Note: This workshop is open to the public, though it is also a regular “gathering for the Strathspey and Reel Society of New Hampshire. Exact time, and location, will be posted here shortly. Stay tuned!

In all genres of music, there is an opportunity for what might be called theatrical expression – the conveyance of emotion that goes beyond the mere notes. This can be suggested in written music by dynamic indicators, and arrangements of harmonies and voicing. But truly dramatic playing comes from spontaneous execution, and spontaneous response to such execution, which leaves listeners feeling that the piece has never quite been rendered that way before, and never will be again.

Traditional music, which in many cases was created without specific musical notation detail, and without specifically designated instrumentation, lends itself to exploration of dramatic playing. In this workshop we will spend the first half playing pieces which the attendees are likely to be familiar with, experimenting with various rhythmic devices ranging from tapping instruments to create a percussive background, to playing just the opening notes of each measure, and more. The second half of the workshop will be an experiment in finding harmonies.

Music readers will be encouraged not to rely on written harmonies, but to listen to the melody and use instincts to make note choices. Possible a short third half (as it were) of the workshop will combine the rhythm and harmony explorations.

The tunes which we will be working with will be drawn from the following (we cannot guarantee that we will get to every tune).

Reels:

Flowers of Edinburgh

De’il Among the Tailors

Marches:

Scotland the Brave

Campbell’s Return

Glencoe (Cape Breton)

Strathspeys:

The Marquis of Huntly’s Highland Fling

Lady Madeline Sinclair

Airs:

Niel Gow’s Lament on the Death of His 2nd Wife

Waltz:

Amelia’s Waltz (Gore)

Note: the pdf music for these tunes will be available here soon.

Downtown Amherst (MA) Contra Dance

Masonic Lodge 99 Main Street – Amherst, MA

(near the Black Sheep Deli and the Police Station)

Admission: $10, Students: $8 , High School: $6

Folks have been saying this band has some qualities not heard since Fresh Fish (the band I had with the late Kerry Elkin from the mid 80′s to the mid 90′s) . Come hear for yourself.

• • Perin Ellsworth-Heller, fiddle
  • Matt Garland, flute, whistle
  • Lizza Backes, flute, whistle, concertina
  • Richard Backes, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo, accordion
  • Gordon Peery, piano

  Trip to Nelson Many years ago (maybe 1982) Metamora (Pete Sutherland, Malcolm Dalglish, and Grey Larsen) did a concert in the Nelson Town Hall. The next day I was driving the band to Boston for their next engagement. Pete was sitting up front with me, scribbling away the whole time. After I helped them into Sanders Theater with their gear, I returned to my car, to find a some music sitting on the passengers seat. Pete had written it on the way down, and called it Trip to Nelson. It’s a somewhat unusual jig in its phrasing. The band Fresh Fish used to play it, and now it’s nice to have it revived by this new band which takes its name from the tune.

  

   

   

Newcomers workshop at 7:30.

Admission: $8 ($6 for students and seniors)

Nils Fredland, calling

Skip Gorman, fiddle

The Keene Public Library hosts a monthly free family dance for children and audults of all ages and abilities. Family Dances started at the Keene Public Library in the summer of 2003.  Now the dances are held the first Friday of each month from November through May.  Over the years, the series has become an important library program that helps to develop early literacy skills and is fun too.  Folk dancing helps to encourage the basic concepts of rhythm, repetition, sequencing, patterning, predictability, anticipation, musical cues, auditory discrimination, and counting.  These are all important early learning skills.  Traditional dance also is a great way to introduce children to the world’s rich diversity, to teach the enjoyment of dance, music, and rhythm and to begin a livelong habit of the social enjoyment and physical activity of dancing.

Heberton Hall
60 Winter St. Keene, NH

just next to the Keene Public Library.

This is a wonderful dance series – free admission – sponsored by the Keene Public Library. There is always a diverse group of participants ranging from 2 – 80 (something). The pace is gentle, and everyone has a nice time visiting as well as dancing.

Nelson Town Hall

Admission $8 / $6 seniors, students

Randy Miller, fiddle

Bill Thomas, Uillean pipes, flute

Gordon Peery, piano

The three of us have been playing music together in various configurations for over 30 years. Steadfast and energetic (in spite of our advanced years!)

Nelson (NH) Town Hall
Admission $8 / $6 students/seniors
Sponsored by the Monadnock Folklore Society 

Folks have been saying this band has some qualities not heard since Fresh Fish (the band I had with the late Kerry Elkin from the mid 80′s to the mid 90′s) . Come hear for yourself.

• • Perin Ellsworth-Heller, fiddle
  • Matt Garland, flute, whistle
  • Lizza Backes, flute, whistle, concertina
  • Richard Backes, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo, accordion
  • Gordon Peery, piano

  Trip to Nelson Many years ago (maybe 1982) Metamora (Pete Sutherland, Malcolm Dalglish, and Grey Larsen) did a concert in the Nelson Town Hall. The next day I was driving the band to Boston for their next engagement. Pete was sitting up front with me, scribbling away the whole time. After I helped them into Sanders Theater with their gear, I returned to my car, to find a some music sitting on the passengers seat. Pete had written it on the way down, and called it Trip to Nelson. It’s a somewhat unusual jig in its phrasing. The band Fresh Fish used to play it, and now it’s nice to have it revived by this new band which takes its name from the tune.

  

   

   

Nelson Town Hall

Admission $8 / $6 seniors, students

Cape Breton and New England classics.

Nelson Town Hall

Admission $8 / $6 seniors, students

Mary Wesley, caller

We’ll be putting a nice edge on the tunes with Carey’s innovative fiddling and Max switching off between bass and saxophone. Expect a good infusion of energy.

Peterborough Town House

Admission $8 ($6 seniors, students)

Featuring:

Perin Ellsworth-Heller, fiddle

Matt Garland, flute and whistle

Richard Backes, guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle

Gordon Peery, piano