The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012

Subject: The Cecil Sharp Project - March 2011
From: evansakes
Date: 28 Oct 10 - 04:15 AM

This sounds interesting. The link was tweeted by Shrewsbury Folk Festival.

http://www.cecilsharpproject.com/

I'm sure we'll hear loads more about it closer to the time.

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - March 2011
From: evansakes
Date: 18 Mar 11 - 03:36 AM

It all kicks off today.

Participants are Steve Knightly, Jim Moray, Jackie Oates, Andy Cutting, Katherine Roberts, Caroline Herring, Leonard Podolak (The Duhks), Patsy Reid (Breabach)

The end results will be performed at three concerts in a week's time

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - March 2011
From: evansakes
Date: 23 Mar 11 - 09:34 AM

This event doesn't seem to have been given much prominence as yet.

I'm surprised there hasn't been more discussion and interest.
Maybe I shouldn't be (surprised that is)

However at least the EFDSS now seem to be throwing a little weight behind the various events. http://www.efdss.org/news/newsId/162

I've started another thread with a more eye-catching title...

It seems tickets for the concert tomorrow in Shrewsbury are selling exceptionally well. It would be a shame if the London concerts at the weekend weren't equally well attended.

Here's a video of the participants rehearsing a couple of the pieces they've been compiling

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - March 2011
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 23 Mar 11 - 11:04 AM

yer other thread on it

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - March 2011
From: evansakes
Date: 29 Mar 11 - 06:15 AM

There's a review over at

BRIGHT YOUNG FOLK

Pretty much sums up my thoughts on the Saturday concert. Well done to all the artists involved for coming up with such a great show from scratch in a matter of days. Such a shame there weren't more people there to enjoy it.

Very much looking forward now to seeing it again in August when the participants reconvene for one final performance at the Shrewsbury Folk festival

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - March 2011
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 13 Jul 11 - 12:34 PM

The CD / DVD of the songs from this project is available now /soon from http://www.cecilsharpproject.com/cd.html.

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 12:08 PM

The Project is taking to the road in January 2012;

January 22nd Bristol, St Georges 0845 402 4001
January 23rd Buxton, Opera House 0845 127 2190
January 24th Derby, Derby Theatre 01332 255800
January 25th Glasgow, Celtic Connections 0141 353 8000
January 26th Burnley, Mechanics 01282 664400 or buy online
January 27th London, Cecil Sharp House 020 7485 2206

"In March 2011, Steve Knightley, Jackie Oates, Andy Cutting, Caroline Herring, Jim Moray, Patsy Reid, Leonard Podolak and Kathryn Roberts gathered together on a Shropshire farm.

The artistic brief was to create new works that has a 'resonance and relevance' to legendary song collector Cecil Sharp whose work in the early years of the 20th century helped lay the foundations of the modern folk revival.

The result is a CD "The Cecil Sharp Project" and a live show featuring all of the above folk artists."

If you'd like to hear the some of the songs collected by Sharp, Brian Peters and Jeff Davis will present a complementary show at the Cheltenham Folk Festival. 'Sharp's Appalachian Harvest' features the songs and music collected by Cecil Sharp in Appalachia in 1915-1918.

12 February 2012 Cheltenham Folk Festival http://www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk/folk-festival/

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - March 2011
From: foggers
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 04:17 PM

HmMmm, nice way to start the New Year!

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - March 2011
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 07:50 AM

The CD is Songline's Best Album of 2011.

Inspired by the work of seminal folksong collector Cecil Sharp, particularly his Appalachian expeditions of 1915-18. Steve Knightley, Jim Moray and Jackie Oates, Andy Cutting and Patsy Reid join Southern US roots specialist Caroline Herring and Canadian clawhammer banjo ace Leonard Podolak of The Duhks to perform the set of newly-written and traditional material, exploring the life and legacy of this pivotal but enigmatic figure.

Caroline Herring and Kathryn Roberts have a second date at Cecil Sharp House on Saturday, January 28.

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 09:50 AM

refresh - for new dates alert

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 01:59 PM

Got our tickets for the Buxton show when they first went on sale, really looking forward to it.

It'll be interesting to see if they've reconsidered or expanded any of the arrangements from the March shows represented on the CD - not at all saying they *need* to or should, but I wonder whether the passage of a few months and then getting back together to re-rehearse them has made any changes ...

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 01:31 AM

The Cast - Caroline Herring

Georgia-based American folk singer/songwriter with a Master's degree in Southern Folklore, Caroline brings a unique, local flavour to the project due to her academic background and upbringing in areas where Sharp collected songs.   

A true storytelling folksinger, her 4 solo albums, released both in the US and Europe, are known for songs that capture snapshots of landscapes, character and events.

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 07 Jan 12 - 01:20 AM

"the fine American singer Caroline Herring, the discovery of the evening," Robin Denselow, The Guardian

The Cast - Leonard Podolak's various projects put him the centre of traditional Canadian music. As the founder and leader of The Duhks, he has taken their unique blend of traditionally influenced music to the finest festivals and stages all over the world. He's one of the most adventurous Appalachian style clawhammer banjo players in the world, and his knowledge and love of traditional music from the world over brings a unique set of musical skills to the project.

"Yet deep into the early hours, the group's two main mischief makers, Podolak and Cutting, are still swapping tunes, jokes and video clips before deciding to make a pancake mix for breakfast." Robin Denselow, The Guardian

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 03:31 PM

The dates;

January 22nd Bristol, St Georges 0845 402 4001
January 23rd Buxton, Opera House 0845 127 2190
January 24th Derby, Derby Theatre 01332 255800
January 25th Glasgow, Celtic Connections 0141 353 8000
January 26th Burnley, Mechanics 01282 664400 or buy online
January 27th London, Cecil Sharp House 020 7485 2206

The Cast - Patsy Reid

Patsy is the fiddle player and singer with celebrated young Scottish band Breabach, and has breadth of knowledge and experience of both folk songs and tunes.

In addition to Breabach, Patsy also has a list of solo and collaborative achievements, including many awards as a young fiddler, and a more recent New Voices commission that saw her 'Bridging the Gap' suite play Celtic Connections and head off on a UK tour.

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 09:48 PM

One view of the project - Colin Irwin, guardian.co.uk, Thursday 24 March 2011:

Folk's man of mystery: is Cecil Sharp a folk hero or villain?

And a reply - Yvette Staelens, Guardian, Friday, 1 April 2011

This great folk song collector was not a controlling manipulator

Ross

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 03:41 AM

I wonder if it is too late to suggest that the Cheltenham concert be recorded. If the artists consent there should be no copyright clearance issues.

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 03:54 AM

A link for that:-

a complementary show at the Cheltenham Folk Festival. 'Sharp's Appalachian Harvest'

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 04:25 AM

I found Colin Irwin's article - and some of the musicians' comments - rather depressing. There's got to be a story, and the story's got to be written in terms of what interests us now (Sharp's sex life and imputed racism).

Let's hope the finished work is more about the songs and less about the story

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 06:41 AM

"Amazingly, they sounded like a band rather than a collection of talented individuals, with singers and instrumentalists interacting and swapping solos.

"Part of the set consisted of songs that Sharp collected, with Oates and Roberts providing exquisite harmonies on Barbara Allen, and Oates swapping vocals with Herring on different versions of Lover's Lament. The new songs ranged from the poignant to the critical."

Robin Denselow, The Guardian

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 14 Jan 12 - 06:27 AM

Cecil Sharp Project - the cast; Kathryn Roberts

An early duo career with fellow Barnsleyite Kate Rusby led to much critical acclaim and an award winning album. This partnership led swiftly to the teaming up with the Three Lakeman brothers from West Devon and the folk–pop band 'Equation' was born.

Her relationship with Sean Lakeman flourished both personally and musically, and after a decade of relentless touring the two decided to return to their English roots and gig as an acoustic duo.

A lauded singer, one of the finest of her generation, Kathryn is held in high regard by peers and music fans alike. Now after a few years of proud motherhood she feels ready to return to the place she belongs, singing at the front of a stage.

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 16 Jan 12 - 09:12 AM

A correction! 'Sharp's Appalachian Harvest' will take place at Cheltenham Folk Festival in the Playhouse Theatre on Saturday 11 February at 5.00pm.

Sharp's Appalachian Harvest

Two leading interpreters of traditional song and music from both sides of the Atlantic, Jeff Davis (USA) and Brian Peters (England), present some of the collector's best finds, accompanied by a description of his arduous mountain journeys, his warm relationships with the singers, and a chance to see many of Sharp's evocative photographs.

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 21 Jan 12 - 12:29 AM

Be sharp, get your tickets - the tour starts tomorrow in Bristol!

Sunday 22 January Bristol, St Georges 0845 402 4001
Monday 23 January Buxton, Opera House 0845 127 2190
Tuesday 24 January Derby, Derby Theatre 01332 255800
Wednesday 25 January Glasgow, Celtic Connections 0141 353 8000
Thursday 26 January Burnley, Mechanics 01282 664400 or buy online
Friday 27 January London, Cecil Sharp House 020 7485 2206
plus
Saturday 28 January Kathryn Roberts and Caroline Herring, Cecil Sharp House

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: Alio
Date: 21 Jan 12 - 04:05 AM

I'm doing an interview with Steve Knightley on Sounds of Folk Monday evening at 7p.m., so I'm looking forward to finding out a lot more about the project. It's 4 days before the Burnley gig, which is in our area.
Ali x

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: GUEST,gazza2
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 05:13 PM

Just walked out of the St George's event, first time I've ever done that! Couldn't hear the words, politely mentioned it to the sound guys who shrugged me off, house manager said that they "have a problem with the spoken word" if you're sitting upstairs but they were only too happy to sell me tickets there! Will have to cool off before writing to them about our experience.

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 10:52 PM

Just dropping in - I have had a similar experience to gazza2 at events that were set up with mics - if it wasn't done right you couldn't make out a word when it was amplified. I asked a performer about that recently, mentioned my difficulty. He said it wasn't set up right if that was the case. At the most recent performance I heard him perfectly, but then, the sound guys spent 30 minutes making sure it worked right.

That makes all of the difference in the world.

SRS

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 23 Jan 12 - 06:57 AM

It must have been frustrating for you, gazza2. You have my sympathy.

Amplification does depend upon the sound engineers. Let's see how they manage in Buxton tonight.

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 24 Jan 12 - 05:41 AM

Saw this very enjoyable evening at the Buxton Opera House last night. It's a really good evening, with some truly excellent individual and collective performances.

Early on there were indeed some issues around distinguishing some of the words, particularly when several of the band were playing behind the singing, but that seemed to get ironed out by the sound crew and the general mix definitely improved as the evening went on.

It's a shame that they've not got more time together to really work on some of the arrangements and material - whilst the majority of the pieces are fully formed and in some cases very powerful, one or two probably need a bit more work to make them really strong arrangements, and there was a tentative feel about a couple of the early numbers (possibly allied to the sound problems, maybe the monitor mix was worse than the FOH) which settled as the night went on.

Highly recommended, and will probably only get better as the week's tour carries on.

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 24 Jan 12 - 05:53 AM

Thanks for that encouraging report, Steve M. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

An interesting programme, Ali and Bernard. Good of Steve K to talk to you just before the show. He revealed they were considering taking the show to America.

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: GUEST,gazza2
Date: 28 Jan 12 - 12:21 PM

Over to you Steve Knightley and co. St George's say they were not responsible for the sound and they don't have a refund for me. I'm sure that I'll get a response from The Project. Just hope that I can hear it!

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: GUEST,cardboard cutout
Date: 29 Jan 12 - 11:08 AM

I went to the show at Derby on Tuesday, the third date of the tour. The words, whether sung or spoken, were quite audible there...

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: GUEST,gazza2
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 03:51 PM

Lucky you cardboard cutout! We still feel ripped off by them and will never support them or St George's again. Have spoken to many others who have experienced the same and are resolved to stick to non profit clubs and sessions in future.. is this the rip off Britain certain politicians talk about? Off to write my letter to the Bristol Evening Post about them sharks on Brandon Hill.
Bitter and twisted old grumpy.

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: GUEST,cardboard cutout
Date: 13 Feb 12 - 04:07 PM

It is always disappointing to have spent money on tickets and find that the concert was not what you were expecting: but I wonder how long you stayed before walking out?

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: GUEST,Jim Moray
Date: 14 Feb 12 - 09:08 AM

Hi.
I'm sorry to hear that you couldn't hear us properly. As I understand it, the problem in Bristol was because there were no speakers aimed at the upper level. St Georges does not have a PA of it's own, so one has to be brought in for every concert. The PA hire company used in this case didn't supply enough speakers to cover a full St Georges hall so we did some re-arrangement during soundcheck but had to make do with a slightly inadequate system.

In this instance it was not the hall's fault - they were not promoting the show, merely hiring the venue to an outside promoter. And it was not the bands fault - despite sending out a specification, we get what we're given technically and Jamie Pryke (our own engineer) did a superb job mixing us for the whole tour. I didn't recognise the PA hire company - not one I've come across before in Bristol, but they just didn't provide the right gear to cover the whole hall.

St Georges is not the ideal venue for amplified music anyway, but I have seen some fantastic acoustic shows there (June Tabor with the grand piano a few years ago springs to mind). I hope you don't feel like you can never attend the venue for the right concerts in future. From our end, I would be a bit more strict about tech requirements if I ever play the hall again. However, it's a shame you didn't stick around for the second half - I believe that there was enough variety in the show that nearly everyone could have found something they enjoyed, slightly muffled words or not.

Sorry again that you didn't enjoy it.

Jim

Subject: RE: The Cecil Sharp Project - January 2012
From: GUEST,gazza2
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 04:20 AM

Thanks for the reply Jim.I've calmed down and cancelled my hearing test.St George's have refunded the money and I've ripped up my article to the gutter press. I hope that the promoter and the PA hire company have been made aware of the problem and that this thread now comes to an end.