Granite Skyes
Volume 14 No. 7, March 2002

MARCH GATHERING
March 24,  Sunday Afternoon, 1-5 pm.
Sylvia Miskoe,  Leader
Annichiarico Theatre, S. Main St & Thompson St, Concord, N.H.

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

NOTES FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR
-by Sylvia Miskoe
 Every other year in March we have original tunes month. This year there
are ten and I hope that each person who submitted a tune is here to help
us interpret it.
 Paul Milde sends "Miss Bessie Hyde,” and writes that 'She was a very
kind teacher I had in the 5th and 6th grade."  Paul told me to put in
the appropriate chords.  When I asked him how to categorize the tune he
said he didn't quite know.  After I had played the tune a while my
fingers said that it was a schottische.
 "Winkles and Whelks" is by Mike Hebb  He says that in Skye he and
Kathy  were walking along the shore and a bunch of people were wading
around in the tidal pools picking things up. They asked a local crofter
what they were up to and he replied they were collecting 'winkles and
whelks - meaning periwinkles and whelks . Mike adds, "I've eaten plenty
of whelks but eating periwinkles was new to me and seems hardly worth
the trouble. It was shortly after that the tune came to me."
 Judith Olson, who lives in Keene, sent in "Only Justice Shall Bring
Peace", in memory of the lives lost on 9/11/01 and its aftermath.  And
in hope for the future of humankind. It is arranged for several
harmonies.
 Elly Abelson has written "The Upscale Jig".  He writes that this is a
simple jig that incorporates three obvious lines of scales and a bit of
an arpeggio. The first treble staff contains two running scales and the
second treble staff is a single scale version.  The two treble staves
should be played in divisions.
 Steve Cushing submitted "Swimming with Suzanne.”  Steve says that when
you play the tune you can feel the lift of the waves and surf.  It
should not be played too fast nor too slow.
 Gail Birch wrote a waltz, "Kip and Mary Margaret,”  edited by Jim
Birch, and   written for Kip Ferguson and his wife Mary Margaret.
 Kevin Meyers sent "Planxty Mary Ferguson" with chords by Gail Birch. A
Planxty is a tune honoring a patron or a member of the patron's family.
Therefore, it is not necessarily in dance time. Kevin writes, "IMHO, the
tune plays well either sprightly or stately. It is written in the
technique of O'Carolan.”
 Ned Dairiki's tune is "The Cherry Garcia Jig.”  We don't see Ned at our
sessions as he lives in California.  I asked him about the syncopation
and he said he put it there for effect.
 I wrote "Reel for Vince" for Vince O'Donnell who is a fine fiddler and
good friend.  I seldom write tunes because I'm too busy learning other
folks' tunes.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS UPDATE
Highlights from the February 13 meeting:  NEFFA has limited the size of
the SRSNH group to 7.  The board felt it was too late to back out, and
that Sylvia would have to select 7 musicians to form a group to
represent SRSNH.  Apologies and explanations will be sent to all who
signed up, and there will be communications with NEFFA at the
appropriate time to avoid this situation in the future.  Brian Mokler’s
thoughtful analysis of the GALA was reviewed, as was Bill Fitzpatrick’s
ongoing research into ADA compliance.  Gary Hume was named to the
Scholarship Committee.  The Music Director Search Committee has met once
and reviewed the qualifications and duties of the Music Director. The
next Search Committee meeting will discuss remuneration.  There was
discussion of participating in the NHSSA Indoor Scottish Festival on
April 6.
Next Meeting:  March 27. 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

FINAL REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE
-by Elly Abelson, Marlene Friedrich, and Kathy Thompson
A Nominating Committee consisting of Kathy Thompson, Marlene Friedrich
and Elly Abelson was appointed by the Board in January 2002, and, acting
pursuant to Article IV  of the by-laws of the SRSNH, amended as of May
2001, submits this report to the Secretary. The by-laws provide that for
this one transitional election the president, vice-president and one
member at large be elected for a term of two years each, and that the
secretary, treasurer and second elected member at large be elected for a
term of one year. Thus, the proposed slate of officers is:

Pres.: Sandy Lafleur, two years
Vice Pres.: Bob Reed, two years
Treasurer: Edward Los, one year
Secretary: Cindy Blaine, one year
Member-at-Large: Ellen Bassett, one year
Member-at-Large:  Bruce Cobb, two years

In accordance with the by-laws, members of the society may contact the
nominations committee by March 1, to offer themselves as nominees for
election to the Board. Further, "[t]he Nominating Committee shall
present a listing of nominees to the Board by March 1."  No member has
submitted his or her name to the nominating committee. Accordingly the
slate as proposed above is the final slate. Biographies of each nominee
are included with each member’s newsletter.

SCOTTISH JAM SESSIONS AT THE MANCHESTER INDOOR GAMES
The NH School of Scottish Arts is presenting its 4th Annual Indoor
Scottish Festival which features Highland dancing, piping, drumming,
Scottish clans and vendors, and an evening concert.  The festival is
held at Memorial High School on Saturday, April 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
and admission is free.
SRSNH is holding two jam sessions.  The first session will be held 11:00
- noon, the second, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.  Bring your SRS tune book and
instruments and be prepared to have a good time!
Directions:  From Rte. 93 heading north, take 293 exit 1 to Mall of NH
and South Willow St.  Take a right on South Willow to Dunkin Donuts,
take a right on Weston Rd.  The school is on the left.

DANCE FOR A CURE
-by Frank Woodward
On May 19th, 2002, John Redemske, who lost his 18 year old son to
leukemia, is raising pledges for his participation in the Sante Fe
Century Bicycle Ride as a part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's
"Team in Training". The 4th Fri. Milford Contra Dance will be pledging
all of the proceeds from their Mar. 22nd dance to John for this purpose.
The Milford Recreation Committee has generously agreed to waive the hall
rental for that evening so all of the gate can go directly to this
special effort. We hope that you can come and dance and have a great
time while helping to raise money for this worthy cause.

LOOKING FOR A LADDIE
John Leeper, one of our members in Tennessee, is trying to locate the
words to an old Scottish song, “The Yellow Haired Laddie”.  It is a
Cameron clan song.  He couldn't find it on Mudcat.  If anyone can help
him in his search, please send any information you have – or better yet,
the words – to him at jleeper@stategazette.com


FIDDLE CONTEST
-by Frank Woodward
It's time to start thinking about the 4th of July. The New Boston 4th of
July committee is going to do their 4th of July Fiddle contest again.
Everyone had a great time last year. There will be more details in next
month's Granite Skyes.

NEW CONTACT FOR THE EDITOR
To email the editor, please use ebassett@ttlc.net, and remove
ebassett@cheerful.com from your address books.  The promised “free email
for life” from the provider of the cheerful domain name is now
expensive, and your Editor is still cheerful, but is too cheap to pay
for email forwarding.


SRSNH OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, COMMITTEES, & VOLUNTEERS
Music Director:  Sylvia Miskoe
Board of Directors:
 Sandy Lafleur, President
Bob Reed, Vice President
Ed Los, Treasurer
Carolynn Marsh, Secretary
Ellen Bassett & Bruce Cobb, Members at large
Nominating Committee:  Elly Abelson, Marlene Friedrich, Kathy Thompson
Scholarship Committee: Marjory Swope, Chair; Lynn McElroy, Gary Hume
Memberships, Email
Newsletters: Barbara McOwen Webmaster: Terry Traub
Monthly Mailings; Sabrina Matteson
Makeup Mailings: Allen Brown; Newsletter Editor: Ellen Bassett
T-shirts: Terry Hickman Refreshments: Calvin Gardner



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.  March 24, April 28,
May 19, June 30.

Scottish Jam Sessions, NH School of Scottish Arts’ Indoor Scottish
Festival, April 6, Memorial High School, Manchester, NH, 11am and 1:30
pm.

Scottish Country Dance Demonstration at NEFFA, we provide the music;
April 19-21, Natick, MA.

Scottish Country Dance, June 1, Weston MA, potluck supper then we play
for the dance.  Details to follow.  Sign up with Sylvia Miskoe.



CALENDAR

Clan Du in Concert, St. Patrick’s Day, Friday March 15, Annicchiarico
Theater, 7:30 pm, $10 adults, $5 kids, 736-8185

Cathie Ryan Band with Hanneke Cassel, Peter Barnes, Greg Anderson,
Friday, March 22, 2002, Museum of Our National Heritage, 7 Marrett Rd,
Lexington MA, Wheelchair accessible. Tickets: Advance  $16, door $19
reserved:  $23 (781) 862-7837 bhockett@music-for-robin.org
http://music-for-robin.org

New Hampshire Cape Breton Celebration - Master fiddlers Jerry Holland
and John Campbell, along with Cape Breton piano legend Doug MacPhee will
give a concert at the Nelson Town Hall on April 5th, 2002 at 8 p.m.  For
information and reservations call Bruce @ 603-352-8616

Boston Area Cape Breton Celebration - Jerry Holland, Doug MacPhee, Step
Dancing by Four on the Floor, John Campbell on violin, Norman MacEachern
prompting community dancing, complimentary coffee tea & goodies Saturday
night April 6 at the Canadian-American Club, 202 Arlington St,
Watertown, Mass, 7:30 - midnight.. Admission $12.00. Info: 978-897-7031.

Indoor Scottish Festival presented by NH School of Scottish Arts, April
6, 9 am-4pm, Memorial High School, Manchester, NH; Competitions in
Highland dancing, solo piping, pipe bands; clans, food, Scottish
vendors, and jam sessions with SRSNH.  Free admission. 603-621-9949,
www.nhssa.org

Concert after the Indoor Scottish Festival, April 6, 7 pm, Memorial High
School, Manchester, NH, featuring Sarah Bauhan, Tulach Ard Pipe Band,
NHSSA dancers, and pipers Amy Garson, Nancy Tunnicliffe, and Chris
Hamilton

Féis Shiàtail Slighe nan Gaidheal's biennial celebration of Scottish
Gaelic language and culture, May 28 through June 2, Ft. Worden State
Park Conference Center, Port Townsend, on Washington's Olympic
Peninsula. Gaelic song, language, piping, poetry, dance, stories and
more! www.slighe.com

 “Folk and Contra Dance Cruise” on the Mount Washington, Monday, July 8
from Weirs Beach, NH.  Boarding and buffet dinner begins at 6:15pm, ship
departs to cruise Lake Winnepesaukee at 7pm and returns at 10 pm.  Main
deck contra band is Musical Chairs, with callers Peter Yarensky and Sue
Hunt. Tickets $34, include everything except bar service. For
information or reservations call 603-366-BOAT or www.cruisenh.com

Pinewoods (MA) Scottish Sessions, July 12-15 and July 15-20.  Teachers
are Jessie Stuart, Terry Harvey, Norah Link and Robert McOwen. Music by
Liz Donaldson, Hanneke Cassel, Earl Gaddis, Anne Hooper, Mara Beamish,
David Knight, Chuck Corman, Terry Traub, Dan Emery, Laird Brown, Rob
Wolanski. Contact Valerie Wade 781-933-5634 wadepossi@mediaone.net or
Gretchen Gates 781-245-7639. Web site: www.rscdsboston.org




SESSIONS, JAMS, DANCES

2nd Sundays - English dancing, 6:30-9:30 pm., Old Concord Hospital,
Pleasant Street, Concord, N.H. $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, N.H., $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,Mass. Peggy Morrison, 978-858-3792.

Mondays - Contra dance, 8 - 10:30, callers & musicians welcome to take a
turn.  Nelson, N.H. Town Hall, $3 827-3732.

Mondays - Slow jam, 7-9 pm+, Fiddler's Loft, 19 Marshall Rd., Kingston,
N.H. $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, N.H. 7:00 to 10:00 pm.
603-229-0083.

1st Wednesdays - Jam session, 7 pm, Foodee's, in the Milford Oval,
Milford, N.H. Sandy Lafleur 603-673-8497.

Wed or Thurs - Scottish Country Dance, 7-9 pm., Chandler Library,
Nashua, N.H. 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, N.H., 7:30-9:30 pm,  through end of June, Laurie
Stevens 603-773-9795.
1st Fridays: Contra dance, Windham, N.H. Town Hall, ½ 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 pm - 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, 8-11 pm, Town Hall, Milford, N.H. 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, March 30, April 6 &13, May 4 & 18, June 1&15.

2nd Saturdays,  Contra dance, 8-11 pm, Town Hall, Gilmanton, N.H., $5
per person, $10 family, through April or May.

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

3rd Saturdays - Contra dance, 8 pm, East Concord Community Center, $5

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

A REMINDER: Deadline for April articles is April 1.  No calendar dates
before April 10 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 of the month
for inclusion in the mid-month mailing to ebassett@ttlc.net  in text
only format. Email subscription is free; send request to
bmcowen@world.com .  The SRSNH Web Page is maintained by Terry Traub,
http://www.srsnh.org