Granite Skyes
Volume 15, No. 6, February 2003
FEBRUARY GATHERING
Sunday, February 23
1-5 pm, Annicchiaricco Theater
1 Thompson St.
Concord, N.H.
Approximate schedule:
1-3 pm February's tunes
3-3:30 Refreshments
3:30-5 Requests, solos, jam
NOTES FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR
by Sylvia Miskoe
Sometimes the name of a tune makes it appropriate. I can't think of a
better title than this traditional strathspey, titled Gloomy Winter. It
has a lot of charm despite its name and minor key. The three jigs are
all from the 18th century. Miss Sally Hunter is by Nathanial Gow,
Craigellachie Lasses is by William Marshall and Capt Campbell of
Lochnell's Reel is by Robert Mackintosh. I could not find out anything
about the three people for whom the tunes are named but obviously they
were known to the composers. Sally turns up in many sets but the other
two are not often heard. All three have an 8 bar 'A' but a 16 bar 'B'
with the 2nd 8 bars a variation on the first 8.
For our retrospective, Year Five, I have selected two Cape Breton tunes
on page 5.6. The march is Stella's Welcome to Kamloops and the
strathspey is Miss Dale. Year Five was another banner year and as I
went through it I realized that many of the tunes we enjoy at the
sessions date from that year.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS UPDATE
by Cynthia Blaine, Secretary
Highlights from the last meeting, held January 21, 2003:
Elly Abelson, Katie Botsford and Dave Brown have accepted their
nominations to serve on this year's Nominating Committee. Jerry
Holland's workshops for beginner and experienced musicians are scheduled
for February 22, 2003, following the workshops, there will be a
performance that evening at the Annicchiarico Theater. A maximum
capacity of 150 people are allowed in the theater. An inquiry has been
made of SRSNH to play at the Indoor Games to be held at Manchester
Memorial High School, which is scheduled on April 12, 2003. A sign-up
sheet will be at the next session to see if enough members are
interested in participating. SRSNH has also been asked to play at the
Southern New Hampshire Games on June 7, 2003. Further information will
be provided in future newsletters.
Next Meeting: February 25, 2003. 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.
SRSNH SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE FEBRUARY 28
by Lynn McElroy, Scholarship Committee Chair
If you're thinking about attending a summer camp, music workshop, or
other qualifying activity this year, you might be interested in applying
for a scholarship from the SRSNH. The Board of Directors has indicated
that they have allocated funds for grants again this year. The first
deadline for applying for scholarships in 2003 is February 28th.
Application guidelines are as follows:
1. For attendance at Scottish music schools or festivals, sponsorship
of a workshop or for the study or research of traditional music.
2. Eligible applicants must have been SRSNH members for at least 6
months, must be 10 years old, and have studied their instrument for at
least 2 years.
3. Must not be members of the SRSNH Board of Directors or Scholarship
Committee, or their families.
To apply, members should complete the application enclosed with their
newsletters and postmark it by February. 28th. Please include a
brochure or catalog for the activity, and return to Lynn McElroy, P.O.
Box 272, Gilmanton, NH 03237.
If you have questions, contact committee members: Lynn McElroy, Chair,
(603) 267-8812 lmcelroy@metrocast.net; Gary Hume (603) 679-5795; Susan
Willoughby (603) 435-9965 swilloug@worldpath.net.
THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE IS LOOKING FOR YOU
by Elly Abelson
Katie Botsford (email to garrison.botsford@valley.net), Dave Brown
(email to dbrown3128@aol.com) and Elly Abelson (email to EAfid@aol.com)
are this year's nominating committee, charged with presenting a slate of
nominees for three positions, each to serve for two years. The positions
are those of treasurer, secretary and member-at-large. Any nominations
for these positions should be sent to the committee members no later
than February 26, so that the committee may prepare its report and file
it with the board by March 1.
It is important that anyone wishing to submit a name first obtain
agreement to serve if elected from the person whose name is to be
submitted. The bylaws of the society, in the sections of article VI,
contain the qualifications for and function of each of the three
positions.
NEFFA
SRSNH will be doing a concert at the New England Folk Festival, known to
its friends as NEFFA, in Natick, Massachusetts on Sunday, April 27, at 3
pm. Sign up to play with Sylvia Miskoe. NEFFA is a 3 day extravaganza
of music, dance, and food from all over the world. You can come for a
day, or stay for the weekend. Don't miss it!
NO APRIL GATHERING
Because NEFFA falls on the last weekend of April, and Easter falls on
the Sunday before, there will be no SRSNH gathering in Concord, NH this
April. Plan to come to NEFFA instead - you'll get all the music you
could possibly fit into a day!
JERRY HOLLAND WORKSHOPS
Jerry Holland is coming to Concord, NH for two fiddle workshops and an
evening concert on February 22, 2003. He'll do a one-hour beginner
workshop at 1:30 pm, and a 90 minute workshop for experienced fiddlers
at 3 pm. There may also be a piano workshop for accompanists - those
details are still being worked out. He'll also do a concert at 8pm. All
events are at the Annicchiarico Music Theater.
SRSNH IN THE NEWS
Recently the Portsmouth Herald, a New Hampshire seacoast newspaper,
interviewed several SRSNH members about their favorite Scottish music
society, and wrote a terrific article about SRSNH, which ran on January
30th. You can read the article on line at
http://www.seacoastonline.com/calendar/01302003/cover_st/10220.htm.
THE TRIVIA CHALLENGE
This challenge was in last month's newsletter:
"Can you find two tunes in the SRSNH tune list that have identical
parts? The two tunes the Trivia Chieftain has in mind have identical
chords, but the melody notes in one tune are written a 5th higher than
in the other. Happy hunting! If no one gets it, further clues will be
in next month's newsletter."
No need for clues - at almost the very last second before the newsletter
went to the copy guy, Kathy Thompson of Vermont checked in with the
correct answer. The two tunes are Thoir a nall Ailean Ugam, 3.6, and
The Fiddlers are Coming Tonight, 4.3. Kathy set herself to play all the
way through the SRSNH repertoire, and came to 1.10, a version of Thoir a
nall Ailean Ugam, and recognized The Fiddlers are Coming Tonight. A
little more research revealed the other version of Thoir a nall Ailean
Ugam, which met all the criteria of the trivia challenge. Kathy has
won a lovely prize and the respect of her fellow triviators. Kathy and
her husband Mike Hebb, who won the last challenge, have also earned the
honor of selecting the next trivia challenge.
MISSING FIDDLE
Two years ago, I loaned my extra fiddle to a beginner at SRS. Now I
can't seem to remember who I lent it to. So now the search is on...I
either need to find the fiddle or my brain. Please help! Does anyone
have a fiddle that they borrowed from me?
Sabrina Matteson smatteson@metrocast.net
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: Lynn McElroy, Chair; Gary Hume, Susan Willoughby
Memberships, Email
Newsletters: Barbara McOwen
Webmaster: Terry Traub
Monthly Mailings; Sabrina Matteson
Makeup Mailings: Allen Brown; Newsletter Editor: Ellen Bassett
Photographer: Evelyn Roberts
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. February 23, March 30,
May 25, June 29. No April gathering.
NEFFA, Friday April 25 through Sunday April 27. SRSNH will play a
concert, 3 pm Sunday April 27. Sign up with Sylvia Miskoe.
Southern NH Highland Games, June 7, Greenfield, NH, concert 2:30 pm.
Sign up with Sylvia Miskoe.
CALENDAR
St. Patrick's Day Celebration with Craobh Rua and Fitzmaurice-Moran
Irish Dancers, Thursday, March 13, 2003 7:30 PM, National Heritage
Museum, 630 Marrett Rd, Lexington, MA General admission: Advance -
$18.00, Door - $20.00 Reserved: $25
http://www.music-for-robin.org (781) 862-7837
Clan Du in Concert, Friday March 14, 7:30 pm, Annicchiarico Theater, 1
Thomspon St., Concord, NH. Tickets $10 adults, $5 children 12 & under,
603-736-8185
Old Blind Dogs in Concert, the cutting edge of Scotland's roots revival,
Friday, March 28, 2003, 8:00 PM, First Baptist Church, 1580 Mass. Ave,
Lexington, MA, $17 advance, $20 at the door. (781) 862-7837
http://www.music-for-robin.org
Old Blind Dogs will also appear in Londonderry at The Muse at the Gray
Goose on March 30th at 7:30 p.m. www.musegraygoose, 603-437-6085.
Manchester Indoor Scottish Festival and Evening Concert, Saturday April
12, 2003, Memorial High School, Manchester, NH. Piping, drumming, pipe
band and Highlanddance competitions during the day, concert in the
evening with pipers Bruce Gandy, Ed Neigh, dancers, and much more.
Details still in the works! For more information, contact Lezlie
Webster, nhssa@attbi.com
NEFFA - The New England Folk Festival Association's 59th annual
festival, April 25, 26, 27 at Natick High School, Natick, MA. A weekend
full to overflowing with music, dance, crafts and food from all over the
world. For more information visit www.neffa.org
Bonnie Rideout and the City of Washington Pipe Band, Saturday May 3,
2003, Capitol Center for the Arts, Concord, NH, 8pm; for more
information contact www.ccanh.com, or call the box office at
603-225-1111.
The Bretons & Co. w/Alain Leroux Concert and Dance Saturday, May 10,
2003, 7:30 PM, Masonic Hall, 1950 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA
$14 advance, $16 at the door. (781) 862-7837
http://www.music-for-robin.org
Ceilidh Trail School of Music in Cape Breton, July 28 through August 1,
2003, with fiddlers JP Cormier, Joe Cormier, Buddy McMaster, Brenda
Stubbert, pianist Hilda Chaisson, guitarist Scott MacMillan.; $395 US,
$595 Canadian. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced sessions.
Reservations required, early sign-up suggested. For more information
www.ceilidhtrail.com, or J9RAND@aol.com
Boston Harbor Scottish Fiddle School, August 9-16, with Angus Grant,
John Campbell, and Hanneke Cassel. 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. Contact Marcie van Cleave at the Folk Art Center,
42 West Foster St., Melrose, Mass. 02176-3811, 781-662-7475,
fac@facone.org, http://www.facone.org.
SESSIONS, JAMS, DANCES
2nd Sundays - English dancing, 6:30-9:30 pm., Howard Auditorium, 99
Pleasant Street, Concord, N.H. $6, or $5 for ECDSNH members. Judith
Ackerson 603-934-2543, or jnoska@cyberportal.net;
http://people.star.net/blw/dance/english.html
3rd Sundays - English dancing, 6:30-9 pm, Woman's City Club, 375 Middle
St, 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,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.
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, Feb 22,
Mar 8, Mar 22, Apr 15, Apr 19, May 10, May 24, and Jun 7. All sessions
are on Saturday afternoons from 3:00 to 6:30 pm at the Fox Library,
corner of Mass Ave and Cleveland St in East Arlington, Ma. Admission is
$1 per person. Call 781-643-3603 for further information.
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 March articles is March 1. 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
$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.std.com. The SRSNH Web Page is maintained by Terry
Traub, http://www.srsnh.org