Granite Skyes
Volume 16 No. 7, March 2004

March Gathering
Sunday, March 21, 2004
1-5 pm, Annicchiaricco Theater
Concord, NH

May Gathering
Sunday, May 30, 2004
1-5 pm, Annicchiaricco Theater
Concord, NH

June Gathering
Sunday, June 27, 2004
1-5 pm, Annicchiaricco Theater
Concord, NH

NOTES FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR
- by Sylvia Miskoe               
 
Every other year in March, we play tunes that have been composed by
members. This year we have 8 tunes. Here's what each person has to say about
their tunes:

Waiting for the Sky to Clear is a Strathspey written by Ned Dairiki, a fiddler
from Berkley Cal. He says "I wrote it on the fly to go with a dance set, for
which the name tune happened to be in the minor so I thought something just a
bit more upbeat would help. It was an overcast day and we were waiting for the
sun."

The Road to Jeannie Campbell's is by John Balzer. John visits Cape Breton every
summer and Jeannie Campbell rents cabins to students.

Her Hymn Waltz written by Hillaire Wilder in 2002. "I was playing and writing a
lot of waltzes and this one seems suitable for a big group. It's a fiddle
friendly key." Hillaire lives in Sullivan, NH and plays accordion.

Dance of Some Sort is by recorder player Betsy Woodman. Betsy says "I keep a
notebook where I jot down tunes." Betsy lives in Andover, NH.

Clifton Park Waltz, written in 2004, is by fiddler Paul Milde. He says "Clifton
Park is a section of Lakewood where I did some of my growing up. The tune comes
from first noodling around on the piano until I hear something I'd like to
include in my big book of engrossing tunes of many origins, and then I write it
down."

Goodby to Gita, slow aire, is by Steve Cushing. Steve, a fiddler from Sherborn
MA, says "On the death of a friend I wish I had known better." The tune should
be played very slowly in a sad and wistful manner.  It is a lament.

Lament for Johnny Cunningham was written by Elly Abelson. "He was a special
friend for 23 years. When Johnny died on December 15, 2003, we lost someone
very special. I wrote this lament to say we miss him."

Kathy's 2-Step is by Mike Hebb. "For my wife, Kathy."

A Nice Strathspey from Ned Dairiki in Berkley, California.


MAY 30TH SESSION IS IN NEED OF A LEADER

Sylvia will be unable to attend.  Is anyone interested in leading the session?
Sylvie can supply the music or you can be creative and pick your own tunes.  If
you are interested please contact Sylvia at SMiskoe @ aol.com


BOARD OF DIRECTORS UPDATE
-by Cindy Blaine, Secretary

The Board did not hold a meeting in February.  The next Board of Director's
meeting is scheduled on March 9, 2004 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the NH School
of Scottish Arts in Manchester, and is open to all members.  If you need
directions, please contact me at cmbfiddler @ yahoo.com

NEW ENGLAND FOLK FESTIVAL

It is official!  The SRSNH will perform at NEFFA on Sunday, April 25th at 3
PM. We will perform in the Small Hall, the same as last year. We will try to
have a rehearsal/run through earlier in the day. Admission to the Festival is
free to performers so sign up with Sylvia at SMiskoe @ aol.com.

Our music will be from our Gala Concert. Sylvia will also have an 'at home'
evening before the Festival.

CANCER SURVIVORS DAY 
-by Denise Robinson 

I am a radiation therapist at the Seacoast Cancer Center at Wentworth-Douglass
Hospital.  Each year, our hospital puts on a barbecue for our survivors and
their families. I am looking for people to play at Cancer Survivors Day on
Sunday, June 6th from 12-2 at the Works Athletic Center, Route 108, Somersworth
NH. Last year we had over 500 people attend!  Cancer Survivors Day is a
worldwide celebration of life that is held on the same day in hundreds of
communities throughout the U.S., Canada, and other countries; this year will
mark it's 17th annual celebration.

Anyone interested in having fun, and giving the gift of life through music,
please call me, Denise Robinson 679-1403, or email fiddledee @ comcast.net.


MERRIMACK VALLEY SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE WINTER DANCE 

The SRSNH performed at the Merrimack Valley Country Winter Dance in Bedford,
New Hampshire on February 21. Sylvia received many compliments on our
performance. A Great Time was had by all.  The music was so infectious that
several SRS members put down their instruments and joined in the dance.  We
have the pictures to prove it!  A few of the photos are included in this
newsletter.

If you would like to see more, please check out Evelyn Roberts' website at
www.jawsa.homestead.com/SCD.html

Thanks to all who participated.

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;  Susan Willoughby & Elly Abelson
Memberships, Email Newsletters: Barbara McOwen Webmaster: Terry Traub
Mailings; Denise and Jim Robinson
Back Music: Cindy Blaine 
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.  Next gathering Sunday, 	March 28, 2004.

New England Folk Festival -  April 25, 2004 3:00 in Natick, Massachusetts

Cancer Survivors Day  - June 6th from 12-2 at the Works Athletic Center, Route 108, 
Somersworth NH.

CALENDAR

3/17/04 - Altan at 7:30pm at the Flynn Center in Burlington. Presented by the
Lane Series and the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts. Contact the Lane
Series at Http://www.uvm.edu/laneseries/ or the Flynn Regional Box Office at
86FLYNN or http://www.flynncenter.org..

3/19/04 - Sarah Blair, David Surette and Keith Murphy plus Steampacket (Anthony Santoro, 
Chris Stevens, Scott Wilson, Roger Burridge and others) at City Hall in Burlington (part 
of the Burlington Irish Heritage Festival). Contact Mark Sustic mrksustc @ together.net.

3/20/04 - The Heather Moz Project (Heather Moz, Daniel Haley, Matt kaminsky, John 
LaRouche, Jeremy Reilly, Don Blanchette) at 7pm at the Music Box in Craftsbury. Contact 
586-7533.
o Patti Casey, Colin McCaffrey and Pete Sutherland at 7:30pm at 
the Old Meeting House in East Montpelier. Contact Barbara Ploof 229-9593.

3/20/04 - Contra dance with Rodney Miller with David Surette at the Capitol City Grange 
in Monteplier.

3/21/04 - Kate and Anna McGarrigle at 7pm at the United Methodist Church in Middlebury. 
Part of the After Dark Music Series. Contact http://www.afterdarkmusicseries.com/.

3/23/04 - Richard Thompson at 7pm at Higher Ground in Winooski. Contact 654-8888 or 
http://highergroundmusic.com. 

3/27/04 - South Indian Flute and Percussion performance with Shashank, Satish Kumar and 
others at Music Recital Hall at the University of Vermont in Burlington. Contact Friends 
of Indian Music and Dance 656-0051, fimd @ zoo.uvm.edu or http://www.uvm.edu/~fimd. 

3/28/04 - Baba Maal at 7pm at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts. Contact 86FLYNN 
or http://www.flynncenter.org.

3/28/04 - David Surette and Susie Burke house concert at 7pm in the living room at 29 
Gove Court in Burlington. Contact 864-8378 or culture @ mac.com. 

3/29/04 - Mozaik (Andy Irvine, Bruce Molsky, Donal Lunny, Tony McManus, Rens
Van Der Zalm and Nicola Parov) at 7pm at FlynnSpace in Burlington. An Event for
Tom. Contact Mark Sustic mrksustc @ together.net.

3/30/04 - James Keelaghan at 8:30pm at Club One (1186 Crescent Street) in
Montreal. Part of the Wintergreen Concert Series presented by Hello Darlin'
Productions. Contact 514-524-9225 (information and reservations),
http://hellodarlinproductions @ hotmail.com, or 514-393-1663 (Club One).

4/02/04 - 7:00 p.m. Mary McEvilly, County Mayo, Ireland; Hanneke Cassel, and
George Keith will perform at FIDDLE FEST Manchester City Library.  19 year old
Brendan Carey Block, US National Fiddle Champ, Junior Division, will
open. $8.00 or $7.00 with library card.

5/8/04 - Niahm Parsons and Andy Irving 8:00 PM First Baptist Church, 1580
Mass. Ave, Lexington, MA Info: (781) 862-7837 http://music-for-robin.org
bhockett @ music-for-robin.org.  General Admission: $18 in advance, $20 at the door
Reserved Seats: $25

SESSIONS, JAMS, DANCES

2nd Sundays - English dancing, 6:30-9:30 pm., Presidential Oaks,  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 - 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 -Canadian Jam Session: We play a mixture of French and English
Canadian fiddle tunes as well as some New England tunes and tunes of other
origins.  $2 donation requested to cover the rent. Every Wednesday from 7:30 -
10:30 at the Durham, NH Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (corner of Madbury
Rd. and Woodman Ave.). For more information call 603-664-2513 or 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 - of every month Country Dance: Dover, NH City Hall - Upcoming
dates Feb.  5 with Peter Yarensky & Sarah Mason calling and teaching, music by
the Lamprey River Band. Guest musicians and callers welcome. 8:00 10:40,
$6. 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, 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. Frank
Woodward 603-487-2480

1st Saturdays - Contra dance 8-11pm, Town Hall Petrborough, N.H. For more information: 
(phone): (603) 525-3883, (603) 525-4432; Email: fiddleheads @ adelphia.net

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, pygarus @ aol.com

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

4th Saturdays - Contra dance, Kingston, NH, 8:30 pm - various bands. $7, 603-750-7506.


SRS members enjoying the Winter Dance.  Photographs by Evelyn Roberts.

Cartoon by Nick D. Kim, included in Granite Skyes with his permission.

A REMINDER: Deadline for April articles is April 1, 2004.  No calendar dates
before April 16 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 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 @ comcast.net.  The SRSNH Web Page is maintained
by Terry Traub, http://www.srsnh.org