joining in when visiting Europe

Subject: joining in when visiting Europe
From: Jack Campin
Date: 05 Oct 13 - 08:14 PM

The session scene in the Anglophone world gives musicians visiting a different town the opportunity to play along with locals. This institution is best developed with Irish music - you can find an Irish session in most large cities in Europe. And in the UK, it's usually not hard to find other genres that have open sessions, though maybe less frequently - English, Scottish, klezmer, "Americana", Scandinavian...

How would you go about doing that in other countries for their local music?

The only place I've ever come across anything paralleling a British singaround in a non-Anglophone culture was once in Kayseri, central Anatolia. (It's probably still going - I went there twice, years apart). Hungary has a good selection of regular instrumental and singing workshops and frequent ceilidh-like dances, but as far as I can tell you only get to play Hungarian music with other people if you form a band, there are no open sessions. German music is so marginalized that the few people who perform it probably never think than anybody else might want to.

Without getting an introduction in advance from a mutual acquaintance so you could join a private gathering, how would you go about getting to try French, Spanish, Italian, Polish or Scandinavian music if you took your fiddle on holiday to their countries of origin?

I could tell you where to find a bluegrass session in a village up a single-track road in the hills of central Slovakia. I wouldn't have any idea where to find somebody to play Slovak music with, even in one of the big cities.

Regional experiences and resources, anyone?

Subject: RE: joining in when visiting Europe
From: G-Force
Date: 06 Oct 13 - 11:05 AM

It can certainly be a problem in France, but if you keep your eyes and ears open . . .

We were on a campsite with a bunch of friends. One evening we heard strains of what sounded like an accordion coming across the field. This turned out to be an Ab/Eb melodeon being played by a Swiss guy who was visiting some French friends. As I had my piano accordion with me, we were able to join in, and by the time we had demolished each others alcohol stores they had taught us some French dances and we had taught them Dorset 4-hand Reel.

Subject: RE: joining in when visiting Europe
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Oct 13 - 01:26 PM

What you need is an ethno folk camp http://www.ethno-world.org/

Subject: RE: joining in when visiting Europe
From: Jack Campin
Date: 06 Oct 13 - 06:49 PM

Nice but (apart from the Slovenian one) the average age seems to be around 15...

Subject: RE: joining in when visiting Europe
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 07 Oct 13 - 05:18 AM

Searching on the Internet would seem most promising.

As for "Slovak music", it is a delicate subject due to ethnic and cultural diversity. Best avoid the label altogether. Part of the scene has been taken over by professional musicians in the Hungarian style (so-called Gypsies, not to be confused with the Romani who also abound).

Subject: RE: joining in when visiting Europe
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 07 Oct 13 - 09:58 AM

..I could tell you (oh, yes, I already have!) of a certain taverna in a little village on a Greek island where visitors are actively encouraged to join in with local and international music. Even me ("Roger don't sing so goood, but he sing with feeling")."Kefi" the Greek word for joi de vivre is always appreciated.

RtS

Subject: RE: joining in when visiting Europe
From: GUEST,Big Al Whittle
Date: 08 Oct 13 - 09:14 AM

Imagine that.... a whole comtinent waiting for the Winster Gallop and the Dorset Four Hand reel. there are nations out there for us to comquer....!

Subject: RE: joining in when visiting Europe
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 08 Oct 13 - 12:54 PM


Imagine that.... a whole comtinent waiting for the Winster Gallop and the Dorset Four Hand reel. there are nations out there for us to comquer....!


More likely that Jack would know more obscure tunes from the local tradition than any of the regular local musicians would ...

Subject: RE: joining in when visiting Europe
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Oct 13 - 02:33 AM

In spain a number of internatioanl karaoke bars have sprung up where the host can accommodate a singer in his own language from achoice of thousands of songs which mp3 technology allows! Peole join in. There's a sense of community particiqption and community singing even though its not original music making.

Subject: RE: joining in when visiting Europe
From: Megan L
Date: 10 May 16 - 02:49 AM

Do try not to be silly any way the English do not need the space half of you have moved to Scotland.

Subject: RE: joining in when visiting Europe
From: Mo the caller
Date: 10 May 16 - 07:16 AM

Come to that, what's wrong with Winster Gallop. A good dance and a useful, well phrased dance tune.
After all we dance Chapelloise (even though we had a perfectly good 'English Gay Gordons' years ago)