Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes

Subject: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 20 Oct 10 - 05:14 AM

Dear Everyone,

Booking for this is now open. Unusually for us, we have Martin performing at the Lewes Saturday Folk Club on Saturday 11th. December and the workshop on the following day, Sunday 12th. December. There is a maximum of twelve places at the workshop instead of our usual twenty.

Lewes Saturday Folk Club Workshop No 139
MARTIN CARTHY GUITAR WORKSHOP
Places £45 (12 maximum)
SUNDAY 12TH. DECEMBER 2010
10.45 a.m.- 4.45 p.m.
Elephant & Castle, White Hill Lewes BN7 2DJ UK   

        Martin Carthy is unsurpassed as a performer of English traditional song & dance music. It is impossible to over-estimate his influence on at least two generations of singers & players. (http://www.watersoncarthy.com/id22.htm)
        The workshop will explore Martin's approach to playing dance tunes, especially Morris tunes, and to song accompaniment in his characteristic tuning of CGCDGA. As preparation, you may like to familiarise yourself a little with this tuning.                

ON SATURDAY 11TH. DECEMBER MARTIN CARTHY PERFORMS AT THE ELEPHANT & CASTLE
Admission £9.
8.00 p.m.   Doors open 7.30 p.m.
Advance tickets from address at end of this form.

MARTIN CARTHY GUITAR WORKSHOP
SUNDAY 12TH. DECEMBER 2010
Provisional Timetable

10.45   Registration & coffee; order lunch
        (refreshments not included)

12.30 - 13.30        Lunch

15.00        Tea/coffee break

16.45        Finish

N.B. Booking is recommended as numbers are limited. Maps & accommodation lists on request.

Lewes Saturday Folk Club
c/o 20, St. John's Terrace, LEWES,
East Sussex BN7 2DL
Tel. [phone]
e-mail: valmaigoodyear[at]aol[dot]com
www.lewessaturdayfolkclub.org/

MARTIN CARTHY GUITAR WORKSHOP
SUNDAY 12TH. DECEMBER 2010
BOOKING FORM
I would like to attend the workshop. I enclose a cheque for £45.00 (refreshments not included).

Name:

Address:




Telephone:

E-mail address:

Tick for map:    Tick for accommodation list:

No. of tickets @ £9 for evening performance on SATURDAY 11TH. DECEMBER (include SAE for these):

Please make cheques payable to
Lewes Arms Folk Club (that's right)
and send with this booking form to:
Valmai Goodyear, 20, St. John's Terrace,
LEWES, East Sussex BN7 2DL
Tel. [phone]

www.lewessaturdayfolkclub.org/

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 20 Oct 10 - 11:32 AM

obviously no poor people need apply- perhaps there are scholarships...?

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: GUEST,Jon Dudley
Date: 20 Oct 10 - 12:33 PM

I don't know how else you'd cover the cost of having one of the country's finest folk musicians give a masterclass. I thought that for a maximum of only 12 people attending it was blooming good value. You could easily pay £45 going to a London theatre to watch a performance...and that wouldn't include Derek Jacobi giving you a masterclass in acting. For those that enjoy and benefit from it, I think Valmai (not exactly known for her Spectator-reading capitalist ideals) delivers a great service...one thing's for sure, it's neither meant to be elitist or profit-based. This stuff costs time and money to put on.

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Oct 10 - 12:54 PM

Valmai, well done and every success with this and future workshops

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 20 Oct 10 - 12:59 PM

Thanks, Jon and Dick. All the admin work is done by volunteers and all money received goes to the performer, after deducting a small fixed sum to cover the costs of advertising the workshops. If anyone felt like giving us a grant for the unpaid work we do for traditional music, we'd be happy to pass on the benefit to the customers.

Valmai (Lewes)

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: Will Fly
Date: 20 Oct 10 - 01:37 PM

An all-day workshop with one of the greatest and most influential names in British folk music? For £45? A snip.

I should add that when English folk music was at a low ebb, with clubs closing left, right and centre, Martin would do gigs for a handful of pennies - purely for the sheer love of the music.

More strength to his elbow - and to Valmai and her colleagues for the sterling work they do.

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 03:58 AM

Thanks, Will - we're looking forward to your performance with Alan Day at the club this coming Saturday (27th. November).

We've still got a few places left for the day and evening.

Valmai

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: GUEST,eliza c
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 08:11 AM

thanks Will
He certainly did. And moreover has refused to go down the exclusive concerts path of getting a manager and getting the fees he bloody well deserves after fifty years on the road-still playing the folk clubs, travelling by train carrying his own instruments at 70 years old and currently gigging solo throughout my mam's illness and my own confinement (odd word but still true) to the amazement of both his family and fans. There are other ways of being royalty, Peasant.
xe

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 01:11 PM

Many thanks, Eliza, and best wishes to you and your Mam.

Valmai

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: GUEST, RIchard Bridge on 56k
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 01:23 PM

OMFG - that is not dear at all. It's cheaper than that duration of lessons from an ordinary guitarist. But the students had better be good, I mean really really good - keeping up with his guitar technique will be soooooo hard. You don't realise how good his guitar work is until you see what his hands are doing, and all with timing you could set your watch to if you want to (and at the same time impeccably singing melodies with intervals that differ from modern norms that most of us could not do with someone else doing the guitar work - and doing them in timings to which the guitar part is the perfect accompaniment - but where needed in a different timing).   There are only a few guitar gods who know (I think Martin coined the phrase) that "all English folk song is in the time signature of "one"", and can play it like that, or can play it to a dance tempo if wishing to.

I simply would not dare play in such a workshop. And it's not as if I'm that shy really.

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: The Sandman
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 01:35 PM

Martin is a dedicated musician/ singer, I would suggest every body who wishes to progress as an accompanist and who is able to attend should do so.
i have found his guitar book extremely useful, even though I decided [in the end] to play the guitar in my own style.

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: Will Fly
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 01:41 PM

I'm tempted by the workshop - just couldn't decide whether it would be totally up my street as I'm not a great user of non-standard tunings. whether someone is a guitar "god" or guitar "great" doesn't phase me in the slightest - not because I have a swell-headed opinion of my own prowess - just that, in my experience, a good teacher is a good teacher is a good teacher and can inspire all levels.

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 02:15 PM

This will be the third workshop Martin has done for us, and all his previous pupils have been inspired and delighted by spending a day with him.

Valmai

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: GUEST,Yvonne
Date: 25 Nov 10 - 07:59 AM

and as a plus you might get to look at a lovely, brightly coloured shirt too!

Hey Eliza...go girl!

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 07:19 AM

Excellent news: Eliza gave birth to a daughter, Isabella Curran Carthy, 9lbs 13ozs, yesterday afternoon. Congratulations to all the family!

Valmai

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: GUEST,guest - Jim Younger
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 01:23 PM

First of all, congratulations to Liza on the birth of daughter Isabella, and to Martin and Norma on their new grandchild.

Second - £45 is well worth it. I have studied Martin's playing on and off for 45 years, from records and live performances and I have learned so much -even if I still can't quite get the hang of Scarborough Fair from the first Fontana album! (Anyone got a transcription?) Some of his session work for other singers back in the 60s was fabulous - guitar accompaniment to Isla Cameron singing the Black Freighter, for one.

Not many musicians change your life. Hearing Martin Carthy for the first time changed mine.

You wouldn't have to even take a guitar with you to the workshop. Watch, listen, absorb. Later, do try this at home!

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: The Sandman
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 02:21 PM

he plays in in standard tuning.martin plays a ripple style accompaniment
are you going to scarborough fair
       c         g          d9
parsley sage rosemary and thyme
c      d9          c       d9

remeber me to one who lives there
       c    d9            g
for once she was a true love of mine
   d9      g         c g    c    d9
it is all in martins guitar book, but you have to work out the first chord for yourself i am not telling you

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: The Sandman
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 02:22 PM

to play marins inversion of d 9, you only have to hold down string 4 at fret 4and string 2 at fret 3

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: The Sandman
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 02:24 PM

sorry. last chord id d9 sus 4. that is the chord i was referring to with the fretting in previous post not d9

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 01 Dec 10 - 08:45 AM

One workshop place left - we had a cancellation - first come, first served. We've got tickets for the Saturday evening.

Valmai (Lewes)

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 06:30 AM

Sold out!

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: GUEST,guest jim Younger
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 09:01 AM

Hi Dick - thanks for your post on Scarborough Fair, but I had already worked out the basics from my old vinyl copy some time ago(including the opening 'arpeggio' harp-like figure) ... it's how he does all the rest - the dancing lute-like motif about half way through, for example. By the way, the opening 'arpeggio' of SF is very like part of Dylan's guitar figure on Girl From the North Country on Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. We all know His Bobness credits Martin for the tune to Bob Dylan's Dream (notes by Nat Hentoff). So did he pick that trick up from Martin too? Or was it the other way round? Or did they both get it from Paul Simon? (Joke.)

Hi Valmai - 'house full' - excellent. More power to you!

Jim

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: Will Fly
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 05:47 PM

I went to Martin's workshop today - one of 14 people in all (including Martin) - and a very interesting day it was. Martin explained the reasoning behind his choice of guitar tuning - CGCDGA - and took us through a tune piece by piece during the day. I was particularly interested by his talk about choice and interpretation of material and the links between American music and music in the UK and Ireland.

I won't be changing my guitar tuning from standard to anything else - but it was fascinating to see him play and sing some of his material with clear and passionate explanations of what moved him and his approach to the music.

Many thanks to Valmai and colleagues at the Lewes Saturday Folk Club for making the day possible - and to Martin for being there. He was travelling straight back up to Warrington after the workshop to see Norma in hospital. Safe journey!

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 03:53 AM

I must say it was a magnificent finale to this year's series of workshops. Of the seventeen we've put on in 2010, seven have sold out. It's good to see that so many enthusiasts are keen to deepen their knowledge of traditional music and develop their skills for performing it.

While I'm here, these are next year's workshops:

LEWES SATURDAY FOLK CLUB MUSIC WORKSHOPS 2011
The workshops last a full Saturday or Sunday & the tutor performs at the Elephant & Castle, White Hill, Lewes BN7 2DJ, in the evening. Booking forms can be printed from the website www.lewessaturdayfolkclub.org/

19 Feb         CLIVE HARVEY                Ukulele
26 Feb         CHRIS FOSTER & BARA GRIMSDOTTIR Icelandic vocal harmony/balladry
12 March        TOM MCCONVILLE           Fiddle        
12 March        DAVID NEWEY                 Guitar
19/20 March         ALISTAIR ANDERSON         Steel Skies Suite & performance (any instrument)
9 April         THE CLAQUE         Ballad forum
30 April         SARA GREY         Banjo & song
21 May         CHRIS SHERBURN         Irish concertina
21 May        DENNY BARTLEY Irish song & guitar
4 June                 MARTYN WYNDHAM-READ & IRIS BISHOP   Singing & accompaniment
11 June         JOHN KIRKPATRICK         John K's tunes (any instrument)
16 July         BRIAN PETERS         Melodeon
17 July                BRIAN PETERS    Ballad forum         
17 Sept        CLOUDSTREET         Vocal harmony
15 Oct                TOM & BARBARA BROWN    West Country songs
29 Oct                JODY KRUSKAL                         Concertina
3 Dec                PAUL & LIZ DAVENPORT         Ballads



Valmai (Lewes)

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 03:03 AM

I can't resist sharing this comment which arrived yesterday from someone who came to both Martin's evening performance at the club and the workshop:

'Dear Valmai,
I really enjoyed the workshop, Martin was amazing and his patience with our slow pace of learning never faltered. I can't thank you enough for organizing the whole event as well as the concert the night before which was up there with the great nights out at music venues - a truly memorable evening. All of it represented remarkably good value too considering how little you expect to get for £50 now-a-days! All I have to do now is sit down and try to learn that tune.
Many thanks again,
Chris '

Subject: "The dowdy streets of Jarrow" Lyrics required.
From: GUEST,Don Day
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 08:52 AM

This is a parody of Dowie dens of Yarrow if it is not obvious. Although the clan fever was stronger in Jarrow with the animosity with the nearby town of Felling the similarity with the Scottish situation is obvious (I lived in Hebburn, between the two, and was unfortunately caught up in the battles on occasion. Bollox kicked up in two incidents outside the Palais!) Written by Ed McIntyre of the said town, who was a prominent singer and composer at the Crown and Anchor club in the mid-sixties. I have forgotten most of the verses now and would like to revisit them.
Ed was a strong folk influence in the Tyneside area and wrote many now-classic songs. He ran the club with Tommy Cassidy and others and they performed mostly Irish music, very well, until 1969 when all sympathy with Irish Republicanism ceased and the club folded. Ed was still to be seen at peripheral clubs like Birtley and the Marsden Inn for some years after.
Please dredge your memories for a song that contained such classic verses as:-

"The Father sought her brothers out
In the Wheatsheaf they were boozin'
Saying "How can you sit here half slewed
When your sister we are losing".

I have Googled Ed for some time now and can find no trace.

Don Day

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: GUEST,Don Day
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 08:56 AM

Sorry Martin for hijacking your thread but I just cocked it up!

Hope you are all ok and hope to see you soon when you are in this area.

Cheers

Don

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 06:08 AM

Is there any chance of a kindly elf transferring the last two posts to whichever thread they were intended for, or at least taking them off this one?

Don't worry if it's not possible.

Thanks,

Valmai