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Subject: spoons From: GUEST,Peter Carr of the Picturedrome Holmfirth.. Date: 24 Feb 07 - 05:35 PM Is there anyone out there that can play the spoons..If your intersted please contact me ..I'm looking to have some further live music throughtout the day time of Holmfirth Festivakl of Folk...You will be accompanyiing a band call The Weather |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Lox Date: 24 Feb 07 - 05:56 PM Tread carefully ... Spoons are like tambourines ... People think "i can do that" when they really shouldn't and they are about as easy to ignore as a powerdrill through the temple when they're played badly. How ironic that the most precise and demanding instruments are so often confused with the "easiest". |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Leadbelly Date: 24 Feb 07 - 06:21 PM Is there a tradition of spoon-playing? Pure interest. Manfred |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: open mike Date: 24 Feb 07 - 06:52 PM another interesting rhythm instrument is the (are the?) bones. good luck....will you be conduction auditions? |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Scoville Date: 24 Feb 07 - 07:30 PM Is there a tradition of spoon-playing? Seriously? Yes--very common rhythm instrument in the U.S. Most playing spoons are made just for that--either wooden ones carved together as a set or connected metal ones, but some people do play regular eating spoons. Or bones. Or other things. I have a friend who has custom "bones" carved from Corian. |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: leeneia Date: 24 Feb 07 - 09:57 PM Margaret Nelson (of Cooper and Nelson) plays them. She says they will bring people from blocks around "to see what that sound is." So I think you have a good idea when you are considering the spoons. Best of luck with your gig. |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Bee Date: 24 Feb 07 - 10:42 PM I prefer Dancing Dans. Softer percussion and you get to watch a neat little puppet. I've seen people use them all my life, but saw a guy at a festival last summer who brought the little guy to life and was perfect backup for his guitar and mando playin' friends. For anyone who doesn't know what I'm talking about, it is a wooden stickman usually dressed like a stepdancer, with loose-jointed limbs. They are 'danced' on a wooden paddle, and make a lively tapping sound. They're called other things, but I always knew them as Dancing Dans, though I can't find a mention of 'em through Google. |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: GUEST Date: 25 Feb 07 - 03:11 AM There's a wonderful song about a feller who naused up a music session by playing spoons and was murdered by being beaten to death with a Raleigh bike - see the book and CD entitled 'The Spoons Murder' by Con 'Fada' O'Driscoll. Jim Carroll |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: John MacKenzie Date: 25 Feb 07 - 03:50 AM Dame Pattie Smith EPNS, esteemed Mudcatter, ace spoon player, and all round cracking lady. She plays the spoons, comperes, cracks jokes, and wears holy dresses [dresses with 'oles in boyo!] Giok |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: s&r Date: 25 Feb 07 - 04:43 AM Rusty played spoons for the Halle orchestra at Bridgewater Hall Stu |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Alec Date: 25 Feb 07 - 04:51 AM The Best spoons player I have heard is Sylvester McCoy. The best washboard player I have heard was Deryck Guyler. What is it with British Character Actors & unorthodox rhythm instruments? |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Leadbelly Date: 25 Feb 07 - 04:58 AM Thanks, Scoville. It was a serious question. Manfred |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: The Sandman Date: 25 Feb 07 - 05:26 AM I recommend all beginner spoon players to play with a metrognome.,before they play in sessions. the following speeds are acceptable dancing speeds,jigs 116,polkas142,slides143,hornpipes for solo dancing 144,hornpipes for set dancing[hoppies]160,reels [I use 104]208,MARCHES 126,These are approx speeds,this gets players, playing steady[use of metrognome]. if these speeds are too fast for the complete beginner start slower. spoon players should also learn to listen,and realise that they are accompanying. |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: JohnInKansas Date: 25 Feb 07 - 06:43 AM Bee: The common name for your "Dancing Dan" is Limber Jack, I believe. It's a very traditional folk toy, sometimes used "musically," but more often just as something to amuse the kids. "Playing" one musically takes considerable practice; although "making a noise" is simple enough for fairly young kids. Spoons are common in "mountain" tradition, as both a musical instrument and as a way for the youngsters to annoy the old people. An example of spoon overkill is at http://craggymtnmusic.com/limberjacks.htm where you'll see limberjacks, spoons, and bones. Simpler spoons, made from ordinary cheap metal tablespoons, riveted together, with or without a "handle" are sold by quite a few vendors at most festivals/craft fairs, usually for around $5 - $10 (US) each. The spoons used are about 6/$1 at Wally World, and the 6 spoons plus 6 pop-rivets ($0.30) will make 3 sets with about 10 minutes work. "Bones," or "claves" for the purists, or in a similar category of "possibly musical" but often given to the kids as a cheap distraction. One of the more entertaining performers in the "musically challenged" category around our favorite festival campground plays the Musical Toad for an effect much like claves or spoos; but I haven't heard of a "tradition" surrounding that instrument. (I think he only plays it to attract girls, and it seems to work - some.) John |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Scooby Doo Date: 25 Feb 07 - 06:52 AM Pattie plays spoons with her band Callenig Big Band,i would think for one gig so far north of South Wales she may not do it.But she is a brilliant artist who also plays harmonica and concertina plus the fiddle. Scooby |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Bainbo Date: 25 Feb 07 - 07:36 AM There's even a "world championship" hosted by Bertie Draycott, who claims to have pioneered techniques such as the Newcastle Knuckle Knock and the Fishburn Flick, in which, he says, the flicking of the thumb imitates the wing of a racing pigeon in flight. Mind, he also says that he played the spoons at the wedding of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips, so you might want to take his claims with a pinch of salt. |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Bee Date: 25 Feb 07 - 07:44 AM John in Kansas, that's very interesting. I've never heard it called that. The ones I've seen, mostly in Cape Breton and quite often in mainland Nova Scotia, are hand made, often by the owner (sometimes quite crudely), and rather than a board, a handheld paddle is often used for the dancing platform. They do turn up in craft stores as well. |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Leadbelly Date: 25 Feb 07 - 08:25 AM Found this statement on origin of spoon playing (and washboard playing): "...playing metal washboards by placing thimbles over the fingers, popular in African American blues, was derived from the practice of playing the jawbone and spoon playing originated from the African tradition of playing the bones." source: http://www.diaspora.uiuc.edu/A-AAnewsletter/Winter1994.html Manfred |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: GUEST,meself Date: 25 Feb 07 - 08:44 AM Note: the article Leadbelly quotes does not provide any evidence, source, or substantiation of those claims. |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Geoff the Duck Date: 25 Feb 07 - 09:41 AM Bee - In England they are usually called Jig Dolls. Some information HERE. I believe that there were different methods of making the joints in the arms or legs which allowed different movements, so, for instance, some dolls arms might spin at the shoulder, but others would just move up and down. Back to the original question, Pat Smith is an excellent spoons player and can be contacted via the Llantrisant Folk Club. As for playing bones being African. I suspect that every culture which eats animals has at some time used them to make musical percussive instruments, so it probably dates back to prehistoric times. Quack! GtD. |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: leeneia Date: 25 Feb 07 - 10:08 AM Out of mere curiosity I went to the web page for the Holmfirth Restival of Folk. (Being on the wrong side of the pond, I can't volunteer for the gig myself.) http://www.holmfirthfestivaloffolk.co.uk/ I see that Walt Disney's Goofy will be there. |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: GUEST,meself Date: 25 Feb 07 - 10:16 AM And that's not Dumbo on the accordian is it? |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Dame Pattie Smith EPNS Date: 25 Feb 07 - 10:27 AM Well I never!! Yes I`ve been playing spoons for 38 years. It is one of my main instruments and I even teach masterclasses in them. If you go to www.myspace.com-calennigdanceband (sorry haven`t learnt how to do blue clickies yet) you will hear me playing them with my band. By the way when is Holmfirth festival? You never know.......(I call as well) |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Dame Pattie Smith EPNS Date: 25 Feb 07 - 10:33 AM ooh yes I just found out when it is. I`m free that weekend too |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: GUEST,meself Date: 25 Feb 07 - 10:34 AM That address doesn't seem to work ... |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: GUEST,meself Date: 25 Feb 07 - 10:38 AM Try this one. |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Mo the caller Date: 25 Feb 07 - 10:38 AM Owners of Jig Dolls would object to them being called toys. They were taken seriously as pub entertainment. |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Amos Date: 25 Feb 07 - 10:45 AM here 'tis. |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: GUEST,Peter Carr Founder of the spoon thread. Date: 25 Feb 07 - 01:44 PM Thankyou for all the responses'..I'm so impressed that I am going to have to learn the buggers myself...So Dame Pattie Smith..I hereby invite you to a gig at our place..[www.picturedrome.net] on the basis that you give me some lessons...Let me know what the costs are B & B details etc...And Rusty of the Bridgewater Hall fame the same applies..Please get in touch..It would be interesting to do the deal over mudcat to let the other intersted spooners of this thread be kept upto speed...PC |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: open mike Date: 25 Feb 07 - 03:34 PM if you search thru the links provided by Bainbo above spoon "world championship" you will find these audio files from northumberland http://www.asaplive.com/FARNE/ListeningPost.cfm |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 25 Feb 07 - 04:03 PM Good luck in your search - it will be a Very Nice addition
Ol' Mr. Hoss has couple of video clips on youtube with the bones.
Sincerely, |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: skipy Date: 25 Feb 07 - 04:40 PM In "the military" we used to play spoons, if you are curious we can arrange a game at White Horse Folk Festival! Just let me know. Skipy |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: GUEST,peter carr Date: 25 Feb 07 - 06:17 PM I once had a very sore head from playing spoons..[I was but a novice] |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Lox Date: 25 Feb 07 - 06:32 PM "spoon players should also learn to listen,and realise that they are accompanying." A spoons player has a real responsibility because he/she can't really be an accompanist. The spoons are just too dominant and cut through even at the lowest volume. Yes of course He/she must be very sensitive and switched on to the music being played so that he/she can "get with the beat" pronto! And from that point on he/she must be absolutely consistent and unmovable in his/her adherence to the rhythm of the piece. The spoons by their nature will dominate the timing of the song. They act as a metronome in their own right - like the cow bell in african music. To attempt to compete with, or compensate for bad spoons playing is impossible, and a bad or inconsiderate spoons player should not be treated with kid gloves for more than the briefest of "test periods". Likewise, a strong and confident spoons player can keep the most rhythmiically unruly rabble together for all the same reasons but upside down (if you get my drift) |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 25 Feb 07 - 07:07 PM "In "the military" we used to play spoons, if you are curious we can arrange a game at White Horse Folk Festival!" I have - so what are you going to put in the centre of the table? :-) "And that's not Dumbo on the accordian is it? " Interesting :-) |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: IanC Date: 26 Feb 07 - 05:34 AM I play spoons :-) Ian |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Larkin Date: 26 Feb 07 - 05:37 AM and then there's the spoonsplayer that goes to a session and asks the banjo player if it's all right to play the spoons - one would be lovely says the banjo player |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Rasener Date: 26 Feb 07 - 05:54 AM >>Good luck in your search - it will be a Very Nice addition Ol' Mr. Hoss has couple of video clips on youtube with the bones. Hoss on the Bones Sincerely, Gargoyle << Shanty Jack from Cleethorpes plays the bones. |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Mo the caller Date: 26 Feb 07 - 06:17 AM I remember a persistent spoons player at a concert at the old Poynton festival (20 or so years ago). I think it was Vic Gammon on stage (does he do instrumentals?), we got the impression he wasn't delighted at the accompanyment, but he eventually played so fast that Mr. Spoons had to give up. |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Mo the caller Date: 26 Feb 07 - 06:19 AM At the same Poynton festival they had a good spoons workshop. I think they do at Bedworth usaully, too. |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Scooby Doo Date: 26 Feb 07 - 06:36 AM Mo. Dame Pattie Smith runs the spoons workshop at Bedworth and other festivals Scooby |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 26 Feb 07 - 07:15 AM The best cure for a persistent spoons player is: A Jar of Honey! |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: GUEST,Cats Date: 26 Feb 07 - 07:39 AM Dame Patti and her spoons are a world phenomenon, especially when she had them wired up to a set of lights which flashed in time to the spoon beats! The wiring up was interesting as well!! |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Geoff the Duck Date: 26 Feb 07 - 07:48 AM Peter (Mr. Picturedrome, sir!!) Your mention of a sore head switched my brain out of Mudcat mode and into "local" mode. Over in Bradford, at various pubs where music takes place, you may find Pablo, otherwise known as Paul Whittaker. This coming weekend he will almost certainly be at Bradford Beer Festival , serving behind a bar for most of the time, but when the occasion arises, playing spoons and beating himself and others about the head with them (unfortunately tickets for Friday night and Saturday are already sold out). Quack! GtD. |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Tweed Date: 26 Feb 07 - 07:54 AM I doubt if my friend Bobby could make the gig, but he is the premier spoonman of the Holy Delta Lands and somewhat famous for his spooning in those parts. Mississippi Spoonman |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Roger the Skiffler Date: 26 Feb 07 - 09:31 AM modesty forbids... RtS (a lot to be modest about) |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Dame Pattie Smith EPNS Date: 26 Feb 07 - 02:59 PM Thank you so much Peter Carr. I feel that I have passed an audition!! I would love to come to Holmfirth as that is one of the few weekends I don`t already have a gig - it`s quite a time since I was last there playing with Calennig at the Holmfirth folk club. I am very good at working with musicians I have never met before. I will PM you with details. |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Dame Pattie Smith EPNS Date: 26 Feb 07 - 03:07 PM No I didn`t have much luck PMing you probably as you are a guest. You can contact me if you like or email me at the address on the website. |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Geoff the Duck Date: 26 Feb 07 - 03:10 PM Pat, the Mudcat PM system only works if the other person is a member. You need a contact via some other method for a guest, perhaps the phone number for the Picturedrome? Quack! GtD. |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Dame Pattie Smith EPNS Date: 26 Feb 07 - 03:20 PM Oh ta Geoff. I`m still not very good at this. |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Geoff the Duck Date: 26 Feb 07 - 03:25 PM There's always postcards - Holmfirth is famous for printing the saucy ones... Quack! Geoff. |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: s&r Date: 26 Feb 07 - 05:07 PM thank you for the invitation. Already committed Holmfirth weekend to teaching Lancashire Regional Music School Guitar classes Saturday morning and FOLKUS workshops at Garstang all day Sunday (including spoon tuition for those interested in acquiring the technique and performance skill of this rhythmic art form!)BUT could get to Holmfirth for around 2.00 pm and would be available with spoon roll (like tool roll but with spoons)for the rest of Saturday at no expense to anybody if that would help you. nice to talk to you rusty |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: GUEST,Peter Carr Date: 26 Feb 07 - 06:17 PM Rusty..We have a band playing called ''The Bay Of Biscuits'' from about 4pm...youre' very welcome to come along..Let me know if you need owt' by way of somewhere to sleep, camp, eat etc..PC |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: s&r Date: 26 Feb 07 - 06:45 PM Count me in - will make arrangements and come back to you. No need for anything except we (Stu/husband- and me) will need to get into the venue. kind regards rusty |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: GUEST,Peter Carr Date: 27 Feb 07 - 02:07 AM Will do....Thanks...PC |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: GUEST Date: 27 Feb 07 - 10:22 AM what a wonderfull read |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: AJR Date: 27 Feb 07 - 01:32 PM SOMER YEARS AGO I HIRED A SPOON PLAYER FOR A LOCAL FESTIVAL. IT WAS IN TOWER HAMLETS, LONDON. WE ADVERTISED FOR HIM IN MELODY MAKER (I THINK). THE ONLY OTHER SPOON PIECS IS IN CALDECOT PICTURE BOOK" ' HEY DIDDLE DIDDLE THR CAT AND THE FIDDLE THE COW JUMPED OVER THE MOON THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED TO SEE SUCH FUN AND THE DISH RAN AWAY WITH THE SPOON |
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Subject: RE: spoons From: Scooby Doo Date: 27 Feb 07 - 01:47 PM What in earth are you on about????????? Scooby |
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