Woodstock Memorial Day Parade

Just back from the Woodstock Memorial Day parade. I walked (Jay Wenk the leader, says we "stroll") with Veteran's for Peace as I do most years. I've always loved marching in parades. I also love singing in parades, which I did this year too. I play the banjo and lead a bunch of old zinger songs like "Study War No More", "This Little Light of Mine", etc. It's a short parade, but is on an uphill incline. Singing full voice like that, it is a cardiovascular workout. And each year it's a little bit harder. By the end of the first song today I knew I was in trouble and grabbed a ricola cough drop. By end of the parade, I'm not sure what was coming out of my mouth. I know I was gasping for breath and somehow mouthing the words. I seemed like I took two breaths of air for every word. It would have been interesting to hear what it actually sounded like!

After the parade they had poetry and speeches on the the Village Green while the "regular military" organizations had their service at the Woodstock Cemetery. We've been disinvited to that for several years, hence the program on the green. I sang a few songs - it was through a sound system. Laurie and Julie Kirby were doing a great song when the Onteora Marching band came back from the service at the green playing very loudly interrupting our service. Laurie and julie kept on singing though, even working the song into the rhythm of the drums. The Woodstock bagpipe band followed, but they had the courtesy to stop playing until they were past us.

At the end they wanted us to sing "This Land is Your Land". No one knew how to play it on guitar but me, and I wanted to play banjo. I found a young woman strolling by with a guitar on her shoulder (forget her name but it was a Favilla guitar). I taught her the chords and she joined in.

My Heart's in Old 'Sopus

I've added the lyrics to "My Heart's in Old 'Sopus" (c. 1850) by Henry Backus at the Catskill Mountain/Hudson Valley page http://bobluskcatskills.blogspot.com/

"Sruti's"

OK, a "sruti" is an measurement of pitch in Indian music. So instead of 12 tones (notes) with this system there are 40 tones called sruti's. On the following list first comes the Indian tone name "sa, ri, ga, ma, pa, dha, ni, sa", which is equal to our "do, re me, etc:. "Komal" means flat and "Tivre" means sharp. (Only Ri, GA, Dha, and Ni are flatted and only Ma is sharped.) Following that are the emotions the interval produces and then the mathematical ratio.

Alain Danielou's table of experimental srutis

Note Actual Ezpression Ratio from C
1 Sa (C) (base) 1/1
2 Ri komal - (D flat - ) Sad, pathetic 25/24
3 Ri komal (D flat) Tender, at peace 256/243
4 Ri komal + (D flat +) Loving, calm 16/15
5 Ri komal ++ (D flat++) Enterprising 27/25
6 Ri – (D-) Anxious, weak 10/9
7 Ri (D) Strong, confident 9/8
8 Ri + (D+) Fierce 256/225
9 Ga komal – (E flat -) Sad 75/64
10 Ga komal – (E flat) Loving 32/27
11 Ga komal + (E flat +) Passionate 6/5
12 Ga (E) Calm, pleasing 5/4
13 Ga + (E +) Awake, lively 81/64
14 Ga ++ (E ++) Hard, indifferent 32/25
15 Ma – (F –) Doubt 320/243
16 Ma (F) Moonlight, peace 4/3
17 Ma+ (F+) Intense 27/20
18 Ma tivre– (F sharp - ) Intense, grief 25/18
19 Ma tivre– (F sharp) Uncertain, doubtful 45/32
20 Ma tivre+ (F sharp +) Intense, active 64/45
21 Ma tivre++ (F sharp ++) Acute, interrogative 36/25
22 Pa – (G - ) Inexpressive, self-contradictory 40/27
23 Pa (G) Sunlight, joyful 3/2
24 Pa+ (G+) Confused, self-contradictory 243/160
25 Dha komal– (A flat -) Deep sorrow 25/16
26 Dha komal (A flat) Tender 128/81
27 Dha komal+ (A flat+) Loving, enterprising 8/5
28 Dha-(A-) Uncertainty 400/243
29 Dha (A) Soft, calm 5/3
30 Dha+ (A+) Restless, playful 27/16
31 Dha++ (A++) Hard, active 128/75
32 Ni komal- (B flat-) Helpless, subdued 225/128
33 Ni komal (B flat) Beauty, love 16/9
34 Ni komal+ (B flat+) Desire, anxiety 9/5
35 Ni-- (B --) Doubt 720/400
36 Ni- (B-) Anguish, depression 50/27
37 Ni (B) Soft, voluptuous 15/8
38 Ni+ (B+) Strong, sensuous 243/128
39 Ni++ (B++) Selfish, anger 48/25
40 Sa (C) (base) 1/1

Help needed for fiddler Jerry Holland

Wonderful Cape Breton fiddler Jerry Holland has been diagnosed with bone cancer and may be losing a leg.  He needs financial help.  Checks can be made out to him, and mailed to Beth Telford, at 1060 Bent Hill Rd, Braintree, VT 05060.   I have been listening to his recordings for years.  His website is at http://www.jerryholland.com/

Memorial Day March for Peace

BTW I'm planning to be there with my banjo - all welcome! - Bob

Veterans for Peace Chapter in Woodstock - Memorial Day Gathering, Monday, May 29

Veterans for Peace Chapter 058 in Woodstock, New York will be hosting a Memorial Day gathering. Veterans for Peace has been participating in the Memorial Day parade in Woodstock for many years. In the last few, while still marching in the parade, we have been denied the right to speak at the Woodstock Veterans' Memorial by the Woodstock American Legion. This is because the memorial is located in a private cemetery and the American Legion owns the PA system. So, this year, like last year we will march up Mill Hill Road, but instead of continuing to the cemetery, we'll stop at the top of the hill at the Village Green (where the memorial originally was) and hold a separate event that will include the community. There will be speakers, music, poetry and an open mic for community participation. We have permission to use the Green from the Town and from the Dutch Reform Church which owns the Green.

We will be assembling at the Woodstock Playhouse parking lot at 11:30 (near the intersection of Route 212 and 375). The parade is scheduled to start at 12:00 noon and our event at the Green will kick off at 1:00 pm. More information to follow as it develops. Call Jay Wenk, 845- 679- 2161or e-mail dswbike@aol.com for more information.

Fw: Bob Horan - Save Internet Radio Notice

From Bob Horan

Hello Everyone,

Please take a moment to click on the website at the bottom! Then consider using the email form to ask your elected officials to help keep internet royalties at a fair level.

Being asked to pay a 300 to 1200 % increase for anything is outrageous.

The net is becoming the best bastion for non- corpororate owned free speech that we have. These unfair increases will limit the play time to a wealthy few, the way commercial radio is now.

Thanks,

Bob

 

Bob Horan
bhoran0002@aol.com
www.bobhoran.com

 

Click here: Savenetradio.org

Call for performers!

Call for performers!   Hootenanny and Auction!  November 18th 2007, 2-6 pm, Unitarian Universalist Church Hall, Sawkill Road, Kingston, NY, (Near the KingstonThruway Entrance)

            This is a fundraiser for the Heritage Music Foundation.  Our mission is to bring the historic and regional folk traditions of the Catskill Mountains and Hudson River Valley back to the people from whence it came.  Funds raised from this concert will be used to establish our non-profit status, so that we will be eligible for grants.  You can see our website at http://heritageconcerts.blogspot.com/

            If you are interested in performing at the Hoot, let us know so that we can include your name in our early publicity.  E-mail Bob Lusk at boblusk@hvc.rr.com.

        We are also having an "Auction of Folk Memorabilia" there.  We would welcome donations of CD's, songbooks, posters, even instruments. Your own CD's of course would be especially welcome.  If you can't come that day, but wish to donate an item, contact us for pickup.

Yours in Folk Music!

Bob Lusk
Heritage Music Foundation

Peace Troubadour Cecilia St. King

"I'm going to Lift My Voice above the purple mountain majesty. If I could, I would speak for the silent cry from sea to shining sea. I'm going to Lift My Voice, like a breeze blowing freedom's refrain, I'm going to Lift My Voice across the amber waves of grain." - Cecilia St. King

Dear Friends & Family,

I've been invited to bring my music to Democracy Fest in Manchester New Hampshire on June 9th, as the headliner, opening up once again a speech given by Howard Dean! This is a GOOD thing! Democracy Fest is a fabulous organization now in it's fourth year, that teaches communities how to take control of their local government. Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, good communities are built through organizations like this. As Ghandi said, "Be the change you wish to see."

So I'll be there "LIFTING MY VOICE" - supporting this great organization and trying to shed some light, but I need your help. Democracy Fest, will put us up for the night, and feed us all 3 meals, which is great, but like most grass roots organization, there is no budget for the musicians.

Joining me on this gig will be Vincenza Dante, Rusty Boris, Sean Crimmins & Chris Kovach. Most times I pay the band out of my own pocket, and if no funds come in, that is exactly what I'll do. That's why, this time I'm looking for sponsors. I'd like to raise $1000 - $150.00 per player x's 4 - $300.00 to the leader of the band : ) and $100.00 for gas. Manchester is a 3.5 hour drive from the Hudson Valley. You can sponsor an individual player, or just give what you can. Heah $10 bucks is almost 2.5 gallons of gas! Every little bit helps.

If you are interested, you can make your donations right on paypal; just go to www.paypal.com and to the tab that says, "Send Money" and enter my e-mail address, I have an account there. Or you can send a check directly to me at: 162 West Chestnut Street - Apt. 1 - Kingston, NY 12401

"Music does bring people together. It allows us to experience the same emotions. People everywhere are the same in heart and spirit." - unknown author


With Love & Gratitude

Cecilia St. King
Peace Troubadour
May Peace Prevail on Earth
http://www.sonicbids.com/ceciliastking
e-mail address: ceciliastking@msn.com

Spring folk music weekend - May 25-28 2007 - space available

This is for the New York City Pinewoods Folk Music Club - Bob

From: joybennett@att.net

Subject: Spring folk music weekend - May 25-28 2007 - space available

If you haven't already registered there is still a little time and a little space -- and... single rooms are still available.  We have extended the member's rate through 5/18, so hurry!  We have an amazing weekend planned.  And, you may now pay by credit card at:

members - http://membersspringwknd.eventbrite.com/ (you can even sign up for membership at this site)

non-members - http://springfolkweekend.eventbrite.com/

 

Join us for a really great weekend -- there is something for everyone - the short story:  Get more information and the long story by going to: 

 

 http://www.folkmusicny.org/2007-May-flyer.pdf  (if clicking does not take you there, paste the link in your browser)

 

Our fabulous weekend staff (and there may be some surprise special guests):

 

Jen Larsen & Terry McGill are steeped in the tradition and offer a variety of music, from Appalachian ballads to bluegrass.  if you have not already heard Jen on Prairie Home Companion, perhaps you have heard her and Terry with their band Straight Drive (appearing at Carnegie Hall this weekend along with the Ebony Hillbillies in an afternoon concert).  Jen's haunting ballads will send a chill up your spine... see longer bio by clicking on the link to the folk music society's website 

 

Deb Cowan brings us songs of work (yes, maritime too for those enthusiasts), struggle, freedom, a wealth of songs from the Helen Hartness Flanders collection.  Deb can transport you to Ireland or make you believe you are out on the rolling seas.  She is not to be missed.

 

Bob Malenky is a dazzling eclectic performer, concentrating on the blues but at home with union songs, Woody Guthrie, traditional folk, and music hall songs.  He plays exceptional guitar (learned from Muddy Waters and Lightnin' Hopkins), five-string banjo, mountain dulcimer, and flute.  He has performed with Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee and has taught courses in world folk music at City College.  Bob is a longtime member of the FMSNY and we are fortunate to have him with us for the weekend and to help us with those Monday morning blues...

 

Move those feet and swing your partner, John Krumm is our dance caller — and more.  John Krumm has been music and dance specialist at the Miquon School in Pennsylvania for 19 years.  He has also been playing and calling dances for over 26 years.  He teaches Music and Movement in the Elementary Classroom for the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania.  Skilled in teaching harmony singing and leading group singing, John has an endless repertoire of good songs.  John has published two books of his own compositions, A Book of Rounds and Joy of my Heart.  If you have not danced before, this is the time to start!

 

so don't delay another minute...it won't be fun without you!

 

Joy

Which Johnny Cash Song are You

I apologize for all the url's I'm posting, but they seem to be coming in fast and furious. I wish I could post the whole page here, but blogs don't seem to work that way. This page helps you figure out "Which Johnny Cash Song are You". http://www.quizilla.com/users/thesupergiles/quizzes/Which%20Johnny%20Cash%20song%20are%20you?/

Internet Archive: Details: To Hear Your Banjo Play

From: "Ron Radosh" <rradosh@comcast.net>
via "Bob Cohen" <Rcohen4@hvc.rr.com>

Great video of Pete Seeger in 1947

http://www.archive.org/details/to_hear_your_banjo_play

SPAM:thought you would like this one

My brother George sent me this one.

 

here ya go.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yN-6PbqAPM

 

Joan Baez BANNED By US Army

John Pietaro <leftmus@earthlink.net>

Friends,

You may have heard about this in passing, though it was surely downplayed in the media; no shock there. One of folk music's greatest figures had attempted to gain access to Walter Reed Hosptial to perform for wounded US service personnel, alongside John Mellencamp, who'd arranged the event. As the story was originally told, they were to arrive together in the company of Dan Rather, who was then going to interview them following the concert for the fallen soldiers and sailors. Neither Baez nor Rather were permitted entry to the coveted military hospital---that which has fallen into near ruin at the hands of the Bush Administration.

Below is a transcript of Joan Baez' interview with Amy Goodman from the atter's radio program. For more info on the show, go to www.democracynow.org

In Solidarity,
John Pietaro
www.flamesofdiscontent.org
DEMOCRACY NOW! Broadcast 5/4/07. Amy Goodman interviews folk legend Joan Baez:

The Army has denied legendary folk singer and antiwar activist Joan Baez permission to sing at a concert for wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. We speak with Baez at her home in Palo Alto. [includes rush transcript]
-------------------------------------------------------
RUSH TRANSCRIPT
This transcript is available free of charge. However, donations help us provide closed captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing on our TV broadcast. Thank you for your generous contribution.
Donate - $25, $50, $100, more...

JUAN GONZALEZ: Legendary folksinger and antiwar activist Joan Baez has been denied permission to sing at a concert for wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. In a letter to the Washington Post published Wednesday, Baez said rocker John Mellencamp had asked her to perform with him last Friday and that she accepted his invitation. But then the Army subsequently refused to let her take part. Mellencamp told rollingstone.com that when
they asked why, the reply they got was, "She can't fit here."

AMY GOODMAN: In an emailed statement published Monday on rollingstone.com, Walter Reed spokesman Steve Sanderson said the medical center received the request for participation by Baez two days before the concert. He said, "These additional requirements were not in the contract and would have required a modification."

Well, we called Joan Baez at her home in Palo Alto, and she described what happened.

JOAN BAEZ: When I got back from touring in Europe, which is why I didn't know anything any sooner, my manager called and said that I had been invited by John Mellencamp to be a guest at his concert at Walter Reed Hospital. And my response was just kind of intuitive or instinctive, the way my responses usually are, and I said yes, and later on thought about why I had said yes,
because I usually am sort of very -- run very shy of "singing to the troops." But I realized that singing to the troops during a war, what I call a Bob Hope syndrome, is really condoning the war, and I've always had an aversion to the idea of singing to some kid who's going to go out and get
his brains blown out the next day. I feel as though I should have been sitting there pleading with him to go home.

However, when they got home, either they, I mean, a lot of times received a hostile reception, and for the most part just were ignored, and I think we are still seeing the results of their pain. And so, I thought, well, you know, this is one small way to show a welcome before the fact.

AMY GOODMAN: And so, you agreed. Now, these are people -- at Walter Reed, these are people have come home wounded.

JOAN BAEZ: That is correct.

AMY GOODMAN: So you agreed.

JOAN BAEZ: Yeah. And then -- so, I guess, Mark, my manager and Mellencamp's manager began talking on the phone, because probably the greatest red tape in the history of the world would be the military, but it seemed to be developing in a positive way. So -- and then Mark would check with me, and he said, "Are you still on for this?" And I'd say yes. And this went on for, what, a month? And there was, I think, five days, about five days before the oncert, and I was -- I did have a flight booked and a hotel booked and the final agreement, yes. Maybe four days before the concert, then I was told that I was not approved.

AMY GOODMAN: For what reason, were you told? What were you given as the reason?

JOAN BAEZ: Well, not -- I mean, all I know -- and it was Mellencamp's manager who did all the talking. He went there and talked face-to-face to somebody. I don't know whom. And he could not get an answer that made any sense to him from anybody. So all they could say was that I wasn't approved.

AMY GOODMAN: John Mellencamp wrote on rollingstone.com or told them, "They didn't give me a reason why she couldn't come. We asked why, and they said 'she can't fit here,' period."

JOAN BAEZ: Yeah, and he heard that and I didn't, so that's why I don't quote it.

AMY GOODMAN: And what is your response to that?

JOAN BAEZ: Well, I'm not terribly surprised, although I did think, because of what's going on, that the turmoil in this country and the changes, which have been fairly rapid, of the majority of the population really not wanting this war and generals popping up from here and there refusing to go and have any part of it or openly criticizing it or saying that "it is a scenario that is absolutely impossible, and I'll have nothing to do with it," that maybe, you know, the winds of war had switched a little bit, and maybe there was some people in that -- in Walter Reed, especially because of the scandal, who would like to sort of change the course of things, and for that reason I might be let in.

AMY GOODMAN: And so, the fact that you can't sing there, what are your plans? Or that you couldn't?

JOAN BAEZ: Well, I mean, I'm going on living my life. And today and probably tomorrow, I'm just sitting by the phone, because in a sense this is better than my having gone there -- I mean, in a sense, because I'm allowed now to tell this story over and over to people who are interested in it.

AMY GOODMAN: You recorded a song with John Mellencamp?

JOAN BAEZ: Yeah, on his last album.

AMY GOODMAN: Called?

JOAN BAEZ: "Jim Crow."

AMY GOODMAN: What are your thoughts, Joan Baez, on an artist's role in a time of war?

JOAN BAEZ: Well, they're what they always have been. I must tell you that now I'm spending a lot of time with my family. I gypped them out of a lot of time in the '60s and '70s, and I now have a grandchild. My father just died. He was ninety-four. And my mother is ninety-four. So, hard as it is for people to imagine me doing anything but leading a march, I have been pending this time with my family or touring.

AMY GOODMAN: Joan Baez, speaking from her home in Palo Alto. The US Army has said that she cannot sing at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center for the wounded soldiers. She was invited by John Mellencamp.

To purchase an audio or video copy of this entire program, click here for our new online ordering or call 1 (888) 999-3877.

Happy Birthday Pete!

A Very Happy 88th Birthday to Pete Seeger today 5/3/07. Best wishes for many more!

Band Scam

From Bruce Whistance - I got this scam letter too. I fell for the 1st
e-mail and realized it was bogus by first reply from them.

Bob,
For your awareness : There is a band scam going on in the valley. Here
is how it works :

hi david,
thanks for the prompt responce and all you have in mind for my
wifes party .i will like to let you know that an associate of mine will be
footing the bill for music,food and drinks and will do so by
check and to do this i will need you info as follows;
1)name as to appear on check
2)address to which check is mailed
3)phone number
i will also like to let you knoiw that he will send you a check
containing the fee of all and you cash and deposit in your account and
transfer the remaining to the caterer in charge of food and drinks.i will
expect your prompt reply asap.thanks

More Photos!

Just fixed my scanner and added some photos from my archives - check them out at http://bobluskphotos.blogspot.com/

Panther Mt. Picker's Circle May 2007 Schedule

Subject: Panther Mt. Picker's Circle May 2007 Schedule

To All,

 

Hope this note finds everyone doing well. The May schedule for Picking Cricles will be all Thursdays being 5/3, 5/10, 5/17, 5/24, and 5/31. With the weather warming up the lodge room is a bit more comfortable so come on out and make some music.

 

Regards,

Harry Jameson

Reply from Harry

Subject: Re: Harry Jameson is Not Happy

To All,

 

     I merely mentioned, in passing conversation with Dennis, that " The Tubguy " name really didn't really didn't describe what I do. It was his own Idea to pick such a lame name for me, not mine. "The Tubguy" does not work for me for the following reasons:

 

     1. People have been coming up to me and asking questions like, " Do I have them in Cast Iron ", " Do the porcelain models come in colors ", and " Can I get Claw foot Tubs ". I sound like the guy the plumbers buy from. Like I should have a outlet on Route 17 in New Jersey.

 

     2. No where have I ever seen anyone billed as " The Guitarguy, Banjoguy, Mandolinguy, and so on. I have heard of " The Piano man " but I'm not suggesting " The Tubman " because it still sounds like I should be in Paramus.

 

 

I thought maybe I would chose my own name ( much like most people do, because its their right, and this is America ), but Dennis obviously thought different. As he has made his reason for living, giving my life more meaning than it already has, so be it.  Let the contest begin.

 

Lets just see who can best describe what I do with a piece of clothesline attached to a galvanized bucket and a wheelbarrow handle. Good Luck To All. Oh, by the way, I do have one rule of my own that I must impose to protect my reputation in my field which is, if I do not accept it, like it, or for any other reason choose not to use it, then I don't have to.

 

In closing, let me point out that Dennis picked his own name. " Blind Grady Flemwhistle "  Nice, but you don't want to sit in the front row when this guys performing. Not unless you brought your raincoat with you. So with that said, how many of you would want him to manage your act ?

 

Regards,

Harry

 

P.S. The Grand Prize CD set is no longer available as the first run was only a million copies which has totally sold out. " My Soul Is In The Tub " flew off the shelves as it was a limited collectors edition. Drives the value of every disc through the roof. They are presently going for hundreds of dollars on Ebay. Sorry.

Harry Jameson is Not Happy

From Dennis Havel

 

To All Pickers:

 

It has come to my attention that Harry Jameson, our steadfast host for the Panther Mountain Picking Circle and penultimate washtub bass player, has taken exception to being referred to as "The Tubguy".  He has expressed his desire to be known by a name more befitting his character and unique talents.    

 

As my main purpose on Earth  is to make Harry's life as meaningful as possible,  I am pleased to announce the:

 

 "Give Harry A Name" contest.

 

All submissions should reflect a measure of tubworthiness and convey the subtle  nuances of Harry's sublime mastery of plucking a clothsline attached to a galvanized bucket and wheelbarrow handle.

 

The Grand Prize for the winning entry is an autographed 2-CD set of Harry's latest release of tub tunes, "My Soul Is In the Tub" featuring tub classics:  Tub o' My Heart,  I Left My Tub in San Francisco,  Let Me Wash the Tears from Your Socks,  Laundry Day in Phoenicia,  I'll Be Tubbin' Round  the Mountain, Tubbin' For Jesus, and the hauntingly beautiful My Tub Runneth Over.

 

So, let's all honor Harry with a tub-o-riffic  name of which he can be proud! 

 

The winning entry will be announced Saturday, May 5th at the 'Raggin' the Blues Sessions" at Pine Hill Community Center at 7:30 PM

 

Keep on pickin' an grinnin'!

 

Regards

 

Dennis Havel <dhavel@hvc.rr.com>

Peace Musician needs help

Karen Cathers, Arts for Peace member was hit hard by the storm last week and is currently not able to live in her flooded home. She is looking for an RV to live in (or a tent.) If you can help, please contact her at

kcathers@earthlink.net

Southern Tour

I am planning a tour from New York to Florida next February. I am prepared to do a variety of shows including General Folk Music, Irish bar music, Johnny Cash Tribute Show, Senior Citizen Programs, Vocal Toning workshops and Kirtan (Hindu Gospel). If anyone can give me suggestions for venues to approach, I would be grateful.

Bob

The Saugerties Bard

On Sunday April 29th from 3- 5 pm, Rich Bala, folk balladeer will present a program of historic music including songs of the 19th Century songwriter (1798-1861), Henry Backus. Mr. Backus was known throughout the Northeast as the "The Saugerties Bard". He was the composer of romantic, regional and historic songs such as “"My Hearts in Old Esopus" and “Explosion of Steamer Steindeer “.

The concert will be at the historic Dutch Arms Chapel, 16 John St. in the village of Saugerties, NY. Admission is $10.

Following are several articles about Henry Backus by John Thorn that may be found at
http://www.ulsterpublishing.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=347538
http://www.ulsterpublishing.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=348029

"Run, Al, Run" on YouTube

From friend and songwriter Paul Kaplan

Dear Friends,

My daughter Brittany has made a video of my new Song "Run, Al, Run," and it is now on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMczQP8gfpU

She says she'll work on it some more soon, but I wanted to let you know about it now, as I think she did a great job with not a lot of time to spend.  If you like it, please rate it with five stars, which should help more people see it.

Also, audio of the song is still on http://www.draftgore.com/ , if you want to compare versions.

Peace,
Pau

Handmade Music

Neat webpage of Dennis Halvena's which includes how to make bagpipes out of vinyl fabric and PVC pipe and how to make a variety of stringed instruments on the cheap. Check it out! http://www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~dhavlena/

May 5th. Change of Venues

5/5/07 Instead of playing at the Visitors Center, I'll be joining Jim Donnely on the Kingston Tourist Trolly starting at lower Broadway at 6 pm. Hope on board and give us your requests. You can throw money. (My friend Dan Paashus will be playing some listening guitar music with his son that eveing at the Visitors Center - go and hear them)

Guitar Tuner

I've added an on line guitar tuner to my site - mostly for my own convenience. Go to http://boblusktuner.blogspot.com or click on Guitar Tuner on the links to the right.

Roscoe "Rocky" Maxim

I sang with Jim Donnelly at Rocky Maxim's funeral last night. Rocky was a great guy, he and his wife Margaret were our biggest fans. He loved Irish music and would go out of his way to hear it whenever he could. He especially liked the Jimmy Walsh band.
I played an evening of anti-war songs some years ago with Melissa Ortquist at the Canal House on Veteran's Day. Rocky, a Navy Vet of WWII came and although I'm sure his politics were very different than mine, sat and enjoyed the show.
He will be missed.

A Wonderful Story

There is a wonderful story at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html.  It is too long to post here.  Briefly it describes the classical violinist Joshua Bell's attempt at street performing in a Washington DC subway.  The story goes into incredible detail and is really a pleasure to read.

A wonderful day

Anything to avoid working on taxes! 

Slept late, reading a great book.  Then stood with Jay and the gang at King's Mall outside the Army Recruiters reading the names of the soldiers who have died in Iraq.

A little bit of grocery shopping, took a nap, then off to Ed Pells where I sang a few songs, met some local musicians including the Virginia Wolves.  Then went to the Hudson Valley Folk Guild Open Stage where I dropped off some flyers about the 4/28 Heritage Concert, then to the Contra Dance at the Woodstock Community Center to do the same.

The evening was capped off with a wonderful Veena concert at the Kleinart Gallery.

Everywhere I went today I saw a lot of old friends and made a few new ones.

Now it's time (11:30 pm) to put together the Easter basket for the kid and start preparing the food for tomorrow.

 

 

Vocal Toning class in June

On Tuesday evenings in June, I will be doing a Vocal Toning Class at Dutchess County Ccommunity College on tuesday evenings from 7-9:00 pm. The cost is $95 for 4 sessions. To register call 845-431-8910. If you have any questioons, call me at 338-8587.

These are participatory workshops and all participants will learn to create a variety of vocal tones including harmonic overtones. Vocal Toning is a non-verbal conscious elongation of sounds, using the breath and voice. It has applications for meditation, movement and musical performance. It is used for ceremonies and rituals in many traditional cultures including Mongolia and Tibet. Toning does not strain the voice. As with other forms of vocal production, it is healthy exercise and helps oxygenate the body and expand the lung capacity. Toning is more "free form" than singing and doesn't require previous vocal training, although many singers find that learning toning techniques has expanded their repertoire of techniques.

There will be 4 sessions

1. General principles – This session will introduce the history of toning, help group members make their first tones and introduce techniques for modifying vowel sounds and making harmonic overtones.

2. Expanded practice – We will discuss the concept of “intention” when making sounds, discuss and practice sending sound to the chakra centers in the body and the use of toning with meditation, movement and healing practices

3. Styles of toning. - Using demonstrations and recordings and this session will focus on accompaniment and solo styles used in Tibetian chant, Tuvan throat singing, American Gospel, and modern New Age performing groups.

4. Vocal toning performance – The final session will give an opportunity for participants to create their own vocal toning composition and to participate in a group toning experience.

This 'n That

I had a good time on Saturday playing for a benefit for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Catskills at the Hurley Reformed Church in Hurley, NY. The theme was "Unity". Constance Rudd and Holly also performed. I played "Raag Bhoopaalee" on my Hindustani slide guitar and then channeled Pete Seeger, having everyone in the place make up verses for "Our Roots Go Down". It was wonderful seeing old friends there. I left my million dollar slide there along with some picks, but Constance saved them for me.

Starting next Wednesday, I plan to play instrumental guitar music lunch times at the Queens Galley at Washington Manor, Washington Ave, Kingston, NY. This is a free adult lunch program in Kingston. Anyone is welcome to come for lunch. I hope to do this weekly.

Indian Music Concert Apr 7th/ Om for Peace Apr 8th]

South Indian Music Concert
with eenai Jayanthi Kumaresh

"The best and most versatile Veena artist we have today." - The Statesman
"Fascinatingly profound ...clearly brought out the intricacies and radiance of Veena music". - The Hindu
Music Academy Chennai Voted as the 'Best Veena Artist' on four different occasions.
She will be accompanied by Shree Arjun Kumar on the Mridangam (drums) and Shree Pramath Kiran on the Morsing (jaw's harp) and special percussion.

Date: Saturday, April 7
Time: Doors at 7:30 pm. Show starts at 8 pm
Cost: $15 for Members. $20 for Non-Members
Reservations: 845-679-2079
Place: Kleinert/James Arts Center, 34 Tinker Street,
Woodstock, NY 12498
+++++++++++

Sunday April 8
6:00 pm till 7:00 pm
OM For Peace
Mountain View Studio
20 Mountainview Ave
Woodstock, NY 12498

Come sing with Baird & and Prana at this uplifting event or organize your own meeting to happen at the same time. Free
It's a simple idea: gather people together and sing a continuous OM as a meditation for peace. On Easter Sunday April 8th at 6:00 PM EDT, people, all over the world, who want to give expression to their wish
for peace will gather in groups to join in the sound of many voices singing as one in an extended OM.
Each person, as a meditation on peace, sings their own note at their own rate guided by their breath. Within the group this builds an exquisitely beautiful, rising and falling, subtly changing, continuos
chord. Many voices resonating together in one sound.

How to do this? Set a place to gather; yoga studio, mediation center, dance studio, theater, or living room. Spread the word and invite as many people as you can. Begin at 6:00 PM, Eastern Daylight Time, and
sing OM as long as the sound wants to go on, hopefully for at least an hour. Even if you can't get together with other people sing on your own knowing that people in other places are singing with you. People of all faiths and beliefs are welcome. No musical experience is necessary only the willingness to add your voice for peace to the sound of OM.
This is our fifth year. Last year I heard from people all over the country who had participated. Please forward this to anyone who might be interested or your mailing list. And PLEASE let us know how it goes.
Here in Woodstock we will be coming together at Mountain View Studio off of Rock City Road. www.pranasound.com

SAVE THE DATES: YOGA VEDANTA WEEKEND JUNE 1-3

April Meeting - Princeton Chapters of the ACM and IEEE Computer Society

One of the many things I would like to do that night.  If any one is going, please fill me in on the details. - Bob

 

Princeton Chapters of the ACM and IEEE Computer Society

April 2007 Meeting

 

The Geometry of Music

Dmitri Tymoszko

 

This talk will show how to use orbifolds to model the way listeners, composers, and performers abstract away from musical information.

 

The understanding of music involves ignoring, or abstracting away from, certain information. For example, we understand the violinist's middle C and the vocalist's middle C to be two instances of the same pitch, ignoring the differences in tone quality (timbre) and pitch variation (vibrato). If we were not able to ignore non-essential information, we would be trapped in a sea of unrelated particulars, unable to hear the general patterns that make music meaningful.

 

Orbifolds are a way to give a simple mathematical explanation of certain musical ideas. Orbifolds are geometrical quotient spaces formed when we identify or "glue together" points in a parent space. Orbifolds were first discussed in the 1950s, and play an important role in string theory. One example orbifold in music: the set of two-note chords. This set is a geometric space which is a Mobius strip whose boundary is a mirror. Analogous spaces exist in higher dimensions, containing chords with more notes. These spaces provide fundamentally new representations of musical structure, representations that are intrinsically beautiful and have a wide range of potential applications.

 

Dmitri Tymoczko is a composer and music theorist who is a member of the Music Composition faculty at Princeton University. He studied music and philosophy at Harvard, and in 1992 received a Rhodes Scholarship to do graduate work in philosophy at Oxford. In 2002, he received a Ph.D. in music composition from the University of California, Berkeley, and he was a 2005-6 Radcliffe Institute fellow. Dmitri's music has won numerous prizes and awards, and has been performed by the Brentano Quartet, the Pacifica Quartet, the Network for New Music, the Synergy Vocal Ensemble, and others. His recent article "The Geometry of Musical Chords" was the first music theory article published by Science in its 127-year history.

 

Date: Thursday, April 19, 2007, 8:00 pm  (Refreshments and networking at 7:30 pm.)

Place: Sarnoff Corp., Routes 1 and 571, Princeton, NJ

Information: Rebecca Mercuri (609) 587-1886, David Soll (215) 854-3491, Dennis Mancl (908) 582-7086

On-line info: http://www.acm.org/chapters/princetonacm

 

All ACM / IEEE-CS meetings are open to the public. Students and their parents are welcome. There is no admission charge, and refreshments are served.

A pre-meeting dinner with the speaker is held at 6:00 p.m. at Ruby Tuesday's Restaurant on Route 1. Please send email to princetonacm@acm.org in advance if you plan to attend the dinner.

New Photos

I have added a new photo from St. Patrick's Day 2007 at   http://bobluskphotos2.blogspot.com/   

 

Also have added a few more photos to my spiritual and musical autobiography site.

http://journeytokirtan.blogspot.com/

New Paul Kaplan song "Run, Al, Run"

New Paul Kaplan song "Run, Al, Run"

Dear Friends,

No matter who you're supporting for president, you might find Paul Kaplan's new song "Run, Al, Run" entertaining.  And, who knows, it may change your mind!

You can hear it at http://www.draftgore.com/ or on my website, http://www.paulkaplanmusic.com

Paul Kaplan

Gigs

A couple of small gigs I'll be doing - drop by if you can. 

 

3/31/07 Benifit for Unitarian Universalist Congregation at the Hurley Reformed Church in Hurley, NY. It will be early evening, probably 6:00. I reserve the right to change my mind, but I think I will be singing and playing some Mohan Veena and banjo.  Constance Rudd, Jean Boyce and others will also be performing. The theme is "Unity".

4/7/07 Songs and Music for a Better World - 5 to 7 pm, Hudson River Valley Art Gallery, 24 Spruce Street, Kingston, NY. There will be several performers including music and poetry with dinner. Contact Ed Pell <pellphd@yahoo.com>

Petition to Nominate Pete Seeger for the Nobel Peace Prize

Eleanor Walden posted a petition on a site named petitionthem.com. The aim is to persuade the American Friends Service Committee to nominate Pete Seeger for the Nobel Peace Prize. I thought you would be interested in adding your support. I'm asking everyone to circulate the petition information to at least 5 other people asking them to notify 5 other people. Could you each do that?

To read about the petition and to sign it just visit

http://www.petitionthem.com/default.asp?sect=detail&pet=3774 There is also a forum where you can talk about this petition and of course many other worthy petitions that need your support.

Overview of this petition: -Pete Seeger has been a crusader for Peace and Social Justice over the course of his 83 year lifetime. As a prominent musician his songs, messages and performance style have worked to engage other people, particularly the youth, in causes to end the Vietnam war, ban nuclear weapons, work for international solidarity, and ecological responsibility. It is time that a cultural worker receives the recognition that this work has great influence and global reach, that it is not only a medium of entertainment but of education, compassion and fraternity.

St. Patrick's Parade

2007 St. Patrick's season with Folkloric (Meself, Jim Donnelly and Ira McIntosh) was a huge success!

On Sunday 3/11/07, we played music on the Ulster county Highway Department's Float in the City of Kingston St. Patrick's Parade as we do each year . It's a yearly ritual. It starts out at 10 am, crawling around on top of a large truck, attaching speaker wires and microphones. It was between snowfalls, but it was still cold up there. There was snow on the ground. I was nursing a cold and didn't really want to be there. But there is excitement in the air. All the bagpipe and drum bands are rehearsing. People are in costume and there are brightly colored floats. The parade kicks off at Kingston Plaza, goes down Broadway and ends at the strand. Hanniford's bathrooms in the Plaza always breakdown, or more likely they just put the "out of order" sign up. The Mayfair Renaissance group was behind us while we were setting up, which gave a nice foreshadowing of the spring to come. There was the usual worries as the generator seemed not to be working, but it finally kicked in. Chicks' Restaurant sponsors us and the float won "Best Irish Spirit" in the parade. There was a great crowd of people all along the parade route and a very bumpy ride back to Chicks.

We started playing at Chicks at 4:30. There was not a great crowd at first, but the people there seemed to like the music. Owners Art and Bev Daley were very nice and accommodating. we finished our 4 hours and then a few people came in so we played an extra hour and someone at the bar payed us to play still another hour! That made it a total of 8 hours singing including the parade and a 14 hour day of work including set up and breakdown time. By then my body was wracked in arthritic pain and I had no voice, my hands were so sore I could barely hold a pick. We had Robin Carey, drummer with the AOH pipe band join us and she kept the energy up while we croaked out a few more St. Paddy's Day standards. All in all we had a great time and we knew that nothing to come the next week would be hard in comparison.

On Wednesday, we played at the Ulster County Health Related Facility on Golden Hill in Kingston. The staff led by Vinny Uvino was very energetic and did a wonderful job of hosting the party.

On Thursday, I did a solo performance at Wingate at Ulster in Highland, NY. A more relaxed experience - just what I needed!

On Friday, we started off at noon at the Hurley Mountain Inn in (where else), Hurley, NY, right off Route 209. Unfortunately the second Northeast Blizzard of the year came in and we packed up early and got to the Holiday Inn in time to be snowed in. I don't know where the people came from but mayor James Sottile and alderman Jim Noble were there. We played from 3:30 to 6:30 and then fiddler Lee Eaton drove me home in his 4 wheel drive. thanks to WKNY and Warren Lawrence for sponsoring us.

On Saturday, St. Patrick's Day itself, we went back to Chick's Restaurant at Kingston Plaza and played from 5 to 10 pm. This felt like the "real" St. Patrick's party. The usual Irish lasses leading "green alligators", the drunken college guys grunting along with the words to the songs. Baby's crying, elderly couples singing along, people dancing. All in all a very appreciative audience.

And yet another Obituary : Mark Spoelstra - wonderful '60's folksinger

From Mark Spoelstra's son Joshua:

Dear Friends,
Today my father passed away here in his lovely but modest home in the Sierra Foothills of California. There was snow on the ground and we could see the trees which surround the house like sentinels sway with the force of another approaching storm. We held him as he left us and I know he had no fear and felt no pain, and even though his life was cut short he found the strength to remind each of us that he loved us. I will miss him greatly.

Regretfully,
Joshua Spoelstra

Classes next week

Classes starting at OldSongs

 

Instrument Classes begin next week. Still time to sign up for:

Bodhran (one more opening), Fiddle, Accordion, Recorder, Irish Guitar, Jazz Guitar, Mandolin, Mountain Dulcimer, Hammered Dulcimer, Pennywhistle, Banjo and African Rhythms (which is scheduled for May).

Full info at www.oldsongs.org/classes.html or call 518-765-2815 to register.

 

Medieval tech support

I try and keep this blog focused on musical items as much as possible, but this is just too much fun - sent by Marcus.

Subject: Medieval tech support 

Medieval tech support

The Book

 - Warning - It`s in foreign (but with subtitles) :)

http://www.devilducky.com/media/57946/

St. Patrick's Month

The Irish world of Folkloric (me, Jim and Ira) is heating up. St. Patrick's season looks to break all records. Our public gigs are at http://blschedule.blogspot.com/. In addition to the Kingston St. Patricks Parade, Chick's Restaurant, The Holiday Inn and the Hurley Mountain Inn, we seem to have a lot of nursing homes and private parties too! Come see us when you can, eat corned beef and cabbage and drink green beer!

A Real Folksinger

From friend Steve Suffet - You can see his blog at
http://www.soundclick.com/members/default.cfm?member=suffet&content=myBlogs

Thursday, February 15, 2007. Note: I wrote this piece in 2001 to console a friend whose application to perform at the Old Songs Festival in upstate New York had been rejected. When that same festival later rejected my own application, I read it again and found that it was still just as true. It has since been reprinted several times. The accompanying photo is of Pete Seeger. He was performing at the People's Music Network Winter Gathering at the Renaissance Charter School in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York, in January 2005.

A real folksinger...

A real folksinger doesn't worry about bookings. A real folkinger creates his/her own venue. On street corners In campgrounds. In parks. In schools. At parties. At family gatherings. Wherever and whenever the opportunity arises. A real folksinger plays in hospitals, and hospices, and old age homes. A real folksinger plays in prisons, and libraries, and bus stations, and at street fairs. And a real folksinger doesn't whine and bellyache and complain because such and such club or festival wouldn't have him/her.

A real folksinger understands that folk music is not a genre. A real folksinger understands that any song can be a folksong. A real folksonger knows there is no such thing as singing a folksong wrong. If a real folksinger forgets the words, he/she makes up new ones on the spot. If a real folksinger can't quite remember the melody, he/she invents one that fits his/her own vocal style, perhaps flatting a 7th here, jumping an octave there, or changing a major key into a mountain modal.

A real folksinger never calls him/herself as a singer-songwriter. And yet a real folksinger is always writing songs to sing and singing the songs he/she writes. And a real folksinger doesn't write self-centered contemplate-one's-navel type songs. A real folksinger writes songs that tell interesting stories. Yes, real folksingers have written songs about bad relationships, but those songs include Pretty Polly, Banks of the Ohio, and Rose Connolly!

Real folksingers have written some of the greatest lines in the whole English language. Three examples:

And all she said as she neared his bed,
Was, "Young man, I think you're dying."

Rise up, rise up, little Matty Groves,
And dress as quick as you can,
For never shall it be said in old England,
That I slew a naked man.

Dig the beets from your ground,
Cut the grapes from your vine,
To set on your table,
Your light sparkling wine.

A real folksinger borrows from others, and in turn expects that others will borrow from him/her. A real folksinger understands that all "anon" and "trad" songs had real live authors, and perhaps the greatest honor that can ever befall a real folksinger is to become the author of an anonymous/traditional song.

If a real folksinger wants to make money, he/she gets a job.

A real folksinger doesn't sing to an audience. A real folksinger gets the audience to sing. And if the audience whips out kazoos, tambourines, Jew's harps, and harmonicas and starts to play along, so much the better.

Feel free to add your own comments.

--- Steve

Airports

From Mark Rausher
Musicians Face Tougher Airport Security
NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2007(CBS) For four decades, wherever jazz trumpeter Valery Ponomarev flew, his rare 1961 Constellation trumpet flew with him...as carry-on luggage.

"This is the prized possession of Valery Pomonarev," says Pomonarev as he points to his trumpet.

So prized, reports CBS News correspondent Trish Regan, that when screeners at a Paris airport told him he needed to check his trumpet as cargo before boarding a plane home to New York City recently, he refused.

"For me or any musician to put an instrument under, it's the same like for a mother to put her baby into luggage compartment," says Ponomarev.

Unfortunately, for Valery, those feelings were not shared by the French police.

"They just smashed me against the wall like that and ripping away the horn from me," adds Ponomarev. "Imagine this, four big guys, one of them lines up my arm behind me like that and breaks it, just like that."

Musicians like Valery are getting caught in the cross hairs of increased security. They need to get to their concerts but they can't bear the idea of leaving their instruments, many of which are centuries old and often worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, at the mercy of baggage handlers.

"That's not how you take care of works of art and these are all works of art, useable works of art," says Krista Bennion Feeney.

Krista Feeney practices her art on a 230 year old, handmade Italian violin. Rather than risk checking instruments, she and her fellow musicians with St. Luke's Orchestra in New York cancelled a European tour this fall, amid a heightened security alert.

The Transportation Security Administration does say instruments are permitted as carry-ons, but the final decision on whether an instrument will wind up in the cargo hold or under a seat is up to the individual flight
crews.

As for Valery, a metal plate now holds the bones in his arm together and he's beginning to play again. But his travel nightmare was not over. When he finally boarded his flight to New York, French authorities insisted that his prized possession come home.as cargo.

One last sour note to end the worst gig of his life.

C MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

***Be a link in a larger chain--if you see something interesting, pass it
along and share the wealth!**

B Flat

Krulwich on Science

By Robert Krulwich

Have You Heard About B Flat?

Morning Edition, February 16, 2007 · For reasons that remain mostly mysterious, the note we call B flat does the oddest things. Here are a few of them.
B Flats and Alligators
During World War II, the New York Philharmonic was visiting the American Museum of Natural History. During rehearsal, somebody played a note that upset a resident live alligator named Oscar. Oscar, who'd been in the museum on 81st Street, suddenly began to bellow. Naturally, with so many scientists in residence, an experiment was quickly devised to see how to get Oscar to bellow again. Various musicians — string, percussive and brass — were brought to Oscar to play various notes. It turned out the culprit was B flat, one octave below middle C.
The experiment was described back in the 1940s.
I repeated the experiment on an ABC News broadcast in the 1990s, playing a B flat to a collection of gators in at a roadside attraction in Florida and recording their bellows.
Why B flat?
You'd have to ask an alligator.
B Flat and Glenway Fripp the Piano Tuner
Jay Alison (of "This I Believe" fame) and radio correspondent Viki Merrick live in Massachusetts and help run public radio stations on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. In their capacities as managers-poets-reporters in residence, they regularly devise short promotional "moments" featuring local personalities.
One of their promos described a trip that Glenway Fripp took up a staircase.
Mr. Fripp, a piano tuner by trade, was humming in B flat while climbing the stairs at his dad's office building, when he noticed that his hum had somehow escaped him and was hanging, resonating without him, on the staircase landing. He couldn't quite explain what was happening; only that his hum (and it was definitely his hum, no one else's) had gone off without him.
If you listen to the broadcast, you can hear this for yourself. Viki Merrick recorded it. Glenway has no idea why B flat had this particular property on that particular staircase. He suspects that the walls were porous and may even contain cavities that are very B-flat friendly. That's all he knows. But the truth is, he doesn't have an explanation.
B Flat and Black Holes
This one's a bit of a stretch, but here's what happened.
In September, 2003, astronomers at NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory found what can be described as sound waves emanating from a supermassive black hole. The black hole can be seen in the Perseus cluster of galaxies located 250 million light years from Earth.
Andrew Fabian of the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge, England, analyzed the waves and announced, "We have detected their sound…." The sound he found (which is really the waves passing through gas near the black hole) translate to the note B flat.
But this is not a B flat you or I can hear. It is 57 octaves below middle C. A piano, by comparison, contains only seven octaves. So if a black hole hums, it hums at a frequency a million billion times lower than you can hear.
A Song in B Flat
While you may not be able to hear a black hole humming, this story is, to a considerable extent, sung.
The vocalist (who is also the lyricist, and a journalist) is Josh Kurz of Los Angeles. His partner this time out is Shane Winter, who composed the song "Have You Heard About B Flat?" — which wasn't easy, since he decided to hang with B flat for as long and as often as possible.
Josh Kurz's other work can be found at the Web site he shares with Adam Raitano of Brooklyn, N.Y.

"Detailed instructions destroy initiative"

Robert Henlein - Sixth Column

Donations needed for musicians

From: mooseherd@peoplepc.com

Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 11:29 PM
Subject: February Redwood Moose

My friends Redwood Moose (Mike Dmoch) and Reb (Rebekah Lowden) had a fire recently and can use a variety of donations including extra sound equipment you might have lying around. - Bob

Last Wednesday night at 4:45 PM Redwood Moose Manor burned down. We lost almost everything, MOST IMPORTANTLY our beloved Lilly Lowden, the queen of our feline neighborhood, celebrated in song by Reb's work Lilly the Tabby. Her brother Louie survived. I did manage to save our four most irreplaceable guitars, Reb's '72 Martin, the 2001 Alvarez, the '75 Guild twelve, and the Hilo Hawaiian steel. We lost Reb's brand new koa Little Martin, her 70's Gibson SG, a Johnson dobro, and Reb's banjo. Charlie Kniceley came down the same night and presented Reb with a banjo he bought at an auction, and my family chipped in for a second time to get Reb another Little Martin. We also lost the bulk of our sound and other musical equipment, all CD's, records, tapes, etc., a buffalo drum, harmonicas and holder. I also moved and thereby saved Reb's Hyundai, but my Subaru got somewhat melted. Still runs.

In addition, due to Reb's recent hospitalizations, I failed to complete the paperwork to raise the amount of insurance coverage, so we will get only $7,000 instead of the 70 grand the house is worth. The silver lining is our friends, neighbors, and even total strangers have been ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL to us. The street festival music committee has put together a benefit for February 25th at the Rosendale Rec Center, details at http://rosendalestreetfestival.com:80/fire/ which includes a Paypal account, a bank account has been started for a fund to help us either pay back the loan from the addition we built last year, and/or perhaps help us start re-building. It may be that some kind of community barn raising type event may be necessary and may take place. For donations, checks can be made out to and mailed to the fund as described at the end of the email.

We already have had enough clothes donated to last the rest of our lives, although Reb lost all of her jewelry, and in addition could use some grace notes like decorative scarves, etc--performing clothes. We have purchased a few absolutely necessary items like two gig bags, but we could use 4 or so guitar stands, mike stands, mike, guitar, and speaker cords, speaker stands, a music stand. Charlie Kniceley had borrowed our little 4 channel and a speaker, so we can manage the next gig, but we lost our Behringer 10 channel powered mixer, and some speakers and speaker stands, most of our mikes, cords, etc.

So we are grateful for each other, our dear cat Louie, our families, neighbors, and friends, and recognize a challenge when we seen one, but know that we are surrounded by love and light. We are staying at my mother's, with a two room upstairs suite, that a group of neighbors and friends helped us work on all day Saturday to get ready for us so we're not just camping out. We can be reached at 845 658 8811, and hope to re establish Reb's phone soon. Reb's mailing address is POB 25, Rosendale, NY 12472. My family is POB 209. We do hope to see all of you soon to celebrate our love and friendship

Rebekah Lowden and Mike Dmoch Fire Account
PO Box 441 Rosendale, NY 12472-0441
Peace and Love, and deepest appreciation
the Moose and the Redwood

Fiddler's Tour

I've just added Fiddler's Tour to my links page -
http://boblusklinks.blogspot.com/
They are a wonderful group of people in the Albany area who do participatory jam sessions with a different location each month. A traveling drop in fiddle band! Very welcoming. They meet on Tuesdays at 7:30. Go to their site at
http://www.fiddlerstour.com/ft_home.html
This month they are at Carney's Restaurant 17 Main St (Rte 146A) Ballston Lake, NY(Across from Stewart's).

Seeger Family Tribute (American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress)

So if you're not going to see me and Folkloric play St. Patrick's Day Weekend, you might want to go to this -

How Can I Keep From Singing? A Seeger Family Tribute
March 15-16, 2007 Library of Congress, Washington, DC

Preliminary Program
Please note that panel presentations and the film screening will take place in the Mumford Room, 6th floor, Madison Building and that advance registration is required to attend

PLEASE NOTE: Due to very high demand, tickets to the Seeger Family concert have already sold out. We will have overflow rooms equipped with closed-circuit televisions to broadcast the event. We are also exploring other avenues to see that symposium registrants who were unable to obtain tickets for the concert will be able to hear the Seegers perform. Please understand that we cannot guarantee symposium registrants without tickets a seat in the auditorium or the overflow room. We very much hope that you will still plan to attend the symposium.

* Indicates that the participant is still to be confirmed

MARCH 15, 2007 -- THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 pm -- THE PETE AND TOSHI SEEGER FILM COLLECTION
Screening of film clips from the documentary film footage collection of world musical traditions recorded by Pete and Toshi Seeger and their children during their travels around the world in the 1960's. The screening will be followed by a discussion period.


PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TIME FOR THE SCREENING IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

MARCH 16, 2007 -- FRIDAY

9:00-10:00 am -- WELCOME and INTRODUCTION: Library Officials and Peggy Bulger (Director, American Folklife Center)

KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Neil Rosenberg (Professor, Memorial University of Newfoundland)

10:00-11:30 am -- CHARLES SEEGER AND RUTH CRAWFORD SEEGER

Moderator: Peggy Seeger
Betty Auman (Music Division) will describe Charles and Ruth Seeger collection materials.
Judith Tick (Northeastern University) will discuss Ruth Crawford Seeger's accomplishments.
Taylor Aitken Greer (Pennsylvania State University) will discuss Charles Seeger.

11:30-1:00 pm-- ANOTHER GENERATION OF SEEGERS: PETE, MIKE & PEGGY SEEGER

Moderator: Michael Taft (American Folklife Center)
Todd Harvey (American Folklife Center) will discuss LC collections featuring material concerning Pete, Mike and Peggy Seeger.
Jeff Place (Smithsonian Folkways Records) will discuss Smithsonian Folkways' efforts to maintain their Seeger materials.
David Dunaway (University of New Mexico) will discuss the legacy of Pete Seeger.

1:00-2:30 LUNCH

2:30-4:00 pm -- PERFORMING THE SEEGERS

Moderator: Ray Allen (Brooklyn College, CUNY)
Anthony Seeger (UCLA) will discuss his use of American folksongs as an ethnomusicologist in the field.
Mike Seeger will discuss his overlapping roles as a fieldworker and performer
James Durst of the singing group "Work O' the Weavers" will discuss his group, and what it means to perform Pete Seeger.

4:00-5:30 pm --POLITICS, THEORY AND THE FOLK REVIVAL

Moderator: Joe Hickerson (Folklorist, Performer)
Bill Ivey (Vanderbilt University) will discuss the different ways "folk" and "country" music are theorized
Robert Cantwell (University of North Carolina) will discuss the origin and development of the folk revival
Millie Rahn (Independent Folklorist) will discuss the Seegers and the American folk scene

5:30-5:45 pm -- CLOSING REMARKS & SING ALONG WITH PETE SEEGER*

8:00-9:30 pm -- CONCERT (COOLIDGE AUDITORIUM, JEFFERSON BUILDING)
Pete, Mike and Peggy Seeger with family and special friends

The Seeger Family concert will begin at 8 pm on March 16 in the Coolidge Auditorium, located on the ground floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 101 First Street, S.E.

Eric Von Schmidt

From: Suffet@worldnet.att.net
To: peoplesmusic@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Fri, 2 Feb 2007 5:30 PM
Subject: [peoplesmusic] RIP: Eric Von Schmidt

Greetings:

More sad news: Eric Von Schmidt, the great blues and folk singer and guitarist from Cambridge, Massachusetts, died in his sleep last night, February 1, 2007. I have no further details at this time. It is nearly impossible to overstate the importance of the role Eric Von Schmidt played in the folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s. Brother Eric sits among us in our souls. May he rest in peace.

--- Steve

Piping Weekend

The Saugerties Piping Weekend is scheduled this year for April 20-23, 2007 and will once again be held at St. Joseph's Villa/Falling Waters in Friendly Saugerties. 

We always have a huge variety of bagpipes show up at this event: Northumbrian Smallpipes, Scottish Smallpipes, Uilleann Pipes, Border Pipes, Cornish Pipes, Spanish Gaitas, Breton Binous, etc.  In addition to pipes any other acoustic musical instruments are welcome.  In the past we've had harp, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, tin whistle, ukulele, bodhran, didgeridoo and more!  Also feel free to bring your audio/video recorders and cameras.

Costs

The cost for the entire weekend is $210 for Friday through Monday room and board.  That includes dinner on Friday, three meals on Saturday and Sunday and a continental breakfast and brunch on Monday.  If you can't stay until Monday, then the cost from Friday through Sunday afternoon is $140.  Please send a $25.00 non-refundable deposit before April 15, 2007 to:Ernie Shultis, 4055 Rt. 32, Saugerties, NY 12477.

For local people who wish to stay elsewhere and would like to have their meals with us the costs are:

Breakfast $3, Lunch $4 and Dinner $8 per person.  If you are coming for a meal, I need the full amount for each meal before April 15, 2007.  Please send a non-refundable check to: Ernie Shultis, 4055 Rt. 32, Saugerties, NY 12477.

For questions about the weekend I can be reached at (518) 678-3375 or cmcpiper@gmail.com

For the rest who would just like to come to listen, or possibly join in and play along on your own musical instruments the cost is, as always, FREE.

Directions to Falling Waters.

If coming from the south: Take NY State Thruway (I-87) to exit 20 (Saugerties), turning right after toll booth onto NY Route 212 East/32.    If coming from the north: Take NY State Thruway (I-87) to exit 20 (Saugerties), turning left after toll booth onto NY Route 32.     Follow  Route 32 through the village of Saugerties for 1.08 miles.  Turn Right onto Rt. 9W South/32 at Partition Street, the "Inquiring Mind" bookstore will be in front of you at the corner of Main Street and Partition Street.  Continue following signs for 9W South. (You will make several turns: just keep following signs.) Cross the steel bridge and continue up the hill one more mile to Spaulding Lane on your left. "Cups and Cones" Restaurant is at Spaulding Lane. Take Spaulding Lane to the end where you will see the entrance to Falling Waters.  43 Spaulding Lane, Saugerties, NY 12477

---

Search for grocery stores. Find gratitude. Turn a simple search into something more.

The Healing Power of Music

From: Maryellen Healy

To: mhealy@frontiernet.net

Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2007 11:09 PM

Subject: The Healing Power of Music

2/1/07

The Healing Power of Music

 

Do you have an unused instrument sitting in your attic, basement or closet?  You could send it down to kids in the areas hardest hit by Katrina, Rita and the tornados.  We're taking the minivan down to the Gulf Coast.

 

We leave early on Sunday February 11^th  Bring donations to us at the February Beacon sloop club meeting tomorrow night, to our home in Pine Bush or call or email to work out another way to get it to us.

 

We know Bill Hudson www.bill-hudson.com through the sloop Clearwater community.  Bill has been working on us to join him and Al Coffey on the Feel Good tour www.feelgoodtour.blogspot.com from the start.  Bill came through the valley last week and asked again.  Short notice but perfect timing.

 

There is also a need for kid's jackets and sweaters.  They asked for easy to play instruments for the special needs classes, like tambourines, drums, sticks and shakers.

 

Mel's webpage is www.homepage.mac.com/maryellenhealy . 

We'll send notes from the road to www.melandvinnie.blogspot.com

And www.myspace.com/melandvin

 

Hudson Valley Happenings

I get most of my information about local folk music events from several volunteer e-mail lists. The two I rely on most are sent by John Rogers jrogers@hvc.rr.com and Deborah Osherow deborah@fiddlehawk.com. Theoretically they are intended for Irish music, but do a good job of covering the rest of the folk field. If you write them, I’m sure they will add you to their list.