Granite Skyes
Volume 16 No. 1, September 2003

September Gathering
Sunday, September 28, 2003
1-5 pm, Annicchiaricco Theater
1 Thompson St.
Concord, N.H.

October Gathering
Sunday, October 26, 2003
1-5 pm, Annicchiaricco Theater

NOTES FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR
-by Sylvia Miskoe

Welcome back everyone. I hope you have had a great summer and have played lots
of music. I'll share a couple of my fun events. I got to play and visit with
Rod Stradling when he was on staff at Pinewoods Scottish Dance Camp. For those
of you who don't know him, Rod lives in England but has lived in the Boston
area and used to come regularly to our sessions. He's a fine accordionist and
very funny. His wife, Frances, was with him and we had lots of good tunes and
conversations. My other special musical event was going to the Ashokan Northern
Week. This is run by Jay Ungar (Ashokan Farewell). Jay taught a class titled
'Playing Airs, Waltzes and other solo pieces'. We spent our time playing and
discussing how to get the best and most out of a slow tune.

The 2 tunes for this month are pipe tunes suggested by Johnny Bassett. They are
both from the Scots GuardsVol II. The Train Journey North is a hornpipe written
by Tom Anderson, a Scotsman who lived in Ireland and then moved to Toronto. The
tune commemorates a train trip to Belfast.

Barbara's Jig was written by Duncan Johnstone, or at least part of it was. The
Scots Guards book attributes the third and fourth parts to him, and doesn't say
anything about the first two. He was a piper and a prolific composer. Farewell
to Nigg, 4.6, is one of his tunes.

You may have noticed that many pipe tunes have four parts with the 3rd and 4th
parts being variants of the 1st and 2nd.

SEPTEMBER IS NEW MEMBERS MONTH

The SRSNH is looking to expand membership. We are asking all members to
recruit individuals, who share the love for Scottish music.

What exactly is the Strathspey and Reel Society?

Established in 1988, The Strathspey and Reel Society of New Hampshire is a
non-profit organization with members from all over the world music. SRSNH
members are devoted to learning and performing Scottish music. Our monthly
gatherings in Concord, New Hampshire often draw 50 or more enthusiasts of
Scottish music and song.

What are member benefits?

Free monthly music sessions welcoming players of all instruments, all levels,
dancers, singers, and listeners of all ages. Potluck refreshments are served
at each session. Membership also entitles you to a subscription to our monthly
newsletter - "Granite Skyes" with sheet music, access to sheet music and
concert music from previous years, annual member listing, tune index, financial
statement, scholarships, and voting privileges.

What does it cost?

Membership into the SRSNH is only $20.00 a year for regular individual
membership. Please inquire about other rates including three-year, family,
supporting and corporate membership.

For all those interested in joining, please phone, write or E-mail Sylvia
Miskoe, Music Director SRSNH 102 Little Pond Road, Concord, NH 03301
(603)225-6546 E-mail: smiskoe@aol.com or come to one of our monthly gatherings
(Sept. - June) Generally last Sunday of the month at the Music Theater, 1
Thompson St. (corner of So. Main) in Concord, NH. 1 - 5 p.m.. Please call for
confirmation.

Tune Book Reissued

The New England Fiddler's Repertoire has been reissued! This little book,
complied by Randy Miller and Jack Perron and published in 1983, has long been a
must for anyone playing New England dances. Now it has been re-issued by Randy
and Robert Bley-Vroman in a updated form, complete with chords. Randy has added
his charming woodcut illustrations. The tunes are arranged alphabetically and
there is a separate index listing tunes by key. Even if you already own a
first edition you will want this new one. For details, email Randy at
jrmiller@sover.net.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS UPDATE
-by Cynthia Blaine, Secretary

Highlights from the August 20, 2003 Meeting: Hanneke Cassel and Robert McOwen's
Highland Dance Boston Dancers will be performing at this Year's Gala on
November 30, 2003 at the Concord Civic Auditorium. The SRSNH will also be
performing at the New Hampshire Highland Games on Saturday and Sunday,
September 20 and 21 as well as First Night Wolfeboro on December 31, 2003. The
next Board of Director's meeting is scheduled on September 23, 2003 beginning
at 7:30 p.m. at the NH School of Scottish Arts in Manchester, and is 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
cmbfiddler@yahoo.com.

GALA 2003

Tickets are now available for the Gala Concert with Hanneke Cassel on November
30, 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
Ellen Bassett.

SOUTHERN NH SCOTTISH GAMES

-by Sylvia Miskoe

The Highland Games will be Sept 19, 20 and 21. This year the games will be in
their new location, the Hopkinton Fairgrounds in Contoocook, NH.

SRS will be playing at 10 AM Saturday and at 10 AM and 12:30 PM on Sunday. Come
and play and bring your friends to play. The tune list is posted on our website
and I will be 'at home' for anyone who wants to play through the sets on
Monday, Sept 15th at 7:30 PM.

Call me at 603-225-6546 or email me at smiskoe@aol.com if you have questions or
need more information. This year the arrangements are a little different. The
Games will provide tickets for all SRS musicians but is not providing overnight
accomodations. If you want to stay at the Fiddle Village, you should contact
Laura Billmers at 781-862-1950 or billmers@rcn.com. She as said there is lots
of room.

MUSIC ACTIVITIES AT THE NHHG
- by Barbara McOwen

Now that the New Hampshire Highland Games will be closer to home, many people
will probably commute rather than commit to overnights. However, relatively
inexpensive overnights are available at the Fiddle Village, and SRSNH members
might consider saving the commute time and devoting more time to gathering with
friends, and creating a community of musicians and dancers (with friends,
family and admirers) which includes the closer-in New Hampshire members.

More info on the Fiddle Village, and the Merrimac Assembly on Saturday night,
at: www.mcowen.net/fiddlezone, or contact Barbara McOwen at 781-648-3955,
bmcowen@world.std.com. For other Games activities, contact the NHHG at
www.nhscot.org.

SRSNH CHALLENGE

Member Katie Botsford offered the following answer to May's Trivia Question,
which was: Imagine you were yourself missing a finger or two, or (a much less
permanent problem!) two fiddle strings.

Can you name 3 tunes that can be played entirely on the E and A strings; 2
tunes that can be played entirely on the A and D strings; and 1 tune that can
be played entirely on the D and G strings?

Katie's answer: 1) Lots of E and A tunes. Sleepy Maggie came to mind right
away, but Scottish Horse, Royal Scots Polka, Ale is Dear, Lovat Scouts,
Stirlingshire Militia, Corn Rigs, Reel of Gordon Highlanders, Willie Davy and
Glen Gonner Water were other candidates.

2) A and D strings: Reel of Tullochgorum, Bressay Lullaby (6.7) and Moray of
Duvegean (2.3)

3) D and G strings, I only found one, 5.5 Coulter's Candy.

Of course, on the fiddle one can actually play up to two octaves on a string,
which I had to do once when I was in exactly that predicament-- of having no D
string for awhile! The first octave is a beautiful harmonic which exactly
bisects the string--worth playing around with. Thanks for the great answer
Katie.

NEW GRANITE SKYES EDITOR

I would like to introduce myself, Cindy Blaine, the new newsletter editor for
the "Granite Skyes." I have been a member of the SRSNH since September of 2001
and have enjoyed it immensley. I look forward to working on the monthly
newsletter. I would appreciate any suggestions for the monthly trivia challenge
as well as any other suggestions and comments. If you would like to submit
something in an upcoming issue, please e-mail me at cmbfiddler@yahoo.com

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

The Scholarship Committee has awarded three scholarships this summer.
Scholarship were awarded to Janice Gosse for participation in Gaelic Roots; and
Michael Hebb and Kathy Thompson were awarded scholarships to attend Gaelic
College.

The following is a report from Janice Gosse on her participation in Gaelic
Roots at Boston College:

I have been playing the whistle for several years but have never been able to
play "rolls." I could hear them and read about them but the actual playing of
them escaped me. This past week under the expert instruction of Jimmy Noonan
and Joannie Madden I accomplished this feat and though I have many hours of
practice to perfect the art, I at least know HOW. Gaelic Roots was a fantastic
experience. The week flowed with music and dance. I met Dough McPhee and
David Greenberg from Cape Breton and Catriona McDonald from the Shetland
Islands. Their Scottish sessions were fabulous and I got to play a few tunes
with them. In fact throughout the entire week, quite a bit of Scottish music
was learned and performed. The guitar class played a strathspey for their
student performance. It is unfortunate that this was the last year for Gaelic
Roots. Due to the increased difficulty in bringing musicians here to the
United States to work and obtaining work visas for them, the progam has to be
discontinued. I am so thankful I was able to be a part of this last wonderful
experience, and as I play my whistle with rolls it will bring back fond
memories. I look forward to trying these rolls in some of the Scottish tunes.
They seem to work best in the jigs and reels.

Respectfully submitted by
Jan Gossee, June 23, 2003.

One last thought...

Modern Musical Definition:
Adagio Formaggio: To play in a slow and cheesy manner.

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
Bruce Cobb, Frank Woodward & Marianne Taylor, Members at Large
Scholarship Committee: Gary Hume, Chair; Lynn McElroy, Susan Willoughby & Eli Abelson
Memberships, Email Newsletters: Barbara McOwen, Webmaster: Terry Traub
Mailings; Sabrina Matteson
Back Music: Allen Brown; Newsletter Editor: Cindy Blaine
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 September 28, October 26, 2003.

NH Highland Games, September 19-21, Hopkinton Fair Grounds, Hopkinton, NH.
SRSNH will play on Saturday and Sunday.

Gala Concert with Hanneke Cassel and the SRSNH Orchestra, November 30, 2003,
Concord Civic Auditorium

Wolfeboro First Night December 31, 2003, St. Episcopal Church, Wolfeboro, NH

CALENDAR

9/13/03
Paul Brady at TBA time at the Barre Opera House.
Contact Kristina Stykos kristina@liveartvt.org

Clan Du concert The Big E, W. Springfield, MA all day.

9/20/03
Greg Brown at 7:30pm at the First Congregational Church in Burlington. Contact Mark Sustic mrksustc@together.net

Catie Curtis at TBA time and TBA location. Contact Bruce Jones at Mad River Unplugged Bruce Jones at omsongp@accessvt.com.

9/25/03
Richard Shindell at TBA time at the Music Recital Hall at the University of Vermont in Burlington. Contact the Lane Series at Natalie.Neuert@uvm.edu.

9/26/03
California Guitar Trio w/ Michael Manring or Tony Levin at TBA time at the Eclipse Theater in Warren. Contact Chris Jones 496-9744. 496-8913, http://www.EclipseTheater.com or http://www.SeedsOfSong.com.

9/27/03
Norman Kennedy at 7:30pm FlynnSpace in Burlington. Contact Mark Sustic mrksustc@together.net

10/1/03
Boban Markovik and the Serbian Orkestar at TBA time at the Eclipse Theater in Warren. Contact Chris Jones 496-9744. 496-8913, http://www.EclipseTheater.com or http://www.SeedsOfSong.com.

10/3/03
Martin Carthy at 7:30pm the Music Recital Hall at the University of Vermont. Contact Mark Sustic mrksustc@together.net
Sarah Blair and Friends with Rachel Nevitt contra dance at 8pm at The Skinner Barn in Waitsfield. Contact http://www.theskinnerbarn.com or 802-496-4422.

10/10/03
Brian Wicklund with Ben Winship at 7:30pm at the McCarthy Arts Center at St. Michael's College in Colchester. Contact Mark Sustic mrksustc@together.net

10/24/03
Hot Club of San Francisco at TBA time at the Music Recital Hall at the University of Vermont in Burlington. Contact the Lane Series at Natalie.Neuert@uvm.edu.

10/31/03
Le Bon Vent (featuring Patrick Desaunay, Taki Masuko, Cristis Catt, Ruthie Dornfeld, James Falzone and Jeremiah McLane) at 7:30pm at FlynnSpace in Burlington. Contact Mark Sustic mrksustc@together.net.

11/7/03
Lucy Kaplansky at TBA time and TBA location. Contact Bruce Jones at Mad River Unplugged Bruce Jones at omsongp@accessvt.com.

11/8/03
Chris Wood and Andy Cutting at 7:30pm at TBA in Burlington. Contact Mark Sustic mrksustc@together.net

11/22/03
Liz Carroll and John Doyle at TBA time at the Barre Opera House. Contact Kristina Stykos kristina@liveartvt.org

12/3/03
Hun-Huur-Tu (Tuvan throat singers) at TBA time at the Eclipse Theater in Warren. Contact Chris Jones 496-9744. 496-8913, http://www.EclipseTheater.com or http://www.SeedsOfSong.com.

12/5/03
Hesperus with Pete Sutherland at TBA time at the Music Recital Hall at the University of Vermont in Burlington. Contact the Lane Series at Natalie.Neuert@uvm.edu.

12/6/03
Gregory Douglas at TBA time and TBA location. Contact Bruce Jones at Mad River Unplugged Bruce Jones at omsongp@accessvt.com.

1/2/04
Pete Sutherland at 7:30pm at FlynnSpace in Burlington. Contact Mark Sustic mrksustc@together.net.

1/17/04
Randal Bays and Daithi Sproule at 7:30pm at FlynnSpace in Burlington. Contact Mark Sustic mrksustc@together.net.

1/25/04
Jerry Holland and Johnny Cunningham at 7:30pm at FlynnSpace in Burlington. Contact Mark Sustic mrksustc@together.net.

2/6/04
John Cephas and Phil Wiggins at TBA time at the Music Recital Hall at the University of Vermont in Burlington. Contact the Lane Series at Natalie.Neuert@uvm.edu.

2/20/04
Les Charbonniers de l'Enfer (Michel Bordeleau, Jean-Claude Mirandette, Michel Faubert, Normand Miron and André Marchand) at 7:30pm at the Music Recital Hall at the University of Vermont. Contact Mark Sustic mrksustc@together.net

2/26/04
Dougie MacLean at TBA time at the Barre Opera House. Contact Kristina Stykos kristina@liveartvt.org

3/17/03
Altan at TBA time at the Flynn Center in Burlington. Contact the Lane Series at Natalie.Neuert@uvm.edu.

4/16/04
Mick Moloney and Robbie O'Connell with Dana Lyn at 7:30pm at TBA in Burlington. Contact Mark Sustic mrksustc@together.net

4/30/04
Dan Crary at TBA time at the Music Recital Hall at the University of Vermont in Burlington. Contact the Lane Series at Natalie.Neuert@uvm.edu.

5/8/04
Wayfaring Strangers at TBA time at the Flynn Center in Burlington. Contact the Lane Series at Natalie.Neuert@uvm.edu.

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.
Wednesdays -Wednesday Night Soiree - 7:30 - 10:30 in the Durham Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (20 Madbury Rd.; corner of Woodman Rd.). Jam session with an emphasis on fiddle tunes of Canada. $2 donation requested. Peter Yarensky (603-664-2513 or peter.yarensky@unh.edu
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 Dover, NH City Hall - Country dance with the Peter Yarensky, Sarah Mason and the Lamprey River Band. Guest musicians and callers welcome. 8:00 10:40, $6. 603-664-2513. Upcoming dates: Sept. 4, Oct. 2, Nov. 6, Dec. 4
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, 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 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, 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 and upcoming dates.
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 October articles is October 1. No calendar dates before October 14 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 Cindy Blaine. All items welcome, depending on space available; e-mail by the 1st of the month for inclusion in the mid-month mailing to cmbfiddler@yahoo.com 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