Srathspey and Reel Society of NH
Granite Skyes
Volume 18, Number 2
October, 2006


NEXT GATHERING				Approximate Schedule:			
 Sunday, October 29, 2006				     1:00-3:00  Current Tunes
 1-5 pm, Annicchiaricco Theater				 3:00-3:30  Refreshments			
 1 Thompson Street                           3:30-5:00  Requests and Solos
 Concord, New Hampshire
Free Admission! All ages, all instruments, all levels welcome!
  
Notes from the Musical Director

This month's music is all from the CD that the Oban & Lorne Strathspey & Reel
society gave me when we visited them in June. The tunes are retreat marches and
hornpipes.

"retreat"  The word has many meanings and for the purposes of this month's
music it is the flag lowering ceremony at military installations at the close
of the working day. Gordon Webster provided me with background for these
retreat marches. They are either 3/4 or 9/8 time.  In summer, retreat is held
at 6 PM and in the winter it is held at 4:30 PM. Gordon often plays them at
funerals, using a slower tempo.

The Kilworth Hills are a range in Scotland; the composer, PM MacLennan is from
Argyll. Schiehallion is a mountain. There are lots of tunes with that name.
The 15th Scottish Division is by Angus Graham. The 15th (Scottish) Division was
established by the Scottish Command, September 1914. It landed in France in
July 1915 where it served with distinction on the Western Front for the
remainder of WWI. During WWII it served under the British Army  in the
Northwest European Theater from 14 June 1944 until the end of hostilities in
Europe.

What to say about hornpipes? I wrote about them last year.  They are great fun
to play and audiences love them.
				-- Sylvia Miskoe

THE SMITH’S A GALLANT FIREMAN

The title harks back to the time when every village had a smithy and a
blacksmith. The smith was often called upon to put out any local fires. The
tune has also been called Carrick's Rant and is one of the best-known
Strathspeys in the Scottish fiddle tradition. Its first appearance in print was
in 1791 in John Anderson's "Second Collection of New Highland Strathspey
Reels", since which it has steadily gained popularity.

For music go to: http://www.nigelgatherer.com/tunes/tab/tab3/smith.html

The Irish imported a lot of Scottish reels and Strathspeys and gave them
different names. The Smith's a Gallant Fireman can be found as a reel in
O'Neill's Dance Music of Ireland under the title More Luck to Us.

For a pen and ink version on manuscript paper have a look at:
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/scottskinner/collection.php?pageNum_index=10&totalRows_index=900

'Carrick's Rant or "The Smith's a gallant fireman" -'Old Air', 'Var. by
J. Scott Skinner'. Subtitled "Wha wid eat wi' ither folk fan th[e]y hae meat at
hame man." To be played 'Boldly'. Below the music: 'To Engraver see note
other side.' (See JSS0107.)

The Smith's a Gallant Fireman (words)
Typescript of the words for 'The Smith's A Gallant Fireman' by 'Harrison'. (See
JSS0106). Skinner has written in the last three lines: 'Oor hearts and souls
inspire man/ Let's honor pay where honor's due/
The Smith's a gallant fireman.' Following, in the corner, is 'Please approach
W. Carnie and Marr.
A very fine Strathspey, methinks.
			Fiona, Bristol, England

GALA SCOTTISH CONCERT

There is still time to sign up to play in the Gala. Just call or email me or
come to the October session. We will read through the music at the October
session. Then we will have rehearsals on Sundays, Nov 5, 12, and 19. These will
all be at the Music Theater. The dress rehearsal will also be the tech
rehearsal and will be at the Concord City Auditorium. This rehearsal is
mandatory and on Saturday the 25th.  All practices will begin at 1 pm.  Having
a piper as our guest artist will be exciting. Stuart and I have been exchanging
emails about tunes.
              -Sylvia Miskoe

First Night Concert

Wolfeboro, NH has invited SRS again for its First Night celebration. I will
have signup sheets at our sessions and rehearsals. Bob Reed is producing the
concert, he will answer questions. I will select portions of the Gala program
for us to play. It's a fun evening so come.
              -Sylvia Miskoe

HIGHLAND GAMES
 ANECDOTE

We played to a full house in the Games Concert tent on Saturday morning. Bill
Reid is the MC and house manager there, playing host to all the different
groups. We always joke about how much time we can have. Bill is impressed with
how fast we can get on and off the stage. As we left the stage, he came up to
me and said, "Thank you for bringing Scottish music back to the tent." He
continued, "Some of these others play only contemporary music and it is a
long way from the tradition. Your music touches my heart."
-Sylvia Miskoe

HIGHLAND GAMES
PIPING RESULTS
Johnny Bassett was the Grade 1 Piper of the Day, and won the grade 1
piobaireachd.  As a result, he is invited to the Nicol-Brown competition on
October 7 at the St Andrews Episcopal Church in Albany, NY. This is an
invitational solo-piping contest that draws successful amateur pipers from all
over North America together for a full day of excellent music.

Tammy Pratt, who was one of the pipers at the Gala last year, was the Grade 2
Piper of the Day, and Gregory Colpitts took  4th in the grade 4
Jr. piobaireachd.

The NHSSA band that Gregory Colpitts plays in came in 8th of 14 in grade 5. The
NHSSA band that Johnny, Tammy, Elliot Smith (the other Gala piper) and I play
in came in second out of 7 in grade 4, and the judge’s comments on the bass
drumming was, "lovely". I believe he was referring to the sound, but who knows,
maybe it was the drummer! The solo and band contests were very well run, and it
was a good day for all of us.
				       -.Ellen Bassett

HIGHLAND GAMES  FIDDLE CONTEST RESULTS
Brendan Carey-Block, a former SRSNH member, came in 4th in the Open and Craig
Brunson, a current member,  was 7th in the Junior.
 
HIGHLAND GAMES DANCE CONTEST
Gregory got a 4th in the piobaireachd. Colleen got a third in the Chantreause,
a first, in the Flora, a second in the Lilt, and won the trophy for novice
again three in the National dances.
			        --Pat Edwards


Scottish Fiddle Lessons
Scholarship with
Brendon Carey Block

I would first like to express my gratitude to the Strathspey & Reel Society of
New Hampshire Scholarship Committee for awarding me a scholarship for Scottish
Fiddle lessons. My lessons with Brendan Carey Block were incredibly helpful. I
learned a great deal that will help me become a better fiddle player.

During my first and second lessons, Brendan taught me two Strathspeys, The
Marquis of Huntly’s Farewell, and The Miller O’Drone. During the third and
fourth lessons, I learned Pipe Major John Stewart’s and we worked on the reel
Hurricane. The fourth part of this reel moves into third position and it was
hard keeping it clean and clear. I worked on learning Rose Acre by Skinner and
making sure I got the Scottish musical feel in that beautiful slow air during
the fifth lesson. It is one of my favorite songs.

At the end of the course, I reviewed and polished some of the techniques I
either knew or had learned during these six weeks of lessons. Some of the
techniques that we covered were the Scottish "snap" in the Strathspey, looser
or more flexible bow arm while not decreasing the pressure, and keeping a
steady smooth bow when playing a slow air. But probably the most important
technique I learned was how to keep the pipe march "snappy" while keeping it
smoother--how to get the march "kilt swinging!"

I am confident that all the techniques and songs I learned have helped me
become a more proficient Scottish fiddle player and will allow me to better
share my love of Scottish and Cape Breton fiddle music with others that I come
in contact with.

            -Craig Brunson

MUSICAL TIDBITS

Tam Bain's Lum
     
Tam Bain's Lum (2.18) is a fun hornpipe.  A 'lum' is a chimney.  On our tour in
June I learned the story behind this title.  Tam Bain liked to smoke.  Tam
Bain's wife would not let him smoke in the house and he spent a lot of time
outdoors.  She was adamant, no smoke in the house.  He would not give it up.
He finally got tired of always having to step outside for a smoke and built a
chimney in his house where he could sit and smoke.  The chimney drew all the
smoke straight up.

			                       -Sylvia Miskoe

SCOTTISH JOKES
Proving that we Scots do have a sense of humor

Here is a Scottish joke for the October newsletter from Michael Vose.
 
As a Christmas present one year, the laird gave his gamekeeper, MacPhail, a
deerstalker hat with ear-flaps. MacPhail was most appreciative and always wore
it with the flaps tied under his chin to keep his ears warm in the winter
winds. Then one cold, windy day the laird noticed he wasn't wearing the hat.

"Where's the hat?" he asked.
 
"I've given up wearing it since the accident," came the reply.
 
"Accident? I didn't know you had an accident."
 
"Aye, a man offered me a nip of whiskey, and I had the ear-flaps down and never
heard him."
 
-- Scottish Jokes, Lomond Books, 1993

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

Take a look at your address label.  If the date is prior to 9/07, your
membership is due!  This will be your last copy of the newsletter and music.
Do not delay, send in your renewal  money and information to Sylvia Miskoe, 102
Little Pond Road, Concord, NH  03301.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

I just read my issue of Granite Skyes.  Great job on the editing!!  The article
on Jack McKelvie of Bedford caught my eye.  Both my grand kids have gone or are
going to McKelvie.  I will see that both the article and the music get to the
school.  Evidently there is a picture of Jack in full Celtic dress somewhere in
the school. The kids were both excited to hear about this man.

Ain't it grand to know that the info on Jack will go to the school.  I'm sure
they will be thrilled to get the music, also.
     -Blessed Be, Lois

I am a new member to the SRS. I just received the September newsletter and read
in the Recurring Events section there is an open jam in Ashland, NH on
Wednesday - Fiddle on Wednesday - open jams alternate between Ashland NH
(Booster’s Club) and the Gordon-Nash Library, New Hampton (7 PM). Can you
provide me with contact details so that I can call someone to find out more
about the venue (locations, music, etc.
   -Don Groves

Note from the Editor: Because of this letter, events that do not have a contact
name and phone number will not be listed.

SRSNH EVENTS CALENDAR

Recurring Events

1st Wednesdays - Jam session, 7 pm, Foodee's, in the Milford Oval, Milford,
N.H. Sandy Lafleur 603-673-8497 or strumma at aol.com.  Come early and enjoy the
great food!

2nd Sundays - English dancing, 5:30-7:45pm, Presidential Oaks, Pleasant St,
Concord NH $6, or $5 for ECDSNH members. Judith Ackerson 603.934.2543 or
jnoska at cyberportal.net

1st, 2nd & 3rd Wednesdays-Scottish Country dance, 7-9 pm, Church of the Good
Shepherd, 214 Main St, Nashua NH. $3. Also, 4th and 5th Wednesdays-Scottish
Country dance, 7-9 pm, Chandler Library, 257 Main St., Nashua, NH. Free. More
info: Loren Wright 603-891-2331, NashuaSCD at comcast.net, or
www.homepage.mac.com/lonwright/NashuaSCD

3rd Sundays- Gaelic Club, 3-7pm, Canadian American Club, Watertown MA FROM
Cassie Hansel, Peggy Morrison,
978-858-3792.

Mondays - Contra dance, 8-10:30, callers & musicians welcome to take a
turn. Nelson NH Town Hall, $3 827-3732.

Tuesdays - Irish/Celtic Sessions at The Barley House Restaurant and Tavern, 132
North Main St Concord NH
7-10:00 pm. 603-229-0083.

Wednesdays (2nd) - Canadian Jam Session: mixture of French, English Canadian
and New England fiddle. $2; 7:30-10:30; at the Durham NH Unitarian Universalist
Fellowship (corner of Madbury Rd & Woodman Ave) Info: 664-2513 or
peter.yarensky at unh.edu

Wednesday "Slow Jam"- Concord Community Music School; 7:30-9PM voluntary
donation; info: 226.1966 or cordway at cmusicschool.org.

Thursdays: Acoustic Open Mic 7:30PM - Green Martini - 8 Pleasant Street
Extension, Concord NH host: Duane D'Agnese

1st Thursday every month: Dover, NH City Hall - Contra/square Dance with the
Peter Yarensky & Sarah Mason calling and teaching, music by the Lamprey River
Band. Beginners welcome; all dances taught. Guest musicians and callers
welcome. 8:00-10:40, $7, students $5. Info/directions: Peter Yarensky,
603-664-2513 or peter.yarensky at unh.edu.

Fridays - Press Room, Portsmouth, NH - Irish Music sessions (open) - 4:30-9:00
PM

Fridays - Seacoast Scottish Country Dance class, Greenland Parish Hall on Rte
151, Greenland NH, 7:30-9:30 pm, thru 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), 8pm- 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 NH Open band. Frank
Woodward 603-487-2480
1st Saturdays - Contra dance 8-11pm, Town Hall Peterborough, N.H. (phone):
(603) 525-3883, (603) 525-4432; Email: fiddleheads at adelphia.net.

Play fiddle Saturday afternoon with John Campbell at his Maynard MA home. For
specifics, John 978-897-7031.

Saturday Afternoons, Arlington MA (781-643-3603 for info and dates) Trad Music
Sessions, from 3:00 to 6:30 pm at the Fox Library, corner of Mass Ave &
Cleveland St. $1

Second Saturdays Dance - Gilmanton, NH Town Hall (Academy Building)
(intersection Rtes 107 & 14) 8-11pm. info: (603) 267-7227; Dec 11 - Two
Fiddles, Caller: Dudley Laufman

2nd Saturdays - Contra dance, 8-11pm, Francestown, NH Town Hall. Frank
Woodward. For info: 603-487-2480 or NHdancecaller at aol.com.

Third Saturdays - Dance - East Concord, NH Community Center 8PM info:
dwh at nhvt.net

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

Saturday Jam Session-Acoustic Outfitters-Stratham 778-9711 www.aomusicshop.com
October through May on the first and third Saturdays of the month, 2-5 pm.

NOTE: Please check these listings and advise me of any additions, deletions or
changes.
Audrey at dragonfiddle7 at aol.com. 



OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2006 EVENTS:

Sunday, November 26, 2006, at 2:30 p.m. the Strathspey & Reel Society of New
Hampshire presents its 18th Gala Scottish Concert at the Concord City
Auditorium with Stuart Cassells, piper & Scottish Dancers of the NH School of
Scottish Arts & the SRSNH Ensemble. For tickets telephone (603) 437-3497 -
E-mail: srsnhgala at yahoo.com.

All items welcome, depending on space available. If you have something to
include in this newsletter, you can email me at dragonfiddle7 at aol.com or phone
at 603-344-9575. Deadline for submissions is the 25th of the month. Afterwards,
if the submission is still relevant it will be considered for the next issue.

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. The newsletter and music is available by email. Contact Denise
Robinson at fiddledee at comcast.net

Strathspey and Reel Society of New Hampshire
Newsletter Editor
Audrey Marie Danielson
513 Alton Woods Drive
Concord NH 03301
603-344-9575
Dragonfiddle7 at aol.com

SRSNH Next Gathering: 
Sunday October 29, 2006  
1-5pm. Free admission. All ages, all instruments, all levels welcome; with
potluck refreshments. At the Annicchiaricco Music  Theater: 1 Thompson St. at
South Main St. Take I-93 to Exit 13 or 14. Take South Main St to Thompson, 2
blocks south of Pleasant St (Rts 202/9), 1 Block north of the Capital Center
for the Arts.

Free parking on the street. 
PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN THE RESIDENT’S LOT.