Strathspey and Reel Society of New Hampshire
Granite Skyes
Vol 15, No 7. Mar 2006 

SRSNH 2006 Gatherings: 
Mar 26	April 30	
May 28	Jun 25
1-5pm.  Free admission!  All ages, all instruments, all levels welcome; with
potluck refreshments.

NOTES FROM THE MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Music Director Notes - March 2006
 
I should really say the notes are from various tune writing members because all
I have done is collate the tunes, add a chord or two, and make a lot of cutting
and pasting edits.  Each person has sent along a little note about the tune.
We do this every other year.
From Milt Jackson:
In May, 2005, I had to spend three days in bed with bronchitis.  I can't stand
to be idle so on the 3rd day I talked my wife, Dot, into bring me one of my
fiddles so I could write a song dedicated to her.  I had had the tune in my
head for quite a while so it did not take long to get it onto paper.  I always
try to inspire my students to come up with their own original tunes and two
them have.
Rachel Hinrichsen turned 11 in November.  In September she diddled out a few
bars and asked me to help her write out the tune.  I was delighted to help her;
it's a wonderful way to learn to read music.  Here it is, The Strafford Jig.
Felicia Cushing lives and breathes Celtic music.  I helped her arrange this
tune, Captain Anchor, which was dedicated to her recently departed grandpa.  He
loved everything about the sea.
From Mike Hebb:
One of my more vivid memories of our visit to Scotland was a short hike we took
outside Mallaig. This was the day after traveling 28 hours to get that
far. Kathy knew most of the flowers and the plain little heather I thought
deserved a strasthspey. 
From Chris Hendershot, who lives in California:
I was driving to work one day when the tune started to come to me. I was
thinking of driving to Skye with my husband a few years ago. It had rained most
of the way there. After we left the ferry and were driving up the road, we saw
rocks on the side of the road and water was sheeting down them. It was so
beautiful - and so wet! I also remembered Kilt Rock on Skye, where a huge
waterfall pours off the cliff into the ocean. 
From Paul Milde:
I was working on the tune and all the time in the background there was a boy's
choir, harp, vacuum and dog.  The title refers to the old Fred Allen radio
show, Town Hall Tonight.
From Elly Abelson:
I wrote the tune as a welcome to Graeme and Karen Scott the year Graeme served
as a fiddle competition judge at the New Hampshire Highland Games at Loon Mt. I
tried to put a snap in a slow waltz to give it that rhythmic hop which I find
to be such a lovely feature of Scottish music. At the same time I did not want
to interfere with a gentle waltz tempo. Graeme played it for Karen when they
visited with us that year. It sounded good. 
From Jan Tappan:
My daughter Christina is getting married in June and I needed to write a tune
to mark the occasion.  I tried an air first but by the time I got to the second
half, it really wanted to be a jig.  Christina's fiancé, Scott, belongs to a
social club where the logo is an eye, and the pair named the tune The Cult of
the Eye.
From Betsy Woodman:
The violin part is the melody, with some simple accompaniment for violin II and
a descant for winds. Cole Pond is where I swim in the summer.
From Gail Birch:
Yes - I wrote this tune when I was in the midst of my first period of chemo
after surgery in 2004. I was feeling rather weak, but by faith believed I would
defeat the cancer, and this tune expressed how I wanted to "stomp the de'il"
that I was wrestling with. There is a definite "stomp, stomp," after each
phrase to emphasize my determination. Even after the cancer returned last fall,
I was determined to put it under my foot, so to speak, and after a second
surgery and a short chemo I am now in remission. Hallelulah!
 
Jam Session Tunes for March

We had a mini jam session just before the break at our February meeting.  Six
tunes, played one after the other, just for fun.  If you know them, that's
great.  If you want to try just picking them up as we play them, that's great,
too.  And if you want your music, here are the page references so yo can be
prepared.
 
O Gin I Were Where Gadie Rins
        March             G            4.27
Meeting of the Waters
        March            A             17.27
Kingussie Flower
        Reel              Dm        16.07
The New High Level
        Reel               G            17.13
Snouts and Ears
        Reel              A            16.06
Brenda Stubbert
        Reel            Am           1.13

Jerry Holland Returns!

Cape Breton Fiddler and teacher, Jerry Holland, will be our guest at our April
30th session.  For those of you who don't know Jerry, he is a wonderful
musician and a kind teacher.  Several years ago he was our guest artist at the
Gala and he also spent a weekend doing workshop lessons and a small concert.
Sadly, the weather was bad and we had only a handful of folks.  
We should have no weather problems in April.   Jerry is willing to do lessons
in the morning, either private ($45/hour), semi-private ($30/1.5 hour), or
large group ($25/1.5 hour, 5 persons).  If you are interested please contact
Sylvia who will organize them.
Come early to be sure you have a seat, or better still, bring your own chair.

SRS Board Meeting
 
At the SRS Board meeting last month it was decided the SRS Newsletter will no
longer be giving out free email subscriptions for the newsletter.  Some issues
raised were the SRSNH should not be normally give away intellectual property,
and that the free emailing is a disincentive for joining.  The possibility of
an occasional free emailing to complement a membership drive was left open.
Also, the open member-at-large position has been filled by Marge Swope.  It is
a one-year position expiring May, 2006.

Modernize your Granite Skyes!
 
Are you interested in receiving your Granite Skyes newsletter and the music by
email?  We can save a lot of money each month for the Society by doing this!
If you have already let Denise Robinson (our mailing maven) know that you'd
like this method, that's fine.  If not, please do contact her
at fiddledee at comcast.net  and make sure she has your email address. 

Scholarship committee announcement
 
The SRSNH scholarship fund assists qualified applicants with programs that
create learning experiences about Scottish music. These may include attendance
at Scottish music or dance schools or camps to study or research traditional
music. There is an application process using forms soon to be made
available. The application will require a description of the activity, a
brochure if available, cost of the program, and how SRSNH will benefit from
your experience. The deadline this year is May 1, so it is not too early to
begin thinking about summer plans. - Elly Abelson, Chair

Childsplay Benefit

On Friday April 28, 2006 Buddy MacMaster and Liz Carroll will be the featured
performers in a benefit concert for Childsplay. The concert will be held at the
Portland High School Auditorium, 284 Cumberland Avenue in Portland at 7:30
PM. These two master fiddlers from the Cape Breton and Irish fiddling
traditions are coming together to celebrate the group Childsplay. Buddy and Liz
will perform separate sets of music supported by the accompaniment of Dedo
Norris on piano and Mark Simos on guitar. The concert will also feature two
members of the group Childsplay as guest artists: step dancer Kieran Jordan and
Maine fiddler Ellen Gawler.         
Buddy MacMaster is an 81 year old legendary fiddler from Cape Breton Island in
Canada. Initially introduced to the sounds of traditional music through the
lilting mouth music of his mother, Buddy grew to become one of the most revered
fiddlers on the island, in demand for traditional dances and concerts
alike. Buddy's fame has carried him throughout the world as one of the premier
representatives of traditional Cape Breton fiddling. In 2000, Buddy MacMaster
was awarded the Order of Canada for his contributions to Canadian culture.
Since Liz Carroll was 18, when she astounded the Celtic world by winning the
All-Ireland senior championship, Liz and her fiddle have been amazing audiences
around the world. Her recordings and appearances on concert stages, television
and radio, have established Liz as one of the most sought after traditional
musicians alive today. Whether it is playing one of her own compositions or an
old traditional Irish fiddle tune, once you have heard Liz's dazzling music,
you will never forget her! In recognition for her outstanding contributions to
Irish music and culture, Liz was presented with the National Heritage Award in
1994.

Fun in Scotland

A few Scotland travel options:  If you are adventurous enough to venture to
Scotland, the University of Sterling has all kinds of summer programs in
Accordion, Bagpipe, Bodhran, Clarsach, Classical String Ensemble, Piano
Accompaniment -- Scottish Traditional Music, Highland Dancing, Recorder
Playing -- Scottish Traditional Music, Scots Fiddle (including Shetland
Fiddle) with various tutors.  Also, Scotland Sings -- its songs & singing
traditions.  Schedules vary but appear accommodating on their website.
Further details are available from Margery Stirling, Summer School Coordinator, (PJ),
DAICE, Inst of Education, Airthrey Castle,
University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland FK9 4LA     Tel: +44 (0)1786 467951
Fax +44 (0)1786 466131 
E-mail: m.f.stirling at stir.ac.uk Website http://www.daice.stir.ac.uk/sss
Then there is the Edinburgh International Harp Festival on 7-12 April.   Every
year the New Hampshire Highland Games sends the winner of the Open Harp
Competition to the Festival.  Last year's winner who will be attending this
year's Festival is a young lady from Springfield MA, Haley Hewitt. Their web
site has some good information: www.harpfestival.co.uk

Editors' notes

I've heard there are 21 people signed up for the trip to Scotland.  That's a
good percentage of our membership!
April 29 will be a great night for good music.  You can go see Buddy MacMaster
and Liz Carroll in Cambridge MA or you can go to the CanAm Footstompin' Music
Fest in Lexington MA.  Buddy Mac Master is 81 and still going.  On the other
hand, in addition to CanAm headliner, JP Cormier there'll be an incredible
3-women group "Five2" from Ithaca NY, in that show. 
I heard a good report about "The Shaskeen" a new Irish Pub on Elm Street in
Manchester.  This is the pub that had the Chieftains play at their Grand
Opening.  It's good to see businesses like this opening.  It reflects a growing
interest in Traditional Music, and presents another local outlet.  Like
everybody else, they have a website at www.theshaskeen.com .  Their Calendar of
Events includes traditional sessions and an open mike nights for any members
looking to get out and participate. On their web site they say "We feature live
traditional Irish music 7 nights a week".  
In addition to Sylvia, thanks to Don Young, Sandy Lafleur, Kevin Meyers, Connie
Eppich, Len Buswell, and Elly Abelson for their contributions to this months'
newsletter.  Input is welcome from anybody.  Have you been to a good local
dance, are you playing out somewhere, just have something to say?  Drop me an
email at jackieaxe at earthlink.net. 
 
SRSNH EVENTS CALENDAR

Music for Music Concert Series
Concerts at St. Mary's High School, 27 Bartlett St, Westfield MA  Shows start
at 7:30PM doors opening at 7:00 Call 413-562-6569 to reserve or for
info. Advanced Tickets $14, $18 at the door Kids (6-12) $6 and $9 under 6 free.
- March 18, 2006: From PEI. J. J. Chaisson fiddle and Kevin Chaisson on piano.
- April 22, 2006 NYC Irish traditional at its best! Marie & Martin Reilly & friends.
- May 20, 2006: A Cape Breton Ceilidh with Derrick and Melody Cameron.

Patio Records presents 10th Annual Healing Garden Music Fest Canadian and US
performers from the maritimes to the Prairies.  Footstompin' acoustic music:
Celtic, folk, bluegrass, country, French-Canadian, and more!
Featured headliners: J.P. Cormier (Cape Breton), Five2 (Ithaca), Terry Tufts
(Fitzroy Harbour, ON), The Laws (Gananoque, ON), and, The McDades (Edmonton)!
Saturday, April 29th; Time : 7:30 PM, at the National Heritage Museum's Maxwell
Theater, Lexington MA, 33 Marrett Rd,  Tickets : $18 in advance, $22 at door, $
2 discount for Canadian-American Club members, WUMB members, and students.
Website: www.patiorecords.com
Email : musicfest at patiorecords.com

Childsplay Benefit
Buddy MacMaster and Liz Carroll are doing benefit concerts for Childsplay in
Cambridge, MA: Sat April 29 8pm ($25) and in Portland, ME: Fri April 28 7:30pm
($20).  To order tickets by mail, send a SASE to Childsplay, c/o Lamey, 27
School St, Natick Ma. 01760. Portland show tickets also at Bull Moose Music
Outlets (addition $2 surcharge), at the Rosemont Market and Bakery, 559
Brighton Ave Portland, and at the door.  More info: http://www.childsplay.org
email: rchilds618 at aol.com.