GRANITE SKYES
Volume 14, No. 1, September 2001

SEPTEMBER GATHERING
September 30 Sunday Afternoon, 1-5 pm.
Sylvia Miskoe, Leader
Annichiarico Theatre, S. Main St & Thompson St, Concord, N.H.

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

NOTES FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR
-by Sylvia Miskoe

I hope everyone had a summer filled with their favorite music. I went 
to the Ashokan Northern Week and happily overdosed on music and 
dance. The day began with a session on playing waltzes, next an 
accordion class, then a Quebecois step dance class. Lunch was 
followed by remedial napping, an English band class, Quebecois happy 
hour, dinner and the evening dance. Since folks stay up late playing, 
breakfast is not served until 8:45 AM. I managed to have several 
Scottish sessions with various campers.

At our June session, Barbara McOwen taught The Lovat Scouts by ear. 
She stressed that the two-note pick-up at the beginning is two eighth 
notes, not one quarter note. Here it is in print.

In June I re-issued the Jerry Holland reel Brenda Stubbart. At the 
session, Barbara McOwen pointed out that the SRSNH version is 
actually different from the tune that Jerry wrote. It is another 
great example of how tunes travel, become part of the general 
repertoire, and change. Alasdair Fraser played the tune and Barbara 
transcribed it from his playing. Subsequently, Jerry published it. 
The published version has some differences, including a 16 bar B part 
rather than an 8 bar B which is repeated. So here, once again, is 
Brenda Stubbart.  It is taken from the Jerry Holland Collection of 
Fiddle Tunes (first collection).

The three jigs make a nice dance set. The Broken Lantern is a 
traditional tune that I first learned from the contra dance musicians 
and was published in Newt Tolman's book The Nelson Collection. It is 
found is several other collections but I am presenting it here as it 
appears in Jerry Holland's Second Collection, described simply as 
Traditional. Mist over Tennessee is a jig I learned first from 
Scottish Country Dancing, then again from contra dancing. Jerry 
Holland said that he has always known it so it has good Cape Breton 
roots. The 'B' part is particularly fun, there seems to be an 
infinite number of ways to play it. The third tune speaks for itself: 
Harvey Tolman's Fancy, written by Jerry Holland and published in his 
Second Collection.

Schiehallion is a traditional tune from Kerr's Second. Schehallion is 
a mountain exceeding 3500 feet on Rannoch Moor, the name means "Hill 
of the Fairies". If you look at a map to find Lochs Tummel and 
Rannoch, then a bit south of the river connecting them, you will find 
Schiehallion. Mrs. Stewart Nicholson is by Nathanial Gow. I learned 
it in the Key of D, however it is originally in Eb. I will present it 
here in D but if anyone wants the Eb version, I'll supply it.

Here is another example of how tunes move and change. The 72nd 
Highlanders Farewell to Aberdeen (SRSNH 8.16) is also known as "The 
Boys Lament for His Dragon" written by William MacKay (notes from the 
Portland Collection). The tune also appears in Jerry Holland's Second 
Collection with the notation that it was published in William Ross' 
1885 Collection as Farewell to Aberdeen, but various 20th century 
pipe books list it as The Boys Lament for his Dragon. Whatever its 
name and origin, it is a great tune.



BOARD OF DIRECTORS UPDATE
Highlights from the June and August meetings:

In June, a conflict of interest policy for Board members was adopted. 
Changes were made to the back music volumes to reinforce that the 
SRSNH music collection is for the use of SRSNH members only, one copy 
per member, and not for commercial use, resale, or redistribution. At 
the August meeting, Bruce Cobb was appointed Member-at Large. Updates 
on the Gala and Loon were reviewed and approved. A timeline 
reflecting the new deadlines mandated by the bylaws changes will be 
prepared

Next Meeting: Tuesday, September 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


NH HIGHLAND GAMES
Watch next month's issue for members' results of the competitions at 
the NH Highland Games, and a report on SRSNH's adventures at Loon.


GALA 2001 UPDATE
Tickets are now available for the Gala Concert with Jerry Holland on 
November 25, and they're going fast. Get yours by contacting Mary 
Mokler at srsnhgala@aol.com or 603-286-8211. It's not too late to 
sign up to play or volunteer, either! To play, contact Sylvia Miskoe, 
and to volunteer, contact Brian Mokler.


NH STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS GRANT
We are pleased to announce that SRSNH has received a generous $500 
Traditional Arts Mini-Grant from the NH State Council on the Arts to 
support the Gala. Our thanks go to the Arts Council, the Governor, 
the Executive Council, and all those who support public funding of 
the arts in New Hampshire.



SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
-by Don Young, Chairman
The Scholarship Committee met August 15th to make its choice of 
recipients in the second set of awards. Grants were made to assist 
both Myles Matteson and Alicia Lekas. Myles is studying highland 
pipes and Scottish smallpipes. Alicia studies dancing, Gaelic, and 
plays the tin whistle. Both these talented members study at the New 
Hampshire School for Scottish Arts whose faculty includes first class 
instructors in the various musical studies.


FEBRUARY SESSION LEADER NEEDED
SRSNH needs someone to lead the February 24th session, as Sylvia will 
be away. You pick out the tunes, 2 to 3 pages worth, get them to 
Ellen Bassett by the first of February, and lead the session. It's 
lots of fun. Please let Sylvia know if you are interested, 
603-225-6546 or smiskoe@aol.com.


SEND IN YOUR TUNES
-by Sylvia Miskoe
Every other year we have a session devoted to tunes written by 
members. This is the year and March is the month. The deadline for 
submitting tunes is December 15th. Send your tunes, either in 
finished form or needing to be transcribed, to Sylvia Miskoe, 102 
Little Pond Rd, Concord, NH 03301. Space necessitates one tune per 
member. If you send more than one tune I will use the first one I see.



BENEFIT CONCERTS
Some of you know Tony Cuffe as a musician or as a teacher, and some 
of you know him as a friend. You may also know that Tony is being 
treated for cancer. A group of Tony's friends are organizing a 
fundraising effort to benefit Tony and his family. We are writing to 
you now with the dates of two concerts to be hosted by the Irish 
Studies Program at Boston College and organized by Séamus Connolly, 
Saturday evening, November 10, 2001, 7:30 pm  and Sunday afternoon, 
November 11, 2001, 2:00 pm, at Boston College's Gasson Hall. The 
ticket price is $25.00. Tickets may be purchased in advance by 
calling Seamus Connolly at 617-552-0490. Tickets will also be 
available for sale at Sandy's Music, 896 Mass Ave, Cambridge, at the 
Athol Brose, 1902 Mass Ave, Cambridge, at the Burren in Davis Square, 
Somerville and from members of the Tony Cuffe & Family Benefit 
Committee.

We will be sending out more information about the performers and 
other details when they are finalized. In the meantime, you are 
welcome to spread the word and, if you wish, make a donation. 
Proceeds will go directly to Tony and his family with the exception 
of some minimal concert expenses. Checks should be made payable to 
the Tony Cuffe & Family Benefit Fund and mailed to:

Tony Cuffe & Family Benefit Fund
P.O. Box 390915
Cambridge, MA 02139

Respectfully,
Members of the Tony Cuffe & Family Benefit Fund Planning Committee
            John Carew
            Seamus Connolly
            Jim Corcoran
            Jeannie Donovan
            Rawd Holbrook
            Laurel Martin
            Jennifer Vallone


JEFF BAKER WINS CHAMPIONSHIP
Last Memorial Day, Jeff Baker won the US Irish Flute Championship 
Slow Airs on flute and whistle, and placed third in Flute overall.


ANNALS OF MEDICINE
An English doctor was being shown around a Scottish hospital. At the 
end of an extensive tour of the operating rooms, medical, surgical, 
and pediatric units, he was shown into a ward with a number of 
patients who showed no obvious signs of injury. He went to examine 
the first man he saw, and the man proclaimed:
"Fair fa' yer honest sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the puddin' race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place, painch tripe or thairm:
Weel are ye worthy o' a grace as lang's my arm..."

The doctor, somewhat taken aback, went to the next patient, who 
immediately launched into:
"Some hae meat, and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it,
But we hae meat and we can eat,
And sae the Lord be thankit."

And the next patient:
"Wee sleekit cow'rin tim'rous beastie,
O what a panic's in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty, wi bickering brattle
I wad be laith to run and chase thee, wi murdering prattle!"

"Well," said the Englishman to his Scottish colleague, "I see you 
saved the psychiatric ward for last."
"No, no, no," the Scottish doctor corrected him, "this is the Serious 
Burns Unit."



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, Member at large; and 
Sylvia Miskoe, Music Director
Scholarship Committee: Don Young, Chairman; Marjory Swope; Lynn McElroy



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. September 30, 
October 28.

NH Highland Games, September 14-16, Lincoln, NH: SRSNH plays Saturday 
morning and Sunday noon, and for the Saturday night Scottish Country 
Dance. Elsewhere at the Games, you'll find pipers, dancers, pipe 
bands, fiddlers, all-instrument competition, athletics, Hieland coos, 
historic Highlander clans, vendors, food, and much more. 
www.nhscot.org

Gala Concert with Jerry Holland and the SRSNH Orchestra, Sunday, 
November 25, Concord City Auditorium, Concord, NH, srsnhgala@aol.com 
or Mary Mokler at 603-286-8211



CALENDAR
Concert with Josephine Marsh Band (from Ireland), Saturday, September 
29, 2001, 8:00 PM, First Unitarian Universalist Church, 630 Mass. 
Avenue, Arlington, MA. Tickets: Advance $15, Day of Concert $17, 
Children under 12 half price. Info: 781-862-7837 or 
bhockett@music-for-robin.org

JUST RECEIVED: All proceeds from the September 29 concert in 
Arlington with the Josephine Marsh Band will be donated to the 
American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Sandy's Music from Cambridge 
will be selling CDs and other music items at the show. All profits 
from these sales will also be donated to this Fund.

Concert with Dervish, Sunday, October 14, 2001, 8:00 pm, JFK Middle 
School, 655 Lexington Street, Waltham MA. Tickets: (open seating) 
$20, Children under 12 half price. Info: 781-862-7837 or 
bhockett@music-for-robin.org

Boston Branch RSCDS Concert, Saturday November 3, 3 pm & 8 pm. 
Featuring Ed Miller, songs; Alasdair Gillies, pipes; Tullochgorum, 
band; and Scottish highland and country dancers. Museum of Our 
National Heritage, Lexington, Mass. Info: Melissa Bennet, 
781-483-3323, mbb@butlerbennett.com

Benefit Concerts for Tony Cuffe, November 10 at 7:30 pm & Nov. 11 at 
2 pm, Boston College's Gasson Hall. Tickets $25.00, call Seamus 
Connolly at 617-552-0490

Concert with Connie Dover and Roger Landes, Friday, November 23, 
2001, 8:00 pm, JFK Middle School, 655 Lexington Street, Waltham MA. 
Tickets:   (open seating) Advance $17, Day of Concert $20, Reserved 
seats $25, Children under 12 half price. Info: 781-862-7837 or 
bhockett@music-for-robin.org


CALENDAR ITEMS WANTED!
We KNOW there is more going on in New England than this! Please send 
notices of your favorite upcoming events: your own gigs, your 
friends' gigs, or concerts you think SRSNH members might like to 
attend - to ebassett@cheerful.com, and they'll be in the next 
newsletter. All items of interest to the membership of SRSNH are 
welcome.


WEB SITES WANTED!
In an upcoming issue, we will run a listing of web sites of Celtic 
interest. Please send your favorite sites and useful links to the 
editor, ebassett@cheerful.com. Topping the list, of course, will be 
the SRSNH web site, www.srsnh.org

===============================================

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

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

Fridays: Seacoast Scottish Country Dance class, Greenland Parish Hall 
on Rte 151, Greenland, NH, 7:30-9:30 pm, through end of June, 
resuming September 21, Laurie Stevens 603-773-9795

1st Fridays: Contra dance, Windham, NH Town Hall, 1/2 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 - 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, Arlington Comm. Traditional Music Sessions, Fox 
Library, Mass Ave & Cleveland St, 3-7 pm, $1 per person, 781-646-7522 
or 781-643-3603, Oct. 12 & 27, Nov. 10 & 17, Dec. 1

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 October articles is October 1. No calendar 
dates before October 15 will be included.

Granite Skyes is published monthly (10 issues) between September and 
June by the Strathspey & Reel Society of New Hampshire. Subscription 
is $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; email by the 1st of the month 
for inclusion in the mid-month mailing to ebassett@cheerful.com in 
text only format. Email subscription is free. The SRSNH Web Page is 
maintained by Terry Traub, 
http://terrytraub.org/srsnh

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