GRANITE SKYES
Volume 15, No. 3, November 2002

NO NOVEMBER GATHERING
GALA CONCERT Sunday, December 1.
2:30 pm, Concord City Auditorium,
Concord, N.H.

NOTES FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR
-by Sylvia Miskoe

Last month we learned John McNeil, aka Big John McNeil.  I used the
Hunter Collection as my reference.  A number of people mentioned that
they knew a different version so I began researching the differences.
This tune is a good example of how tunes travel, different folks learn
them, pass them on.  In the process variations happen and become a
standard.  Lots of times a tune can have a variation that is compatible
with the original.  However, the John McNeil variation is totally
incompatible with the original.  If you look at the last 2 measures of
the A music you will see that the little run begins on B.  The variation
has the little run beginning on A.  Those 12 notes are one tone
different and therefore harmonically incompatible.  I looked in various
publications and found that it is not included in many of them.  Those
published in Scotland start the run on B.  Many of those published in
North America start the run on A.  But, Ken Perlman's Fiddle Tunes of
PEI shows it beginning on the B.  The most significant publication, for
me, is a collection of Don Messer tunes, published in 1942.  Don Messer
was a very well known fiddler from Prince Edward Island who had a radio
show.  Messer begins the run on A.
Here's what several other musicians have to say about Big John:
Ralph Thompson of Montreal says he always plays the run beginning on B
unless he is playing with certain friends who insist on starting on A.
He has to ask which version before he plays it.
Phil Katz from Seattle says that the Seattle musicians play a version
that is quite different from the Scottish musicians' version.  He feels
that it comes to Seattle via the Quebecois fiddlers and Don Messer.
Member Alice Backer says. "I start the run (in thirds) with an "A"
followed by "C#" followed by "B" followed by "D", etc. That is
definitely the American Way. Yes, the Scottish way starts with a "B". In
my opinion, '(Big) John McNeil' is one of the most exciting tunes that I
know. I actually have collected about 10 versions of it. By the way, it
is one of the more difficult fiddle tunes to play IN TUNE. The first
full measure is probably the most difficult measure. It includes lots of
LARGE stretches on the two lowest strings."
And Barbara McOwen says, "I start it on a B, same as in the RSCDS Book,
which is just about the same as in the Middleton Collection, the
original Peter Milne publication of this tune."   There are many
versions of many tunes that go all right when played at the same time,
but not this one!

BOARD OF DIRECTORS UPDATE
-by Cynthia Blaine, Secretary

Highlights from the last meeting, held October 22:  Lighting and sound,
ushers and cleaners have been found for the Gala.  A sign-up sheet will
be available at the next session for those wishing to play at First
night Wolfeboro.  Susan Willoughby has agreed to join the Scholarship
Committee.
Next Meeting: Tuesday, November 26 . 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
CBlaine@wadleighlaw.com.

MEMBERSHIPS
-by Barbara McOwen

Ah, you ne'er-do-wells, those whose date on their labels reads "9/1/02,"
you have been living on borrowed time. Your membership expired 2 months
ago, and your grace period has now also expired. If you expected music
along with this newsletter and didn't get it, you should re-join right
away, and Allen Brown will kindly send you the missing music as soon as
his schedule permits.
Non-members who are interested in joining -- you can join any time of
the year. Our membership year starts September 1, so the sooner you
join, the sooner you will get your full complement of newsletter, music,
and other member information.
Remember, the sooner you join, the sooner you can be part of our
organization, and the easier it is on our all-volunteer staff.
New rates:
$20 - Individual Membership (expires Sept. 1, 2003)
 $25/$18 - Overseas Membership/Subscription
$32 - Family (two of everything)
$55 - Three-Year Individual (expires Sept 1, 2005)
$88 - Three-Year Family (expires Sept 1, 2005)
$15 - Supporting Member (everything but music)
$50 - Friend or Non-Profit Corporate Associate
$100 - Highlander or Corporate Associate
 $8 - Newsletter Subscription (non-membership, no music)

Send in to Sylvia Miskoe (the official mailing address of the SRSNH), at
102 Little Pond Rd, Concord, N.H. 03301. Any questions about your
membership? Contact Barbara McOwen, 781-648-3955, bmcowen@world.std.com.

FLOWERS OF THE FOREST

     We are very sad to note the untimely passing of Steve Avery, a
great friend of SRSNH and staunch supporter of all things Scottish in
New Hampshire. Steve has often been the Master of Ceremonies at the
annual Gala, and his enthusiasm, good humor, warmth and friendship will
be sorely missed.  This year's Gala is dedicated to his memory.
    The following obituary was written by David Christie, of the New
Hampshire Gathering of the Scottish Clans, and is reprinted with his
permission.
     Steve Avery passed away suddenly on Saturday November 2. He and his
family were hard at work making final preparations for the annual St
Andrews Society of New Hampshire Dinner, when he collapsed and was
rushed to Concord Hospital. The Dinner, at which Steve always performed
the "Address to the Haggis", went ahead in the tradition that the "show
must go on" and Pipe Major Gordon Webster, former piper to Her Majesty
the Queen, played the "Flowers of the Forrest" in memory of the man who
was best known in New Hampshire for his passion for all things Scottish.

             Steve grew up in Port Chester, NY, just across the border
from Greenwich, CT, where he attended his first Highland Games. From
that moment on, Steve became a professional Scot. There is not a
Scottish institution or event in the State of New Hampshire and beyond
that has not benefited from the involvement of Steve Avery in one
capacity or another. His Clan was Clan Brodie, for which he had so much
enthusiasm that he took the Clan name for one of his middle names. At
one stage in his career, he played the jovial host at a Restaurant he
named "Deacon Brodie's Tavern", after the well known Pub of the same
name on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh
             He was involved with the volunteer organization of the New
Hampshire Highland Games from its earliest days, lending his expertise
in sales and marketing. By the early nineties the Games had grown beyond
the capabilities of a purely volunteer organization and in 1993 Steve
was appointed Executive Commissioner to run the Games. In the period
1993 through 1997 Steve placed the New Hampshire Highland Games firmly
on the map of the finest Games held anywhere in the world. He was a
natural promoter, having previously organized successful performances by
such as Jean Redpath and the Battlefield Band. During Steve's tenure as
Executive Commissioner he expanded the Games into a full 3 day event and
in 1997 he added the first New Hampshire International Tattoo. The 1997
Games turned out to be Steve's swan song and ironically it was, and
still is, the most successful Games on record. As a direct result of the
success of the 1997 Games, the Board of the New Hampshire Gathering of
the Scottish Clans voted to set up the Scottish Scholarship Fund of New
Hampshire to secure the organizations ability to continue funding its
educational mission into the future. In 1998 Gordon and Lezlie Webster
returned to the USA to set up the N.H. School for Scottish Arts of which
Steve immediately became an enthusiastic supporter. Whilst his passion
for Scotland may at times have seemed all consuming, he also had a very
active political career as moderator of the Town of Dublin and a
Republican Representative in the N.H. House. In fact he was running for
his seventh term at the time of his death, which was only three days
before the election.
             Steve Avery was a "one of a kind"; larger than life,
combative in the best Scottish sense of the word, and a naturally caring
and giving person. He dreamed of the day when a Scottish Cultural Center
might be built in New Hampshire which would be the first of its type in
North America. As he was keenly aware, gradual progress towards that
goal is being made, and hopefully his dream will come to pass. Of one
thing we can be certain, that the name Stephen G. Brodie Avery will be
memorialized in New Hampshire and that his legacy will be carried
forward through the accomplishments of students of the Scottish Arts all
over the Northeast.
             Steve is survived by his wife Ellen Lowe Avery of Dublin
and two daughters Heather Avery Stockdale and Wyckham Avery, all of who
shared his passion for everything Scottish, and lent their help and
support to all his endeavors. Steve is also survived by his mother,
Virginia Avery of Port Chester, NY; a brother Andrew Avery of Jamaica,
VT two sisters, Judith Avery of Santa Monica, CA and Leslie Giacobbi of
Villa Park, CA; one grandchild and several nieces and nephews.
 Memorial contributions may be made in Steve's name to:
The Stephen G. Avery/NHGSC Fund, New Hampshire Gathering of the Scottish
Clans, Inc., (NHGSC), P.O. Box 4197, Concord, NH 03302-4197.

BOSTON HARBOR SCOTTISH FIDDLE SCHOOL
- by Barbara McOwen

Finally! A Scottish fiddle camp in New England! The Folk Arts Center of
New England will be presenting a new one-week session, expressly for
Scottish fiddlers. The dates are August 9-16, 2003, on Thompson Island,
in Boston Harbor. Yes, it is an island, with ferry service provided!
Thompson Island has a school with dorms, classrooms, dining facilities,
trails (no cars), and an Outward Bound program on the outskirts. The
fiddle teachers will be Angus Grant, Highland Fiddler from Fort William,
Scotland; John Campbell, Cape Breton fiddler, of Maynard, Mass.; and
Hanneke Cassel, Scottish fiddler, of Boston, Mass. All ages, all
instruments, all levels are welcome. There will be lots of jam sessions
and general music clinics, though most of the instrumental teaching will
be directed towards the fiddle. Brochures will be available shortly;
contact Marcie Van Cleave at the Folk Arts Center for more information,
and to be sure you'll be on the mailing list: 42 West Foster St.,
Melrose, Mass. 02176-3811, 781-662-7475, fac@facone.org,
http://www.facone.org.

TRIVIA QUESTION

There is a tune, Johnny Groat's House, that commorates a particular
place and person.  For a lovely prize, please tell us what Johnny
Groat's surname came to signify, and identify his house's most unusual
feature.  The winner (first to submit a complete correct answer)  will
be identified in the next issue, which will also give the answer to the
question.  Sylvia Miskoe, who provided the trivia, is forbidden to play,
and you are all forbidden to ask Sylvia for the answer. Send your
answers to Ellen Bassett at ebassett@ttlc.net.

MUSICAL TERMINOLOGY EXPLAINED AT LAST
-submitted by an alert reader

Adagio fromaggio:  To play in a slow and cheesy manner.
Antiphonal:  Referring to the prohibition of cell phones in the concert
hall.
A patella:  Unaccompanied knee-slapping.
Appologgiatura:  An ornament you regret after playing it.
Approximatura:  A series of notes played by a performer and not intended
by the composer, especially when disguised with an air of "I meant to do
that."
Approximento:  A musical entrance that is somewhat close to the correct
pitch.
D.C. al capone:  You betta go back to the beginning, capiche?
Diminuendo:  The process of quieting a rumor in the orchestra pit.
Perhaps the most difficult dynamic in music.
Kvetchendo:  Gradually getting annoyingly louder.
Molto bolto:  Head straight for the ending, but don't make it seem
rushed.
Spritzicato:  Plucking of a stringed instrument to produce a bright,
bubbly sound, like sparkling water.
Tempo tantrum:  What an orchestra is having when it's not keeping time
with the conductor.
Vesuvioso:  A gradual buildup to a fiery conclusion.

RALPH PAGE LEGACY WEEKEND
In case you forgot to mark you calendars, here is the information on the
Ralph Page weekend, reprinted from last month:
The Sixteenth   Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend will be held on Friday
January 17 ­ Sunday January 19, 2003.  It will be held at the Durham
campus of the University of New Hampshire.  As with the previous
weekends, it will feature lots of traditional and contemporary
contradancing and square dancing, including many old favorites from the
New England dance repertoire.
Featured callers for the weekend are Linda Leslie and Tony Saletan. On
Friday night, Linda and Tony will be joined by callers Alice Morris &
Byron Ricker.  Providing music for the weekend are two superb New
England dance bands: Airdance (Rodney Miller--fiddle; Mary Cay
Brass--piano, accordion; Marko Packard--flute, guitar, sax; Stuart Kenney
--bass, percussion), and Old
New England (Jane Orzechowski--fiddle; Deanna Stiles--flute and Bob
McQuillen--piano.  In addition, the Friday night dance will feature music
by Phantom Power (Lissa Schneckenburger--fiddle and Bruce Rosen--piano.
Highlights include the Grand Ball on Saturday evening, featuring a
variety of musicians and callers; and workshops on many aspects of
square dancing and contradancing, including music, dance, and calling.
Reservations will be necessary for all meals and must be received by
Jan. 8; all other events, including the Grand Dance may be attended
without advance reservation. There will be a discount on the full-time
admission fee for people attending for the first time. For information
on reservations for the weekend, further details on the schedule of
events, and for other information, call 603-659-7038, 603-463-7771 or
603-664-2513.

MARIANNE TAYLOR FEATURED ON NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC RADIO
New Hampshire Public Radio's program The Front Porch featured Marianne
Taylor on November 19, discussing her lifetime (not over yet, we're
delighted to confirm!) of teaching folk dancing.
You can hear the whole thing at the NHPR web site, www.nhpr.org, then
click on the rocking chair logo for The Front Porch; then click on the
link for the show of 11/19/02, A Life in Folk Dancing.  The direct link
is - http://www.nhpr.org/content/fullmonty_view.php/4126

SRSNH OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, COMMITTEES, & VOLUNTEERS
Music Director:  Sylvia Miskoe
Board of Directors:
Sandy Lafleur, President
Bob Reed, Vice President
Ed Los, Treasurer
Cindy Blaine, Secretary
Ellen Bassett, Bruce Cobb, & Frank Woodward, Members at large
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: Bruce Cobb Refreshments: Calvin Gardner, Christina Brown

SRSNH EVENTS
Gatherings on Sunday afternoons, 1-5 pm, Annicchiarico Music Theater,
Thompson & S. Main Sts, Concord, N.H. All ages, all instruments, all
levels welcome; free, with potluck refreshments   December 29, January
26, February 23.  No November gathering; Gala concert December 1.

SRSNH Gala Concert, with Rodney Miller, Sunday, December 1, 2:30 pm,
Concord City Auditorium, Concord, NH.  For tickets, contact Mary Mokler,
SRSNHgala@aol.com, or 286-8211.

First Night Wolfeboro, NH, December 31, 2002; festivities begin in the
afternoon, end with fireworks at midnight.  We perform at 7 & 9 pm at
Kingswood High School Auditorium, and then we're free to enjoy New
Year's Eve on the shores of beautiful Lake Winnepesaukee. Sign up with
Sylvia Miskoe.

CALENDAR
2 Cape Breton Nights
Rodney Macdonald, Glenn Graham and Jose Chiasson
Fri Nov 29, Canadian American Club Watertown Ma 8 pm
Saturday Nov 30, French American Victory Club, Waltham MA  781-893-2884

Jerry Holland Concert, Nelson Town Hall, November 29.
For more information please contact Beth Telford at 802-728-6351

Swedish Fiddle and Dance
Sunday, December 1, 2002,The Performing Arts Center, 51 Walden Street,
Concord, Massachusetts. Swedish fiddle workshop with Ake Wann, Per
Gudmundson, Pelle Gustafsson, Bertil Ferneborg and Lars Hoepkers , noon
until 5 PM. The workshop is open to beginning Swedish fiddle players, as
well as more experienced musicians.
The workshop will break into two sections in order to facilitate this.
$25.
      Following the fiddle workshop, traditional Swedish dance featuring
Ake Wann, Per Gudmundson, Pelle Gustafsson, Bertil Ferneborg, Julia
Borland-Ferneborg and Lars Hoekpers from 7:30 until 11 PM. Additionally,

there will be an introductory Swedish dance instruction on the Hambo,
Polska, Swedish Waltz and more taught by Wendy Ernst and Mort Issacson
from 6:30
until 7:30 PM. Admission for the dance is $10 and can be purchased at
the door.

Jerry Holland in a Workshop & Concert at Fiddler's Loft, December 3.
for more information, contact Albert Brien, Fidlerloft@aol.com,
603-642-5434

A Welsh Christmas, Robin Huw Bowen, Eiry Palfrey, Heather Jones, Sunday,
December 1, 2002, 7:30 PM,First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church,
630 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA    Tickets:    Advance -
$17.00    At the door - $20  (781) 862-7837  or
bhockett@music-for-robin.org http://www.music-for-robin.org

Childsplay in concert, The National Heritage Museum in Lexington,
Massachusetts.
Saturday December 7, 2002 at 2 PM & 8PM
Sunday December 8th, 2 PM.
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Childs (617) 354-1673; email:
rchilds618@aol.com;  www.childsplay.org

Bonnie Rideout on national tour this fall and Christmas.  For more
information, contact Maggie's Music, PO BOX 490, Shady Side, MD 20764,
410-867-0642(10-4-m-th)
 fax:410-867-0265 www.maggiesmusic.com

1st Annual Pittsfield, NH Fiddle Contest, December 13, 2002, .  Open and
Youth (under 17) divisions, cash prizes for first 3 places in each.
Registration & Silent Auction begin at 5 pm, Youth competition at 6,
Open to follow division, free for audience and participants.  Scenic
Theater (home of the Pittsfield Players), Depot St., Pittsfield, NH.
Sponsored by the Pittsfield Youth Workshop.  Silent Auction, raffle, and
refreshment sales support the PYW music programs.  For more information
contact Pittsfield Youth Workshop, P.O. Box 206, 2 Depot St.,
Pittsfield, NH  03263
Phone (603) 435-8272 ? Fax (603) 435-8272
Email:  pyw@metrocast.net
Website:  www.metrocast.net/~pyw

Holiday Contradance, Friday Dec. 20: Kingston NH Town Hall - Peter
Yarensky, Sarah Mason, Lamprey River Band. Seacoast Holiday dance,
festive attire encouraged. Pot luck refreshments during the break. 8:00
- 11:00, $6, 603-770-7988.

Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend, January 17-19 2003,  Memorial Union
Building, University of NH, Durham, NH; with callers Linda Leslie, Tony
Saletan and musicians Airdance (Rodney Miller, Mary Cay Brass, Marko
Packard, and Stuart Kenney); Old New England (Bob McQuillen, Jane
Orzechowski, and Deanna
Stiles); and Phantom Power (Lissa Schneckenburger & Bruce Rosen) (
Highlights: Grand Dance Saturday evening; contra and square dancing all
day; workshops on music, dance, calling
Information: 603-659-7038, 603-463-7771 or 603-664-2513

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  - done for the summer,
will resume in September.

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., 3:00 pm to 6:15 pm on  November  23;
and December 7, 2002 at the Fox Library, corner of Massachusetts Avenue
and Cleveland Street in East Arlington, Mass.  $1.00 per person.  For
more information, call 781-643-3603.
2nd Saturdays,  Contra dance, 8-11 pm, Town Hall, Gilmanton, N.H., $5
per person, $10 family.

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 December articles is December 6.  No calendar
dates before December 15 will be included.

Granite Skyes is published monthly (10 issues) between September and
June by the Strathspey & Reel Society of New Hampshire. Subscription
$8/yr ($18 overseas). Individual domestic memberships cost $20/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

SRSNH GATHERINGS 2002-3

- Sunday, December 29
- Sunday, January 26
- Sunday, February 23

1-5pm.  Free admission. All ages, all   instruments, all levels welcome;
free, with potluck refreshments.
Annicchiarico 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