folk/classical project, seeking ideas

Subject: folk/classical project, seeking ideas
From: Susan A-R
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 01:32 PM

My husband, who is a concert pianist, has put together a folk-inspired classical program, (see http://www.sover.net/~arnowitt/folk-insp.htm for more details. He'd like to find a folk musician who could work with him on this, singing or playing some of the material that inspired the classical pieces. As you'll see from the web page, the material encompases a lot of different traditions. Any thoughts on a performer capable of handling them all with style would be great. If someone out there could handle the instrumental stuff, I could probably handle vocal material.

Susan A-R

Subject: RE: folk/classical project, seeking ideas
From: Night Owl
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 02:46 PM

Susan....wondering if you or anyone else is familiar with the name Marie Rhines?? She was/is a classically trained violinist who "crossed over" to Bluegrass/Folk...in the late seventies (maybe). She was living on Cape Cod back then, and had a similar passion for tracing and performing the history of the music. I believe she would be VERY interested in your husband's project and would have LOTS of information and expertise to share.

Subject: RE: folk/classical project, seeking ideas
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 02:58 PM

Try John Renbourn I think he would be an excellent source of information for your project. Yours,Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: folk/classical project, seeking ideas
From: rainbow
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 09:35 PM

jay ungar and molly mason they would be who i would call!

... lorraine

Subject: RE: folk/classical project, seeking ideas
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 14 Mar 00 - 07:32 AM

Tony Trishka includes some classical pieces in his solo banjo performance. He's an amazing musician who can play in any style.

Stacy Phillips plays fiddle and Dobro (resonator guitar in many different styles and has many books out on the subject. He would be very good for this sort of thing.

Subject: RE: folk/classical project, seeking ideas
From: GUEST,Frank Hamilton
Date: 14 Mar 00 - 11:36 AM

Don't know if you are aware or not of the contribution that Bela Bartok made in transcribing over a 1000 fiddle tunes of authentic Hungarian folk music. His use of this material in his music is well-documented.

Frank

Subject: RE: folk/classical project, seeking ideas
From: Susan A-R
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 10:16 PM

Thanks folks. Frank, Bartok is on the list of composers. Also, if anyone has info on how to contact these folks that would be very helpful. (I'll be gone for about three weeks. I won't be ignoring this one, but it will take me a while to get back to it. )

Susan A-R

Subject: RE: folk/classical project, seeking ideas
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 10:32 PM

Richard Durrant might be worth a try - he is a classicaly trained guitarist by plays folk and all sorts.

Jon

Subject: RE: folk/classical project, seeking ideas
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 10:43 PM

Forgot to add http://www.clickfun.com/nickpynn/durrbio.htm

Jon

PS (I met him once did things I stil can't work out how to do 10 years later on my tenor banjo - really nice chap though - ended up playing The Trumpet Hornpipe and the Sailors Hornpipe with him - ust as a bit of fun in a small local pub)

Subject: RE: folk/classical project, seeking ideas
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 11:41 PM

Hi Susan A-R,

I'm so glad you started this thread. This topic is one of my favorites also. At the website you mentioned, I'm intrigued with the program and look forward to hearing more about the Brahms, Beethoven, Chopin...oh well, all of them. As far as contacting performers, you might check to see if they have websites with an e-mail link. I know Jay and Molly do. Of course, a personal introduction would be much better.

Here at the Mudcat I've picked up some bits and pieces of info that may add to your project.

What are your favorite Scottish Tunes? I love Bruch's Scottish Fantasy, and Kendall and Murray on Saltspring were king enough to identify the Scottish tunes in it.

Songs to Star of the County Down This is Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Five Variants on Dives and Lazarus."

Can Anyone Help? Several tunes are mentioned here. I still wonder if The Waltz from Rodeo is the same as "I Ride and Old Paint."

Don't forget us. We want updates!

Mary

Subject: RE: folk/classical project, seeking ideas
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 11:47 PM

Ignore the above (except that Kendall and Murray are kings).

Hi Susan A-R,

I'm so glad you started this thread. This topic is one of my favorites also. At the website you mentioned, I'm intrigued with the program and look forward to hearing more about the Brahms, Beethoven, Chopin...oh well, all of them. As far as contacting performers, you might check to see if they have websites with an e-mail link. I know Jay and Molly do. Of course, a personal introduction would be much better.

Here at the Mudcat I've picked up some bits and pieces of info that may add to your project.

What are your favorite Scottish Tunes? I love Bruch's Scottish Fantasy, and Kendall and Murray on Saltspring were kind enough to identify the Scottish tunes in this.

Songs to Star of the County Down This is Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Five Variants on Dives and Lazarus."

Can Anyone Help? Several tunes are mentioned here. I still wonder if The Waltz from Rodeo is the same as "I Ride and Old Paint."

Don't forget us. We want updates!

Mary

Subject: RE: folk/classical project, seeking ideas
From: Art Thieme
Date: 16 Mar 00 - 11:21 AM

Michael Miles in Chicago has done CDs of Bach transcribed for the benjo --- as well as folk music.

Corky Siegel, also in Chicago, has done extensive harmonica work with Seiji Ozawa as well as his "Chamber Blues".

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: folk/classical project, seeking ideas
From: Art Thieme
Date: 16 Mar 00 - 11:23 AM

Sorry, "benjo" should be "banjo".

"Benjo", I've been told, means "toilet" in Japanese.

Art

Subject: RE: folk/classical project, seeking ideas
From:
Date: 16 Mar 00 - 04:59 PM

Has anyone thought about David Greenberg and Kate Dunlay? Both are trained Violinists and play, besides that, the Cape Breton style of fiddle music.

In addition, David is a founding member of the Puirt-a-Baroque, which blends the folk and baroque forms of music together.

Other people who have (in my region) worked well with symphonies as well as doing their own music are Scott MacMillan (guitar), Dave MacIsaac (guitar and fiddle), Natalie MacMaster (fiddle), Raylene Rankin (vocal), the Barra MacNeils (multi-instrumentals and vocals) and Ashley MacIsaac (fiddle)

If you need to contact any of these people let me know and I can put you in touch.

Subject: RE: folk/classical project, seeking ideas
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Jun 04 - 12:33 PM

I was researching the Second Suite in F by Holst, and came across this outline here (click):

Student Study Guide: "Fantasia on the `Dargason'" from Second Suite in F by Gustav Holst

Background Information

The Second Suite in F (1922) is one of several compositions written for band by the British composer Gustav Holst in the early part of the 20th Century. While the military band was not Holst's main musical medium, he along with his friend and colleague, Ralph Vaughan Williams, wrote several significant works for band, many of which are based on English folk tunes.

In the early part of the 20th Century a growing sense of nationalism in a number of countries inspired many composers to use folk melodies as a basis for their compositions.

Other works written for bands by Holst and his contemporaries during this period include:

Gustav Holst

• First Suite in Eb
• Moorside March
• Somerset Rhapsody
• Hammersmith
Ralph Vaughan Williams
• English Folk Song Suite
• Toccata Marziale
• Flourish for Wind Band
• Rhosymedre
• Sea Songs
Percy Grainger
• Colonial Song
• Irish Tune from County Derry
• Lincolnshire Posy
• Children's March, Over the Hills and Faraway
• Molly on the Shore
• Ye Bands and Braes' O Bonnie Doon
• Shepherd's Hey

Listening Activity

In the "Fantasia on the `Dargason'", Gustav Holst recycles the same elody or theme many times in rapid succession. Listen carefully nd count the number of times the theme is played.

Subject: RE: folk/classical project, seeking ideas
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 08 Dec 04 - 10:00 PM

I just found another one, and one last year. If you're listening Susan (since over 4 years ago) give us an update...

Polish Lullaby (Lulajze Jezuniu), a Christmas Carol:
This melody was a Polish folk tune and adapted by Chopin in his Scherzo in B minor, opus 20.

Also, Schubert's Adagio in E flat, D. 897, Notturno, (a piano trio) is from an Itallian folksong - wish I knew the name - where the melody phrase starts on the 2nd beat! (according to Karl Haas)

Subject: RE: folk/classical project, seeking ideas
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Dec 04 - 10:42 PM

Here is a recent composition that contains parts of several Irish folk tunes.
"The Brendan Suite," composed by Shaun Davey, orchestral suite for Uilleann pipes and orchestra.
Very enjoyable listening.
Issued bt Tara, CD 3006, "The Brendan Voyage.

Subject: RE: folk/classical project, seeking ideas
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 16 Dec 04 - 08:09 PM

Found two more.

Highland Laddie and Can Ye Sew Cushions in Beethoven's 25 Schottische Lieder op. 108 -- no. 3 is Can Ye Sew Cusions and no. 7 is Highland Laddie.

Barry Taylor's versions of these Scottish folksongs are here

The Unheard Beethoven page (where you can hear no. 7, Bonnie Laddie, Highland Laddie) is here.

O Sweet Were the Hours (op. 108 no. 3) can be heard here.

I know there are more in opus 108, but I haven't listened to all of them yet -- these were just two that I recognized. (I heard O Sweet Were the Hours on the radio today - December 16 - Beethoven's birthday.)

Subject: RE: folk/classical project, seeking ideas
From: Kaleea
Date: 16 Dec 04 - 11:06 PM

Art-- 20 odd years back when I was there, Benjo was Korean for the ditch out back, outhouse, aka toilet.

Yo Yo Ma comes to mind as one who has a background in folk & classical.

Subject: RE: folk/classical project, seeking ideas
From: GUEST,Chanteyranger
Date: 17 Dec 04 - 05:28 PM

Natalie Haas, a young cellist who is classically trained, has crossed over to traditional Scottish music, touring and recording with Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser. She is outstanding! PM me if you'd like her contact info (she'a student at Juilliard).

Chanteyranger