GRANITE SKYES
Volume 15 No. 7, March 2003

MARCH GATHERING
Sunday, March 30
1-5 pm, Annicchiaricco Theater
1 Thompson St.
Concord, N.H.

Approximate schedule:
1-3 pm This month's tunes
3-3:30 Refreshments
3:30-5 Requests, solos, jam

NOTES FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR
-by Sylvia Miskoe
and Sandy Lafleur

Sandy writes:  Fife Tunes - called such by me because I first heard them
played by the Milford Fife & Drum Corp., of which I am a member (a less
than great fifer, to be exact!)  In looking at our SRSNH tune listing I
was quite surprised that at least a couple of these tunes hadn't alread
y
made it into our repertoire.  So many tunes, so little time!  I wish I
had more on the histories of these tunes - perhaps some members will
have some information to share on when these tunes were written and
circumstances surrounding them.
The Black Watch goes nicely played somewhat slower than is played "on
the street," which is quite brisk.  The regiment of the Black Watch
dates back to 1739 when non-Jacobite highlanders from the loyal clans of
Campbell, Grant, Fraser and Munro were raised by General Wade to curtail
clan fighting and prevent raids on the lowlands.  Their other duties
included enforcing the anti-arms laws and prevent any plotting against
the English crown.  The name Black Watch refers to the watch they kept
and the dark tartan they wore.
Balquhidder Lasses - pronounced "Bal=E2-whither" - Although there is 
a
Scottish Country Dance by this name, it is a strathspey, which this tune
is not.  The village of Balquhidder is south west of Perthshire.  In
Balquhidder kirk yard, adjacent to an old roofless church, are the
graves of Rob Roy MacGregor (1671 - 1734), his wife and two of his
sons.  Somehow I picture the Balquhidder Lasses placing flowers on their
quiet graves . . .
While The White Cockade is familiar to many as the tune to John Highland
Man, The Green Cockade doesn't seem to be as well known.  A cockade is 
a
ribbon rosette worn on a cocked hat, the color of which often denotes
military rank.  Some of the more fun-loving and raucous drummers get a
kick out of dropping the drum part of measures 3 and 4 of the B part and
replacing it with a vocal "la- la la- la, la la la la la la=E2", whic
h I
suppose could also be accomplished by a spirited SRS rhythm section!?
The Harriott - I know absolutely nothing about this tune!  Except that I
like it and one of our fifers whines when I request it so I offer it
here to be played more often. It is also a challenge to all our you  to
find some information on this tune.
Sylvia writes:  When Sandy mentioned that the tunes she plays with
Milford Fife & Drum were such fun she wished that SRSNH members could
play them, too, I asked her to bring them to us this month.  The Green
Cockade is a favorite of Bob McQuillen.  He once was at a function where
a fife and drum corps was playing it.  Bob managed to get himself into
the center of the circle, lay down on the ground, and enjoyed the tune
to its fullest.  A Harriott is a hunter.  The Green Cockade and The
Harriott each have a harmony part.
For our retrospective look at 6.10, the Silver Anniversary Waltz and
6.32, Nancy.  The waltz was suggested by our dear, late Janet Giddens.
Nancy is a great march and has been on the list of favorite contra dance
tunes.

More information about  Milford Fife and Drum can be found at
http://www.milfordnh.com/clubs/fife&drum.html

BOARD OF DIRECTORS UPDATE
-by Cynthia Blaine, Secretary
Highlights from the last meeting, held, February 25, 2003: Jerry
Holland's workshops and concert on February 22, 2003 were a success,
despite the inclement weather.  The events were enjoyed by all who
attended.  A suggestion was made that, perhaps, a repeat series of
workshops and concerts should be considered in the future.  Plans are
being coordinated for a trip to Cape Bretton the last weekend of July
through the first week of August to coincide with the Broad Cove
Festival.

Next Meeting: April 1, 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.

THE NOMINATIONS ARE IN
-by Elly Abelson
A Nominating Committee consisting of Katie Botsford, David Brown and
Elly Abelson was appointed by the SRSNH Board in January 2003, 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
in odd numbered years the Secretary, Treasurer and one elected
Member-at-Large be elected, each for a term of two years. Thus, the
proposed slate of officers is:
Treasurer: Edward Los for two years;
Secretary: Cindy Blaine for two years;
Member-at-Large: Frank Woodward for 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 in this report.

FOR SECRETARY: CINDY BLAINE
Cindy has been the secretary of SRSNH for the past year and has done a
fine job. For over fifteen years she has worked with the Manchester, New
Hampshire law firm of Wadleigh, Starr & Peters as a paralegal. Although
not born Scottish, she married into a Scottish family and loves not only
the Scottish arts, but Scottish culture, as well.  Cindy has been
playing the violin for six years. She enjoys playing with the SRSNH, has
been a regular at performances and looks forward to doing so for many
years.

FOR TREASURER: EDWARD LOS
Ed, the Treasurer of SRSNH for the past two years, began the study of
violin at age 11 but switched to fiddling in 1988 after attending a
NEFFA workshop held by the late April Limber. He has been a member of
the SRSNH since its second meeting in 1988. He is also a member of the
Boston Scottish Fiddle Club and participates in a variety of area
sessions and open dance bands. His previous club experience includes
four years as the Membership Secretary of the Amateur Telescope Makers
of Boston. This position included collecting dues and subscription fees
for the 300-member club. An Electrical Engineer by training, Ed has been
writing software for device drivers and embedded systems.

FOR MEMBER-AT-LARGE: FRANK WOODWARD
Frank, the current appointed Member-at-Large, became a member of SRSNH
in 1991 after Ed Los suggested it would be a fun thing to do. The
following year he involved his girl friend by puchasing a membership for
her, (she's his wife now). He has followed Ed Los's example by
inflicting the SRSNH on some of his unsuspecting friends, (pyramid
scheme). He served as elected Member-at-Large on the SRSNH Board of
Directors from 95 to 97, and was appointed to the same position in 2002
for a one year term. Frank plays bass, piano, & banjo, and calls contra
& square dances. Frank is self-employed as a machinist, a farmer, and
musician.

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!

CAPE BRETON TRIP
An SRSNH trip to Cape Breton is in the works.  This will be a loosely
organized trip, to allow travelers to pursue their individual interests
in the company of like-minded friends.  No bus, no fixed price, no
enforced company - just music, dancing, friends, and lovely Cape
Breton!  Here's how it works:  Marianne Taylor has done a lot of
research on events and lodging in Cape Breton, and has made a list of
places to stay and things to do in the weeks bracketing the Broad Cove
Concert on July 27.  Everyone will make their own travel and lodging
arrangements, so that everyone will have the schedule,  traveling
companions and domestic conveniences of their choice, and SRSNHers will
meet at the ceilidhs, concerts, dances, meals, shops, hikes, sightseeing
etc. of their choice.  It should be a fun and very low-stress way to
enjoy the delights of summer on Cape Breton in the company of your SRSNH
friends.  If you're interested, please contact Marianne Taylor ASAP -

July is not far off, Cape Breton is busy in the summer, and your lodging
options will diminish the longer you wait.  You can reach Marianne at
taylorgorman@juno.com, or 603-463-7771.

THE TRIVIA CHALLENGE
Mike Hebb and Kathy Thompson, SRSNH's master and mistress of trivia,
earned the honor of selecting the next trivia challenge, and here it
is.  (Editor's Note: The Editor is aware that some misguided souls do
not read every single word of the newsletter, but we highly recommend
that  everyone read all the way through to the end of the question, even
if you think you aren't interested.)
"There was a Scottish soldier who served in the1st Boer War, and in 188
5
he led a military expedition up the Nile to Sudanese territory. In 1888
he took part in the Battle of Sunkin and a year later won the
Distinguished Service Order for his service in Sudan. He remained in the
Sudan for the next decade, seeing action in the Battle of Tokar  in
1891, and leading the 2nd Infantry Brigade in the Dunglen Expeditionary
Force, by which time he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General.
During the next two years he took part in the battles of Khartoum and
Omdurman, with which he ended his Sudan service. He subsequently served
as the Aide de Camp to Queen Victoria and as a Major General with the
Highland Bridgade in South Africa during the Boer War. His deeds are
immortalized by a tune in our collection.
The question is:
Not counting his thumb, how many fingers did the composer's father have

on his left hand when he died?"
Readers with sufficient knowledge of both Scottish military history and
the orthopedic peculiarities of Scottish composers' forbears to offer a
n
answer to this question, please send your answers to the Editor at
ebassett@ttlc.net.  The first to submit the correct answer will win a
lovely prize and the opportunity, if they wish it, to submit the next
trivia question.  Good luck!

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.  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

Old Blind Dogs inConcert, 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 Highland dance 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, =BD 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 April articles is April 4.  No calendar dates
before April 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