New Strings

I changed the strings on my good guitar tonight.  The Martin D35S.  I use Martin SP medium gage strings.  I have been trying to avoid changing strings too often because of the expense.  They are about $7 a set.  I can't remember how long it has been since I changed them. Usually I change them every 2 months.  I think it's been 3 or 4 now.  They were very tarnished.  (Good guitars need their strings changed more often than inexpensive guitars because the sound potential is so much more.)

With new strings on the sound is literally magical.   I usually try and do it a few weeks before an important gig so that I can get used to the sound again.  The next big gig is 9/16, so I probably should have waited another week but I just couldn't stand it.

It feels like taking a shower, having a haircut or other sensuous experiences I could name. There have been times I was up all night after changing the strings because it was so stimulating I couldn't stop playing. 

Tonight I'm being a good boy, going to sleep because tomorrow I have to get up early, get to the plumbing supply store, get home and fix the shower so that we can have showers before going to work.

So hopefully it will be new strings and a shower - maybe a haircut next week.

perfect pitch

California Scientists Search for Perfect Pitch  by Joe Palca

All Things Considered, August 28, 2007 · Scientists in California have been studying a group of people with a remarkable musical talent. It's called absolute pitch, also known as perfect pitch.
People with absolute pitch can instantly identify any musical note. The California researchers have been identifying people with this skill in order to understand its genetic basis. Most people can identify a note on a piano, but there will be some people who hear a note, and without even thinking about it, they will know that it was A above middle C — at least if the piano is properly tuned. Dennis Drayna is a geneticist at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. He says people with absolute pitch can identify notes on a piano the same way most of us can identify colors.
"And we can always identify red and it's obvious what's pink, and we usually don't confuse the two," Drayna says. "People with absolute pitch have an analogous ability for their ear."
To find people with this talent, geneticist Jane Gitschier turned to the Internet. She and her colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco created a Web page where people could test their pitch abilities. "People are given an auditory frequency," Gitschier explains. "And then they have to click on a little keyboard to tell us what note they think it is." As she reports in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 2,213 people took her test. "We had two different populations of people," Gitschier says. "We had people who score phenomenally well, and people who were throwing darts at the problem." In other words, they were guessing.
But even the people who demonstrated absolute pitch did make a few mistakes. When Gitschier analyzed those mistakes, they found something surprising.
"The note they err on the most often is G sharp," Gitschier says. Why G sharp? Gitschier has a hypothesis. When an orchestra tunes before a concert, everyone tunes to a single note — A. But A can actually be different frequencies. In the United States, A is typically 440 vibrations per second, or 440 hertz. And there's a range. According to Gitschier, the Berlin Philharmonic tunes to an A at 446 hertz. And some orchestras specializing in early music tune to an A as low as 415 hertz. And 415 is right where G-sharp would be if you tune to one of the higher pitched A's.

"So perhaps, people with absolute pitch have learned or incorporated this spread of tuning frequencies into this cluster that they call 'A'," Gitschier says. Knowing more about people with absolute pitch will be essential to finding the genes involved in this skill. Gitschier has already begun collecting DNA from her subjects recruited on the Internet. There's one other curious thing Gitschier uncovered in her study. "Our results clearly show that as people get older, they are perceiving things sharper than when they are younger," Gitschier says. So a C sounds like a C sharp.  It's nice to know something gets sharper as we age.

Impeach!

Had a wonderful time at the Impeach meeting at Rep Maurice Hinchey's today.  It was a packed house with a lot of emotion on both sides.  Choices seemed to be Impeach Now and the hell with the consequences or try to work slowly, methodically with Maurice for change - perhaps "censure".  I favor the first course.

 

At the end of the meeting I sang (uninvited of course) "Bush and Chaney have to go!  Impeach them both today!"  to the tune of "Down by the Riverside" with my banjo.  I was in the wrong key, so wasn't the huge sucess I wanted to be, but an elderley woman praised me outside - made me feel good.

 

Then I went over to Maurices offices with Barbara Sarah.  Five people were sitting in - the doors were locked and staff tried to get us to leave.  We had a little demonstration across the street.  I sang "This Little Light of Mine".  There was street theater with Diane Sommer and a friend dressed as prisoners and people reading the Constitution through a bullhorn. 

 

I took the elevator back to Maurices office by myself and sang a few songs outside the door.  Through the glass I could make out a person giving me the thumbs up sign.  The acoustics in the hallway were great!  It felt like a concert hall.

 

The sit-in was still going on when I left. Home to cook dinner and work on plumbing.

free loan of piano for a year

From: Karen Cathers [mailto:kcathers@earthlink.net]

I am Karen Cathers. We were flooded out of our house on Springtown Roadin New Paltz this spring. We will be closing the house for the winter so there will be no heat in the house (we have arranged other winter housing for ourselves). We have a Wurlitzer Piano (not damaged by water) that will need to visit another home for about a year. Anyone want to borrow it?

Very big day yesterday playing at the Huckelberry Festival in Ellenville during the day and the Bronck House Museum in the evening. I knew I was going to be stretching my limitations, but I didn't take into account the weather. It was 90 degrees and least and humid. I now know what the term "heat exhaustion" means. I had to make frequent trips to my car to sit in the AC to avoid passing out. We were under a tent so it was shady, but I was dressed badly. I had on heavy cotton pants and shirt to try and appear "authentic". It's never been a problem before - It always seemed that by covering up I was avoiding sunburn - you know like the Arabs.

Next year I bring a fan and ice!

Bronck house was great but I had to cut my performance short due to thunderstorms. I didn't mind, but the audiance and staff were heading for the hills.

Mark Fried, Regina Scheff, Robin Greenstein and her friend Barry were all playing with me in Ellenville. There were no problems musically, (except my exhaustion from the heat). People loved us and that's always nice. Also we made the Kingston Freeman Sunday paper! I'll try and scan it and post it sometime soon.

I thought I recognized a person (who would have been of Italian heritage)at the Bronck house and I asked him "Excuse me is your name Martin?" He said (in an Irish brogue)"It could be, do you owe me some money"?

It wasn't him.

Irish Festival Columbus Day weekend up in East Durham

There is a new Irish Festival Columbus Day weekend up in East Durham

 
Banjo Burke Festival
October 5 – 8
Banjo Burke Memorial Fund
P O Box 937
Greenwood, NY 14839
(607)225-9928

Schedule
(subject to change)
Friday evening
6-7:30 PM Registration and Opening Session
8-9 PM First workshop

Saturday
9:30 -11AM Workshop
11-12 Noon Individual practice/informal session/private lesson
12-1:30 lunch break
1:30 - 3:00 Workshop
3 - 4 IP/IS/PL
4 - 5 IP/IS/PL
5 - 6:30 Dinner Break
6:30 - 8:30 Ceili, Beginners ceili
8:30 - 11:00 Concert
Concurrently on Saturday Grandstand Golf Outing at Thunderhart Noon

Sunday
11AM 5K for Parkinson's research
Noon Long puck competition
1 - 6 Simultaneous music in all of the houses
6 - 7:30 Dinner Break
7:30 - 9:30 Sessions and ceili all over town

Monday
10-11 AM Workshop
11-12 IP/IS/PL
12-1:30 Lunch Break
1:30 - 4 Final concert becoming session
4 - until session continuing as long as people wish to stay

Hudson Valley Folk Guild

Had a real nice time tonight putting out the newletter of the Hudson Valley Folk Guild by hand.  Postage costs are going up and we can't afford to use a mailing house anymore.  This will probably be the last newsletter mailed out, but they will be available at coffeehouses in the future. 

Kevin and Carol Becker, Bob Wright, Linda Breithhaupt, Al and Marge, Bruce Blair and I all folded, stamped, labeled and mutilated 592 newsletters.   Carol made a wonderfu meal, we sang, told really bad jokes - I haven't done this type of thing in years - it was great! 

King's Mall 7

The King's Mall 7 is receiving a national award from "Veteran's for Peace". Hopefully it will be presented very publicly by Maurice Hinchey at the mall some Saturday.

Banjo Classes

I'm not teaching any classes this semester at Dutchess County Community College, but looking through their catalog, it was nice to see that they still list me as a banjo instructor for individual students.  This would include beginning banjo in most any genre:  5 string folk, old tymey, bluegrass, 4 string plectrum and tenor, both Irish and American styles. Anyone interested can call the school at 431-8916.

Snakes Alive!

This fellow is playing an instrument called a "serpent" at Colonial Williamsburg, VA., July 2007. He was actually playing an Irish Jig.

Soapbox Derby

Last minute news!  I will be John Q Public in the Kings Mall 7 entry in the soap box derby on Sunday.  It is an oil derrick pulled by nefarious personages including John Q Public.

Friday Fun...

This Friday, August 17, from 7pm Come hear

The Cover Girlz (Elly Wininger, Terri Massardo, & Peggy Atwood), and Diana Mae Munch

Black Bear Hollow Café
6375 State Route 28
Just west of Phoenicia, NY  

http://www.blackbearhollow.homestead.com/

845-688-9800

 

If you have not yet been to this lovely eatery, gift shop and grocery, this is a good time to check it out. No cover charge to hear some wonderful music in a friendly atmosphere. A family business that supports all things local. (No alcohol.) The dinner menu doesn't seem to be on their website, but it is excellent- everything from steak, burgers, salmon, mac & cheese, fresh veggies- you name it. Very reasonable prices. I hope you can make it!

~Elly

 

Elly Wininger

ellywin@hvc.rr.com

www.ellywininger.com

Fiddlin's Fun Festival

From Gary Talkiewicz

Our Fiddlin's Fun Festival is coming up on 8/25 in Binghamton. Our web site, which includes jam time and tune list is:http://www.fiddlinsfun.org/ There is also a pdf poster of the Festival on our site.
The Mumford Fiddlers fair is also the weekend of 8/18-19 near Rochester: http://www.gcv.org/programsAndEvents/fiddlersFair.shtml

Fiddlin's Fun Festival 2007
Date: Saturday, August 25th, 2007
Time: Noon to 6:00 p.m.
Location: Roberson Museum and Science Center
30 Front St., Binghamton, N.Y.
Cost: $5.00 individual, maximum of $15.00 per family
Website: http:\\www.fiddlinsfun.org
Publicity contact:
Hope Grietzer 607-687-3675
hopegrietzer1@netzero.com

The Fiddlin's Fun Festival celebrates fiddling in the Southern Tier of New York with an afternoon of New England , Irish, Old-Time, Swedish and French Canadian fiddle music.

The event includes outdoor concerts by New York State fiddlers, along with fiddle workshops, an open stage, and acoustic jam sessions for kids and adults.

Scheduled performers include:

Laurie Hart – Specializing in Scandinavian fiddle, Laurie has performed across the United States and Canada . Laurie was the recipient of a 2002 Fulbright Award to study the music and dance of Norway and co-authored "Dance ce soir!: Fiddle and Accordian Music of Québec" published by Mel Bay .
Kathy Selby - A native of England, fiddler Kathy Selby has performed with Alasdair Fraser's San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers, and as well as acting as a workshop and band leader with the group. Her repertoire spans four centuries, from 17th century English country dances to recently composed tunes.
City Fiddle hails from the Buffalo area, and features New York State Fiddler's Hall of Fame inductee Phil Banaszak on twin fiddles with his wife Gretchen.
Rosie's Ready Mix features fiddler Hope Grietzer, a former " Rocky Mountain Region Fiddler of the Year". Curt Osgood's dynamic playing on hammered dulcimer has contributed to the local resurgence of interest in the dulcimer and its traditions, while Jim MacWilliams provides driving rhythm on guitar and clawhammer banjo.
Wild Rose plays an assortment of music ranging from Eastern European Klezmer and ancient Celtic tunes to early American jigs and reels and modern waltzes. The marvelous interplay between Amy Shapiro on fiddle and Allen Lutins on clarinet is not to be missed.
The Java Joe Jammers have been entertaining folks in Broome County for over twenty years. Led by Tim and Johanna Masters, this lively group plays a mix of traditional American and Celtic tunes with fiddles, guitars, mandolins, and banjos joining in the performance.
Funding is provided, in part, by a project grant from the United Cultural Fund, a program of the Broome County Arts Council.

For more information, call 607-687-3675 or visit www.fiddlinsfun.org

home

home today taking care of small computer chores

Upcoming performances

I am off next weekend!  Yeah - a chance to do some yard work, perhaps relax.  But the following week a very busy next few months of performing starts.  You can always check my schedule at :http://blschedule.blogspot.com/

 

Here's the next few months worth, but check back because there are always new things coming up.  - Bob

 

8/25/07 Huckleberry Festival in Ellenville, NY with Marc Fried, and Folkloric (Regina Scheff and Robin Greenstein ). All day. Lots of traditional, huckleberry, blueberry and historic music. Also huckleberry pie contest!. See Huckleberry Songs http://huckleberrysongs.blogspot.com/

8/25/06 Bronck House and Museum, Green County, NY. 7:30 pm
Traditional music of the Catskills and Hudson Valley. (518) 731-6490. http://www.gchistory.org/barns.php Great site to bring the family to. The volunteers really care about the place and put a lot of time and effort into taking care of visitors. I will be playing under a tent - there is a storyteller earlier.

8/27/07 Kirtan at Namaste Yoga in Woodstock. 5:30 to 7:00. I will be there as Bhaav Ram leading Kirtan chant and playing a variety of instruments including Hindustani slide guitar/veena and violin. Marty Klein will be accompanying me on tabla. It is group chanting, kind of a cross between gospel music, Sea Chanteys, Ravi Shankar and Pete Seeger. The chants are easy to do and your voice would be welcome. Namaste Yoga is on Rt 212 in Woodstock, next to St. Gregorys Episcopal Church. It is free.

9/16/07 "Irish Music of the Catskills and Hudson Valley" with Jim Donnelly. Heritage Music Concert Series. A special 6 months to St. Patrick's Day Concert of historic Irish music of the Catskills and Hudson Valley. 3-5 pm $10. At Alternative Books, 35 North Front Street, Kingston, New York (845) 331-5439.

9/17/07 Colony Cafe, Woodstock, NY. 7:00 I will be reading some of my poems (and probably singing songs) with Veteran's for Peace.

9/22/06 Harvest Festival with Folkloric (Beth Lawton and Regina Scheff) - Music of the 1800's, Lindenwald, Martin Van Buren Mansion in Kinderhook, NY. Always a lovely day- Come stroll the grounds. My grandmother played cards in the mansion during the 1930's. http://www.nps.gov/mava/

10/7/06 Bluestone Festival, TR Gallo Park down at the Strand, Kingston, NY. My set is at 12 noon, but I will be there all day at the TR Gallo stage running sound, MCing and generally hanging out. Celebrate Kingston's Bluestone heritage with blue beer!

Tomato Folk

The Hudson Valley Folk Guild is teaming up with the Town of Lloyd Events Committee to offer a unique and fun filled event on Saturday August 11th from 11am to 6pm. The event pairs the Town of Lloyd Tomato Festival, now in its 4th year, with a new event, the Hudson Valley Folk Festival.The merging of these events will surely have something everyone! Free admission! The festival is made possible in part through a grant from the Dutchess County Arts Council, administrator of public funds through the New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Program.Performances and workshops by Folk Guild Musicians and special guest, David Roth, will take place throughout the day...
I'll be doing a workshop there at 12 noon on Music of the Catskill Mountains and Hudson Valley.

Soapbox Derby

Date:  AUGUST 11, 18,  2007
Time: 10am
Location:  Cornell Shops Building, 110 East Strand (adjacent to the Steel
House Restaurant), downtown on the Rondout in Kingston NY.
Informational public workshops on the design and construction of soapbox cars for the 13th Annual Artists¹ Soapbox Derby taking place on Lower Broadway on Sunday, August 19th, 2007 at 1pm.
Cost: Free
Contact: 845.338.8473   donskoj@verizon.net
www.artistsoapboxderby.com
For more information on the 13th Annual Artists¹ Soapbox Derby, and to download the registration form, visit www.artistsoapboxderby.com
http://www.artistsoapboxderby.com or contact Nancy Donskoj at
Donskoj@verizon.net to have an application mailed to you.

Back early

In early from traveling. Arrived 4:30 Monday afternoon. A nice trip, but glad to be able to start to tie up unfinshed projects.

Tommy Makem Passes

Tommy Makem passed away on Wednesday after a long battle with lung cancer. He was 74. Fans of folk music will always remember Tommy as the bard who helped introduced Irish folk music to a wider audience. Tommy performed for the better part of five decades, and his legacy will continue on through his sons as well as the numerous musicians that he inspired.