Re: [scots-l] Navan
No instruments, just voices. At 07:49 AM 1/22/03 -0800, you wrote: So from their website it appears that they have 4 voices and no instruments? Or did they hire some studio players in sit in on their sessions? I don't know whether they have been mentioned yet on this list, but a new young group from Madison, Wisconsin, called Navan is well worth listening to. Really tight harmonies and excellent singing. They have one CD out. Sue Richards At 11:40 AM 1/21/03 -0800, you wrote: Slainte Mhath (from Cape Breton) makes some really interesting and danceable music using pop/techno fusion. They play fiddle, bagpipes, bodhran, keyboards, flutes and more (and stepdance!). A nice description of their style from their website: (http://www.slaintemhath.com) Slainte Mhath is great. I love those guys (and girls). I've still got their first CD on constant rotation. They're definately on the right track I think. As far as I can tell, thru logic and listening to many musicians, the secret to making good fusion music is to know traditional music inside and out. If you know where it's coming from and what makes it unique, and respect that, then you're more likely to understand what will mix well with it. Not only knowing trad. music inside out, but you've also got to know whatever genres that make in into your sound. Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html -- Toby Rider ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) He either fears his fate too much, Or his deserts are small, That puts it not unto the touch To win or lose it all. - James Graham, Marquis of Montrose Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
[scots-l] Navan
I don't know whether they have been mentioned yet on this list, but a new young group from Madison, Wisconsin, called Navan is well worth listening to. Really tight harmonies and excellent singing. They have one CD out. Sue Richards At 11:40 AM 1/21/03 -0800, you wrote: Slainte Mhath (from Cape Breton) makes some really interesting and danceable music using pop/techno fusion. They play fiddle, bagpipes, bodhran, keyboards, flutes and more (and stepdance!). A nice description of their style from their website: (http://www.slaintemhath.com) Slainte Mhath is great. I love those guys (and girls). I've still got their first CD on constant rotation. They're definately on the right track I think. As far as I can tell, thru logic and listening to many musicians, the secret to making good fusion music is to know traditional music inside and out. If you know where it's coming from and what makes it unique, and respect that, then you're more likely to understand what will mix well with it. Not only knowing trad. music inside out, but you've also got to know whatever genres that make in into your sound. Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
[scots-l] SHSA Comps
This whole discussion is very distressing, and I will not be drawn into it exceptto say the following, and then I am done. As with many organizations, SHSA (Scottish Harp Society of America) is having some differences of opinion about the comp requirements. I urge anyone interested and concerned to go to the SHSA website www.shsa.org and check it out before forming an opinion. This is not the place where the rules should be discussed, as we have a committee that has been hashing out and updating the rules for the last five years, and I don't appreciate the attempts to gain sympathy from the list. Please believe me that we have looked far beyond the fiddle requirements in our discussions. My main concern as an American harper playing Scottish music is to reflect what is being played in Scotland today, as well as 50 or 100 or 300 years ago. As to the elitism slur, there is that pesky word again. We on the committee are trying to bring the harp comps out of the airy-fairy land that it has been in for 15 years, where one only had to play an air and 1-2-or 3 contrasting tunes, depending on the level. For many that meant three waltzes in 3 different keys. We were not taken seriously, and harpers didn't learn any challenging music, and strathspeys, the distinctive music of Scotland, were pretty rare. I don't know why strathspeys were not played on the harp 200 years ago. They sound great. But they are now, all over Scotland. As to your request for a time line of harping in Scotland, your/our friend Holly Callahan has written a ground-breaking history thesis on exactly that. I suggest that you start there. Sue Richards At 11:12 AM 1/17/03 -0500, you wrote: The sad thing is that to be a master harper according to the Scottish Harp Society one must be able to play a March/Strathspey/Reel set and not much else. (snip) Toby suggested that there is elitism with competitions, and there may be some truth in his observation. (snip) Anyway. Here's a question to start a different thread. I'm working up a Time Line of the harp (snip)
Re: [scots-l] Tempos
At 10:00 PM 1/15/03 -0800, Steve wrote: In the San Francisco branch of the RSCDS, every year at the Pleasanton games we have an adjudicated dance exhibition. What that means is that each participating group gets up on a stage and does a 3-dance medley in front of 2 adjudicators (who are typically long-time teachers) and an audience. Afterwards the adjudicators talk to the participants and note what they liked in the performance and what could be improved. It's not a competition but it gives groups the chance to perform in front of an audience and get constructive criticism from experts. I'm not interested in competing in music and I've often wondered why something like this isn't done for fiddlers. So, to me, a comp is exactly the same, except that prizes are given to the ones who stand out. As a harp judge, I always try to set up an informal atmosphere, encouraging everyone to be supportive of each other, and I try to talk to people individually, and certainly in my notes, telling them what worked worked well and what could be improved. I have seen fiddle comps like this. I know that it can be done. Sue
[scots-l] Tempos
There is an excellent article by Elke Baker on reel tempos at the SHSA website: http://www.shsa.org/music. She talks about many of the issues we have discussed here. At 05:21 PM 1/14/03 -0500, Sharon wrote: (snip) despite the fact that I am a judge for the SHSA Comps I agree with almost everything he says! Competitions are a real problem in the trad. music world. (snip) I agree with everything else you said, but here is 2 cents more: There are many people in the Scottish musical world who agree with you, and competing is not for them. But there are many many people who love the challenge of competing, and I think we should be careful about discounting them. If we have rules it is because we want the playing field to be even, and everything understood clearly. It is NOT because we get off on ordering people around. Many people use competitions as a balm to their egos, and it is dangerous to have comp rules that would allow the judges too much power. As a Teacher, I really like to see the student learn tunes and style. I Never insist that my students compete. It is always their decision. As a Judge, I hate to see all that work not recognized because only one person can get first prize. And too many people only see the prize and don't appreciate the sweat that went into all the competitors. As the Audience, I love to hear the instrument played, and occasionally see the drama when two really good people compete. Sue Richards
RE: [scots-l] Music source books
At 03:10 PM 10/6/02 +0200, you wrote: The Reel is generally reckoned to have originated in Scotland and many of the older Irish reels are of Scottish origin. Slip Jigs and Hornpipes are commoner in Ireland than in Scotland, although both exist in Scottish music. Scots play more strathspeys, but fewer polkas, though, oddly enough, many of the tunes played as polkas in the South of Ireland are of Scottish origin. I have often wondered whether quicksteps in Scotland are related musically to polkas? They seem to have a similar structure, but I don't know anything about the dance. Sue Richards
Re: [scots-l] Music source books
I wonder whether a way to go about this is to have EACH of us list our ten favorite books. Then we could compile that. We should put books by committee members on a separate list. Sue At 10:14 AM 10/3/02 -0400, you wrote: I'm wondering just what you would use as your music source books. Would you mind sharing? I'd like to see a minimum of ten books, listed in priority order, that is the first one being the most important. The focus should be primarily Scottish, but not necessarily Scottish. Thanks -- May neither your strings nor your spirit ever break, May your harp and your soul always be in tune. Rita Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
[scots-l] Music source books
Sorry, Folks, I thought I was talking to another group, therefore the reference to committee. But I will enjoy seeing your favorite books. Thanks- Sue Richards At 12:56 PM 10/3/02 -0400, you wrote: I wonder whether a way to go about this is to have EACH of us list our ten favorite books. Then we could compile that. We should put books by committee members on a separate list. Sue At 10:14 AM 10/3/02 -0400, you wrote: I'm wondering just what you would use as your music source books. Would you mind sharing? I'd like to see a minimum of ten books, listed in priority order, that is the first one being the most important. The focus should be primarily Scottish, but not necessarily Scottish. Thanks -- May neither your strings nor your spirit ever break, May your harp and your soul always be in tune. Rita Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
Re: [scots-l] Tam Lin
Thanks to all who answered my query about Tam Lin. I think I'm set! Sue Richards Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
Re: [scots-l] Oswald's Caledonian Pocket Companion
Boy, I would love it if there were. I have a photocopy of a lot of it, with just a few pages missing, I believe. It really should be reprinted. Sue Richards At 09:11 AM 5/29/02 -0400, you wrote: Does anyone know if there has been a reprint of this work? Someone suggested that John Purser might be involved. Thanks Ross Flowers Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
[scots-l] Scottish music Harp competitions
At 08:22 PM 7/4/01 -0400, you wrote: Ok, I have a question: The Scottish Harp Society of America (SHSA) has recently revised its Rules of Competition. One of the requirements states: Music must be Scottish, or an explanation give as to the tune's relationship to the Scottish tradition Scottish music must be played to receive an SHSA level. Any opinions on whether I could justify the inclusion of Northumbrian tunes into a competition setting? Janice in Georgia I think it would be fine. I doubt that any knowledgeable judge would question it. By the way, that rule has been in effect since the beginning. It was not changed when we updated the rules. Every now and then we have someone play an Irish or other tune that they got from a Scottish collection, or learned from their Scottish granny, or whatever. We don't really expect people to know much until they reach the upper level of competition. Sue Richards, SHSA competition committee Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
Re: [scots-l] Complaint about site administration policy
At 11:51 PM 1/4/01 -0800, you wrote: Well, I subscribe/unsubscribe system is not perfect and I am not perfect. His multiple email addresses had both the system and me quite confused, plus I was gone on vacation for a week. However I would have appreciated if he would have emailed me personally offlist to fix the situation. Toby Toby, I would have liked to email you personally too, but your email address doesn't show in the header. I didn't have the patience at the time to go to your website and look it up. Sue Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
[scots-l] Radio Station
So, Toby, I have been listening a lot since you posted about the station, maybe five hours off and on, and 90 per cent of it has been Cape Breton. How about some variety, dude? Sue Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
Re: [scots-l] Internet Radio Station for Scottish Traditional Music
Cool! It works. Thanks- Sue Richards (So, shall we send you our CD's to play?) At 05:06 PM 1/2/01 -0800, you wrote: I got my latest little project finally working. I have set up an Internet Radio Station using Shoutcast that will play Scottish Traditional Music 24/7. Please do me a big favor if you are interested and go to www.shoutcast.com Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
[scots-l] Skinner Cradle Song
At 03:11 PM 12/28/00 +, you wrote: Oh - I've found the lyrics in 'The Scots Fiddle' by J Murray Neil (I believe a new edition has just been released); no attribution for the words. . The Cradle Song Sprites that guard young children Enter here tonight; O'er my fevered darling Watch till morning light. (snip) I knew there were words, and always thought they referred to the child dying, but just realized that it is her husband that died, right? Such morbid words to such a beautiful tune. Sue Richards Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
Re: [scots-l] Re: scots-l-digest V1 #296
I wondered whether you would stop at that festival, Anne. I did, and had a great time, nice little festival. Made me want to spin again. Sue Richards "No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings." -William Blake - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2000 10:49 PM Subject: [scots-l] Re: scots-l-digest V1 #296 Re Celia Wright's comments on spinning linen--Did you ever hear of flax skutching? We came on a gathering in a field near Ligonier, PA ( while attending the Highland Games there two weeks ago), at which they demonstrated flax skutching--i.e. spinning and weaving flax into linen. They said they were the second oldest annual event of this kind in the world, having been held regularly for 90 years. The show also featured lots of home-baked goods, blue-grass and country bands, and dispays of covered wagons and farm machinery. Anne Leslie Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
Re: [scots-l] Thunderhead
Sue Richards said: This is a great tune. Can you use the same chords that were on the album? Which album? I've never heard it, whatever. Back in the mid to late '80's Grey recorded it on an album by the same name. With Malcolm Dalglish, maybe ? They did a lot of concerts together for a while in the US. I have always loved it but never got around to buying the CD version if it exists. Sue Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
