GRANITE SKYES
Newsletter of the Strathspey & Reel Society of New Hampshire
Having Fun with Scottish Music
Volume 13, Number 8 -- April 2001

APRIL GATHERING
April 29  Sunday Afternoon, 1-5 pm.
David Arnold,  Leader
Annichiaricho Theatre, S. Main St & Thompson St, 
Concord, N.H.

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


NOTES FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTORS
-by Sylvia Miskoe 
and David Arnold

A few words from Sylvia about previous month's tunes:
There is a typo in the tune Lowlands of Holland.  Those of
you who tried out the tune were quick to ask if the next to
last note was really a Bb, or should it be an A.  A quick
check of the original manuscript showed that it is an A. 
Get out your pens and fix it.

Evelyn Murray wrote that she was delighted to see Ron
Gonnella's tunes featured in our February music.   She
reminded me that there is a 4th book with tunes that Ron
composed, country dances that she devised, and a narrative
of Burns' Highland Tour of 1787. The book is titled The New
Atholl Collection. Interested persons may contact Evelyn
directly.

And, from David Arnold:

This month, we have tunes by great Shetland composers, most
as played by the late Willie Hunter, my favorite of the
Shetland fiddlers.

Chadwick's Bog is by Ronnie Cooper. Check out the other
tunes by Cooper in the SRS catalog. Does this guy ever write
clunkers?  I transcribed this version from the playing of
Willie Hunter. We should all be playing as well as he was
when our time comes.  

I lifted Gibby Gray, by someone named Spence(?),  from one
of the Shetland Sessions tapes as played by Hom Bru. It's a
kind of spooky reel in Am. It's not very complicated but has
a lot of drive which can be punched up to an even higher
level in the "A" part by dropping in an accompanying double
stop or two on the "off" beats (2 and 4). Don't know what I
mean? Bring it up at the next session and I'll be glad to
demonstrate.

Reested Mutton is by Gideon Stove, another Shetlander, who
died in the early 50's but sure left some great tunes behind
such as Carnival, Glenfarquhar and Da Guizers March. Yet
another tune lifted from the playing of Willie Hunter.
Reested does not translate to "roasted". According to
Gideon's son, Magnus, "... the reest was a grating of rods
or a netting of ropes [In the old croft houses] which were
laid on the cross baulks, overhead ... for the purpose of
laying things on to be dried."  

Rosewood comes from the playing of Aly Bain and borrowed
from his book, "50 Fiddle Solos" since that also happens to
be the way he recorded it. 

Compliments to Dan R. McDonald is this month's strathspey.
Dedicated to a great Cape Breton musician, it was composed
by Willie Hunter and transcribed from his playing. I find
some of the snaps to be counter-intuitive, but suggest
trying them as written at least long enough to gain some
understanding of Hunter's sense of how a strathspey should
go.

Wallace and Thomas by Cheri Malins comes from (where else?)
the playing of Willie Hunter and it has a very wistful sort
of appeal. It also works nicely as a third position exercise
for fiddlers. In fact much of the "A" part goes well up the
neck, though it really isn't necessary.

I hope that the chords work out well for you rhythm players.
There's no one but me to blame if they don't. Some might
say that I've squeezed in too many per measure, but my idea
was to keep the chord line flowing and complementing the
melody as much as possible. If this proves too difficult,
you can often drop the chords on the 2nd or 4th beats, but I
hope you'll give them all a fair try first. 



BOARD OF DIRECTORS UPDATE
-by Carolynn Marsh, Secretary

Highlights from the March 20 meeting: The annual SRSNH
summer picnic will be August 26th.  By-law revisions,
ballots, and biographies of the Board of Directors slate
were prepared for mailing to members in April with the
newsletter.  On the matter of monthly music, there
will be 2 make-up mailings per year, and copies of music
from prior months will be available at monthly gatherings.
Next Meeting: Wednesday April 25.  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 



JULY 4TH FIDDLE CONTEST

There will be a Fiddler's Contest at this year's New Boston,
NH Fourth of July celebration on Wednesday, July 4.  This
popular event is best known for its colorful parade through
New Boston; the Molly Stark cannon; chicken barbecue; mud
volleyball competition; family entertainment; and fireworks
finale. The Fiddler's Contest will coincide with other
events at the Hillsboro County 4-H fairgrounds and will take
place at 2:00 p.m The contest will have three categories -
under 11, under 18, and open - with cash prizes awarded in
each.  In addition, each contestant will receive free
admission to the Fourth of July Celebration.  Contestants
are encouraged to register in advance, but registration will
remain open until 1:30 p.m. on the day of the event.
To register for the contest, arrange piano or guitar
back-up, or for more information, contact Frank Woodward at
(603) 487-2480 or e-mail yankee@grolen.com, attn: Fiddler's
Contest.  



SUMMER SCHOOL IN THE HEART OF SCOTLAND
-by Margery Stirling

I am the Scottish Summer School Coordinator at the
University of Stirling in the heart of Scotland. We offer
mainly week long programmes in July/early August in
Accordion, Fiddle, Bagpipe & Clarsach playing along with
several dance courses - a few days Scottish Country Dancing
and a few days Old Time Dancing late June/early July, also
Highland Dancing during the week of 22 July and a weekend of
Cape Breton/Scottish Stepdancing 21 and 22 July.  Scottish
Singing/Scottish Family History Research/Film Study
concentrating on Scotland on Screen and details of many more
week long summer schools are available from me by post or
email.  Over the years I have met several members and
friends of the SRSNH who have either attended a summer
school with us or have accompanied a family member on a tour
of Scotland.  I'd love to introduce more visitors from the
US to our beautiful campus, our experienced and
knowledgeable tutors and the participants who attend these
summer schools, this year or in future years.  Please be in
touch with me if you require any further details, at 
m.f.stirling@stir.ac.uk, or visit our web site at
http://www.stir.ac.uk/daice/summer.htm  In the meantime,
best wishes from the University of Stirling in Scotland. 



"CELTIC CAFÉ" 
-Review by Sandy Lafleur 

Celtic Cafe - Well, I suppose they had to call it something
. . . though this latest recording by Karen Ashbrook and
Paul Oorts is much more eclectic than its title would lead
you to believe.  Even its subtitle, "Irish, French & Flemish
music from the cultural crossroads of Europe" doesn't
prepare you for the twists and turns that the musicians add
to the tunes.  The liner notes describe the tunes and the
playing styles variously as Breton, Irish, French, Italian,
Reggae, pseudo African, Texas-style, Belgium, Flemish and
Scottish.  Karen Ashbrook has several hammered dulcimer
recordings to her credit , and she has been honing her craft
for quite some time.  I met Paul Oorts several years back at
the Dulcimer Festival in Cambridge, MA where he was giving a
guitar workshop and admired his skill with the instrument.

On "Celtic Cafe" Paul also plays mandolin, musette
accordion, cittern and tenor banjo. In addition to these two
fine musicians, "Celtic Cafe" is blessed with the musical
contributions of Bonnie Rideout, Andrea Hoag, Mark Hillman,
Bobby Read, Dwight Purvis, Ralph Gordon, Dave Wiesler, and
Paddy League. 

The first cut is a familiar Breton dance tune.  Karen's
hammered dulcimer wistfully began An Dro, which soon became
driving and hypnotic as the tune was repeated and other
instruments were added to the mix.  Perhaps my favorite cut
on this CD was the lively tune "Handsome Maidens", with some
lovely guitar work and a very understated bodhran
emphasizing the pulse of the tune. Bonnie Rideout plays a
stunningly beautiful "Lamentation for the Fallen Heroes of
Waterloo"; the plaintive sound of her fiddle over the
continued low drones is so effective.  When the bowed bass
comes in on the melody it is truly a gorgeous thing.  The
recording finishes strong with a drum role leading into the
78th's Farewell to Belgium.  These last two tunes are part
of the "Napoleon Suite", of which the liner notes give some
interesting history.   This CD was one that I definitely
enjoyed more the 2nd and 3rd time around, as my expectations
became less rigid.

Bottom line: not what you'd expect and a CD that you will
not tire of!  You can get one for yourself at Maggie's
Music, PO Box 490, Shady Side, MD 20764, toll free
1-877-624-4436, or on the Web at www.maggiesmucic.com 



SRSNH OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, & COMMITTEES

Music Director:  Sylvia Miskoe
Board of Directors:  
Sandy Lafleur, Pres., 
Bob Reed, VP, 
Ed Los, Treas., 
Carolynn Marsh, Sec., 
Ellen Bassett & Nancy Kalinski, Members at large 
& Sylvia Miskoe, Music Director
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. April 29, May 27, June 24, September 30.

Scottish Country Dance Ball, April 21, at NEFFA, Natick, MA,
6:30 pm.
  
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 

SRSNH Picnic, August 26, 3-7:30 pm, 102 Little Pond Rd.,
Concord, NH
NH Highland Games, September 14-16, Lincoln, NH



CALENDAR

Hanneke Cassell CD Release Concert with Dave Wiesler, Rushad
Eggleston, and Flynn Cohen, Tuesday, April 17, 8:30 p.m.
Johnny D's, 17 Holland St., Somerville MA. Tickets--$8.00,
for reservations call (617) 776-9667

Scottish Arts Indoor Competition, April 21, Shrewsbury, MA. 
Highland Dancing, Solo Piping, Scottish Vendors, Shortbread
and Tea and FREE!  Info - www.scottisharts.org 

Celtic Crossroads,  Celtic music and traditions, May 4-6,
2001, Lincoln, NH.  Call 877-564-SCOT or
http://www.nhscot.org/

Jean Redpath Sings.  May 12, 8 pm, Barnstormers Theater,
Tamworth Village, NH.  $18 in advance, send check and SASE
by May 4 to CCMS Redpath Concert, P.O. Box 1997, Conway, NH
03818; $20 at door, Artist's reception 5:30 pm. 
603-447-3003

Fiddle Course, June 8-11, taught by Iain Fraser & Karen
Steven, Dornoch, Scotland, Karen.Steven@thurso.uhi.ac.uk 

Old Songs Festival of Traditional Music and Dance, June 22,
23, 24, includes traditional Scottish singers Allison
McMorland and Tom Spiers, Altamont, 518-765-2815
www.oldsongs.org 

Fiddle Contest July 4, 2 pm. Hillsboro County Fairgrounds,
New Boston, Contact Frank Woodward 603-487-2480 or e-mail
yankee@grolen.com, attn: Fiddler's Contest.  

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:, Music classes will
be taught by Pat Clark (U.K.), Liz Donaldson (MD) and
Barbara McOwen (MA). Spaces limited. Mary Ellen Scannell, 97
Birch St, Lynn, Mass. 01902, 781-593-5949, scannell@gis.net 

Summer programs in Scottish music, dance,  & culture at
University of Stirling,
http://www.stir.ac.uk/daice/summer.htm 



ODDS AND ENDS

Celtic lap harp, cherry, 4 octaves, 15 years old, excellent
condition. $800 - negotiable. Contact Gordon Peery
603-847-9550, gpeery@monad.net

Ossian USA, 118 Beck Road, Loudon, NH 03307 Traditional
Irish Music in Print, Sound & Vision. Irish Music Magazine
back issues, subscriptions & renewals 603-783-4383, fax
603-783-9660  www.ossianusa.com
 


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

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

1st Fridays: Contra dance, Windham, NH Town Hall, ˝ mi. W of
exit 3, I-93; Neil Harvey 603-890-8907

2nd Fridays: Contra dance, 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., April 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 - Contra dance, Dover City Hall, 8:30 -
various bands. $7, 603-659-7038.


A REMINDER: Deadline for May articles is May 4.  No calendar
dates before May 12 will be included.