The preparation for Cygnet is over. Both of the groups that I usually play with are done with their rehearsals and preparations. So, while this little pause is settling in, I'm launching that 'waltz marathon' that I've been threatening for awhile now.
The HOT Stringband played at a benefit a few months back for the Relay for Life team of the Folk Federation. There are lots of dancers on that team, so our association is a bit of a good fit. They asked if we'd also like to play music at the Relay event. So, I offered a waltz marathon.
Note, this is not going to be a dance marathon. We're just going to play as many waltzes as possible, until we run out of waltzes, time, or energy, which ever comes first. I guess there's always the chance that an Arctic wind comes up and we stop because we're freezing. "That's Tassie", I imagine someone saying.
Anyway, I have plenty of time lately to give this some thought and think about how to organize it. I'm trying an afternoon session and an evening session. There's about 4 weeks left before the event, so I figure we'll have a chance to try out many new waltzes.
Our Monday 'warm up' was hosted this past afternoon by one of the Stringband fiddlers. I'd suggested 1:30 to 3, but of course we stayed 'til a little after 4. Before I knew what hit me, we were playing a couple of bluegrass waltzes. Roxanna by Bill Monroe and Sweet Bunch of Daisies, both from the Fiddler's Fakebook.
I've got an application in to use a community room at a local health center for an evening group. Waltzing on Wednesdays or Wednesday Waltzing or some such. Maybe we'll get some folks who end up coming to the Stringband sessions.
I'm making a list of the waltzes that get played and taking notes. Might a good resource for the group at some point. Maybe I'll end up with a waltz equivalent of my OT tune list. Hmmmmm.
I'll keep you posted.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
Next up - Yarra Junction
Next up: Yarra Junction Fiddler's Convention, the gathering that is so low maintenance, there's no website. Matter of fact, if you don't know where it is, stay home. More room for the rest of us.
--just kidding--
Just ask.
Cygnet was a blast.
The HOT Stringband played their absolute very best for their 'Fowl Critters' portion of the program, and there were sing-a-longs, complete with 'Hillbilly Hymnals', and clever use of props to make the experience even more fun. The Sunday morning gig really challenged their flexibility, dealing with rain and a few missing players. Some folks could only make the Saturdays sessions. The band commandeered a gazebo, played without a sound system, punted on the parts that the missing folks had done in rehearsal, and attracted a good sized, well voiced, audience in spite of it all. The gazebo had a terraced layout, perfect for putting the rhythm players up and behind the melody makers.
Actually the Stringband started off the day at 9am, that's 9am, at a contra dance workshop called by David Wanless. We played acousically, and did a fine job accompanying the dancers. Always a good time.
The Heritage String Ensemble did 2 programs, one of traditional music, and the other, a program of original music written in the 1800's in Tasmania by Alexander Laing. Beautiful tunes, made even more special by narration from Peter MacFie, the historian who brought the tunes to Steve and Marjorie Gadd who organize the String Ensemble.
Then, late afternoon, I did my workshop on Appalachian-style jamming, teaching 4 unfamiliar tunes and explaining what I know about fiddle jamming. Of course a smattering of internet resources was included so that folks are aware of the Fiddler's Companion and how to convert ABC files into sheet music. We had about 8 people, keen to learn. Unfortunately, as it played out, Dev'lish Mary were singing at the same time. Well, not unfortunately for them, but unfortunate for folks who had to be giving a workshop, like me. I think they might have attracted folks who might otherwise have come to my workshop. Last year I had 20 people in my 9am workshop. Guess early morning is a better time. No worries. I'm just regretting that I didn't have a chance to catch up with the Dev'lish girls.
That's it for now. You can catch me pontificating some more over at the Fiddle Hangout. That has taken up a chunk of my writing time lately. Too much good stuff there.
Note the 'tune' site and tunelist links are to the right of the FiddleJammer main page.
Hope to see you all outside of Melbourne, VIC in February. :-)
--just kidding--
Just ask.
Cygnet was a blast.
The HOT Stringband played their absolute very best for their 'Fowl Critters' portion of the program, and there were sing-a-longs, complete with 'Hillbilly Hymnals', and clever use of props to make the experience even more fun. The Sunday morning gig really challenged their flexibility, dealing with rain and a few missing players. Some folks could only make the Saturdays sessions. The band commandeered a gazebo, played without a sound system, punted on the parts that the missing folks had done in rehearsal, and attracted a good sized, well voiced, audience in spite of it all. The gazebo had a terraced layout, perfect for putting the rhythm players up and behind the melody makers.
Actually the Stringband started off the day at 9am, that's 9am, at a contra dance workshop called by David Wanless. We played acousically, and did a fine job accompanying the dancers. Always a good time.
The Heritage String Ensemble did 2 programs, one of traditional music, and the other, a program of original music written in the 1800's in Tasmania by Alexander Laing. Beautiful tunes, made even more special by narration from Peter MacFie, the historian who brought the tunes to Steve and Marjorie Gadd who organize the String Ensemble.
Then, late afternoon, I did my workshop on Appalachian-style jamming, teaching 4 unfamiliar tunes and explaining what I know about fiddle jamming. Of course a smattering of internet resources was included so that folks are aware of the Fiddler's Companion and how to convert ABC files into sheet music. We had about 8 people, keen to learn. Unfortunately, as it played out, Dev'lish Mary were singing at the same time. Well, not unfortunately for them, but unfortunate for folks who had to be giving a workshop, like me. I think they might have attracted folks who might otherwise have come to my workshop. Last year I had 20 people in my 9am workshop. Guess early morning is a better time. No worries. I'm just regretting that I didn't have a chance to catch up with the Dev'lish girls.
That's it for now. You can catch me pontificating some more over at the Fiddle Hangout. That has taken up a chunk of my writing time lately. Too much good stuff there.
Note the 'tune' site and tunelist links are to the right of the FiddleJammer main page.
Hope to see you all outside of Melbourne, VIC in February. :-)
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Journey Home
Abigail Washburn in China.
I was very touched by this portrait of an American in a far away land. So, even if there's not much fiddle content, I thought I'd pass it along.
I'd heard Uncle Earl's Hongshao Rou variation on 'Streak 'O Lean, Streak 'O Fat', and seen the kung fu clogger video. Then, I came across this audio file with translation-
http://thespps.org/openaudio/uncleearl20070423set204.mp3
But, today, I searched around YouTube for Abigail Washburn. Now I understand the scope of her travels in China. There's some really interesting videos of her Sparrow Quartet playing with traditional Chinese musicians. She didn't just 'spend some time in China'.
I was very touched by this portrait of an American in a far away land. So, even if there's not much fiddle content, I thought I'd pass it along.
I'd heard Uncle Earl's Hongshao Rou variation on 'Streak 'O Lean, Streak 'O Fat', and seen the kung fu clogger video. Then, I came across this audio file with translation-
http://thespps.org/openaudio/uncleearl20070423set204.mp3
But, today, I searched around YouTube for Abigail Washburn. Now I understand the scope of her travels in China. There's some really interesting videos of her Sparrow Quartet playing with traditional Chinese musicians. She didn't just 'spend some time in China'.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Cygnet Folk Festival
Coming up next weekend...
http://www.cygnetfolkfestival.org/
I'll be playing with the Hobart Old Time Stringband and the Heritage Fiddle Ensemble. Also, I'll be doing a Appalachian-style jamming workshop.
The HOT Stringband will be doing a couple of fun concerts and a contradance workshop. The Heritage Strings have some fabulous tunes written by an early settler from Tasmania, Alexander Laing. The tunes have recently come to light in the Tasmanian Library archives. The tune names have links to local history and places, which make them all the more interesting. Plus, they are very sweet, sweet tunes.
A few are in the key of B flat, the key signature that has usually sent me to the bar for a beverage or caused me to close the tunebook and work on a different hobby. But, now, I could not escape it. It is time for me to get over it and learn how to play in B flat. Whine, whine, whine... there's no open strings on the top 2 strings. They all have to be noted. So, here I sit practicing my scales like a good student. Making progress. Strenghthening up my pinky and working on my accuracy. What a good challenge.
The upside just might be that now I can play the Democratic Rage Hornpipe (B flat) in the New England Fiddler's Repertoire in time for next October. :-)
Housekeeping note: I added a link to my festival recording page in the section to the right of the page.
http://www.cygnetfolkfestival.org/
I'll be playing with the Hobart Old Time Stringband and the Heritage Fiddle Ensemble. Also, I'll be doing a Appalachian-style jamming workshop.
The HOT Stringband will be doing a couple of fun concerts and a contradance workshop. The Heritage Strings have some fabulous tunes written by an early settler from Tasmania, Alexander Laing. The tunes have recently come to light in the Tasmanian Library archives. The tune names have links to local history and places, which make them all the more interesting. Plus, they are very sweet, sweet tunes.
A few are in the key of B flat, the key signature that has usually sent me to the bar for a beverage or caused me to close the tunebook and work on a different hobby. But, now, I could not escape it. It is time for me to get over it and learn how to play in B flat. Whine, whine, whine... there's no open strings on the top 2 strings. They all have to be noted. So, here I sit practicing my scales like a good student. Making progress. Strenghthening up my pinky and working on my accuracy. What a good challenge.
The upside just might be that now I can play the Democratic Rage Hornpipe (B flat) in the New England Fiddler's Repertoire in time for next October. :-)
Housekeeping note: I added a link to my festival recording page in the section to the right of the page.
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