, how about two tunes? Your entries should be e-mailed to me by April 30, 2008: fidilkid@hotmail.com.

Next Session: May 7, 2008, 7:30 PM.

Birthdays
It was nice to see such a big group last night, and happy birthday again to Dyan and also to Leanne. We have two friends here that are each celebrating a big birthday. One is ecstatic and embracing the experience, one is a little sad at reaching a milestone. One thing I've learned after so many birthdays of my own is that every one is a blessing, even as it carries us further along the stream of our lives. If you're feeling a little sad about getting there and maybe not having done something you had hoped to achieve, you're certainly not alone. I view every birthday as a personal New Year - a chance to make another resolution and to take one step (even if it is only one step this year) toward whatever huge thing I always wanted to do. So, my friends, find your next step! This is your year! Have a great one!

Tunes
I'm so glad that people continue to bring tunes to contribute. It would be great if you e-mailed the names of the tunes a couple of weeks BEFORE the session so that I can include them in the list.

As mentioned, I will continue to work on notation for each of the tunes on the session list. It occurs to me that there are folks who only learn by ear, and in their case, I think it'll be helpful to include a .wav or .mp3 file of the tune as well. I will get to work on that shortly, as well.

Techno-thoughts
This very nicely segues into my technology blips. Both David (mandolin, etc.) and Fritz (uilleann pipes, etc.) have sent me useful comments on how they are wrestling technology into becoming a very useful beast of burden. Their comments follow:

From Fritz:
"What I am currently doing notationwise is go to http://www.thesession.org/ or http://trillian.mit.edu/~jc/cgi/abc/tunefind or downloading and searching through the Norbeck files at http://www.norbeck.nu/index.html for my ABC file. I then copy and paste the tune as you would regular text into the ABC Navigator program http://abcnavigator.free.fr/abcnvgt.php?lang=eng and print out the sheet music.
More detailed instructions (there is no manual for ABC Navigator): While in the program window of ABC Navigator hit the ABC button and then the edit mode button and paste the ABC file into the program’s edit window. Hit the ok button and then the “maximize score panel button” and the file will display as typical music notation. You can then have the program play the tune or you can read it and play it yourself or print it out. The rendering is very good and the whole process is free!
For editing music I am using Noteworthy Composer http://www.noteworthysoftware.com/ . It is fairly inexpensive and does a great job of creating any kind of classical notation. A trick I use to get a trad tune into editable mode is to save an ABC file in ABC Navigator as midi and then open it in Noteworthy Composer (Noteworthy wont accept ABC format).
Fritz "

*Trad note: Noteworthy makes very nice looking notation. If you were at yesterday's session, you'll have gotten a copy of Fritz' transcription of Planxty Fitzgerald, which was done in Noteworthy.

From Dave:
"Here are some links and some software notes that might be blog-worthy : First, if you find an ABC for a song and you want to turn that intosheet music or a MIDI file, you can go here: http://www.concertina.net/tunes_convert.html you can just copy / paste the ABC text into the web page and it willgenerate both sheet music and MIDI.... for those of us too lazy toinstall software such as Noteworthy. Next, a bunch of free trad mp3s from Comhaltas, from their books of popular tunes. Helpful to those of us who are trying to learn commontunes, by ear: http://comhaltas.ie/shop/detail/foinn_seisiun_book_volume_1/ http://comhaltas.ie/shop/detail/foinn_seisiun_book_volume_2/ And last, I guess, maybe it's worth mentioning to people that there'snow lots of software that lets you slow music down. Software likeAmazing Slow Downer isn't new. But if you just want to slow a trackdown to make it easier to learn, then both Windows Media Player andQuicktime can do that. In WMP, press Ctrl-Shift-S for Slow mode(press Ctrl-Shift-N to return to Normal speed). In Quicktime, clickon Window menu > Show A/V Controls, to show the dialog that has aPlayback Speed control. At least, that's where the options arelocated in the current versions of the software, on my Windows PC.
Dave"

*Trad note: These are some great tips also. I agree with Dave that Comhaltas is a great resource for tunes. In fact, they also preserve stories and songs, in case you're interested. One thing to watch for, as we've found with TheSession.org and other sources, is that you will always find minor oddities in versions. I'm seeing a pattern with that, and I now generally expect to have to modify a version to sync up with whatever I understand is a common session version. For other sources, I highly recommend Dave Mallinson's books (one hundred enduring session tunes, one hundred annoying session tunes, one hundred polkas that will make you want to put your eye out...you get the idea). In playing and discussing the tunes, we've found that there are the least amount of differences on standard session tunes with those books.

In Conclusion...
Thanks again, Lads for such a fabulous evening of music. I look forward to seeing everyone next month -- we'll continue this ultra-organized approach, as I think it keeps us all on track. Please practice the session sets of tunes on the right hand side of the screen there. I will be adding the new sets shortly.

Please send me an e-mail (fidilkid@hotmail.com) if you need music files or sheet music for any of the tunes in the sets. Elaine, I will get you my version of Mountain Road.

I would really like to see more people memorizing tunes, and not just relying on the sheet music. As you know, I'm not a big proponent of, "I can play anything. What page is it on?" That's my hang-up, I suppose, and I certainly won't throw you out if you use sheet music for everything. The rhythm of the session overall is dependent upon people having enough tunes to make the music flow at a certain speed and with enough confidence to make it as much fun to listen to as it is to play.

In the few years I've gone to Ireland and played in sessions, I've made loads of mistakes, embarrassed myself plenty, learned a lot about the music and how it is shared, and have NEVER ONCE seen a music stand or sheet music at a session. So, right or wrong, my hope is to give you guys the chance to practice the music enough to be able to play it without spots in front of you! Whether or not it ever happens for any or all of you doesn't really matter, I suppose! It's the journey that's the grand Craic, eh?

Happy Spring and see you all very, very soon!

The Trad

Even Further Update...

2008-04-06T21:28:00.002-05:00

OK -- read the two previous posts, and:

We'll also be working on Galway Bay, a lovely waltz that I got from the playing of James Morrison. I'll have that one written out for you, and it may go very very well with Munster Cloak as well -- maybe we'll try wedging it in between Gentle Maiden and Munster Cloak (I just tried it. Lovely. Sold. Get used to it, people...)

See you Wednesday!

The Trad

An Update...

2008-04-06T20:42:00.003-05:00

Hey, Y'all -- I ran into a little bit of a speedbump in getting sound files up. So, until I get that solved, I'll just let you in on my plans for Wednesday.

We'll be working on:

Rose in the Heather (d) -- an old warhorse jig that we've done in the past, and
Henchy's Delight (g) -- this tune was recorded by the Aughrim Slopes Ceili Band in 1937. Henchy's might be a challenge for our accompanists, as it sounds a little "ish" as Eric likes to say.

We'll also be working on:

The Otter's Holt, a reel in D, composed by West Clare-man Martin "Junior" Crehan.

I think that's probably enough for this week, including the sets of session tunes we'll be going over, but I think we might want to try Byrne's Hornpipe as well.

I WILL bring sheet music to session on Wednesday, but in the meantime, try and dig up any version of the tunes listed above to run through before we get together, ok?

See you all very, very soon,

The Trad

April Session brings....May Flowers...?!

2008-04-04T13:53:00.003-05:00

Hi, sessioneers! I'm looking forward to seeing you all next Wednesday, April 9 at 7:30 PM. I'm working on the learning list for next week. I'll be putting files up, including ABC and audio files, shortly. Also, I've got some resources for you courtesy of Fritz and Dave, and some links to tunes.

To Butch: try copying the link that I posted in my last blog (ctrl + C) and go up to your browser's address line and paste the address in (ctrl + V) and hit "Enter" -- all this assuming you are a PC person as opposed to a Mac person. Then I cain't hep ya. Haven't used a Mac since college. I know, my brain has been coopted by the evil empire.

Remember, our next session is coming up this Wednesday. I'll have the materials up tonight or tomorrow morning, but I'm planning on bringing music. What you need to practice is the session tunes listed in last month's post, as well as along the right side of the page. Those are our standard session sets, and we'll be playing them on a regular basis! The more we do it, the better we'll get!

See you soon!

The Trad

Slow Session Tomorrow Night...

2008-03-11T09:22:00.002-05:00

Dear Friends, Thanks to those of you who came out to the Guilderland Library yesterday to support us and fight for chairs with the elderly...we had a great time. A friend of ours even hosted an after-party for us! So, our elbows are warmed up, but our fingers are tired! Anyone want to come out to Old Songs and play some tunes? This Wednesday, March 12, 7:30 PM at the Old Songs Community Arts Center, 37 South Main, Voorheesville!

Here's our list of session sets. We'll go through them first at a nice, reasonable pace: The Mountain Road (DMaj) Swinging on a Gate (GMaj) Merry Blacksmith (DMaj) (Reels)
Tobins (D) Morrison's Jig (Emin) Kesh Jig (G) Brendan Tonra's (D) (Jigs)
Father Kelly's (G) Speed the Plough (D) (Reels)
Swallowtail Jig (Emin) Gallagher's Frolics (Emin) Mist Covered Mountain (Amin) Kesh Jig Father O'Flynn's Blackthorn Stick (G) (Jigs)
Banshee (G) Silver Spear (D) Cooley's Reel (Emin) Come West Along the Road (G) (Reels)
Her Long Golden Hair Flowing Down Her Back (Amin) (slow tune)
Inisheer (G) (waltz)
The Peacock's Feather hornpipes (Dmin & G?)

We'll start the evening off with those, and then move to some other stuff -- maybe some new sets. We had some suggestions, and I just have to get a second to look them over and work them up. Elaine, if you come, would you bring sheet music for your tune?

See you all very soon!

The Trad

Spring?

2008-03-10T15:00:00.003-05:00

Friends, I want to share a wonderful essay I received a few days ago from my friend Marjorie on the East Coast. It moved me to think about the world around us, and how we move in concert with nature whether we realize it or not. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did...

Silver Lake continues to reveal itself so charmingly, year after year, in all the different seasons.

This year the ice has stayed the entire season. Not necessarily safe to walk or skate on, but very little open water. That has been unusual.

The swans have taken to sitting in the middle of the ice, sometimes quite still, which has alarmed several of us in the past, fearing that the birds were somehow frozen into the ice and unable to move. But yesterday the swans were rather restless. Clearly not stuck to the ice.They sat for a while, but kept shifting, adjusting themselves, but with no particular goal evident. Just sitting.

But when I next saw them, a short time later, there were two swans, both walking on the ice, but with totally diffferent demeanors about them. The lead swan was strutting along, head held high, clearly the more experienced of the two. The second swan had his (or her) head tucked down, wings bent down almost dragging along the ice, as if to help her balance with each uncertain step she took. And with each step the swan's feet slid, looking like it were her first time on ice skates. She did not look happy.

Then, something happened. The first swan started running, and after came the less confident swan (unhappily) running as well. I could hear their feet slapping on the ice. Then they were airborne, and gently honking. They lifted up slowly, headed around the island, circled, and when they came back past me they were much higher, still gently honking, soared over the trees and out of the neighborhood. There is another pond nearby that I've heard they spend time at here in town. Clearly they had decided it was time for a change. Or at least one of them had decided this, and the other...well, sometimes change comes, whether one is ready or not. Whether with confident grace or slipping and sliding, it's going to happen. And if one is lucky, you might even end up flying.

Looking forward to spring!

Love, Marjorie

Thanks, Marjorie! And guess what, all? I saw an eagle today in my neighborhood! It was high up in a tree, looking down into the field and the creek below. I've seen eagles flying over the Hudson River plenty of times, but never up in cow country -- my neck of the woods.

Keep your chin up! Spring is almost here, and you never know what you'll see!

The Trad

Keep your hands where I can see them!

2008-03-06T14:45:00.005-05:00

Yeah, this whole blogging thing is fun and all, but what's really cool? Reading other people's blogs. In case you can't tell by the way I look, I like two things: music....and food. Anyway, while Trusty is working away at some tune or other, I guility (and voraciously) read food blogs.

I just found one that I'm in love with: The Wednesday Chef. Also 52 Cupcakes (http://52cupcakes.blogspot.com/) ...and Bee boppin' the Boroughs (http://beeboppinnyc.blogspot.com/)! Beebopp has a craft blog, too, but I can't find the link.

Wednesday is fabu for his way of thinking, and his really great view of food in the world! 52 is the Queen of Cupcakes (she bakes a different kind every week, and blogs about it). Yeah. I have one muffin recipe I make for Trusty. He takes them to work. Therein lieth his devotion to me. Until Dunkin' Donuts has their pumpkin muffins, and then I'm on my own for a month. Beebopp is who I wanted to be at 22, and wasn't.

I did spend the last year of school (I stayed an extra year to get an extra bit of a degree at Uni) wandering the far-flung parks and fields of greater Buffalo. I used to wander from my apartment near UB's south campus across town to Buff State and the Albright-Knox Art Museum. I found a lot of little shops, hole-in-wall coffee places, took photographs, hung out with ducks in parks. Ah, the sweet freedom of spending an entire Saturday (and sometimes Sunday) just wandering the city with noone waiting for me to be responsible for any-damn-thing-at-all! It's too bad blogs didn't exist back then. I really should've written about it for the Generation. But that would have been an organized and forward-thinking thing to do. Didn't have that in my repertoire back then.

As for music blogs, I'm loathe to recommend very many, because they're all like mine. Self-absorbed, self-indulgent, and sort of pedantic in some cases. I did just discover David Byrne's blog, though, and it's bright, insightful, funny, and very aware of more than just music in the world: http://journal.davidbyrne.com/. Check it out. This man is smart! Best show I ever saw, by the way, was David Byrne (just slightly pre-Rei Momo, I think) at Massey Hall in Toronto. The band hit the stage running, and Byrne salsa-ed, merengue-ed, and latin pop-ed himself all over the damn stage like a crazyman! And the horn section.....yeaaaahhhhhhh..... Ahem. Anyway...

While it's unlikely that I'm going to run off and start playing all kinds of other music, I'm finding it very refreshing to stop, look and listen around me at art, crafts, music, literature, food...you know...the cool stuff we're doing with our own two hands!

I think I'll go bake cupcakes....

The Trad

Zamboni Ride!

2008-02-13T12:14:00.007-05:00

Guys, I'm cancelling the slow session. I just can't get past the idea that even if the weather is great when we arrive at 7:30, it won't be a freakin' skating rink by the time we leave.

So, don't forget the Dance Flurry is this weekend (www.danceflurry.org) where trusty and I will be playing along with a million other fantabulous performers (!). Also, if you're not up in Saratoga (or if, like Jeff, you are but you're going anyway...), there's a phenomenal Old Songs concert featuring Alisdair Fraser and Natalie Haas (www.oldsongs.org for tix/info).

Also, a few reminders on upcoming cool music:

Irish Arts Week: Paul Keating reminded me to tell you all that there's an early registration discount for The Catskills Irish Arts Week (http://www.east-durham.org/irishartsweek/). It's totally worth it to register early if you can. Plus, check out the amazing teaching line-up! (Bear in mind, it is subject to change due to performers' scheduling.) Arts Week is scheduled for July 13-19, 2008.

Banjo Burke Festival: Bridget Burke asked me to let people know that there is a fundraiser for the Second Annual Banjo Burke Festival being held at the Celtic Hall in East Greenbush on April 22 (I think). I'll get you more details as soon as I can. (The festival will be held in East Durham on Columbus Day Weekend.)

Old Songs: Andy Spence asked me to remind people to get your tickets for the Celtic Fiddle Festival (featuring Kevin Burke - Ireland, Christian LeMaitre - Brittany, Andre Brunet - Quebec, and Ged Foley - every-damn-where on Guitar) on Tuesday, February 26 at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $25.

Celebration of Celts: Louise Dunphy asked me to remind you to save the first weekend in May for the Celebration of Celts, which I believe is moving back to the Chatham Fairgrounds. I'll let you know when I have more details. Cel o' Celts is May 2-3-4, 2008.

The Dance Flurry: Trusty and I wish you a very happy Flurry weekend! We hope to see you out there, and I want to remind everyone to go support Cedar Stanistreet and Friends for the Celtic session on Sunday morning! I expect, like always, the session will be in the Atrium of the main hotel. Don't miss it! It's going to be great fun! Also, Maura MacNamara will be playing in various places, as will Bob Gaesser and the Italian Village Dance Band. Get out and support our friends! (This weekend: Feb. 15-17)

Until Next Time,

The Trad

Random...

2008-01-29T16:14:00.001-05:00

I don't want you to think I forgot about you! Trusty and I have been working on a demo, and the experience has made us very much aware of our human frailties -- we make the same mistake over and over, even if we've practiced the corrections over and over; I get the intonation wrong on a passage...over and over; we fail to use all the variations or ornaments we'd planned on because that microphone staring us in the face is more terrifying than we'd counted on. Sure, you waltz in the first night thinking "How hard can this possibly be? We'll sit down, get tuned up, and blast through all 15 tracks in one night."

Yeh. Right.

So, it's been a slow go, but a great learning experience. If anything, I've left each session feeling more confident, and having a stronger sense of musicial direction. In fact, it's been easier to practice lately. I don't feel so daunted by the enormous amount of tunes there are to learn or to listen to. I've spent a few afternoons recently in front of the computer just letting my iTunes play while I play along. I have lots of CDs loaded on my computer, and I alphabetize the tracks, and just go. There's this great randomness to it.

It's been a challenge to keep up with the likes of Jimmy Noonan and the Kane sisters. It's been fun playing those groovy swoopy tracks from Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill's recording. And playing the old style with Breda or Claire Keville or Pat O'Connor or Kitty Hayes. So cool.

I bought Trusty a nifty little mp3 player for Christmas, and we've been downloading the podcasts for all the Trad shows from Clare FM (http://www.clarefm.ie/) and listening to them as we tool around town. I highly recommend this for a couple of reasons: 1. it's random (my theme o' the day), 2. you're unlikely to have every single recording on their play list (unless you're Gary Martin or Bob Gaesser), and 3. it brings tunes to mind that you didn't know you wanted to learn. One broadcast can send you off in a completely different direction than you thought you were going. And it gives you all kinds of ideas for linking sets of tunes together. Very good for getting ready for slow session!

Don't forget, slow session is two weeks from tomorrow. I think Karen will be with us, and George will be back from some sunny clime (he missed January because he was in the Caribbean), but I don't know that Colleen will be joining us as she's been under the weather, but everyone send good wishes in her direction that she'll be healing quickly and feeling better soon. We miss you, Colleen!

I'm hoping to see Sean and Jeff back, and Jennifer and Fritz!, and I know Pete will be there, if I can just remember to send him the darn lists I promised to mail out. I'm hoping that a couple of Nickelharpe players will join us (Peter and Debbie), and they're mad for Irish waltzes (JEFF, ARE YOU LISTENING?)....also, looking forward to having Leanne and Jim back, as well as Caroline (so nice to see you earlier this month!) and Elaine (grand, as always!). We had a new gent visit in January, but I feel so terrible, I don't remember his name. If you're reading this, please pipe up and remind me!

Well, all, I hope you're enjoying the cold weather, and the opportunity to practice! Don't be afraid of it. Just pick something you really like to play and play it! Get that instrument in your hands as often as possible. Hey, they've figured out that exercising for even as little as five minutes at a time can benefit you. Why can't you treat practicing that way? Just pick it up, play two tunes, put it away and go cook some dinner. Don't stress on it! You love this stuff!!!! Remember?

Catch you soon, and I hope I catch you playing...

The Trad

What Time Is It?

2008-01-13T11:10:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Trusty Companion and I played a contra dance. It was more of a trainwreck than a dance, but it was fun anyway! The best part? When we anticipated a change in the dance, and switched tunes at the perfect time! I've always been impressed by the great players, like Fennig's All-Stars, where their tune choices are superb and their timing is impeccable. Yesterday, we had a little taste of how that works.

It was so cool!

We hope you're having a great weekend, and that you've given some thought to my previous diatribe on community. If there's someone at the session you want to get together with and play some tunes to practice, ask them! Get their phone number or e-mail and make a date. That's how the rest of us started out. If we couldn't find a session, we'd make one at our house! You CAN do that. You share tunes you're working on, learn some that they've got, play together, and generally have fun. Our session usually involved chili and beer, but that part is up to you...

Don't forget, the list of sets for next time is up already (look to your right!). I will have copies of the big giant practice tune list for folks at February's session. Remember, it's Wednesday, February 13, right before The Dance Flurry in Saratoga Springs, NY (Feb. 15-17, 2008 at the City Center).

Phenomonal young fiddler Cedar Stanistreet and friends (probably John Cromie, a superb whistle player, among others) will be leading the Irish Jam on Sunday morning. So stay up all night and show up in the atrium of the hotel for that shindig. Should be fun! There's always a pile of fabulous players that come, including some kids from Boston who kick #$%!

In the meantime, enjoy the weather and the rest of your weekend, and don't forget to practice!

All the best,

The Trad

Living in a Virtual World

2008-01-10T16:39:00.000-05:00

Well, this takes the cake: I just finished reading a virtual interview between two avatars in a virtual lounge in Second Life, a virtual metaverse. The woman conducting the interview is a non-profit professional, and the woman being interviewed is the first person to have an avatar that earned One Million Actual US Dollars selling "real estate" in a virtual reality setting. That is pretty incredible. Someone will pay actual real discretionary income to purchase a plot of megabytes on a "private" island next to a pix-alicious waterfall so they can build their virtual dream home.

Where do they find the time?

Hey, don't get me wrong. I like the internet as much as the next guy. Well, maybe a little less than your average 15-year-old. And I'm reasonably savvy, but I haven't cottoned onto constant texting like every normal 24-year-old. MySpace is only now becoming a reality for me. And YouTube. Hey -- you can market your music there! (Our buddy David from the session did. Check out his band's video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9Oz6_Ptizs. Excellent playing!)

When I first read this interview, I was struggling to understand how one would be attracted to the idea of creating a wholly new life and self in a brand new universe and making the time to live it. I mean, my whole life is really pretty filled up with living the life I already have. And then to have the wherewithall to create an income stream out of relationships forged with a whole bunch of people who are also sitting around in their jammies and fuzzy slippers, typing on their computers. Pretty creative.

So what happens in this "metaverse"? Well, people create their avatars, get oriented to their new world, make new friends, run around like maniacs, and maybe get their groove back. And then -- and here's the surprise -- they get bored. And they start to look for more. More? I don't mean more funky virtual clothes or jewelry or cars or houses or lovers or food or whatever consumeristic needs this fantasy world can fulfill. I mean more like finding your purpose or making a difference or needing to change the status quo. That's a question, though, isn't it? If you've just created this perfect self and environment and whatever, why would you need to change it? Isn't everything hunky dory?

Why would you want to change something that's completely made up? Isn't it just a pretend world? You can make it whatever you want, right? Well, No. There are other people creating their own experiences. It's not static. Things are constantly changing. Which would, perhaps, explain why there are activists and do-gooders in virtual worlds too. We aren't really changing the society completely, we're just moving it from one plane to another. Think about it: you go there and reinvent yourself. At the same time, zillions of other people are doing the exact same thing. Maybe you can change the way you look or what your life looks like or how you behave. And everyone else is doing that, too. Look, you can change yourself all you want, but you can't really change the fact that once you're there and someone else is there, it's sort of automatically a new society. A community. Whether you wanted it to be or not. So, now I get it. (Anthropology rules!) We go there to be someone we're not, have things we don't, create things we do. We want things to be better there, so we make an effort to make them better. And that includes charity in thought, word, and deed.

The person who made her Million-in-a-Metaverse has now become a metaphilanthropist. First she used some of her proceeds to sponsor a person who couldn't afford the fees to have access to Second Life. Seems like sort of a weird charity, but hey...she gave someone who couldn't afford it access to a global village. This guy, from an impoverished family in Southeast Asia or somewhere, could connect with people in Brazil, the U.S., South Africa, Iceland, or wherever the people he met were from. I'd say that's an incredibly cool opportunity, wouldn't you?

Next she saw an opportunity to foster real meaningful dialogue among Second Lifers on a larger scale. She had seen and heard avatars having thoughtful and informed conversations about real issues. So she donated the real estate to develop a Non-Profit Commons, a virtual suite of non-profit organizations to give them a place to promote themselves, connect with volunteers and people in need. Residents of the metaverse can visit, get involved, make a donation, or decide it's not for them and start stalking the hot chick who works at TechSoup.

Even in this virtual reality, you can volunteer your real time and energy, you can organize, you can create virtual events and hold them. There are people literally making a living by interfacing with this virtual metaverse. You can buy a private island to host your event. Big corporations are doing it. I think Google owns an island where their employees can "go" to attend company conferences or corporate training. Heck, the American Cancer Society held a virtual relay-for-life. In their first year, they raised $5,100. In their fourth year, they've raised over $100,000 without anybody strapping on sneakers. I know...it kind of defeats the purpose of a walk. But look, people clearly want to be engaged in community, and if you build it, they will come!

All right. Why is she talking about virtual reality? Has she completely lost her mind? We're not dialing it in from our computers. Is she selling Amway? Is she nuts?

Here's the thing: I'm not talking about virtual reality. I'm talking about us. About community. Our Slow Session is a community. Old Songs is a community. Neither are static. They're both growing. Both are stronger and better because you are involved, because YOU show up.

No matter what face you put on to come to session, no matter whether you're totally confident in your playing, working at it, or completely new at it and afraid of screwing up in front of everybody, you're part of our world. This session is about welcoming new people, helping to keep regular attendees growing and moving in the direction they want to go, and building confidence.

Remember, in this universe:
1. mistakes are welcome, even encouraged.
2. learning by ear is encouraged: bring a recorder and get the tune as it is played at the session.
3. we do care what you think: give constructive feedback if you think there's something you'd like to see happen.

What's Next for The Session?
In the spirit of growing and changing, we've found that maybe a little bit of a new approach would help keep the session fun and useful! Here's what's happening:

Session Portion
1. We're enjoying learning Waltzes. If Jeff is around, perhaps he'll start us off with one.
2. We'll start off each session evening by playing some sets of tunes. I'll be posting those shortly. If you want to suggest a set, please comment or e-mail me.
3. We'll play established sets every time, if we can get through them. This will help us get used to playing tunes in sets, get used to changing from tune to tune, and keep us building our repertoire.
4. We'll add new sets every time -- we can put some together right on the spot, incorporating tunes from the big lists, and new tunes that we're working on.

Learning Portion
1. We'll work on a few learning tunes: one or two from spots, and one or two by ear, depending on what people are interested in, and what they'd like to learn. Again, send recommendations or make a comment to the blog.
2. We'll finish up with either a slow tune or a new waltz and an old waltz, if Jeff is with us.

I hope this new format will be enjoyable for everyone.

Again, thank you so much for continuing to be a part of the slow session community, and welcome to those who are new. Thank you for bringing a vibrancy to Old Songs, along with all the other DIY-ers who make music during the week. Because of you, Old Songs is growing in so many wonderful ways. Old Songs isn't virtual, it's a reality. But it can only stay a reality if we support it. So, next time you're surfing around on the web, and you're feeling a little meta-philanthropic, visit the Old Songs site (http://www.oldsongs.org/) and consider making a donation. Keep the groove alive!

Happy New Year to you all!

The Trad

Happy New Year!

2007-12-29T16:32:00.000-05:00

or Tooriloo the Noo! as my lovely Scottish co-worker says!

Hey, guys?! Just ONE response?

Anyone else want to weigh in?

By the way, David, is it ok if I post a link to your "video"? That was some fierce playing!

The Trad

Something New in Oght Eight?

2007-12-19T20:15:00.000-05:00

Hi Y'all! Yes, it is December. No, I have not posted since November. I'm sorry! I told you all I started a new job, and fabulous it is, and busy I am...oop, turning into Yoda am I?

Thank you to Colleen and George for staffing the slow session this month. I hope you all had a good time.

I've been watching the dynamics of our group for some while now, and wondering how to meet the needs of all our different participants. It seems to me that you probably have an opinion about that.

This post is a mini survey. I need feedback on what we'd like to be doing with our session in the new year. I think our regulars have come along great, and maybe are looking for something new.
I started this thing because I wanted there to be a place for people to learn the tunes together in a friendly, non-judgemental setting. And thank goodness Colleen and George stepped up to the plate to help guide, lead, and inspire us all!

So, gang, I'm curious to hear what is working for you, and what is not. Please be gentle -- remember, I do have feelings!

Please make "comments" to this post so everyone can see what you think.

Please pick and choose, and give me additional feedback:
"In 2008, I'd like to see us:

1. continue to work on new tunes together
2. have a mix of session and new tunes
3. just play tunes
4. other (fill in your own blanks)"

___________________________________________________________
One caveat to all:
this session focuses specifically on Irish tunes. There are some wonderful groups and sessions out there that open the floor up to French Canadian, old time, folk, country, bluegrass, etc. So those tunes are covered elsewhere. My love, my focus, and my area of interest is Irish music. That's what this gathering is for. (Yes, we worked on Josefins Dopvals. So, I make exceptions!)

Three points to all:
1. I'd really like to see people learning more by ear and relying less on the notes.
2. the best way to accomplish that is to a) buy and LISTEN to IRISH recordings and musicians; and b) to listen to the trad shows on www.clarefm.ie.
and finally,
3. there is no "secret list of Irish tunes" that are popularly played, because the repertoire is different from session to session, town to town, state to state, region to region.
That being said, I WILL have a list of popular tunes to hand out at the January session.

Remember, you all are doing great! You all inspire me, and I look forward to seeing you every month! Keep playing, keep loving it!

The Trad

p.s. Trusty Companion and I have updated our website. Please visit www.lawsontrad.com!

Brrrr. Feels like Winter!

2007-11-07T11:14:00.000-05:00

Hi! Remember me? The Trad? I'm still here. I haven't forgotten you, I promise! It's already November. I can't believe it! Where did the time go?

I guess when it feels like summer all the way through October, you can't be faulted for not realizing it's nearly winter, can you? But the heat in our house is on, and I cannot ignore reality for much longer. I wear long johns now when I sit at the computer. I'm thinking about breaking out the fingerless mitts my folks gave me for Christmas last year...

Friendly note: If the heat is on in your house, put your dampit in your case or your instrument right away! I gave you this lecture last year, so I'll spare you, but if you need one: for fiddle/mandolin http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation?q=Dampit; for guitar/bouzouki http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation?q=guitar+humidifier&src=00630&247SEM; for flute: http://shakuhachi.com/Q-Acc-Humidifier.html. For accordion? You wanta go in there and scrape the rust off?

Rick (in Eric's guitar class) keeps his home humidified and leaves his guitars out on stands or the wall. I envy him, frankly, because that means he lives in a more modern dwelling. We live in a 150 year old home. There are gaps in the floorboards. Everything shrinks up in the winter. It's easier (and probably cheaper) for us to slather ourselves with lotion and put dampits in the instrument cases. The cat and dog disagree, but they're not paying the bills, now are they?

Anyway, Slow Session is next Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 PM. Roger Mock will be finishing up his guitar class at about 7:15, so if you come in early, please just mill around and let them finish up! I will be working on pulling together versions of tunes tonight and will post them on a page on my website. I'll also bring the spots for the tunes. Julie and Jennifer had a great idea in September: they both had binders with their tunes in them. That's one way to keep track of what we've worked on, or tunes you'd like to recommend. I'd still like to get away from using the spots DURING the session, though, as much as possible! I love the idea of having a reference book for tunes, and we should have that before Christmas, but let's keep the session focused on playing tunes slowly, and not using the music so much, ok?

Now that we're picking tunes the month ahead, and posting them, everyone should have time to practice the tunes before coming. We still want to keep tunes as a slow pace. There are other opportunities, such as the Comhaltas session or the Jose Malone's session to try out your tunes in a regular session setting. This is the repertoire building opportunity! And I thank you all for making it possible. I love learning new stuff, going over old stuff, and developing my ear thanks to you guys. I hope you're enjoying it too.

See you next week, and until then, stay toasty!

The Trad

Nice Session!

2007-10-12T08:46:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everybody who came out, especially George for teaching us tunes. It was great to see Pete and Diane again, too, and welcome to Sean and Dick! Jeff, Karen, Dave, Karin, and Colleen were there, too, so you see we had plenty of talent and a lot of laughs! There's room for more bodies, so if you see something on the list below that you like, plan on joining us for next time.

To our new friends, I should mention that usually we're a little bit more of a lively group, but I think we were all half asleep, so come back next time and I promise to be more cheery!

October 10
We worked on tunes by ear this time -- the photocopier doesn't like me...
Colerain Jig (with all the sharps!)
The Peacock's Feather (Dmaj) Hornpipe
some waltzes, including Gentle Maiden and Southwind. I think there were more, but I can't remember names. I think we all liked Gentle Maiden, so I'll bring copies next time.

Thank you to Pete and Sean for bringing treats....

I enjoyed getting the chance to really learn a tune by ear instead of blasting through it on paper. Keep practicing the tunes from this month, so you have them for next! I told Elaine in an e-mail that Trusty Companion and I loved King of the Fairies so much that we are playing it now in gigs!

Learning Tune List for November 14:
Reels: Father Kelly's Speed the Plough
Hornpipes: review of Peacock's Feather (DMaj) and we'll learn the minor Peacock's Feather
Set Dance: Jockey to the Fair
Waltz: Gentle Maiden
O'Carolan: Morghan Meghan
Jigs: still open for someone to pick! Send me an e-mail or comment on this post!

Just so we're playing the same version anyway, let me pull together some music for y'all to check out. I'll bring spots to the session next time, and not try to rely on the Old Songs copier. As I said, it doesn't like me much...I'm feeling kind of the same way about the copier, frankly!

Best wishes to Julie and her family on their trip to Kazakhsthan! We look forward to seeing you in November!

And don't forget, the East Coast Pipers Tionol (www.eastcoastpipers.com) is coming up on Oct. 26-28 in East Durham (Gavin's Golden Hill Resort). Don't miss a great concert, a chance for fiddle or pipes classes, and plenty of session action!

Happy Playing Y'All!
The Trad

October Tune List

2007-10-08T22:51:00.000-05:00

This month's Slow Session is in two days. Wednesday, Oct. 10 (My friend MaryAnn's birthday!) at 7:30 PM. $3, $4 if we make a lot of photocopies.

I'd like to propose, in the absence of last month's notes, that we work on Boys of Ballisodare and The Five Mile Chase (a couple of reels we should have been working on since August), the waltzes -- let's go over Josefin's, but also do the others listed on the Sept. list. Also, let's do Colerain jig, and, when people send me their replies from tonight's frantic e-mail request, I'll post up what people suggested.

I'm also doing a survey: "What were the first ten tunes you learned?" Please answer that by posting a reply to this post!

I'm looking forward to seeing everybody, and I'm pretty sure George will be back, as well as Karen White and hopefully Colleen!

Happy Fall Everyone! -- Hilary

Piece of String

2007-10-08T22:45:00.001-05:00

OK. We made an observation the other day: Cat has fun playing with piece of string. Needs no other moving parts. String perfectly sufficient for complete amusement.

Humans have fun watching cat play with string. Probably humans have MORE fun watching cat than cat has playing with string. Humans talk to cat, who ignores them and plays with string. Humans talk to each other about how cat plays with string. Humans laugh at cat -- cat playing with string is ridiculous. Oblivious to reality. Doesn't know how silly it looks. Humans mock cat. Cat focuses on string. Continues ignoring humans. Continues playing with string. Cat has nice experience.

So...

Which are you? Cat....or human? Are you actually playing with string? Or just watching?

Thank you. That is all.

Some Items of Interest...

2007-09-10T20:27:00.000-05:00

Sometimes the good and the bad mingle, and we get....life.

Our friend Ms. J. passed over on Thursday, and our friend Mike D.'s brother died on Friday, we're very sad to say. Our condolences to the families of our friends. We're thinking of you. We wish we had done more. We wish we could do more. Anyway, thanks for letting us be there a little bit for you.
_________________________________________

At the same time, there's a few really wonderful things happening right soon. Let's talk about them:

September 11, 2007 at 7:30 PM Free Concert featuring Brendann Begley & Caoimhin O Raghallaigh
Skidmore supergrrl Kyle Carey has organized another amazing concert up at Skidmore (her home turf) tomorrow night in the Spa of the Case Student Center, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs. You can catch a free concert featuring Breandann Begley and Caoimhin O Raghallaigh. (See the description below for info, and visit www.stateofchassis.com for more about them.) An open session will follow, so bring your instruments.

For directions: http://cms.skidmore.edu/map/directions.cfm

Breandann Begley-A button accordian player from the small village of Brandon on the Dingle Peninsula of West Kerry, Breandann hales from a famous musical family that included his brother Seamus. who partnered up with Steve Cooney and revolutionized the Irish music scene with a percussive guitar technique. Many believe that Breandann is the better accordian player, he just wasn't lucky enough to team up with Cooney...who's to say!

Caoimhin O Raghallaigh-Pronounced Key-Veen. An Irish-speaking Dubliner, Caoimhin has a phD in astro-physics, builds illium pipes, and plays fiddle like he was born in the 1920's...and guess what...he's about 25, with crazy hair to boot. While archiving old recordings at Trinity College, Caoimhin mimicked the style of the players. Bottom line...all the old players in Ireland are crazy about the kid, he has a style similar to the infamous Paddy Cronin, and I've never heard anything like him before. You have to hear it yourselves folks to believe it!

I hope we see you there!!!! Bring your instruments! And your Irish tunes!
_____________________________________________________________
October 7, 2007 in Troy, NY Empty Bowls: A Fundraiser for Capital Region Food Pantries
Potters make and donate bowls and restaurants donate soups. For $10 you can get a bowl and try different soups. All proceeds go to the food banks. Last year they got over 1200 bowls! Please support it if you can!

I'll put up a link once I get it from Colleen, our slow session co-leader. She won't be around on Wednesday, because she'll be making this whole bowl thing possible! You Rock, Colleen!

Eight Days a Week [or seven days 'til session day!]

2007-09-05T19:43:00.000-05:00

Hey, Sessioneers, it's one week 'til session day! Next Wednesday, September 12!

Here's the list to be working on for this month:
Swallowtail Jig (jig)
Swallowtail Reel Swinging on a Gate (reels)
Margaret's Waltz Southwind (waltzes)
Colerain (jig)
Boys of Ballisodare Five Mile Chase (reels)
Josephine's (waltz) + listening party -- bring a recording of this if you have one!

Also, you'll want to review these tunes from August:
Inisheer (waltz-ish slow tune)
Contentment is Wealth (aka Carty's Jig)
King of the Fairies (set dance)
Out on the Ocean (reel)
Kesh Jig Stool of Repentence (jigs)
Father Kelly's (reel)
Tonra's (jig)

And, finally, did you beg, borrow, or steal a trad Irish recording and listen to it? If not, you still have time! We just borrowed a CD from our friend KDawg: a recording by Traonach, a band from Ithaca. Interesting stuff with nice accompaniment and pleasant arrangements in some cases. I think the weakest piece of the CD may simply be some mixing issues. I wouldn't put the CD at the top of my list, but I enjoyed listening to it. They've selected nice tunes, and have a really nice musical vision. By the way, Traonach will be at the 1st Annual Joe Banjo Burke Festival on Oct. 5-8, 2007 in East Durham. Check out the line-up: www.joebanjoburke.org.

Overall, my goal in listening to this CD was to listen critically. I was thinking about what I want to hear in CD. How does the music flow from track to track? Are there good solid changes? Creative changes? What instrumentation? Are they getting repetitive in their ornamentation or phrasing? Are they rushing? Going too slow? What would I do with that tune? And it is all with the intention of learning from your peers, and getting better at the music!

Critical listening changes as your ear improves. At first, you can't tell when the music shifts from one tune to the next. As you get more familiar, you can hear that. As you improve further, you get interested in the arrangements and the tune versions. Pretty soon, you're listening to to the CD for the 40th time, and are surprised to hear a tune you already play that you didn't hear before. Finally, you're listening to tunes to pick up ornaments, variations, or arrangements so you can use them when you're playing.

Where are you on this scale? Anyway, I'm looking forward to hearing your tales of great joy and discovery! Send me an e-mail if there's any topics you want to see on the blog.
Best,

The Trad

Concert for Jerry Holland

2007-09-04T08:51:00.000-05:00

Okay Traddies, I'm going to share an e-mail from a really great person and fantastic singer and musician, Julee Glaub. For those of you who don't know her, she is a staff person for the children's programming at the Catskills Irish Arts Week, and she performs in a duo with amazing guitarist/singer Mark Weems. So, she's writing to everyone to tell us about a benefit to help a musician friend: Jerry Holland. And since his name came up in the comments section of this blog, I thought I might share her message with y'all.

The Trad

Dear Friends,

I am honored to be asked to participant in a benefit concert for fiddler Jerry Holland in Boston next weekend. The past several years I have gotten to know Jerry when we were both teaching Celtic Week at the Swannanoa Gathering in NC. He is a good soul and an amazing fiddler and has been very sick in the last months with cancer. It has been wonderful to watch the traditional music community all over the globe gather around him emotionally and financially.

Seamus Connolly dreamed up a concert in Boston on Sunday Sept. 9th in Jerry's honor. I hope to see you there. If you are unable to attend, but would like to contribute to the Jerry Holland fund, please visit http://www.jerryhollandfund.org/

Please note concert information below.
All the very best,
Julee Glaub

----------------------------------------------------------Center for Irish Programs, Boston CollegeGaelic Roots Music, Song, Dance, Workshop and Lecture SeriesFall 2007 Eventshttp://www.bc.edu/gaelicroots ----------------------------------------------------------Sunday, September 9Boston University, Harvard University, and Boston College will co-sponsor abenefit concert for fiddle player Jerry Holland at Boston University.Details are available at http://www.concertforjerry.org/

I'm feelng guilty.

2007-08-26T18:37:00.000-05:00

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

Tanglewood Schmanglewood

2007-08-16T09:16:00.000-05:00

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....

Vertigo Sucks.

2007-08-07T12:23:00.000-05:00

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.