Paddy Graber - a new CD

Subject: Paddy Graber - a new CD
From: Stewart
Date: 06 Feb 04 - 01:53 PM

I have just produced a first CD for Paddy Graber, an 80-year-old Irish singer and story teller from Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Much of his musical repertoire comes from his family in Ireland and often includes local variants of traditional Irish songs. He has also written songs of his own.   Paddy has performed at Northwest Folklife every year of its existence but one. He is a real treasure, and his songs and stories need to be preserved and passed on to future generations. I spent a couple of days last November with Paddy in Seattle, recording his songs and stories. This is part of an ongoing project of mine to preserve his musical repertoire.

More information and some sound samples are available at my web site HERE.

His CD release concert, sponsored by the Seattle Folklore Society and joined by a local Celtic band, Piper's Creek, is scheduled for April 3.

PADDY GRABER – The Craic Was Great – Songs and Stories From My Irish Home

TRACKS:

1.   Far From the Land of the Shamrock and Heather – 2:17
2.   The Arbutus Tree - 4:35
3.   The Mystery of Amergin - 1:38
4.   The Silkie of Sule Skerrie - 7:09
5.   The Song of the Sea Maidens - 6:09
6.   Colcannon - 3:01
7.   A Maid Went to Cumbaa - 1:46
8.   Daniel O'Connell and His Steam Engine - 4:23
9.   Jim Mead the Cooper - 2:59
10. The Hen That Became a Hare (Paddy Graber) - 3:16
11. The Ballad of Moll Magee (W. B. Yeats) - 6:48
12. The Craig Above Kilmara - 5:45
13. The Trip Over the Mountain - 3:28
14. The Battle of the Drink - 5:52
15. The Old Lady of Skin and Bones - 4:29
16. Donald Og - 4:32
17. Carrighfergus - 2:22
18. The Parting Glass - 3:02

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Paddy Graber - a new CD
From: MartinRyan
Date: 06 Feb 04 - 04:12 PM

Did he write "The Brittania Mine"?

Regards

Subject: RE: Paddy Graber - a new CD
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Feb 04 - 04:24 PM

Martin, Yes that's his song.

S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Paddy Graber - a new CD
From: MartinRyan
Date: 06 Feb 04 - 05:58 PM

Stewart

Thanks for that. I knew his name - but had never heard any details about him. Just had a chance to view (not listen to) your site and enjoyed it very much.

Please tell Paddy that this Irishman has got great value out of singing his excellent song around the clubs, festivals and sessions of Ireland, where it is little known.

Regards

Subject: RE: Paddy Graber - a new CD
From: Deckman
Date: 06 Feb 04 - 09:06 PM

Hey Stewart ... Thank you so VERY much for your hard work. You are absolutly right ... Paddy is a treasure! As soon as my new hip lets me travel down to Seattle, I will be knocking on your door for my copy.

Whenever I think of Paddy, I remember that one evening's sunset, as we were all gathered at the late John Dwyers waterfront deck, and Paddy graced our presence with "The Arbutis" (sp?).

I visited with Paddy as I was leaving the Seattle Folklife Festival (forklift Festival) last Memorial Day. I was tired, he was tired, we were tired, yet we started talking about things and excitments we share in common. Our ladies kept trying to hurry us on and yet we both were reluctant to separate.

Again, I look forward with great pleasure to hearing him on my very own CD.

CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Paddy Graber - a new CD
From: Stewart
Date: 07 Feb 04 - 02:02 PM

Ordering information for the CD is on the web site HERE
$15 per CD plus shipping

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Paddy Graber - a new CD
From: Stewart
Date: 08 Feb 04 - 03:46 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Paddy Graber - a new CD
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Feb 04 - 04:06 PM

Stewart, will you or Paddy be at Rainy Camp? I'm going to be in Seattle and am planning to stop by on Saturday evening to say hi and listen for a little while.

Maggie (SRS)

Subject: RE: Paddy Graber - a new CD
From: Stewart
Date: 08 Feb 04 - 04:16 PM

Hi Maggie. Yes, we'll both be there with a stack of his CDs to sell. I look forward to seeing you Saturday evening.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Paddy Graber - a new CD
From: Stewart
Date: 09 Feb 04 - 02:52 PM

Several songs Paddy sings on this CD are in the Mudcat. "The Hen That Became A Hare" is a song he wrote himself. "THE ARBUTUS" is a song of Paddy's, in the DT and much discussed in the Forum. And "Daniel O'Connell & His Steam Engine" is a song that also has been discussed on the forum. Another one of Paddy's original songs, not on this CD but planned for a future CD, is "THE BRITANNIA MINE", one of his Canadian songs. Paddy's version of "CARNLOCH BAY" is in the DT, and was recently discussed in B.C.FOLKLORE (No.18). Also in that issue is a recipe for Colcannon, a song Paddy sings on this CD.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: ADD: Mystery of Amergin (recitation)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Feb 04 - 02:39 AM

This really is a delightful CD.
Here's my transcription of Paddy's recitation of The Mystery of Amergin. Graber reports it is Ireland's oldest poem, the first poem to come out of northern Europe - 3,000 years old. Translation by Dr. Douglas Hyde. Alternate texts available at Lyrica Celtica and here (click).


The Mystery of Amergin

I am the wind that breathes across the sea,
I am a wave of the ocean,
I am a murmur of the wave,
I am the great ox of the seven combats,
I am the vulture upon the rocks,
I am a beam of light,
I am a tall green plant,
I am a lake on the plain,
I am a word of science,
I am that which lights within the head of man the fire of thought
I am the death-point of the battle spear,
Who is it who casts light upon the hostings at the mountaintops?
Who is it that proclaims the ages of the moon?
Who is it that reveals the bed of the sun?
Who, if it be not I?


Amergin was a pre-bardic poet.

Subject: RE: Paddy Graber - a new CD
From: Deckman
Date: 19 Feb 04 - 08:27 AM

I just got my copy of Paddy's CD. I haven't been able to listen to more than the first two songs, but already, I am thrilled. This CD is a treasure. And, the stories behind the songs are an added bonus. This CD is a must. CHEERS, Bob Nelson

Subject: RE: Paddy Graber - a new CD
From: Stewart
Date: 19 Feb 04 - 12:05 PM

Joe and Bob, thanks for your kind reviews. Paddy's CD is now on CDBaby. Or you can order it direct from me. For those of you in Seattle, it's at Galway Traders and Dusty Strings.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Paddy Graber - a new CD
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Feb 04 - 12:09 PM

Stewart,

I agree with Bob and Joe. I haven't been able to listen to it under the best of conditions (I played it in the rental car earlier this week) but the collection and the commentary about it are marvelous. It's very nicely produced. I'll listen to it again soon without tire and engine noise in the background and appreciate it all the more!

Maggie

Subject: RE: Paddy Graber - a new CD
From: Sunga
Date: 19 Feb 04 - 06:58 PM

I was so fortunate to see & hear Paddy in Port Townsend a few months back. My husband & I were in town and happened to poke our heads into the pub he was performing at. What a wonderful story teller and singer. If he's ever interested in dividing his Memorial Day Weekend between Seattle and Port Angeles, please ask him to apply for the Juan de Fuca Festival.
Info at: http://www.juandefucafestival.com/
Thanks for sending out this information. We will be sure to go to the concert on April 3rd.

Cheers,
Sunga

Subject: RE: Paddy Graber - a new CD
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 11:25 AM

Stewart,

I have several shots of folks from Rainy Camp that I can post to Mudcat if there are places for them. To start with, I sent Pene Azul a nice shot of Paddy singing at the Feb. 14, 2004 Rainy Camp concert. He put it on my newly established photo page here, but feel free to use it, link to it, or copy it if you can use it in conjunction with promoting Paddy's CD. If you want a higher resolution image (there is the original 5 meg TIFF, and I also saved it as a GIF, which is larger, but isn't "lossy" like JPGs are) let me know.

Do you remember the name of the song Paddy sang? I'd like to update that caption to include it, because it was very special, one he doesn't perform often.

Maggie (SRS)

Subject: RE: Paddy Graber - a new CD
From: Deckman
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 11:29 AM

Maggie, very nice pictures. Thank you for taking the time and effort to post them. Bob

Subject: RE: Paddy Graber - a new CD
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 01:17 PM

I have a few others to add--do you want to have that one of you in there, or do you want it posted to your page? I'm going to post that good photo of Dad, and at least one other one from the concert. I have good shots of several other performers--but maybe someone who does regular Rainy Camp stuff would like to use these on another page?

SRS

Subject: RE: Paddy Graber - a new CD
From: Stewart
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 01:44 PM

Maggie, thanks for posting the pictures. I have a full recording of the concert which I am editing to put on a CD. So, just to make sure I checked the recording. It was Valentine's Day, and Paddy sang one of his own songs, a very personal one written for his wife Phyllis:   

MY LOVE FOR ALL SEASONS - Paddy Graber
to the tune of "Take Your Time My Lovely Old Lad."

Many's the time, when I just sit and think,
I dream of my love for all seasons.
And when I think why I love her so much,
I know there are dozens of reasons.

At times we feel good, and there's times we feel bad,
And there's times when we think that we've parted.
But when we think of the love we would loose,
We back up and get it restarted.

When toegether we sit on a rock by a stream,
Or sit with our back 'gainst a Willow,
I catch the fresh scent of her soft brown hair,
As when it's spread over my pillow.

I love the smile that lights up her face,
Like the sun on the beach of Kauai,
Or when it bursts through Maui's dark clouds,
My heart it flys back to Hawaii.

I've loved my love in the sand by the sea,
And the forest high over the canyon,
But when she lays in my arms close at night,
I know she's my dearest companion.

In the still of the night, as together we lie,
I dream of my love for all seasons,
On waking I place a sweet kiss on her lips,
Love's token for dozens of reasons.

It's a nice song, and reflects the time he spent in Hawaii.

Cheers, S. in Seattle