LoughHaven

In Harmony's Way August Sing

2010-08-15T14:43:00.000-07:00

Attending: Barbara, Sharon, Dick, Carol, Frank, Joy, Fred, Beverly, Kevin, Martha, Louise, Allan, Joe

We sang:
You Are Special Today
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday Durge
The Chartist Mother's Song by George Binns
Pass To Me the Empty Glass
Still and Delightful
Dona Dona
Shine On
Bottle of Wine
Stone Cracker John
Going Back to the Blue Ridge Mountains
Bunker Hill
The Faith of Man by Bill Stains
Go From My Window
The Moon by Rebecca Troon
Capstan Bar
Testimony of Patience Kershaw by Frank Higgins
Four Strong Winds
I'll Fly Away
Swarthfeld Rocks
The Beaver Song
Dear Abby
Good News
Blue Tail Fly
Ae Fond Kiss
The Bold Fisherman (1873)
Eran Gra Mo Mo Chroi
Viva La Musica (round)
The Singer's Request
This is the Song For All The Good People by Ken Hucks
We Are One Voice

In Harmony's Way July Sing

2010-07-11T14:37:00.000-07:00

Attending: Sharon, Martha, Louise, Joe, Barbara, Larry, Lonna, Allan, Piper

We sang:
Alice by Rebecca Troon
My Coffin Shall Be Black
Paper of Pins
Th Kanga Ro
Kitty Alone & I
I Ride An Old Paint
Wind & Rain
Buy Broom Besoms
Pack Up Your Sorrows
Holding Hands by Rebecca Troon
Floating Down The Stream
Wish I Was Single Again
Joe Hill
We've Loved Away the Night by Kate Wolf
Wild Rover
What Did Della Wear?
Ploughboy Laddie
Single Girl
The Toaster by Rebecca Troon
Does Your Dog Agonize
Single Girl/Old Woman
The Ploughman
Keep on the Sunny Side
You Ain't Going Nowhere
Chickens are Crowing
Old Shoe Boots
Steven Got Even
Limberger Ballad
Blue Tail Fly
Sweet Sunny South
We Are One Voice

In Harmony's Way June Sing

2010-06-13T14:30:00.000-07:00

Attending: Sharon Carl, Sharon Ennefer, Louise Ohler, Barbara Molloy, Allan MacLeod, Joe Offer, Dick Holdstock, Carol Holdstock, Cathy, Larry Montgomery, Lonna Whipple

We Sang:
The Willow Tree
Give Yourself To Love
Mary Had A Baby
Wild Mountain Thyme
Cape Breton Farewell
Bamboo
Hogeye Man
The Migrant Song by Pete Krug
I Never Will Marry
Hard Times
Chairs to Mend (round)
Benji Met The Bear (round)
Will the Circle be Unbroken
Will Ye No Come Back Again?
Louise
Old Peculiar
The Gardeners, The Potters by Jill Kennedy
I'll Fly Away
Paradise by John Prine
Wind & Rain
Venezuela
Mercedes Benz
Drunken Sailor
Lass from the Low Country
The Molecatcher's Daughter
There's a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea
Why Jackie's Not At Work
A Chat with your Mother
Angel Band
Ballad of Springhill
Roll on Columbia, Roll on

We Are One Voice

In Harmony's Way May Sing

2010-05-16T19:01:00.000-07:00

Attending: Sharon C., Sharon E., Allan, Martha, Joe, Dick, Carol and Cathy

We sang:
Oh Mary Don't You Weep
Balao Balwee
The Big Hewer
Midnight Special
Somos el Barco
Calling On Song
The Good in Living
The Frozen Logger
Home on the Range
This Land is your Land
Island of Moolah
The May Song
Give Me the Roses While I Live
Garners Gay
Thyme
Hot-The Electric Blanket Song
Green Rolling Hills (of West Virginia)
Billy Boy (Geordie version)
New House in Orleans
There'll be no Church Tonight
The Press Gang
(I don't know what was) The Last Thing on My Mind
Survival of the Fittest
Country Roads
Roseville Fair
School Days Over
When You Are Old And Gray
Windmills
The Singers Request
Upon the Road Again

In Harmony's Way April Sing

2010-04-18T18:53:00.000-07:00

Attending: Sharon C., Leslie, Allan, Martha, Louise, Dick, Carol, Joe, Barbara, Sharon E., Lonna, Patty & Fred

We sang:
Daddy Fox
Gallawa Hills
Julian of Norwich
Old Joe Clark
Female Drummer Boy
When We All Sing
Common Threads
River
The Parting Glass
Rumelaj
Give a Little Whistle
Wings
Still I Love Him
Leave Her, Johnny, Leave Her
Hands
King Cotton
Cindy (Git along home)
Here's a Health to the Men in the Crew
Grace Darling
Wild Mountain Thyme
The Singing Bird
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
House of the Rising Sun

In Harmony's Way March Sing

2010-03-21T12:28:00.000-07:00

Attending: Sharon C., Allan, Leslie, Lonna, Barbara, Sharon E., Martha, Larry & Fred

We sang:

No More Auction Block

John Peel

Although I've Gone Away

Red is the Rose

Come and Stand in That River

Take Me Home, Country Roads

When the Tide Goes Out

Riverboat

Horkstow Grange

There But For Fortune

Star of the County Down

Whatever It Takes

Orphan Train

Halleluia (L. Cohen)

Man Walks Among Us

Nicolia

Dirty Old Town

Female Drummer Boy

Big Yellow Taxi

Peggy Gordon

Where Have All the Flowers Gone

All For Me Grog

Hot-I'm In Love With My Electric Blanket

Rock Me To Sleep

We Are One Voice

In Harmony's Way February Sing

2010-02-14T12:22:00.000-08:00

Attending: Sharon, Martha, Erin, Allan, Lonna, Joe, Paul, Barbara, Larry & Fred

We sang:
The Lifting of the Latch
May the Light of Love
Beans in Your Ears
(It's a) Long Long Way from Clare to Here
Boston Harbor
Cockles & Mussels
Neptune
Careless Love
Circle Game
Valley of Strathmore
Horkstow Grange
Star of the County Down
Jug of Punch
Aragon Mill
Faith of Man
Millworker
I Feel Beautiful
Michael, Michael
Morning Has Broken
Sweet Betsy from Pike
Ca' the Yowes
Mairi's Wedding
Tell Me Why
When You and I Were Young, Maggie
Who Will Watch the Home Place
John Riley
The Blindness of My Youth
Sally Gardens
We Are One Voice

In Harmony's Way Sing

2010-01-10T19:01:00.000-08:00

Attending: Sharon, Joe, Barbara, Louise, Paul, Martha and Fred.

Songs
January Man
Oleanna
This is the Sound of One Voice
One Morning in May (Nightingale)
Starlight on the Rails
Touch Me
A Dram to Warm the Piper
Careless Love
Song for a Winter's Night
Preacher and the Bear
Rambling Boy
The Deep Blue
Yellow Rose of Texas (historically correct)
Needlecases
Rolling Home
The Prickleye Bush
Sweet Violets
Bamboo
It's Not Dark Yet
The Rivers of Texas
We Are One Voice

Jim Malcolm returning to Auburn House Concerts!

2009-12-30T17:02:00.000-08:00

Sunday Afternoon, January 31, 3:00pm
Suggested donation: $20

One of Scotland’s finest singer/songwriters, Jim Malcolm was the lead singer of the Scottish band Old Blind Dogs for seven years. He is now focusing on his solo singer-songwriter music. With Jim Malcolm you can expect to hear traditional songs and ballads, his own compositions, and compelling stories, told both through singing and on their own.

“One of those pure, warm Scottish folk voices one never tires of listening to.”

–Dirty Linen

“Given the right song, Jim Malcolm will just melt you in your seat.”

–The Scotsman

Reservations recommended.
Your entire contribution goes to the artist.
Email info@AuburnHouseConcerts.org or call 530/885-4292 for reservations and directions.
Doors open at 2:30pm, music starts at 3:00pm.
For links to the music, go to: www.AuburnHouseConcerts.org

October IHW sing

2009-10-11T21:21:00.000-07:00

Attending: Sharon, Carol, Barbara, Dick, Martha

We had a Sylvia Herold love-fest today. 8 of the songs we sang were from Sylvia! I highlighted them in red below:

Eat Bertha's Mussels
Did You See Him Going?
Collier Laddie
Down in the Coal Mine
Coal Tattoo
Twenty-mile Zone
Testimony of Patience Kershaw
The Light Dragoon
Nightingale
Boatman Dance
On One April Morning
In Tarrytown
The Laird of Udney
Whaling Johnnie
The Mermaid
Red is the Rose
I Still Miss Someone
Kitty Alone and I
Thousands or More
Thais
Dr. Freud
Swimming to the Other Side
Cruel Mother
Down by the Greenwood
Cowboy's Lament
I Think about Sex

September IHW sing

2009-09-13T21:10:00.000-07:00

Attending: Sharon, Barbara, Louise, Fred, Joe, Elizabeth, Paul, Martha (by phone)

A is for Apple
Paddy's Lament
Sixteen Tons
Lord Franklin
The Chivalrous Shark
O Hoban O Hu
Ghost Riders In The Sky
Funiculi, Funicula
My Love is Like A Red Red Rose
Michael form Mountains
One Morning In May (Nightingale)
If it be your Will
Down in the Valley (Birmingham Jail)
Cearcall a' Chuain (Circle of the Horizon)
Ripple
The Persian Kitty
On One April Morning
Song of Bernadette
Cindy (Get along home)

Taiko 2 @ Lark Camp; Korekara

2009-08-21T09:27:00.001-07:00

I took the Taiko drumming class at Lark in the Morning Music Camp at the beginning of August. I'm the one in the light green shirt and the white skirt. This is our performance outside the dance hall before the Betty Boop cartoon performance.

Lark Medley Line

2009-08-14T07:33:00.001-07:00

Parody of Lark Camp sung to the tune of The Grey Funnel Line. Performed by: Jeremy Friedenthal with Sharon Carl, Lyrics: Jeremy Friedenthal and Sarinda Newell, Tune: Grey Funnel Line, Lark Camp Talent Show, August 8, 2009.

In Harmony's Way, Lark Camp 2009

2009-08-09T21:07:00.000-07:00

Saturday, August 1

Oh Mary Don’t You Weep (Sharon)

Julian of Norwitch (Peter)

Band o’ Shearers (Jeremy)

Puff the Magic Dragon (Patti)

Over the Hills and Far Away (Nancy)

My Grandfather’s Clock (Karen)

Going to the West (Kim)

Take Me Out to the Ball Game–parody (Michael)

The Spaniard that Blighted My Life (Sylvia)

Leezie Lindsay (Jeremy)

Blow the Moon Out, Please Lord (Ethel)

The Merry Men of Kent (Michael)

Edelweiss (Sharon)

Sunday, August 2

Needle Cases (Sharon)

Rambling Rover (Michael)

Will the Turtle be Unbroken (Gudrin)

Now Is Come September (Spider)

Ye Mariner’s All (Jeremy)

Song of the Soul (Sharon)

A Sailor’s Prayer (Michael)

Tie me Kangaroo Down Sport (Gudrin)

Bedlam Boys (Spider)

Barnyards of Delgaty (Jeremy)

Bang Away Lulu (Michael)

Monday August 3

The Faucets are Dripping (Sharon)

Tam Lin (Spider)

The Crafty Maid’s Policy (Michael)

Sovay (Jeremy)

Someday Soon (Karen)

A is for Apple (Sharon)

Katie Cruel (Spider)

Angel from Montgomery (Michael)

Farewell to Nova Scotia (Jeremy)

Turning of the World (Peter)

Hush Little Baby (Suzanne)

The Lark Medley Line (Jeremy & Spider)

Tuesday August 4

The Weenie Whacker Song (Sharon)

Itches in me Britches (Jeremy)

The Ball of the Ballinore (Michael)

Dead Horse Trampoline (Sharon)

Three Old Whores of Winnipeg (Jeremy)

Roll Your Leg Over the Man in the Moon (Michael)

The Man that Slits the Turkey’s Throats at Christmas (Sharon

Bellbottom Trousers (Jeremy)

Perverted Minds (???? I can’t read this one) (Michael)

Eat Bertha’s Mussels (Gail)

Bridget and the Pill (Sharon)

Lusty Young Smith (Michael)

Wednesday, August 5

Clemetine (Lanni Herman’s version) (Sharon)

Pittenweem Jo (Jeremy)

Heart of Oak (Michael)

Banks of the Ohio (Sharon)

Rocky Road to Dublin (Jeremy)

Bellbottom Trousers (the other version) (Michael)

The Unicorn Song, Best Friend (Sharon)

Sally Gardens (Jeremy)

Oak, Ash and Thorn (Michael)

Let Union Be (Sharon)

Whistling Gypsy Rover (Jeremy)

Thursday, August 6

Mushroom (Train) round (Sharon)

Chicken on a Raft (Michael)

Weilla-Wallia/Dead Babby Song (Jeremy)

One Meatball (Sharon)

Marrowbones (Michael)

Jolly Red Nose (Jeremy)

Green Grow the Rushes O (Sharon)

Eat Ms. Goldfarb (Sylvia)

The Ebenezer (Michael)

Fathom the Bowl (Jeremy)

New York Girls (Can’t You Dance the Polka?) (Gail)

Billy Barlow (Sharon)

Dogger Banks (Michael)

Friday, August 7

Siùl a Rún (Sharon)

Leave Her, Johnny (custom words) (Michael)

Old Dun Cow (Jeremy)

The Perfect High (spoken) (Sharon)

The Mermaid (Jeremy)

Goodbye Fare thee well (Michael)

Pretty Babes in the Wood (Jeremy)

Daddy Fox (Sharon)

Don’t Forget your old Shipmate (Michael)

Northwest Passage (Jeremy)

Songs Sung at In Harmony's Way

2009-07-12T23:27:00.000-07:00

We had a great song circle again today! As promised, I am posting a compiled list of songs we have sung. It's not complete, because I haven't always written them down, but you'll get an idea of the range of songs people bring to these sessions.

After the Ball is Over (with a parody)

All the Good People

Amelia Earhardt, First Lady of the Air

Angel from Montgomery

Aragon Mill

Bedlam Boys

Been All Round This World

Benjamin Bowmaneer

Birmingham Sunday

The Bold Fisherman

Bonnie at Morn

Bonnie Farday

By the Hush

Can't Help Lovin' That Man of Mine

City of New Orleans

Cockles and Mussels

Come let us Sing (Hava Nashira)

Common Thread

Crawdad Song

The Curragh of Kildare

Daddy Fox

Danny Boy

Deportee

Derelect (Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum)

The Doffing Mistress

Dona Dona

Donkey Riding

Down Frae Yarrow

Down in the Valley

Down the Springfield Road

The Dudley Boys

Early Fields (Jean Ritchie)

Edelweiss

The Faith of Man

F-word Chat With Your Mother

Few Days

Finnegan's Wake

FlodGarrie

Follow the Drinking Gourd

Fountain Filled With Blood

Gar’ners Gay

Ghost Chicken in the Sky

Give me the Roses While I Live

Goodbye to the 30 Foot Trailer

The Good Night Song

Grandma’s Feather Bed

The Great Peace March

The Great Storm is Over

Green as Flod Garie

Green Corn

Green Grow the Rushes O

Hang on the Bell, Nellie

Happiness Runs

Haul Away Joe

The Happy Ploughman

Hava Nashira (Come Lets Be Sing)

Here I Am

House of the Rising Sun (tune: Amazing Grace)

How Can I Keep From Singing

Hush Little Baby

The Hymn Song

I Can't Help but Wonder Where I'm Bound

I Had an Old Coat

I Still Miss Someone

I'll Fly Away

I'll Lay You Doon, Love

I'm the Man that Slits the Turkeys Throats at Christmas

I’ll Fly Away (1932)

Isn't it Grand

Its a Long Way from Clare to Here

Johnny with the Bandy Legs (Marais Meranda)

Jongo

Julian of Noritch

Kookaberra

Leave Her, Johnny, Leave Her

Leavin’ On A Jet Plane

Let It Be

Let the Mystery Be (Iris Dement)

Love at the Five and Dime

Mangwani Mpulele

The Man on the Flying Trapeze

Marching to Pretoria

Mary Ellen Carter

Mingulay Boat Song

Morning Has Broken

Moses R-Toorali-ay

My Paddle

Needlecases

Never Turning Back (Pat Humphries)

Night Rider’s Lament

No Sound Can Awaken to Glory Again

O Darling Child of Mine

Off to Sea Once More

Oh How He Lied

Old Man River

On the Bayou

One More Day

One Tin Soldier

Our Town (Iris Dement)

Over Again, Peace Must Come

Puff the Magic Dragon

Put It on the Ground

Puttin’ On the Style

Quare Bungle Rye

Rise Up O Flame

River

Rivers of Babylon

Road to Claughdy

The Rose and the Linsey

Scarborough Fair

Seasons of the Year

The Serving Girl’s Holiday

Shanghai Brown

Sheath and Knife

Shipyard Apprentice

Singing in the Rain

Sister Woman Sister

Skye Boat Song

So Long Ago (Nancy Griffith)

Somos El Barco

Spirit Horses

Starlight on the Rails

Step by Step

Summertime

Sweet Potatoes

Tenting on the Old Campground

There Was A Lady

Thyme

To Sing For You

Travelin’ Shoes

Ver Me O

Waltzing With Bears

Wee Willie’s lost his Marly

West Coast of Clare

Whiskey in the Jar

Will the Circle Be Unbroken

Windmills

You Can’t be a Pirate

No 4th Saturday sessions this summer

2009-06-10T14:23:00.000-07:00

Sharon and I will not be able to host the 4th Saturday Irish session in June or July. The next session date is TBD.

March Session

2009-03-28T21:56:00.000-07:00

Fabulous session this afternoon. Attending were Sharon on fiddle, Jaya on whistle and bodhran, Lou on bodhran, Allan on mandolin and octave mandolin, Leslie, Fred on bodhran, concertina, whistle and piano, Scott on whistle and mandolin, Pete on banjo and dobro, Phyllis on flute and Suzanne on bodhran and feet.

Repast was excellent, as usual, including smoked salmon, cheese and fruit, crackers and chocolate. And the black forest cake was enjoyed by all, we had to play for two hours after eating a piece just to work off the sugar rush!

Black Forest Cake (click for the recipe)

Here are some of the tunes we played, not in any particular order:
Antrim Rose/High Reel
The People of West Cork and Kerry (song)
Merry Blacksmith/Maid Behind the Bar/Cooley's/Wise Maid/Torn Jacket
The Chickens they were Crowin' (song)
Snowy Path/Kid on the Mountain
Cook in the Kitchen/Dusty Windowsill/Humors of Ennistymon
Trasna na Dtonnta
Cup of Tea/Trip to Durrow
Battering Ram/Banks of Lough Gowna/Out on the Ocean
Garret Barry's/Blarney Pilgrim/Banish Misfortune
Foxhunter's Jig/Fig for a Kiss/The Butterfly
Buy Broom Besoms (song)
Aran Boat Song/Road to Lisdoonvarna/O'Keefe's Slide/Lannigan's Ball

My Darling Asleep/Anthony Frawley's/Tripping Up the Stairs

Peeler's Jacket/Torn Jacket

The Air Tune

Chief O Niels Favourite

Mist on the mountains/Mist Over the Mountains Jig

Hush, Hush (song)

The Bonnie Bunch of Roses O (song)
The Black Seam (piano)

There were more, but I didn't get them all written down. We had a great time. Don't miss the next one, April 25th!

2009-01-18T11:03:00.000-08:00

Because February 7 is Jaya and my 5th anniversary, we are taking a four day weekend and will be gone on February 8.

SO, I am moving the sing to the next weekend, February 15th. Same time, same place, same great time, just a different day of the month. In March, we'll go back to the second Sunday of the month, like always.

Here are two videos from Camp New Harmony, featuring Dick Holdstock and Faith Petric.

4 House Concerts in the works

2009-01-05T23:26:00.000-08:00

The Auburn House Concerts venue is really taking off. Not a week into 2009 and we have four artists books and are talking with a couple more.

Stevie Coyle in 2 week, January 17th.

Jim Malcolm, February 1st, 3:00 PM.

Melanie O'Reilly, sometime around St. Patrick day.

Brian Bowers, Friday, May 22nd.

Go the the Auburn House Concerts .org website for details.

Tuning

2008-11-22T11:35:00.000-08:00

Turning is an opportunity to listen, really listen to your instrument.

AuburnHouseConcerts Blog

2008-10-11T14:59:00.000-07:00

We started a new blog for the Auburn House Concerts site (AHC).

AuburnHouseConcerts.blogspot.com

This is where we will announce upcoming concerts, post informal concert reports, and let you know about the publication of AHC videos.

At the bottom of the blog page is an applet that shows all the house concert videos we have posted on YouTube.

Musicians Think Differently

2008-10-08T22:08:00.000-07:00

...an article in press at the journal Brain and Cognition confirms that musicians have more going on in their brains than the rest of us: they use both hemispheres, more frequently.

The researchers discovered this dual-activity when they measured the creativity of 20 piano, percussion, wind and string players. The musicians were asked to invent new functions for common household objects. On average, they came up with 14 more uses than nonmusicians could.

In a second experiment musicians dreamed up new uses for everyday items while the prefrontal lobes in their brains got scanned. And musicians had more activity in both sides of their frontal lobes than nonmusicians did.

Researchers think these findings fit with musical talent—for example, pianists use each hand simultaneously to play different melodies and rhythms. And they read notes, a left-hemisphere task, and immediately turn them into music, a right-hemisphere job.

From the Scientific American podcast, 60-Second Psych.

Now tell me something I don't know.

There's No One as Irish as Barack O'Bama

2008-10-06T20:57:00.001-07:00

Someone caught me singing at the Grass Valley Celtic Festival on Sunday, September 28.

To hear the whole song, see Shay Black's version.

September Session moved to Celtic Festival

2008-09-08T20:03:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone.

Because of the conflict with the KVMR Celtic Festival in Grass Valley, Jaya and I have decided to cancel our house session on Saturday, September 27th. Instead we'll session at the festival.

Pete and Phyllis Grant are camping at the festival, (Pete is performing) and have graciously agreed to host a session at their trailer Saturday from 6-8pm. Click the link to check out the festival schedule.

Hope to see you all at the festival!

Sharon and Jaya

Session Report, August 29, 2008

2008-08-31T10:55:00.000-07:00

After the Paddy Keenan & Tommy O'Sullivan house concert we had a very nice short session.

Musicians attending:
Pete Grant, dobro and pedal steel guitar
Sharon, fiddle
Phyllis Grant, flute
Paddy Keenan, low D whistle
Bo Bowen, whistles
Tim Hart, whistles and bodhrán
Jaya, bodhrán and low D whistle

An incomplete list of tunes:
Random Jig / I Buried My Wife and Danced on Her Grave
Garret Berry's / Blarney Pilgrim / Banish Misfortune
Karen's Courage (Tim Hart)
Cup of Tea / Trip to Durrow
Slow Aires / Jig (Paddy low D whistle, Pete pedal steel, Tim bodhrán)
Chicago Reel (Bo, Paddy and Tim)

I think we should all carry around a little reverb wherever we go.—Tim Hart

Paddy Keenan and Tommy O'Sullivan Concert

2008-08-30T10:43:00.000-07:00

The Paddy Keenan and Tommy O'Sullivan Concert on Friday night was incredible. The concert was sold out so we started a waiting/SRO list. As expected there were unexpected events in people's lives that prevented them from attending consequently, all the folks on the waiting list were able to find a seat.

Pete Grant joined Tommy and Paddy for most of the sets. Usually Pete plays the dobro in our sessions so it was a special treat to hear some of his pedal steel guitar music. At Paddy's request Pete and Phyllis Grant did a song for the crowd. Then Bo Bowen, whistle, from Nine-8ths Irish was asked to join for a set as well.

Sharon shot several videos that we hope to publish on the concerts website after the artists have reviewed and approved their release. The MP3 recorder did a fine job capturing a great performance so we don't foresee any problems getting a couple up in the next few weeks.

After the concert we had a nice short session. Paddy played his low D whistle and Tommy played the bar man, leaning on the kitchen counter enjoying the music.

Session Report, August 23, 2008

2008-08-23T22:12:00.000-07:00

Musicians attending:
Bill, Allan, Lonna, Jaya, Sharon, Jon, Steve, Bo, Carl, Michael, Fred, Suzanne

Michael Eskin was visiting from San Diego. Here's a clip of him playing the Boys of Killarney on the Uilleann pipes with Jaya on bodhrán. To see more of Michael, check out his website.

An incomplete list of tunes:
Southwind
Cooley's / Wise Maid / The Torn Jacket
Rolling Waves / 2 slides (Julia Pickford)
Morpeth Rant / Flowers of Edinburgh / King of the Fairies
Mouse in the Mug / Cliffs of Moher
Rambling Pitchfork / Connachtman's Rambles
Virginian/ Piper's Despair/ Merry Blacksmith / Cup of Tea / Dunmore Lasses
Silver Spear / Mrs. McLeod's
Farewell to Ireland
Langstrom's Pony / Maudabann Chapel
Scartaglen Polka
Blackbird / Blackbird / Blackbird
Kesh
King of the Fairies
The West Coast of Clare (song)
Congress Reel/ Christmas Eve / Maids of Mt. Cisco / Dr. Gilbert
Peeler's Jacket / Man of the house
Chief O'Neill's / Rights of Man
Swinging on a Gate / Over the Moor to Maggie's
Banish Misfortune
Snowy Path / Kid on the Mountain
Cordal Jig / Dan the Cobbler
Golden Castle / Paddy Fahey's / Sean Ryan's
Wise Maid / Sligo Maid / Maid Behind the Bar
Star of Munster
Julia DeLaney
Ballydesmond 2 & 3
Cooley's / Foxhunter's Reel
Fermoy Lasses / Chicago Reel / Dinky's
When First I Came to Caledonia (song)
Si Beag Si Mohr
Behind the Haystack / Frieze Britches / Humours of Ballylochlan
Trasna na Dtonnta (song)
Antrim Rose
Dingle Regatta
Madam Maxwell
Rolling Waves
Silver Spear
Wheels of the World
Random Jig / Smash the Windows
Cook in the Kitchen / Dusty Windowsill / Humours of Ennistymon

Carrickarede rope bridge

2008-08-15T19:21:00.001-07:00

When I first heard the song Carrick-a-rede, I thought it must be a shanty. But now seeing this video, I'm sure the chorus is simply talking about crossing this bridge!

One step and two, hold tight, let go.
Twenty and four, hold tight, let go.
I'm nearly there, let go, let go.

Bei Mir Bist Du Schon

2008-08-11T20:43:00.000-07:00

Here is the first of three videos recorded at the Notorious house concert.

Bei Mir Bist Du Schön is a swing tune from New York's Yiddish vaudeville of the early 1930's.

Session Report, July 26, 2008

2008-07-26T21:02:00.000-07:00

Attending:
Joel, Jaya, Sharon, Fred & Scott. Missing: Jon

Tunes played:
Crested Hens
The Banshee
I Love You My Darling
The Red Crow
Sour Grass & Granite
An Conhra Donn
Cooley's Reel/The Wise Maid
Sleive Na Mann/Fisher's/An Conhra Donn
Neil Gow's Lament For the Death of His Second Wife
Cooley's Reel/The Wise Maid/The Torn Jacket
Blackbird/Blackbird (the slide)
Dusty Windowsill
Spootiskerry
Trasna na Donnta
Pipe on the Hob/Hag at the Churn
Johnny O'Daughtry's/Scatter the Mud
Madam Bonaparte/O'Carolan's Draught
Random Jig/Smash the Windows
Cook in the Kitchen/Dusty Windowsill/Humors of Ennistymon
The White Petticoat
Trip to Durrow
Cup of Tea
Return to Fingle
Eileen Curran's (The Sailors Return)
Whalen's Jig/Humors of Castletain
Carrick-a-Rede (song)
St. Anne's Reel
An Comhra Donn
The Flowing Tide
Con Cassidy's
Silver Spear/?/Musical Priest
Farewell to Whiskey/Whiskey Welcome Back Again/Whiskey Before Breakfast

AuburnHouseConcerts.org

2008-07-24T12:25:00.000-07:00

After a very busy and entertaining July (Notorious and Legacy) Sharon and I decided to jump all the way into to house concert pool and build a website.

AuburnHouseConcerts.org

I've moved all the pages from www.ElbowMagic.com to the new site and left jump pages behind to teleport people to the new domain.

Please bookmark the site and tell your friends about it. Performers: room and board are part of the venue's offerings.

Note that we have a .org domain name because this whole operation is a charitable endeavor to promote music in our community.

Legacy Concert

2008-07-12T02:06:00.000-07:00

The Auburn House Concert staring Legacy was smokin'. (Remember that is when we couldn't go outside because of the fires.) Once again the largest attendance to date. Many people had never heard of Legacy before and were delighted they took a chance. We overheard someone say that they knew Legacy from their recordings and were very impressed how great and tight they sounded at the concert.

We have posted two videos from the concert; Old Hag You’ve Killed Me / The Killavil Jig / The Killarney Boys of Pleasure / The Curlew and a song sung by Justin, Mary and the Solder.

Pictures of the concert are in the Auburn House Concerts Legacy Photo Album.

Notorious Concert

2008-07-03T23:21:00.000-07:00

The Auburn House Concert staring Notorious was fantastic. The largest attendance to date and everyone loved it.

We have posted two videos from the concert; Bei Mir Bist Du Schön and We'll to the Woods No More.

Pictures of the concert are in the Auburn House Concerts Notorious Photo Album.

Sesson Report, June 28, 2008

2008-06-28T21:48:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,
We are not trying to compete by holding our session at the same time as other events. We have made a commitment to the 4th Saturday of the month, and we have our session posted on the web, and in publications like the FolkNik. We have had people drop in from as far away as San Diego, and so Jaya and I feel that whatever else is going on, we need to hold our session as planned (unless we're away at Lark Camp!) SO, although we'd love to see you here, we understand there are a lot of other draws in the summertime. And although we'd love to come to your house, we're committed to stay here and host a session every fourth Saturday.

Sharon Carl

We had a great sesson today!
Attending were: Randy on guitar, Scott on mandolin and whistle, Fred on concertina, whistle, vocals and bodhran, Allan on mandolin, guitar and vocals, Brian on fiddle and accordion, Janet on hammered dulcimer, Vonne on fiddle and guitar, Steve on bazouki, Jon on mandolin, Suzanne on bodhran, Jaya on whistle and bodhran and Sharon on fiddle and vocals.

Jaya barbecued chicken, chiles and tofu. There was fruit salad, chicken salad, curried rice, cheese and crackers and wine.

We played and ate and played some more. I was having too much fun to write down any tunes! Join us next time!

In Harmony's Way Up In Auburn

2008-06-08T17:32:00.000-07:00

Attendees:
Sharon, Jaya, Claudia, Luci, Allan, Paul, Barbara, Joe, Martha, Ruth, Mary

The songs:
Aardvark
Here I Am
Waltzing With Bears
Norwegian Birthday Song
From Clare to Here
Eddystone Light
Nevermind
River
Wee Cooper of Fife
MIA Cha Chio
The Unicorn Song
The Leaving of Liverpool
Chase the Buffalo
Rolling Home
Song of the Soul
Keep that Wheel ATurnin'
On Ilkley Moor Baht 'At
Rise Up O Flame
Down to the River to Pray
Madam I'm a Darlin'
The Bonny Bonny Broom
Dark as the Dungeon
Are you Tired of Me, My Darlin'
Souix City Sue
Ruin of the Calavala
White Coral Bells
Get Together
Rolling Down the Bay to Juliana
Starlight on the Rails
I would Change my Life
If I Lived My Life Again
Dona Nobis Pachim
Peace of the River
Let Union Be

Mother's Day Song Session

2008-05-25T13:12:00.000-07:00

May 11, 2008

Attending: Sharon, Jaya, Luci, Brian, Badger, Alan, Barbara, Carol, Steve, Paul, Murray, Fred, Suzanne

The Songs:

I Had A Rooster
Leezie Lindsey
Hobo's Lullaby
A Wee Bird Come to My Apron
Anyone Can Be Somebody's Fool
Llorolla
Yellow Submarine
Old Man River
Raglan Road
Green Grow The Rushes O
Here I Am
Robin Hood & Little John
Rue the Day That Ever I Married
Wraggle Taggle Gypsies
Goodbye to the 30 Foot Trailer
This Old Town
Guantanamera
Blackbird
City of New Orleans
Keel Row
Blackbird (trad.)
Kids are Gonna Love
All Around My Hat
Botany Bay
On We Go
Molly Malone
The Molecatcher
There But For Fortune
Rose Rose (round)
Blowin' In The Wind
Will the Circle Be Unbroken
The Auld Triangle
We Work the Black Sea
Hush Hush
Isn't It Grand
Tom Dooley
Bide Lady Bide
Chances
Hey Joe

Session Report, May 24, 2008

2008-05-24T15:35:00.000-07:00

Musicians

Jaya—whistles, bodhrán

Sharon—fiddle

Steve—bouzouki

Tunes (in order)
Many other tunes were played but not listed.

Lannigan's Ball
If I Had Maggie in the Woods
The Maid Behind the Bar
The Moon and the Seven Stars
Cliffs of Moher
Neil Gow's Lament for The Death of His Second Wife
Planxty Irwin
Banish Misfortune
King of the Fairies
Maid Behind the Bar
Ballydesmond #2 & #3
Scartaglen Polka
Spootiskerry / Willafjord
Si Beag Si Mor
Sourgrass and Granite
Cook in the Kitchen / Dusty Windowsill / Humours of Ennistymon
Dingle Regatta
Connaughtman's Rambles
Merry Blacksmith
Church Street
Con Cassidy's / Random Jig
Silabh Na Mban
St. Hilda's Wedding
Hardiman the Fiddler
I Buried My Wife and Danced on Her Grave
Red Crow
Rambling Pitchfork
Road To Lisdoonvarna / Lannigan's Ball
Southwind
Mazurka Set: Sonny Brogan's / Charlie Lennon's / Vincent Campbell's
Rakes of Mallow
Neil Gow's Lament for the Death of His Second Wife
Flowers of Edinburgh / Morpeth Rant
Rocky Road to Dublin

Session Report, April 25, 2008

2008-04-26T21:34:00.000-07:00

Attending today (in order of appearance) were Sharon (fiddle), Shawn (whistles, bazouki), Jaya (whistles, bodhran), Fred (concertina, bodhran), Lonna (fiddle), Paula (hammered dulcimer) and Dan (octave mandolin, fiddle, guitar).

We played:
Shoemaker's Daughter
Jackie Tar
The Work's All Done (Dan Engle)
The Blackbird (the one played by Sharon Shannon)
Munster Jig/Out on the Ocean
The Blackbird (the other one)
Chief O'Neill's Favorite
Trasna Na Dtonnta
Tobins/Star Above the Garter/Morrison's
Kesh Jig
Cliffs of Moher/Jackson's Morning Brush/The Rakes of Kildare
Mooncoin/Mug of Brown Ale
Antrim Rose/High Reel
Monahan's Jig
King of the Faeries/Swallowtail Jig/Road to Lisdoonvarna
Longacre/Snowy Path/Kid on the Mountain/Litran Quickstep (?)
Old Hag at the Kiln
Gypsy Flight
Two Rivers
Give Me Your Hand
Josephine's Waltz (in F)
Cook in the Kitchen/Dusty Windowsill/Humors of Ennistymon
The Work's All Done/Greg Freitas the Handyman (Dan Engle)
Con Cassidy's
The Red Crow
Have You Been to Kerrick/Trip to Sligo
Diplodicus
Captain O'Caines/Butterfly

Directions to 1665 High Street, Auburn

2008-04-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

Address

1665 High St.
Auburn, California 95603

Bird's Eye

We're on the south side of High St, center of the picture, the grey roofed house.

Directions - From SF Bay Area

It's about a 2 hour drive from Berkeley. On Friday afternoons figure an additional hour :(.

Take I-80 E towards Sacramento.
Approaching Sacramento take the exit I-80 E toward Reno.
Exit on Maple St., first exit in Auburn.
Go straight up the hill, the Court House will be on the right.
Maple St. turns into Auburn Folsom Road at the Court House light. (This is not well marked.) Do not turn.
Turn right on Racetrack Street, the second light after the Court House.
Turn right at Timberline Lane, the second street.
Turn left at High Street. Go 1-1/2 blocks to 1665 High, on your left. It's the grey house.

Directions - From Sacramento

Take I-80 E toward Reno.
Exit on Maple St., first exit in Auburn.
Go straight up the hill, the Court House will be on the right.
Maple St. turns into Auburn Folsom Road at the Court House light. (This is not well marked.) Do not turn.
Turn right on Racetrack Street, the second light after the Court House.
Turn right at Timberline Lane, the second street.
Turn left at High Street. Go 1-1/2 blocks to 1665 High, on your left. It's the grey house.

Directions - From Grass Valley

Take 49 into town and head out towards the fairgrounds parking, Gold Country Fair.

Take 49 S to Auburn.
Pass under the I-80 and turn right on Lincoln Way.
Turn left onto Auburn Folsom Road at the Court House light. (This is not well marked.)
Turn right on Racetrack Street, the second light after the Court House.
Turn right at Timberline Lane, the second street.
Turn left at High Street. Go 1-1/2 blocks to 1665 High, on your left. It's the grey house.

Directions - From Reno

It's about a 90 minute drive over the mountains in clear weather.

Take I-80 W to Auburn.
Exit to 49 S, clover leaf around and head up the hill towards old town.
Turn right on Lincoln Way.
Turn left onto Auburn Folsom Road at the Court House light. (This is not well marked.)
Turn right on Racetrack Street, the second light after the Court House.
Turn right at Timberline Lane, the second street.
Turn left at High Street. Go 1-1/2 blocks to 1665 High, on your left. It's the grey house.

Directions - From Folsom

Take the Folsom-Auburn Road to the Auburn fairgrounds parking, Gold Country Fair.

Take Folsom-Auburn Road north to Auburn.
Turn left on Racetrack Street, the light at the 7-11 and fairgound parking.
Turn right at Timberline Lane, the second street.
Turn left at High Street. Go 1-1/2 blocks to 1665 High, on your left. It's the grey house.

Absolutely Irish

2008-04-02T18:24:00.000-07:00

There is a new performance show that has been airing on PBS recently, Absolutely Irish.

Your public TV station may give you a copy of the show for a $75 donation. But Amazon.com will sell you the DVD for $18.

You can wet your whistle with the clips on YouTube.

Three Absolutely Irish Fiddlers
Liz Carroll, Eileen Ivers, and Athena Tergis with John Doyle
Absolutely Irish Dancer, Jo McNamara

Session Report, March 22, 2008

2008-03-22T16:22:00.000-07:00

Musicians

Jaya—whistles, bodhran, voice
Sharon—fiddle, voice
Fred—concertina, bodhran, whistle
Scott—mandolin, whistle
Phylis—flute, whistle
Pete—banjo

Tunes (in order)
Many other tunes were played but not listed.
The Joy of My Life / Banish Misfortune / Out on the Ocean
A Kerry Polka / Britches Full of Stitches / Balleydesmond II & III
Random Jig / Smash the Windows / I Buried my Wife and Danced on Her Grave
The Moon and the Seven Stars
Red Crow
Sliabh na MBan / Bonapart Crossing the Rhine / Harvest Home
Return From Fingal
Anna Maculeen / Red Crow
Muireann's Jig
Hunt on Staten Island
The Shoemaker's Daughter
Queen of the Rushes

In Harmony's Way Up In Auburn

2008-01-13T20:45:00.000-08:00

The first In Harmony's Way song session in Auburn was held today, January 13, 2008 from 2-5pm. We had a great first-time turnout, 18 singers attended! Steve, Carol, Allan, Joy, Suzanne, Lonna, Debra, Joe, Erin, Laurie, Sharon, Phyllis, Pete, Ruth, Jaya, Fred, Grace and Dick. Farthest traveler award went to Steve, he came all the way from San Francisco, and he went home with the last of the Tiramisu!

We all had a GREAT time. We're going to do it again on February 10, same time, same place. Check back here and I'll have pictures posted and a song list.

Session Report, December 22, 2007

2007-12-22T22:42:00.000-08:00

Musicians
James—tenor recorder, soprano recorder
Jaya—whistles, bodhran, voice
Sharon C.—fiddle, voice
Fred—concertina, bodhran, whistle
Suzanne—bodhran
Grace—fiddle
Randy—guitar
Bill—fiddle
Dick—flute
Chris—bodhran
Linda—fiddle
Maureen—bodhran
Scott—mandolin, whistle
Allan—mandolin, guitar, voice
Phylis—flute, whistle
Dave—fiddle, flute
Todd & John, music appreciation

Tunes (in order)
Many other tunes were played but not listed.
My Darling Asleep/Gillian's Apples
Arran Boat Song
Moon & Seven Stars
Off to California/Rights of Man
Scatter the Mud
Willisford/Spootiskerry
Farewell to Aberdine (Lord Inchiquen)
Paddy Fahey's/Mooncoin
Sean Ryan's Polka
Connachtman's Rambles
Planxty Irwin
Diplodacus
Millers Dragham
Song: So Will We Yet
(9/8 Irish ripping tune)
Dark Island
Merry Blacksmith
Wind that shakes the Barley
Harvest Home/Boys of Bluehill
Off to California
The Girl I left Behind Me
Rosetree 2
Chief O'Neill's Favorite
Cook in the Kitchen/Dusty Windowsill/Humors of Ennistymon
Cooley's
Anthony Frowley's
Bride's Favorite
Hunters Purse/Star of Munster
Ships are Sailing
Battering Ram/Humors of Ballylochlan/Out on the Ocean
Slieve Gallen Braes
Carolan's Rambel to Cashel
Geese in the Bog
Antrim Rose
Arran Boat Song/Road to Lisdoonvarna/Morrison's
Princess Beatrice
(Natalie McMaster set)
Whistling Postman/For the Sake of All Decency
Random Jig/Smash the Windows/I Buried my Wife and Danced on her Grave
The Dawn Chorus
I left my love in America/Wise Maid
Green Mountain
Bruha

And we played more after that, but I didn't write them down.

House Concert: Melanie O'Reilly

2007-10-13T15:16:00.000-07:00

Coming to Auburn in November!

Melanie O'Reilly

Saturday evening, November 17th
7:30 PM

One of the most sensational musical pioneers to explode on the Irish scene, Melanie O'Reilly is now firmly established in the pantheon of creative Irish artists. As a performer/singer-songwriter, her exhilarating and unique blend of Irish traditional music and jazz creates a powerful and haunting soundscape, exploring untouched frontiers, and which captivates audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.
Born in Dublin, Melanie comes from a family of musicians and actors, and she spent most of her youth treading the boards as an actress and singer, while at the same time was a multiple- award -winner singing in Dublin’s Feis Ceol competitions.
Her passion for jazz began when her sister Clodagh introduced her the sound of jazz singers at the age of 11. Intrigued by the rhythms and scat improvisations of Ella Fitzgerald, she decided then that she would become a jazz singer, and she immersed herself in the music of other jazz giants such as Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie. She also absorbed much by listening to Irish groups such as Horslips, Louis Stewart’s Trio and the Sean-nos (unaccompanied traditional) singing of Sean O Riada.

"Spellbinding... uplifting music from a true innovator" -- Rough Guide to Irish Music

...A wondrous mix of what this fine singer is all about - a deep passion for Irish Traditional music and Jazz...with O'Reilly's voice weaving a spell..." --Matt Nugent, Evening Herald

"Breathtaking amazing emotional intensity...sheer virtuosity..." -- The Irish Times

“Undoubtedly one of the major talents to emerge in recent times, Melanie O'Reilly possesses a voice which is rich and resonant, and a song-writing talent which is going to ensure that we hear a lot more of her in the future." -- In Dublin

"Melanie O'Reilly has studiously carved herself a considerable reputation as a jazz singer with a keen ear for the cross-currents that link jazz's lateral thinking with Irish folk and traditional music" -- The Irish Times

"A work of special importance in the development of the sung Irish language...an uplifting celebration of Irish culture that is finding new feet upon which to confidently stride into the future." --Dublin Event Guide

[of her live performances] "...her pitch was impeccable, her timing totally secure, her phrasing ineffably right. More than this, however, was perhaps the most essential gift of all - her ability to read a lyric with an innate sense of its dramatic demands and to serve these accordingly." -- The Irish Times

"O'Reilly's sensuous voice is the perfect vehicle for entwining jazz styles with Irish Celtic influences..." -- The Scotsman

Session Report, September 22, 2007

2007-09-22T23:28:00.000-07:00

This month a few of our friends from Berkeley came up, Ann, John and Innana. Innana made a real chocolate cake for Sharon and Jaya's birthday. Jaya made his bean soup for John and Ann. Mike found us on the web, he was visiting his folks in Roseville from San Diego. His website is here. He normally plays ulliean pipes, but he wasn't travelling with them.

Musicians
Jaya—whistle and bodhran
Sharon C.—fiddle, voice
John McKenzie-Young—whistle
Ann McKenzie-Young—button accordion
Innana—Irish flute
Mike—whistle, flute, guitar, concertina
Fred—concertina, bodhran, whistle
Suzanne—bodhran

Tunes (in order)
Many other tunes were played but not listed.
I Buried My Wife and Danced on Her Grave / Morrisons
King of the Fairies
Shoemaker's Daughter
Mouse in the Mug / Garret Barry's
Blarny Pilgrim
Cook in the Kitchen
My Darling Asleep / Humors of Ennistymon / Lark in the Morning
Kesh Jig / Morrison's
Sligo Maid / Maid of Mt. Cisco
Sporting Paddy
Austin Barret's
Munster Jig / Humors of Lasheen / Jimmy Wards
Blackthorn Sitck / Willie Colemans / Smash the Windows
Ballydesmond 1 / Ballydesmond 2 / Scartaglen Polka
Th Scholar / Merry Blacksmith / Sally Gardens
Silver Spear / Crowleys
Pipe on the Hob
Humors of Ballylochlan
Frieze Britches
Tell Her I Am / Gallagher's Frolic
The Drunken Gauger
Crested Hens
Josephine's Waltz
Peeler's Jacket / Flogging Reel / Abbey Reel
Garret Barry's / Blarney Pilgrim / Banish Misfortune
Merrily Kiss the Quaker
Cliffs of Moher
Snowy Path / Fig for a Kiss
Far Away
Song: I Think About Sex

House Concert: Stevie Coyle

2007-09-03T20:43:00.001-07:00

When we moved up to Auburn, to this great house, I started having visions of hosting house concerts, for all my musical buddies. We are starting off with a BANG!

Stevie Coyle, of The Waybacks will be up in our area doing the American River Festival the fourth weekend in September. He has graciously consented to appear at our house for a solo performance on the Friday of that weekend, September 21.

Click here for house concert page. Click here for Stevie's myspace page. Click here for The Waybacks website.

We only have 30 seats available. If you are interested, email me right away. sharon56@pacbell.net
Prepayment is recommended to hold your spot.

Stevie and I attended Salinas High school together back in the day. We both studied drama, and both appeared in Hotel Paradiso, a French farce. Steve played the bellman, and even then he showed a flair for comedy. He went on to study acting, but music was always a big part of his life. Steve and his brother Jim have been playing guitar since long before I knew them.

Stevie's talent, sense of humor and lightning quick wit have only improved with time. I feel very fortunate to know him and I'm just tickled that the rest of the world is now recognizing this great performer.

I hope you all come out and enjoy this great singer/songwriter. Tell your friends! Steve will have you tapping your feet and clapping your hands. And most likely, he'll have you laughing, too. He's an entertainer extraordinare.

Notes from Tony's workshop

2007-09-01T18:49:00.000-07:00

The whistle workshop seemed to be personally successful for all who attended. What follows are my notes (good luck deciphering all of this with having attended the clinic.)

Hornpipe Triplets; don't tongue on the 1

Find the rhythm (in the tune)-you don't have any dynamic range to work with. For example in reels, sit on the 1 and the 3; stretch out the 1 and 3 as well. You can pulse with the breath.

Remember, tunes are about rhythm not notes.

Give a little are on cuts.

Session Report, August 26, 2007

2007-08-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

A couple of old friends from BASS came up for this months session. John O'Buttons brought his beautiful new concertina so he and Fred had a lot to talk about. Sharon S. brought some new tunes from Tucson that are very whistle friendly.

We started quietly about 4 PM and wrapped it up after 11. Good food and a particularly enjoyable session.

Musicians
Jaya—whistle and bodhran
Sharon C.—fiddle, voice
Sharon S.—whistle
John—concertina
Fred—concertina, bodhran, whistle
Pete—dobro, banjo, voice
Suzanne—bodhran, step dance
Dan—bouzouki, voice
Misha—fiddle, percussion
Phyllis—flute

Tunes (in order)
Many other tunes were played but not listed.
Hornpipe set: Bantry Bay / The Stack of Wheat / The Stack of Barley
Hornpipe set: Off to California / The Little Stack of Barley / Rights of Man
The Rolling Wave
Willy Coleman's / Garret Barry's / Sally Gardens
Flowers of Edinburgh
Tear the Calico
Flowers of Edinberg / Morpeth Rant / King of the Faeries
Kid on the Mountain
Eavesdropper / Willie Coleman's
Out on the Ocean
Fare Thee Well A Sto'r (song: Pete)
Joy of My Life
Tom Cassidy's Jig [Altan record]
Cook in the Kitchen / Austin Barret's / Humours of Ennistymon
Dunmore Lasses
Trip to Sligo
Tripping Up the Stairs
Rakish Patty / Patty on the Turnpike / Merry Blacksmith
Skartaglen Polka / Ballydesmond #3 / Ballydesmond #2
King of the Pipers [Altan record]
Out on the Ocean / Garret Berry's / Blarney Pilgrim / Banish Misfortune
Trip to Durrow
I Think About Sex (song: Sharon C.)
Southwind / Cliffs of Moher
Josefine's Waltz
Scatter the Mud
Snowy Path / Spootiskerry / Star of Munster
My Love is in America / Wise Maid
Salamanca Reel / Ships Are Sailing
Kid on the Mountain
Morrison's Jig / Rights of Man / Out on the Ocean / Swinging on a Gate
High Level Hornpipe (Pub Scout ABCs X:215)
Tom Bhetty's Waltz
Rambling Pitchfork / Tobin's / Road to Kilfenora (by Pete Grant)
Greg Fratis the Handyman / The Work's All Done (by Daniel Engle)
The Good News / Gypsy's Flight (by Daniel Engle)
Angelina (song: Pete)
People of West Cork and Kerry (song: Pete)
The Flower of McClarin (song: Dan) (by Daniel Engle)
The Atholl Highlanders
The Castleford Ladies' Magical Circle (song: Sharon C.)
Harry Potter (song: Sharon C.) (By Shosi Black, sung to the tune of the Maha Mantra.)

Guitar Cord Applet

2007-07-13T17:29:00.000-07:00

Check out this handy guitar chord webpage, Chord House/Guitar Room (Advanced).

You can select several variables, it instantly shows the fingerboard chart.

Tuning (standard, drop-D, DADGAD, etc.)
Display either the note name or the interval
Right or left hand
Bass string on top or bottom
Scale (too many to count)

The applet is ©1998-2007, Erik van der Neut, Cambridge, MA, USA.

See also Chord House/Guitar Room (Easy) if this is TMI.

I find Chord House/Piano Room useful when studying modes.

A Note About Modes

2007-07-13T17:22:00.000-07:00

Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do

This entry was originally an email we received. The author will be cited when we get permission. :)

Modes are like a box of crayons. But what would it be like to look at a Van Gogh and catalog the names of all the colors he used from that old box of crayons? How useful would that be? Modes are a highly respected study with string musicians because they open the door. They are nothing in themselves. It's not about the color. It's about the picture and the expression. It's not about the mode. It's about the new ways you will move your hand and your mind when you study them. When you get into them, you'll realize that it's all just a major scale and you are starting on a different step. But where violin music will show this to you as a string of notes with sharps and flats, modal thinking will show you a series of half steps and whole steps that easily transpose about the neck and across the strings. That's the power of this study.

Work on this focusing on the words. Just the words like you're practicing a tongue twister.
Say it as one word. Doremifasolatido Ionian mode. Get your mouth to work the consonants easily. Dotilasofamiredo. (Forwards and backwards)

Don't worry about the pitches yet. The consonants and syllables have to be easy and well rehearsed. Latin Vowels.

(I) Ionian Mode
Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do Doremifasolatido Dotilasofamiredo Do ti la so fa mi re do

(D) Dorian mode
Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do Re Remifasolatidore Redotilasofamire Re do ti la so fa mi re

(P) Phrygian Mode
Mi Fa So La Ti Do Re Mi Mifasolatidoremi Miredotilasofami Mi re do ti la so fa mi

(Ly) Lydean Mode
Fa So La Ti Do Re Mi Fa Fasolatidoremifa Famiredotilasofa Fa mi re do ti la so fa

(M) Mixolydian Mode
So La Ti Do Re Mi Fa So Solatidoremifaso Sofamiredotilaso So fa mi re do ti la so

(A) Aeolean Mode
La Ti Do Re Mi Fa So La Latidoremifasola Lasofamiredotila La so fa mi re do ti la

(Lo) Locrean Mode
Ti Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Tidoremifasolati Tilasofamiredoti Ti la so fa mi re do ti

Rote memorization for these--- Kingdom Phylum Genus Species You know how to do it but you might not have done it recently. Don't try and think about the pitches. Just work on the words.

Once the words become easy on the tongue and through the lips, The pitches will insinuate themselves without much further thought.

You're a graphics person! You should make a poster! Communicate!

Next Work with smaller and smaller sections of the words.

{w w h w} Do Re Mi^Fa So (I) Doremifaso (Ly) Sofamiredo (I) So fa^mi re do {w h w w} (I-Ly)

{w h w w} Re Mi^Fa So La (D) Remifasola (A) Lasofamire (D) La so fa^mi re {w w h w} (D-A)

{h w w w} Mi^Fa So La Ti (P) Mifasolati (Lo) Tilasofami (P) Ti la so fa^mi {w w w h} (P-Lo)

{w w w h} Fa So La Ti^Do (M) Fasolatido (I) Dotilasofa (M) Do^ti la so fa {h w w w} (M-I)

{w w h w} So La Ti^Do Re (Ly) Solatidore (D) Redotilaso (Ly) Re do^ti la so {w h w w} (Ly-D)

{w h w w} La Ti^Do Re Mi (A) Latidoremi (P) Miredotila (A) Mi re do^ti la {w w h w} (A-P)

{h w w h} Ti^Do Re Mi^Fa (Lo) Tiredomifa (M) Famiredoti (Lo) Fa^mi re do^ti {h w w h} (Lo-M)

{I've introduced notation to indicate whole steps and half steps.} If you study this a while you will see that the whole step and half step order repeats. (I) has the same pattern as ascending (Ly) and descending (D). Ascending (D) has the same pattern as ascending (A) and descending (Ly)! It's very close to the same pattern for three different places in the scale, or for three different modes. If you hear {w w h w} your ear will not be able to tell if it's just heard an (I) or an (Ly) It needs other input to form an opinion because the same pattern can occur in two different places of any scale or mode. This can be called tonal ambiguity. With the right notes it might even be convinced that it had heard a (D)

(P) (M) and (Lo) have patterns that can only occur in one place so the ear forms a solid understanding of where it is and in what scale and key when it hears these patterns. (h w w w) (w w w h) and (h w w h) But they can still exist in two different modes! (P-Lo) (M-I) (Lo-M)

One can make similar analysis of shorter or less linear melismas (A passage of several notes sung to one syllable of text, as in Gregorian chant.).

All this forms something like the periodic table of musical line and phrase. What we experience when we listen to music at the tonal level is a set of conditioned responses based on these recognizable distinctions in musical phrases. But like math, or chemistry, these are simply tools to define and quantify and form a symbolic map. The map is something that can get you an idea of how to get from place to place. But the map is not the territory. The real territory is actually full of magic and miracles that defy and confound the cartographer.

Session Report, June 23, 2007

2007-06-23T23:37:00.000-07:00

We started the afternoon with a master class given by whistle player Tony Higgins. The early part focused on the musicality of the whistle, beyond technique.

Tony uses GoldWave software to study recordings. He recommended taking a tune and slowing it down so that you can hear the myriad of ornamentation applied by the masters.

Musicians
Jaya-whistle and bodhran
Tony-whistle
Scott-whistle and mandolin
Teri-whistle
Suzanne-bodhran
Bo-whistle
Linda-fiddle
Sharon-fiddle
Chris-bodhran
Dan-octave mandolin, guitar, fiddle

Tunes (in order)
Many other tunes were played but not listed.

King of the Fairies
Cristy Berry's Set
Kid on the Mountain
Flowing Tide
Fisher's Hornpipe / Galway Hornpipe / Delmonte Hornpipe
Britches Full of Stitches / . . . /Ballydesmond Polkas
Bank of Turf
. . . / . . . / Dennis Murphy's / . . . Shannon Bells
Home Ruler
Cook in the Kitchen
Take My Hand (Give me your Hand) [from The Chieftain's 5]
Rose in the Heather
Cliffs of Mohr
Terry Bingham's
Maids of Mounty Kisko
Mist Covered Mountains (jig)
Pull the Knife Out and Stick It In Again (Tony told the story of the name.)
Whistling Postman
Willie Colleman's
Up In The Air
Smash the Windows
Trip to Durrow
Tony's Song on an A whistle
The J.B. Reel
Calliope House
Bobby Casey's Hornpipe a.k.a. Porthole of the Kelp
Illean Kern / Catharsis / Reconciliation
Blarney Pilgrim / Kerflunken / . . . / The Bucks of Oranmore
Garret Barry / Greg Fratis the Handyman / The Works All Done
Peacocks Feathers (second setting)
Boys of Blue Hill
Peacocks Feathers (first setting)
George White's Fancy
Silver Spire / Silver Spear
Cup of Tea
Woman of the House
Sweeny's Buttermilk ("Hardest tune I know." Tony Higgins)
White Petticoat (must learn this sweet tune)
Frieze Breeches
Humours of Ballyloughlan
I Ne'er Shall Wean Her
The Choice Wife
King of the Pipers
The Monigue Jig
Dunmore Lasses

Sharon & Jaya's Irish Session

2007-06-17T17:05:00.000-07:00

SATURDAY, June 23, 4:00-9pm

At Sharon & Jaya's brand new house in Auburn. Potluck, bring something to share if you can, but if you're traveling, and it's too much trouble, we can always order a pizza if necessary!

Any travelers who would like overnight accommodations, contact Sharon's cell for availability, 510-828-4660.

For more details, and for illustrated directions, see our website:

http://www.elbowmagic.com/session.html

Whistle Workshop

2007-06-17T16:58:00.000-07:00

Tony Higgins, of Chiff and Fipple fame has offered to teach a workshop before Sharon and Jaya's Irish Session in Auburn on Saturday, June 23 at 2:30pm. Although the description states the workshop is geared for beginners, Tony is quite advanced, and will be happy to work with whoever shows up.

Here is the description of the workshop, from the San Francisco Free Folk Festival:

Irish Tin Whistle Playing
by Tony Higgins

Basics of playing tin whistle (pennywhistle) with emphasis on playing Irish music. Will go over whistle techniques related to Irish music playing and some discussion of Irish dance music structure. Mainly geared to beginners.

I have been playing Irish music on tin whistle for about 12 years, have played for weddings, parties, and on small stages here and there. I perform with Peter Winchell, bouzouki player.

I maintain a website for whistle players, where I post mp3 files that people around the world submit. Come visit at http://www.tinwhistletunes.com

Three Kerry Polkas

2007-06-16T09:51:00.000-07:00

I heard Three Kerry Polkas by The Chieftains on the radio this week. It is track 3 on The Chieftains 5 album (1975). On the spot I decided to add the set to my tune book.

But it is not available on iTunes or on Amazon.com.

If you have this recording could you please tell me what the tunes are? I've heard the first one in session a few times, the middle tune is new to me, the third one is one of the Ballydesmond Polkas (#2 or was it #1?).

I really want to be able to listen to the record because it think it was the whistle counterpoint that caught my ear.

By the way, the radio show is on every week, Thursdays 10 to noon PST, Temporary Village with Art Crimes.

BASS at SF Free Folk Fest 2007

2007-06-04T12:30:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I hope you can join in the slow session at the SFFFF on Sunday June 17, 1-3 PM, at City College of San Francisco. (http://www.sffolkfest.org/2007/) Even if you can't come, you might enjoy the information below. Please pass this along to any Irish slow session friends - thanks!

**********************************************
Irish Slow Session
San Francisco Free Folk Festival 2007

Here is the instruction for this workshop: Take this home and read everything in the websites listed below.

Irish Traditional Music Archive
http://www.itma.ie/Publications/LearningLeaflet.html

Tips for Learning Irish Traditional Music
http://www.alan-ng.net/irish/learning/

Irish Traditional Music Tune Index. Alan Ng's Tunography
http://www.irishtune.info/

Michael Duffy’s Slowplayers website
http://www.slowplayers.org/
(The meeting information about BASS is out of date.)

Chris Smith’s website
http://coyotebanjo.com/

Chris’s educational essays:
http://coyotebanjo.com/music-group-28.html

Chris Smith was influential in the formation of BASS. We called him the Granddaddy of slow sessions (though he’s much too young to be a Granddaddy!).

Now let’s have some fun!

We have almost two hours to have a great time playing Irish tunes
together. I’m going against my own belief in the rule of having no
printed music in a session, and bringing dots for music readers who
don’t know these tunes and would like to play with us.

There are various styles of how slow sessions work, and this workshop
won’t be the definitive way it’s s’pose to be done, but hopefully
will work for a group of people from different backgrounds and
sessions to enjoy playing together. I’ve put together some sets,
listed on the back, of which all (or almost all) of the tunes are
listed in Michael Duffy’s slowsession music list. Hopefully these
will provide some common ground, but you’re welcome to start other
tunes that you know, as well.

We’ll play at a relatively slow tempo. If you can’t play a tune,
engage in active listening - the first step to learning. If you can
play part of it, join in where you can.

Irish traditional tunes, because they have been passed on aurally,
have developed with many variations, sometimes even many names for
the same tune. There’s not only one correct way to play a tune. We
will know different variations, but we can still play them together
and learn from each other.

- Ann McChesney-Young (See back
for set list.)

***************************************

Irish Slow Session Set List

**Reels**

Peeler’s Jacket (G) / Flogging Reel (G) / Abbey Reel (A dor)

Maid Behind the Bar (D) / Merry Blacksmith (D) / Drowsy Maggie (E min)

Maid of Mt. Cisco (A dor) / Sligo Maid (A dor)

Cooley’s Reel (E dor) / Cup of Tea (E dor/D)

Scholar (D) / Rolling in the Rye Grass (D) / Sally Gardens (G)

**Jigs**

My Darling Asleep (D) / Humours of Ennistymon (G) / Lark in the
Morning (D)

Banish Misfortune (D mix) / Kesh Jig (G)

Cliffs of Moher (A dor) / Trip to Athlone (Newport Lasses) (D) /
Connaughtman’s Rambles (D)

**Slip Jigs**

Foxhunters (D) / Butterfly (E dor) / Fig for a Kiss (E dor)

**Slides**

Road to Lisdoonvarna (E dor) / Merrily Kiss the Quaker (G) /
O’Keefe’s (A dor)

**Hornpipes**

Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine (A dor) / Off to California (G)

Harvest Home (D) / Galway (D) / Boys of Bluehill (D)

**Polkas**

Ballydesmond #1 and #2 (A dor) / #3?

**Closing Waltz**

Ashoken Farewell (D)

**********************************************************

Ann McChesney-Young
ravenbox@pacbell.net

To access BASS tune files, go to:
http://www.slowplayers.org/BASS/

To find tunes online, go to:
http://trillian.mit.edu/~jc/music/abc/FindTune.html

To change your subscription settings or to unsubscribe, please visit:
http://lists.slowplayers.org/mailman/listinfo/bass

Bass Mailing List -- the mailing list of BASS: Bay Area Sunday Sessions

Session Report, May 13, 2007-Mother's Day

2007-05-23T18:18:00.000-07:00

Our first session in Auburn was held on Mother's Day. Our regular Sunday evening pub needed room to feed all the hungry moms so Sharon and I took the opportunity to hold a session in our new home.

It went well and before the evening was half over we decided to start up a monthly session. Like our house session in Dublin, the sessions will be the 4th Saturday of the month.

The website URL for our session is http://www.elbowmagic.com/session.html. Go there for times, directions and background information.

Musicians

Jaya—whistles (DAd), bodhran
Sharon—fiddle, voice
Brian—button accordion
Pat—button accordion
Liz—small pipes
Murry—guitar, voice
Fred—concertina, bodhran, voice
Suzanne—bodhran
Phyllis—flute
Cindy—fiddle, voice
Diana—voice

Tunes (in order)

First Set: Sharon, Jaya, Liz, Brian, Pat & Murray

Second Set: Sharon, Jaya, Murray, Fred, Cindy, Suzanne, Phyllis & Diane (with Jim and John looking on)

Farewell to Tchernobyl

Sharon and Jaya's Irish Session (Seisiún)

2007-05-20T21:23:00.000-07:00

We, Sharon and Jaya, have moved from Dublin to Auburn California. Now that we are settled in we are reestablishing our monthly Irish music sessions.

The first session was Mother's Day, 2007. The next session will be in June (6/23/07), 4 PM to at least 9PM.

Starting in August, there will be a session every fourth Saturday of the month.

LoughHaven

In Harmony's Way August Sing

In Harmony's Way July Sing

In Harmony's Way June Sing

In Harmony's Way May Sing

In Harmony's Way April Sing

In Harmony's Way March Sing

In Harmony's Way February Sing

In Harmony's Way Sing

Jim Malcolm returning to Auburn House Concerts!

October IHW sing

September IHW sing

Taiko 2 @ Lark Camp; Korekara

Lark Medley Line

In Harmony's Way, Lark Camp 2009

Saturday, August 1

Sunday, August 2

Monday August 3

Tuesday August 4

Wednesday, August 5

Thursday, August 6

Friday, August 7

Songs Sung at In Harmony's Way

No 4th Saturday sessions this summer

March Session

4 House Concerts in the works

Tuning

AuburnHouseConcerts Blog

Musicians Think Differently

There's No One as Irish as Barack O'Bama

September Session moved to Celtic Festival

Session Report, August 29, 2008

Paddy Keenan and Tommy O'Sullivan Concert

Session Report, August 23, 2008

Carrickarede rope bridge

Bei Mir Bist Du Schon

Session Report, July 26, 2008

AuburnHouseConcerts.org

Legacy Concert

Notorious Concert

Sesson Report, June 28, 2008

In Harmony's Way Up In Auburn

Mother's Day Song Session

Session Report, May 24, 2008

Session Report, April 25, 2008

Directions to 1665 High Street, Auburn

Address

1665 High St.Auburn, California 95603

Bird's Eye

Directions - From SF Bay Area

Directions - From Sacramento

Directions - From Grass Valley

Directions - From Reno

Directions - From Folsom

Absolutely Irish

Session Report, March 22, 2008

In Harmony's Way Up In Auburn

Session Report, December 22, 2007

House Concert: Melanie O'Reilly

Session Report, September 22, 2007

House Concert: Stevie Coyle

Notes from Tony's workshop

Session Report, August 26, 2007

Guitar Cord Applet

A Note About Modes

Session Report, June 23, 2007

Sharon & Jaya's Irish Session

Whistle Workshop

Three Kerry Polkas

BASS at SF Free Folk Fest 2007

Session Report, May 13, 2007-Mother's Day

Sharon and Jaya's Irish Session (Seisiún)

1665 High St.
Auburn, California 95603