February 2001

Hello, Friend-of-Scottish-Music-Who-Is-On-The-Internet:
 
Before I insert my usual welcome statement I want to mention
two recent happenings. In December I sent out Granite Skyes
in two parts. My ISP told me in no uncertain ways that the
document was too lengthy for one go. Hence the division. The decision 
about where to divide was entirely my own. I hope no one was 
inconvenienced. Last month there were difficulties with  the 
address list. I sent them all out as blind copies. Once again, 
my ISP nemesis intervened in some mysterious way, sending 
half the copies as blind copies and the other half as open copies. 
I did vent to the ISP customer service people in strident tones and 
colorful language, so we'll see if all is well this month. 

 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 I 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 6 -- February 2001

FEBRUARY GATHERING
February 27  Sunday Afternoon, 1-5 pm.
Sylvia Miskoe,  Leader
Annichiaricho Theatre, S. Main St & Thompson St, 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 Sylvia Miskoe

This month I have selected tunes written by Ron Gonnella, a
little air, a strathspey, a reel and a jig.  Ron was a
science teacher at Morrisons Academy in Creiff, Perthshire. 
He also played for dancing, gave concerts, and interpreted
the music of the great 18th and 19th century fiddlers. Ron
made many trips to the US and was the guest artist for the
very first concert the SRS performed, in Plymouth, New
Hampshire. Some of you early  members may remember him - a
delightful, white haired man. When SRS toured Scotland in
1996, we stopped in  Dunkeld and visited Neil Gow's grave. 
As we were getting back into the bus, a resident stopped us
and asked about the group.   Then she said, "Did you know
that Ron Gonnella is buried here, too?"  We got back off the
bus and visited his grave. 

There are three tune books that Ron compiled.  The first has
only 18th century music; the other two include some of his
own compositions. This month's tunes are all from Volume
III. I think that these collections are a treasure trove of
good tunes.  Ron made a number of records and cassettes.  I
don't know if they are still available.  In one record he
plays tunes by Gow, Marshall and Skinner using the
composer's fiddles. His tone was very sweet, light and
danceable. 



BOARD OF DIRECTORS UPDATE

There has been no Board of Directors meeting since the
January 10 meeting reported in the last issue.  
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 
 


UPCOMING EVENTS
-by Sandy Lafleur, President

The SRS will be playing at NEFFA on Saturday, April 21st at
6:30 for Scottish Country Dancing. Sally Dee will be
leading the dances. Those of you who played for the SCD
dance at Loon last September know how much fun this is!  
Sylvia Miskoe will be putting together the music. I'll take
it from there as Sylvia will be out of town during NEFFA. 
If you're interested, please contact me (603) 673-8497 or at
Strumma@aol.com  to sign up. Those who sign up in  advance
receive Performers badges which allow you free access to the
entire festival. For those who have never been to NEFFA,
check out their website:  www.neffa.org/~neffa  

AND!  Mark your calendars now!  The 3rd Annual Southern NH
Scottish Games and Celtic Music Festival is Saturday, June
2nd at Oak Park in Greenfield, NH, and the SRS has again
been invited to perform. Musicians will receive free
admission and lunch. Sylvia Miskoe will lead the group and
will be taking sign-ups before too long. This event offers
something for everyone - athletic events, piping, Highland
dance, sheep dog demonstrations, clan and family tents and
lots of wonderful live Celtic music. Their website is: 
www.snhscotcelt.org/    



DAVID SURETTE'S WORKSHOP AND CONCERT
-by Chris Lekas

When the music arrived last month with such strange words as
An Dro, Dans Fisel, and bombard (a siege engine? a really
bad musician\historian?) I didn't know quite what to expect
at this month's session. Along with this was the simple
ornamentation and rhythm of the tunes. Where were the
legendary complex sounds and slightly off beat rhythms of
Breton music? 

Then I went to the session on the 28th to hear David
Surette, who had come down from Maine as a guest musician to
lead the group. Standing in front of the many fiddles,
guitars, flute's, stringed bass' and many others, was a man
with a small eight stringed instrument, a mandolin. Hmmm,
again a change from our usual fiddle player. Then we sat
down to play. As he first started playing the mandolin he
changed the straight, simple music on the sheet into a
complex, sometimes jumpy, sometimes haunting music. He then
proceeded to lead the entire group, while he played only the
small mandolin. He would explain what the different dances
were, and alternate chords to be used with the tunes. He put
complex ornaments and sounds into the music, and organized
the group into two parts playing a sort of call and respond
setup between the two, as would be played in Breton. All
through this he explained and described the uses of the
tunes, and the culture of Breton. (A bombard by the way is a
very loud oboe, or shawm.)

After the session, and after dinner, some of us went to
Sylvia Miskoe's house (again, thanks Sylvia) for a small
house concert by David. We all sat in a smallish room, with
him right in front of us, were we could see what he did.
There was no malfunctioning sound equipment, and no echoing
rooms. He would explain between each set the history of the
tunes he played, and also of the tunings he used. One person
commented that she didn't think he used a single common
tuning the whole night. The music was very good, and ranged
from traditional Breton music, to Irish folk, to American-style guitar.

I personally, and I think the others there would agree,
greatly enjoyed the concert and the workshop, and would like
to thank David Surette for coming. This was a great
opportunity for the group as a whole, as we branched into
new areas of Celtic music, and were taught new ideas. I
think that this whole thing was a success, and would be
interested in seeing more of both David and other guest
musicians. 



MIDWINTER CEILIDH IN ICELAND
-by Muff Worden

A late Burns Night Celebration ceilidh will be held the late
afternoon and evening of Saturday, Feb. 10 in the Skaftfell
cultural center in Seydisfjordur, Iceland (northeast coast),
complete with piping in the haggis (would you believe an
Icelandic piping student playing a practice chanter piping
in probably the Icelandic equivalent, called a meat
pudding?), ceilidh band of Icelanders, Scots and one
Englishwoman plus a Scoto-American, Scottish country dancing
taught and called by a Scottish RSCDS teacher who lives in
the north of Iceland, and the Address to the Haggis recited
in incomparable form in both Burns text and Icelandic
translation!  If you can make it, you are certainly
welcome!!  

And for those who are just wild enough to take me up on
this, call me - Muff Worden - at (country code:  354)
472-1775  or e-mail me at muff@eldhorn.is  to give travel
details so that you can be met at the Egilsstadir airport at
the right time.  (Fly from Boston, Kennedy, Baltimore,
Orlando or Halifax to Keflavik, take the bus to Reykjavik to
the domestic airport, take the next inland plane east to
Egilsstadir)  

Editor's note:  we regret that this arrived too late to make
it into the January newsletter -but it's a great invitation
anyway!



DAVID (fiddle) ARNOLD TAKES ON APRIL
-by Sylvia Miskoe

David (fiddle) Arnold has volunteered to do the session in
April. Not to be confused with David (piano/bass) Arnold. 
He lives in central Mass now but used to be an active
member, coming to our sessions and playing English dance
music. Thanks, David!



"THE INTERVAL" CALENDAR CORRECTION
-by Sandy Lafleur

Those of you who are also members of NHFMT (New Hampshire
Federation of Musical Traditions) may have noticed a couple
of erroneous calendar events listed in their newsletter
concerning SRSNH. SRSNH is NOT performing for Tartan Day
this year in April. Jeff Baker is NOT leading the group for
the March gathering. These things happened last year.



NHSSA NEWS
-by Gordon & Lezlie Webster

We have the night for you! Friday nights at Concord Dance
Academy! Yes, we are bringing some Scottish Flair to
Concord. NH! Sylvia Calder from the NH School of Scottish
Arts, Marianne Taylor and Sylvia Miskoe from the Royal
Scottish Country Dance Society and others will be teaching
and guiding us through the dances. And don't forget the NH
Indoor Games Highland Dancing & Piping Competition, April 7,
2001. You'll find the details at our Web Page,
www.nhssa.org or call 603-621-9949 for information.



BODAICH 
-by Jeff Baker

It's time for Bodaich to be rousing itself from the winter
doldrums - though we each were quite busy with solo shows,
recordings, and life in general. First of all, check out our
website! Thanks to the ever-talented Rich Block, we now have
music downloads for you at www.scottishmusician.com/bodaich 
and click on "Bodaich MP3 Music!"  Next will come a new
series of photos, and shortly as well, stage settings, the
promo blurb, and downloadable press release information! Our
Performing Season is shaping up nicely- see the Calendar
listings for details.  Our festival shows include the June
2nd Southern NH Celtic Music Festival and the midsummer
Peterboro Riverfront Music Festival.  Thanks for your
support, and Slainte!!  



MAGGIE'S MUSIC
-by Maggie Sansone 

Washington Area Music Awards (Wammies) - D.C.'s answer to
the Grammys - held their 15th annual awards ceremony on
1/30/01.  Maggie's Music is proud to announce its Wammie
winners.  Maggie's Music took home awards in the General
category for Record Company, and several Folk category
awards: Irish/Celtic Recording (Bonnie Rideout, "Scottish
Fire"), Irish/Celtic Duo or Group (City of Washington Pipe
Band); Celtic Instrumentalist (Bonnie Rideout & Maggie
Sansone each took awards), and Children's Music
Instrumentalist (Bonnie Rideout).

Maggie's Music also announces the release of "Celtic Café". 
It is a lively evocation of a cafe at the crossroads of
European culture, with Flemish carillon and Parisian musette
music, clog and row dances from Belgium, & airs, jigs &
reels from Ireland & Scotland.

Belgian Paul Oorts  (mandolin, cittern, classical and steel
string guitars and musette accordion) joins American Karen
Ashbrook (hammered dulcimer, Irish flute, pennywhistle) in
this recording. 
 


REVIEWERS WANTED

>From time to time, we receive CDs from recording companies
for review. Anyone who would like to write a review of a CD
for Granite Skyes, please contact Ellen Bassett at
603-783-4261 or ebassett@cheerful.com. You'll get to keep
the CD as your reward! 
                                                         


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. February 25, March 25. April 29.

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 

Scottish Country Dance Ball, April 21, at NEFFA, Natick, MA,
6:30 pm.  Sign up with Sandy Lafleur, (603) 673-8497 or at
Strumma@aol.com

3rd Annual Southern NH Scottish Games and Celtic Music
Festival, Saturday, June 2, Oak Park in Greenfield, NH. 
Sign up with Sylvia Miskoe, 603*225-6546 or smiskoe@aol.com 



CALENDAR

Aladair Fraser & Tony McManus in Concert (3 times!):
Friday, 3/30/2001  Brattleboro VT  First Baptist Church, 190
Main St.. 8pm, tickets $15 in advance, $18 at the door.
Tickets available (in person only) at Maple Leaf Music, 19
Elliot, Brat. Call 802-257-1571 for more information.
Saturday, 3/31/2001, Bath ME, Chocolate Church Cultural
Center / 207-442-8455 www.chocolatechurcharts.org/
Sunday, 4/01/2001  Lexington MA / Museum Of Our National
Heritage  781-862-7837 www.music-for-robin.org/

NH Indoor Games, Highland Dancing & Piping competitions,
April 7, Manchester NH.  NH School of Scottish Arts,
603-621-9949 or www.nhssa.org 

Bodaich performances:   www.scottishmusician.com/bodaich
Friday March 16, 8pm Hampshire Hills, Milford, NH  For direx
and information, call Hampshire Hills at 603-673-7123
St.Patrick's day session  Saturday March 17, 8pm Barley
House, Concord, NH  Traditional Irish music through the
afternoon, Bodaich from 8 to the wee hours! For directions
and information, call the Barley House 603-228-6363.

Clan Du St. Patrick's Day Celebration, Saturday, March 17 at
7:30 pm at the Annichiaricho Theatre, Thompson St., Concord,
NH.  Tickets $10.  For reservations and information call
736-8185.

Fiddle Workshop with Alasdair Fraser and Guitar Workshop
with Tony McManus  Sunday April 1, 1-4 pm, in Arlington
Mass:. Spaces very limited! Contact Laura Risk at
781-488-5084, lrisk@wellesley.edu.

Celtic Crossroads, a weekend of celtic music and traditions,
May 4-6, 2001, Lincoln, NH.  call 877-564-SCOT or
http://www.nhscot.org/
Boston College Irish Studies Program, Gaelic Roots, June
17-23 Chestnut Hill, MA. Instruction in Dancing, Fiddle,
Accordion, Singing, Pipes, Whistles, Flute etc..
617-552-0490.

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/ 

Pinewoods Scottish Sessions , July 6-14:, at wooded camp
near Plymouth Mass. Spaces limited. Contact MaryEllen
Scannell, 97 Birch St, Lynn, Mass. 01902, 781-593-5949,
scannell@gis.net.

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@net1

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 March articles is March 2.  No
calendar dates before March 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