January 2001

Hello, Friend-of-Scottish-Music-Who-Is-On-The-Internet:
 
 Welcome to the email edition of Granite Skyes, the monthly
 newsletter of the Strathspey & Reel Society of New Hampshire.
 This is sent out to all members with email, and to select others on
 our mailing list with email addresses. If you are not currently a
 member, and wish to subscribe to the paper edition, or to join the
 SRSNH, please get in touch. Members of the SRSNH will
 continue to receive their mailed paper copy of Granite Skyes. You
 can also read this and previous newsletters on the SRSNH web
 page, www.srsnh.org.

 If you really don't wish to receive any future email editions, please
 reply with a simple email message to me at Eafid@aol.com, or to
 the Database Manager: Barbara McOwen, at   bmcowen@world.std.com  and you 
will be removed from any future email distributions. If you're not a member 
and wish to continue to receive the mailed paper copy from time to time, you 
might mention that.

 Thanks! And hope you enjoy seeing the Strathspey & Reel Society
 news!
 
 Elias Abelson
 SRSNH Email Editor
 Eafid@aol.com



GRANITE SKYES
Newsletter of the Strathspey & Reel Society of New Hampshire
Having Fun with Scottish Music
Volume 13, Number 5 -- January 2001

JANUARY GATHERING
January 28, Sunday Afternoon, 1-5 pm.
David Surette,  Leader
Annichiaricho Theatre, S. Main St & Thompson St, Concord,
N.H.

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



NOTES FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR
-by David Surette

The dance music of Brittany has several interesting
parallels with the contra dance music of New England, most
particularly in that both are primarily used for dancing, as
opposed to the session playing that has come to define Irish
dance music. The "fest-noz" of Brittany are the best places
for traditional Breton dance music, with several bands,
pairs of singers, or pairs of bagpipe and bombard (referred
to as a "couple de sonneurs") providing the music for
hundreds of dancers well into the wee hours of the morning. 
There is an interesting association with the Scottish
tradition as well. The Breton pipe bands, or bagads, were
created after World War Two, and are modeled after the
Scottish pipe bands that many Bretons and French heard for
the first time during the war. Like the Scots bands, they
feature highland pipes and drums, along with the Breton
bombard, a very loud oboe or shawm.

The music used for this workshop includes several medleys
used for particular Breton dances like the dans fisel, which
is danced in long chains, and the ronds de St. Vincent and
the derobee de Guingamp, which are circle dances. I've also
included a lovely waltz composed by Breton fiddler-guitarist
mandolinist Jacky Molard. 


BOARD OF DIRECTORS UPDATE
There was no Board of Directors meeting in December.  At the
January 10 meeting, the review and revision of the bylaws was
completed.  Amendments to the  bylaws will be presented to
the membership for their vote with the April ballot
mailing.  We are delighted to report that Sylvia Miskoe
accepted the Board's invitation to continue as Music
Director of SRSNH for another year.   

Next Meeting:  February 28.  All meetings begin at 7:30 p.m.
at the NH School of Scottish Arts in Manchester, and are
open to all members.   Please contact the secretary if you
need directions.  Members wishing a complete copy of the
Minutes should contact the Secretary at whimsyhill@aol.com
 

HOUSE CONCERT WITH DAVID SURETTE
There will be a house concert featuring David Surette on
Sunday, January 28th at Sylvia Miskoe's house, 102 Little
Pond Road, Concord, beginning at 7:30 PM.  Admission will be
$10.00.  David is doing a workshop of Breton music at the
afternoon SRSNH session and it will be nice to hear the
music being performed.  Since space is limited, please call
603-225-6546 or email smiskoe@aol.com before hand. 


FLOWERS OF THE FOREST
-by Sylvia Miskoe

Sir Jimmy Shand passed away in December.  He was 92 and had
been hospitalized in Perth, Scotland, with pneumonia.  He
was a giant figure in the Scottish music and dance world,
and in the accordion world.  He spent his early life working
in the mines, then at the Fife Power Co.  Recognition
outside the Scottish dance world came in the form of several
pubs, a race horse and a locomotive bearing his name.  The
rock/folk musician Richard Thompson composed the song 'Don't
Step on My Jimmy Shands' in his honor and Rolling Stones
drummer Charlie Watts confided his fondness for Shand's
Scottish Country Dance albums.  Besides his voluminous
recordings he composed many tunes, several of which are in
the SRSNH collection.  Last month we featured his most
famous recording, Bluebell Polka.


NOMINATIONS FOR THE  BOARD OF DIRECTORS
-by Elly Abelson & Keith Knight

A Nominating Committee consisting of Keith Knight and Elly
Abelson was appointed by the Board during December 2000,
and, acting pursuant to Article VII of the by-laws of the
SRSNH, submits this report to the Secretary. The Nominating
Committee feels that keeping the current board intact for
another year presents the opportunity for current board
members, many of whom have been in office for only a year,
to continue working together. Thus, the proposed slate of
officers is:
President: Sandy Lafleur
Vice President: Bob Reed
Treasurer: Edward Los
Secretary: Carolyn Marsh
Member-at-Large: Ellen Bassett

In accordance with the by-laws, members of the society may
decide to consider other individuals for election to the
Board. While the Nominating Committee has already spoken
with other potential nominees, who declined the invitation
to run for office at this time, the by-laws provide that 
"[a]ny member who is suggested by twelve or more members
shall be a nominee." Further, "[t]he Nominating Committee
shall present a listing of nominees to the Board by the 1st
of March."  Accordingly, the Nominating Committee will
receive any nominations which meet the by-law criteria by
February 15th, to allow time for the presentation of a full
slate. Any submission should include the names of all
current members suggesting the candidate, an indication of
the office for which the candidate wishes to run, the
candidate's agreement to serve, and a brief biography
suitable for distribution to the voting membership.


IT'S SCHOLARSHIP TIME 

Even though the warm sunny days of summer seem far off,
that's when many of the music camps and festivals take
place, and right now, in chilly January, is the time to plan
on attending them.  SRSNH scholarships can be used to help
defray the costs of attendance, and it's time to apply!  Any
member or child of a member of SRSNH who is at least 10
years old, has been a member for 6 months or more, and has
played his or her instrument for at least 2 years is
eligible, excluding members of the Board of Directors and
Scholarship Committee and their families.  The January
application deadline is January 31.  To apply, simply fill
out the application form you'll find on page 3 of your print
newsletter, attach any appropriate supporting documents such
as catalogs, brochures, or programs, and send it all to Don
Young, 4 Bridge St., Berwick, ME, 03901-2212.  If you have
any questions, call any of the members of the Scholarship
Committee:  Don Young, Chairman, 207-698-1571, Marjory
Swope, 603-224-7676, or Lynn McElroy, 603-267-8812.


APRIL MUSIC DIRECTOR NEEDED

Do you have some favorite tunes you'd like to add to the 
SRSNH repertoire?  Would you like to try your hand at
leading the group?  Well, here's your chance - Sylvia will
be away for the April session.  If you're interested in
being the music director for the April 29th session, please
contact Sylvia Miskoe at 603-225-6546, or smiskoe@aol.com.


SRSNH OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, & COMMITTEES

Music Director: Sylvia Miskoe

Board of Directors:
President: Sandy Lafleur
Vice President: Bob Reed
Secretary: Carolyn Marsh
Treasurer: Edward Los
Members-At-Large: 
Ellen Bassett
Nancy Kalinski
Music Director Sylvia Miskoe

Scholarship Committee:  Don Young, Chairman, Marjory Swope,
Lynn McElroy

Nominating Committee: Elly Abelson, Keith Knight
 

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. January 28, February 25, March 25.

Annichiarico Music Theater, 1 Thompson St, at S. Main St.
Take I-93 to Exit 13 or 14.  Take S. Main St. to Thompson
St., 2 blocks S. of Pleasant St. (Rts. 202/9), 1 block N of
Capitol Center for the Arts.  Park on S. Main, S. State, or
in the lot across Thompson St. from the theater.  Do not
park in the Resident's Lot.


Scottish Country Dance Ball, April 14, Salem, MA.  Rehearsal
in the afternoon, potluck supper, play for the evening dance
party.  Sign up with Sylvia Miskoe, 102 Little Pond Rd.,
Concord NH  03301, 603-225-6546. smiskoe@aol.com 


CALENDAR 

House Concert with David Surette, January 28, 2001, 7:30
p.m., 102 Little Pond Rd., Concord, NH. Contact Sylvia
Miskoe, 603-225-6564

ESS Dance Party a congenial mix of English and Scottish
Dance; leaders Brad Foster and Lance Ramshaw, music by The
White Cockade, February 3, 2001, $8; Park Ave.
Congregational Church, corner or Park Ave. & Paul Revere
Rd., Arlington Heights, MA 

Harp Concert with Robin Huw Bowen and Jo Morrison  on Welsh
Triple Harp and Celtic Harp, February 10, 8 pm, First
Baptist Church, Lexington, MA, $15 advance, $17 at door. 
781-862-7837,  bhockett@music-for-robin.org 

Taste of Scotland trip to Iceland and Scotland, June 7-June
18, 2001; for more information contact Peggy Morrison,
President of the Cape Breton Gaelic Club, Boston Branch,
781-386-5461 (day), 978-858-3792 (eve), email
peggymorrison@mediaone.net

English-Scottish Session at Pinewoods, July 2-6, 2001; for
more information call Howard Brezner, Registrar,
518-456-1731, or www.geocities,com/SoHo/Courtyard/8534/ 

FOR MORE CELTIC MUSIC & DANCE CALENDAR ITEMS: Celtic Beat
Magazine, www.mv.com/ipusers/celticbeat or subscribe to the
monthly print version at 4 Greenlay St., Nashua, NH 03063


SESSIONS, JAMS, DANCES

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

3rd Sundays - English dancing, 7-9:30 pm., Portsmouth
Ballroom. Portsmouth, NH, $6 or $5 for ECDSNH members. Call
Dave Bateman (603)886-5071 or dbateman@net1plus.com .

3rd Sundays - Gaelic Club, 3-7 pm. , Canadian American Club,
Watertown, MA. Peggy Morrison, (978)858-3792.

Mondays - Slow jam, 7-9pm+, Fiddler's Loft, 19 Marshall Rd.,
Kingston, NH. $5/night  Albert Brien (603)642-5434,
Fidlerloft@aol.com .

Tuesdays - Irish/Celtic Sessions at The Barley House
Restaurant and Tavern, 132 North Main Street,  Concord, NH
7:00 to 10:00 PM.  (603) 229-0083

1st Tuesdays - Slow Jams, 6-7:30pm, Park Avenue
Congregational Church, Arlington Hts., MA. Info:
(617)-522-5887.

3rd Tuesdays - sessions with hired teachers, variety of
traditions, 6:30-8pm, First Cambridge Baptist Church,
Cambridge, MA donation, 617-522-5887

2nd & 4th Tuesdays- "Play Togethers" with Michael Kenney,
1st Cambridge Baptist Church, 5 Magazine St., Cambridge MA
617-492-7323

Wednesdays - Merrimack Valley Scottish Country Dancers,: 
children's class 6 pm, adults 7:30 pm, Odd Fellows Home,
Pleasant St., Concord, NH Brenda Janssen, (603)226-2739.

1st Wednesdays - Jam session, 7pm., K of C Hall, Elm St.,
Milford, .3 from oval. Sandy Lafleur (603)673-8497. 

3rd Wednesdays - Swedish fiddle night, 7pm., at the home of
Nancy Kalinski.  Call or e-mail for directions,
swedishfiddler@hotmail.com 

Wed or Thurs - Scottish Country Dance, 7-9pm., Chandler
Library, Nashua, NH. Loren Wright (603)891-2331.

1st Thursdays:  Contradance, Dover City Hall, 8:00 - Lamprey
River Band, guest callers and musicians invited. $5; Peter
Yarensky 603-664-2513.

2nd and 4th Thur - Beginner jam, 7-9pm, Fiddler's Loft (see
Monday's info), free

2nd Fridays: Contradance, Kittery, ME Grange Hall (now
called the Left Banke), 8:00 - various bands. $6

3rd Fridays - Contra Dances, 8-11pm, Town Hall, Kensington,
NH; $6; Claire 603-772-3558

3rd Fridays - Square and Contra Dances 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 - Contra Dance, 8-11pm, Town Hall, Milford, NH.
Open band. Sylvia Miskoe, (603) 225-6546.

Saturday afternoon - play fiddle with John Campbell at his
home in Maynard, Mass. For specifics, John 978-897-7031.

Saturday afternoons - Community Traditional Music Sessions, 
3-6, Fox Library, Arlington, MA., Jan. 20, Feb. 3 & 17, Mar.
10 & 24, Apr, 7 & 28, May 5 & 19, June 2.; $1 per person for
hall rental. Laura at (781)646-7522, or call 781-643-3603

2nd Saturdays - Contra dance, 8-11, Francestown, NH, Town
Hall.  Frank Woodward, (603) 487-2480, yankee@grolen.com 

4th Saturdays - Contradance, Dover City Hall, 8:30 - various
bands. $7, 603-659-7038.


A REMINDER: Deadline for February articles is February 2. 
No calendar dates before February 15 will be included.

Granite Skyes is published monthly (10 issues) between
September and June by the Strathspey & Reel Society of New
Hampshire. Subscription $6/yr ($10 overseas). Individual
domestic memberships cost $14/yr; please inquire about other
rates. Edited by Ellen Bassett. All items welcome, depending
on space available; e-mail by the 1st Friday of the month
for inclusion in the mid-month mailing to
ebassett@cheerful.com in text only format. Electronic Editor
is Elly Abelson. Email subscription is free. The SRSNH Web
Page is maintained by Terry Traub,
http://world.std.com/~ttraub/srsnh.

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