GRANITE SKYES
Newsletter of the Strathspey & Reel Society of New Hampshire
Volume 12, Number 6 -- February 2000


FEBRUARY 27 GATHERING
Sunday Afternoon, 1-5 pm.
Terry Traub, Music Director
Annichiaricho Theatre, S. Main St & Thompson Sts, Concord, N.H.

Approximate schedule:
1:00 - 3:00  February's tunes
3:00 - 3:30  Refreshments & Jamming
3:30 - 5:00  Requests & Solos


NOTES FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR
--by Barbara McOwen

I will be away during our February session, and Terry Traub has agreed to
run it. He has picked some great tunes, and can play them on almost any
instrument! He is recognized as one of the area's leading Scottish country
dance, Cape Breton, and contra dance pianists. Terry is also one of the
most welcoming and open musicians I know. He will tell you about February's
tunes in the following article.


FEBRUARY'S TUNES
--by Terry Traub

This month we offer two great old Scottish tunes in the key of G major: an
air, Lord Lovat's Lament, and a reel, The Cairdin' o't. Lord Lovat's Lament
(in Gaelic, "Cumha Mhic Shimidh") is a pipe tune in the category of
Piobaireachd (pronounced "pee-brock," more or less). The tune can be found
in Ceol na Fidhle, where it is attributed to William Livingstone and refers
to the Jacobite Scots leader, Lord Lovat, who was captured and executed by
the English in 1847. The pipe version is in A (B flat, actually), and can
be played in A on the fiddle, but it is recorded in G on several Cape
Breton recordings. The Cairdin' o't is a Scots measure, a kind of country
dance tune played at a slightly slower tempo than a reel. This version is
taken from "Flowers of Scottish Melody," a collection by J. Murdoch
Henderson, 1936. Henderson says the tune is called "Salt Fish and
Dumplings" in "James Aird's Selection," Volume 3, 1788. A version in the
key of A for contra dances can be found in Susan Songer's excellent
"Portland Collection"; she explains that the title refers to the wool trade
and a caird is a comb used to work the wool. A nice follow-on tune to this
set is "The Flowers of Edinburgh," also a listed as a (Scots) measure in
the Henderson collection.


NEFFA
--by Barbara McOwen

The New England Folk Festival Association's Festival will be held the
weekend just before the Boston Marathon this year, April 14-17, so housing
in the area for that weekend will be extremely tight. You are strongly
advised to begin your housing arrangements now! Please note that the SRSNH
is not playing as a group this year. However, there are lots of Scottish
music and dance activities, as well as the incredible smorgasbord of
American and international flavors. Come learn a Scottish country dance,
watch a highland dance performance, and participate in the Scottish Jam (we
should really call it Dundee Marmalade!); and of course the Festival
Orchestra is always open to all comers. Get up-to-date information at
617-354-1340, http://www.neffa.org/~neffa.


BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETS
--by Sandy Lafleur, Secretary

Note: Members wishing a complete copy of the Minutes should contact the
Secretary.)

Highlights from the January 11th meeting:

The Board reviewed a report by the Gala Committee of Susan Woodward,
Barbara McOwen & Marianne Taylor recapping the November Gala Concert and
making suggestions for future Galas. None of the three will be available to
fill their past roles as Producer, Music Director or Artistic Director for
Gala 2000. There was discussion about whether or not to have a Gala this
year, and if so, how to obtain the necessary leadership. It was decided to
ask the membership about this at the January session.

The Nominating Committee and the Scholarship Committee are fully staffed.
The nominating committee is Sabrina Matteson and Rich Block. The
Scholarship Committee is Sylvia Miskoe, Margery Swope, and Don Young.

Now that the by-laws have been amended to enable the by-laws to be amended,
the discussion of removing the Music Director as a voting member of the
Board of Directors has been resumed. This would allow for the Music
Director to become a paid position. More discussion of this will follow at
future board meetings

Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 22nd. Meetings are open to all members. and
are held at the NH School of Scottish Arts in Manchester beginning at 7:30
p.m.Please contact the secretary if you need directions.


SOME JOB DESCRIPTIONS
--The Editor

We need new people to fill these positions if we are to have a Gala concert
this fall. If you feel any of these jobs appeal to you, contact Barbara
McOwen, Marianne Taylor, Susan Woodward, or anyone on the Board of
Directors to volunteer.


THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
--by Marianne Taylor

This person's work begins in February or March, meeting with the Music
Director and the Producer to choose a headliner, and discuss themes and
content for the program. It involves planning stage movement, deciding on
the program order, working with any special groups and the headliner to
involve them in the program. The Artistic Director runs a full stage
rehearsal. It would be best for this person NOT to be a musicianessential
to the music, so that he/she can be completely objective and involved in
watching and critiqueing the rehearsal. Past experience in theater is
helpful. Time commitment is fairly heavy in the two months before the Gala.


WHAT IS A CONCERT PRODUCER?
--by Susan Woodward

I think the essence of the job was wonderfully captured by a member who
wrote to me recently, so I'll steal some of her words as I muse about the
challenge. The Gala producer, like any organizer of a project involving
volunteers, needs to be able to muster enthusiastic volunteers, ride herd
on them to make sure they're doing their jobs, make sure they feel good
about the work they're doing, and diplomatically fix the things if someone
doesn't come through.

The volunteers have to have enough enthusiasm for the project to inspire
them to step forward in the first place, but it's up to the producer to
envision the whole process over the long haul and keep everything moving in
a timely way from February through November. It involves working with the
Music Director and Stage Director throughout the period; planning for,
recruiting, and then assisting members to assume important roles in
production. She directs volunteers in budgeting, implementing, and
monitoring the finances; providing for promotion and publicity, etc. In
short, the Producer is the one person who must stay ever focussed on all
that must be attended to--by when and by whom.

Producing for SRSNH is made more difficult by our broad geography -- we do
not all live within easy access of one another. Coordination,
communication, and planning, are especially difficult to arrange, with the
result that time sensitive tasks that might be delegated in order to lessen
the Producer's (or Music Director's) work load effectively cannot be.

Our Galas have been really fortunate to have the support from Barbara's
justifiably fabled thoroughness and attention to detail. Barbara's and
Marianne's expertise and complete reliability made producing the Gala
something I was willing to tackle for three years. If you can devote the
time and commitment needed, the job is wonderfully rewarding! I have a
"time line" of activities and responsibilities that I can e-mail to anyone
interested in more details.


PEOPLE NEWS

Pat MacLeod Writes:
It was so touching for us to see our departure to Florida mentioned in the
SRSNH Newsletter. It has taken a long time for us to become acclimatised
here, both physically and culturally, and I would guess that the process
will be complete just about the time we are ready to move back north!

We have managed to locate isolated pockets of Celtic music here, we are
looking forward to the Irish Festival in Fort Lauderdale this month, and
there is a Scottish Festival in March in which I may be participating. So
it is not a total cultural desert, although nothing like New England.

Please give our regards to everybody in the SRNSH we miss you all and look
forward to seeing you again in the not-too-distant future. Love, Murray and
Pat

Nancy Kalinski Writes:
I will have a new e-m address as of this weekend (January 2). You can now
contact me at: swfiddler@earthlink.net. (No more tiac.) I can still also be
reached at swedishfiddlet@hotmail.com and medwebmanager@hotmail.com (that's
more for my up and coming business, however.) Hope to hear from ALL of
you!!! Love, Nancy


TEMPLE MOUNTAIN CELTIC NIGHTS CANCELLED
--from Susan Woodward

Temple Mountain's ski season has been so disasterous for them (they
couldn't even make snow during all of the end of '99 cuz of the warm
weather) that when they at last had snow they evidently felt unable to do
anything but focus entirely on getting skiers on the slopes, so they closed
the lounge. It was a disappointment to us and to the following that was
developing. There will not be any more Celtic Sessions at Temple Mountain.
Alas.


HORRIBLE JOKES DEPT:

Two woodwind players were walking down the street. One of them said to the
other, "Who was that flute I saw you with last night?" The other responded,
"That was no flute, that was my fife!"


BRAVEHEART COMES TO COMPUTERS
--from The Bay State Thistle

A computer game bassed on the movie Braveheart was released last May in the
wake of a worldwide poll of game players who were asked to nominate their
favorite action film for a computer game. Braveheart was the number one
choice. The game allows armchair warriors to assume the role of any of
sixteen Scottish leaders, including William Wallace, in the fight to free
Scotland from the grip of English forces let by Edward I (called
"Longshanks").

To add verisimilitude, the software designers used satellite data to
develop the landscape for the game. Players can thus wage battles in
settings modeled on actual Scottish countrysides. In addition, relevant
clan chiefs approved the clan crests and tartans incorporated into the game.

Braveheart, the game, is available from Eidos Interactive on CD-Rom for PCs.


UPDATE ON MILFORD SESSION
--by Sandy Lafleur

The Milford Session will happen on Wed., March 1st, at 7:00 p.m., at the
Knights of Columbus Hall on Elm St. in Milford. Any questions? Contact
Sandy at strumma@aol.com.


SRSNH EVENTS

Gatherings on Sunday afternoons, 1-5 pm, Annichiarico Music Theater,
Thompson & S. Main Sts, Concord, N.H. All ages, all instruments, all levels
welcome; free, with potluck refreshments. February 27, March 26, April 30,
May 21, June 25.

Original Tunes Session, April 30.

SRSNH Tartan Day Concert, Saturday April 8, 7:30 pm:, Bristol, N.H.,
sponsored by Ernestine & Oley Firth. Contact Frank Woodward for signups and
more info.

Fremont Meeting House Celebration, Sunday May 28, all day, Fremont, N.H.
(near Exeter). SRSNH to perform 12:30 - 3; contact Barbara McOwen for
signups and info.


CALENDAR

Fri, Feb 18 - Celtic Fiddle Festival with Kevin Burke, Johnny Cunningham,
and Chritian LeMaitre. 7:30pm at The Iron Horse Music Hall, Northhampton,
MA. Info: 413-584-0610

Sat Feb 19 - Celtic Fiddle Festival with Kevin Burke, Johnny Cunningham and
Christian Lemaitre, Sanders Theater, Cambridge, MA. Info: World Music,
617-876-4275

Sat, Feb 19 - Robbie O'Connell and Rich Block at the Beacon Hill Coffee
House, 140 Bowdoin St., Boston, MA

Sat Feb 19 - Winter Party, hosted by the Merrimack Valley Scottish Country
Dancers. Music by The White Cockade. Info: 603-226-2739

Sat, February 26th - Open House, 12 noon to 4pm at the New Hampshire School
of Scottish Arts, 922 Elm St, Suite 315, Manchester, 03101. Ken Butler is
doing Skinner tunes... We'll have other classes going as well. Cost is
$5.00 for the day. 603-621-9949 or email at nhssa@mediaone.net

Sat Mar 11, Weston, Mass. - Ed Rawson Dance. Music by Sprig of Ivy. Info:
781-259-9566

Sun Apr 2, 2:30 pm, Medford, Mass - Boston Branch Celebration and CD
Release Party. Info: 617-864-3410

Sat Apr 8, Salem, Mass - Monthly Scottish Country Dance Party, hosted by
the Wee Bluets. Info: 978-745-2229

Fri-Sun Apr 14-17, Natick, Mass - NEFFA Festival. Info: 617-354-1340,
http://www.neffa.org/~neffa

Fri-Sun Apr 28-30, Watertown, Mass - Boston Scottish Gaelic Festival, Gala
Concert, Workshops, Ceilidhs, at the Canadian-American Club. With Barry
Shears (pipes), John Campbell (fiddle), James Watson (song), Francis
MacEachern (song), Christine Morrison (dance). Info: Michael Newton,
781-324-3194, gaelicmichael@hotmail.com.

Fri-Sun May 5-7, Lincoln/Woodstock, N.H. - Celtic Crossroads, Festival of
Music Song and Dance. Info: 877-564-SCOT, www.nhscot.org.

Sat May 6, Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Mass - The Boston Ball. Music by
Tullochgorum. Info: 617-491-8885


OTHER EVENTS OF INTEREST

INDOOR SCOTTISH GAMES
--by Leslie Webster

The NHSSA (New Hampshire School of Scottish Arts) is running an indoor
Games on April 1st at Memorial High School in Manchester. We will be having
Solo Piping and Drumming events, Highland Dancing and Fiddle Master
Classes. We also will be featuring a Pipe Band Competition. Tullach Ard is
going to be helping us out in this new venture.

We received a grant from the Arts Council for $1800.00 to help us out but
we are always looking for program ads, raffle prizes, trophy and medal
donors, and sponsors. Would the SRS like to have a table there, too?

Then at the Shrewsbury Competition on April 15th we will offer a Fiddle
Competition.


SESSIONS, JAMS, DANCES

2nd Sundays - English dancing at the Old Concord Hospital, Pleaseant
Street, Concord, NH; 6:30-9:30pm. $6, or $5 for ECDSNH members. Call Judith
Ackerson 603-934-2543, jnoska@cyberportal.net

3rd Sundays - English dancing, 7-9:30 pm. at the Portsmouth Ballroom.
Portsmouth, NH $6 or $5 for ECDSNH members. Call Dave Bateman, 603-886-5071

3rd Sundays, 3-7 pm: Gaelic Club, at the Canadian American Club, Watertown,
Mass. Info: Peggy Morrison, 978-858-3792

Tuesdays - Scottish country Dance, 6-8pm at the Fitchburg Library, Main
St., Fitchburg, MA. Call Gail Birch 978-597-8016

1st Tuesdays - Slow Jams in Cambridge, Mass, 6-7:30. March 7 session
features Lissa Schnekenburger. Info: 617-522-5887.

Wednesday 7:30 pm - Concord, NH, SCD class at the Odd Fellows Home,
Pleasant St. Contact 603-225-6546.

1st Wednesdays, 7 pm - jam session at Mile Away Inn, Milford N.H. This will
change, but is still on for February. Info Sandy Lafleur, 603-673-8497

2nd Wednesdays, 7 pm. Swedish fiddle night at the home of Nancy Kalinski.
Call or e-m for directions. swedishfiddler@hotmail.com 

Wed or Thurs - Scottish Country Dance, 7-9pm in the Chandler Library,
Nashua, N.H. Call Loren Wright 603-891-2331

2nd Fridays - Contra dance, Milford. Various bands. Contact Dave Bateman,
603-886-5071; david.b.bateman@lmco.com

3rd Fridays - Square and Contra Dances presented by Roaring Jelly,
Lexington, Mass. Susan Elberger, Caller, and Debby Knight, Music Director.
To dance or join band, call 781-944-3544,
www.toc.lcs.mit.edu/~slonim/rjelly.html

4th Fridays, 8pm - Milford Contra Dance with open band. Contact Sylvia Miskoe
Saturday afternoon: play fiddle with John Campbell at his home in Watertown
Mass. Call John for specific dates and times 617-924-1837

2nd Saturdays - Contra dance at Francestown Town Hall 8-11. Call or e-m for
info Frank Woodward, 603-487-2480 or yankee@grolen.com

Saturday afternoons, Arlington, Mass - Community Traditional Music
Sessions, 3-7: Feb 26, Mar 11, Mar 25, Apr 8, Apr 29, May 13, May 27, Jun
10. Info:
781-646-7522.


A REMINDER: Deadline for March articles is Friday, March 3.


PUBLISHERS MESSAGE

Granite Skyes is the newsletter of the Strathspey & Reel Society of New
Hampshire. It is published approximately 10 times a year, once a month
between September and June. Subscription is $6/yr ($10 overseas). Membership
is $14/yr for an individual domestic membership; please inquire about other
rates. The newsletter Editor is Gail Birch, and the Publisher is Jim Birch.
All items welcome, inclusion is dependent on space available; send in by
the 1st of the month for inclusion in the mid-month mailing. Email
subscription (free) to the newsletter is now available. The SRSNH Web
Page is maintained by Terry Traub, http://www.srsnh.org.


SRSNH BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President -- Michael Vose
Vice-President -- Margaret Lepley
Secretary -- Sandy Lafleur
Treasurer -- Ann Hueglin
Members-at-Large -- Jeff Baker & Bob Reed
Music Director -- Barbara McOwen


SRSNH GATHERINGS
* Sunday February 27
* Sunday March 26
* Sunday April 30
* Sunday May 21
* Sunday June 25

Sundays, 1-5 pm
Free admission. All welcome.
Annichiarico Music Theater
1 Thompson St, at S. Main St.

Driving Directions: Rte 93 to Exit 13. Follow signs to downtown Concord.
Turn left onto Thompson, park on the right or on State St or Main St.


STRATHSPEY & REEL SOCIETY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
102 Little Pond Rd.
Concord, N.H. 03301
603-225-6546
smiskoe@aol.com
www.srsnh.org