Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Big Dave
Date: 22 Jun 97 - 07:44 AM

Is it my turn again?

Because if so I'll clear the pub by doing John Tams' Pulling Down Song, unaccompanied - even I can't bellow loud enough to be heard over my melodeon!

Or if that's not enough I'll insult all the Australians with my attempt at "The Drover's Dream"

Cheers for now

Dave Smith

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Helen, from Oz
Date: 22 Jun 97 - 08:00 AM

So, insulting Australians is the latest game?

Don't forget we scored a few Folk Songs to Ditch in the other thread. If you don't show a bit more courtesy we all might sing South Australia, and Waltzing Matilda (not the Queensland version) very loudly and off-key, and drown out all of the solos and duos performing here. :-)

Helen

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Peter Timmerman
Date: 22 Jun 97 - 05:26 PM

Dear Frank, Thanks as ever for your assistance. I can hear AF even now wafting over the ether....Yours, Peter

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: OLD FOLK
Date: 23 Jun 97 - 12:52 AM

I think it's time to start stomping our feet "Mississippi Mud" if you please

Trent

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Bob Clayton
Date: 23 Jun 97 - 01:12 PM

Well, after an evening (looooong evening!) of accompanying the other singers on mandolin, harmonica, banjo, or guitar (whichever seemed appropriate to the song), I'd probably use my turn to sing one of my own songs. I just looked to see if "World of Time" is in the Digitrad, and it's not yet there (probably scheduled for MS-Digitrad 98 or some such product), so I'll point people to my web page: http://members.aol.com/rjclayton/ which has a dozen or so of my lyrics, for the words to the chorus (actually, it's easy enough to pick up that you don't have to go there to get the words, but you might just like something you find there anyway).

If I were restricted to traditional material, I suppose I might do my guitar arrangement of Stephen Foster's "Angelina Baker," or my setting of "Robin Hood and the Tanner."

Then I'd go back to providing another instrumental voice to the proceedings.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Bert Hansell
Date: 23 Jun 97 - 03:02 PM

I loved your website Bob. Now that summer is here you must sing us your "Summer" song.
I see a few "Home brews" creeping in so I will inflict you with one of mine
See the separate thread "4th. of July songs" for the words.

Bert.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From:
Date: 24 Jun 97 - 01:38 AM

it wouldn't be a fantaqsy song circle without something from the greatest songwriter, john prine. depending on the mood i'm in, i'd either do dear abbey in g, souvenirs in d or hello in there in f. what the hell...let's do all of john's stuff!

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Sharon Day
Date: 24 Jun 97 - 08:40 AM

Wow! What a Jam Session. Just got online, was searching database for words to a tune and ended up in the middle of this giant Jam!! Do you mind if I join in - quietly of course - with my hammered dulcimer. (We H.D. players have gotten a bat rep. in some circles, sadly) If you'd rather I didn't bring my H.D., how about my Hawaiian tremeloa? (You'd better answer NO to that one.) That's one of the most unplayable instruments I've ever discovered in my search for old, unusual instruments! Now my guitar-zither, maybe I'll bring that. Maybe I'll join you again another day - if I can remember how I got here today!! Any other collectors of old unusual instruments, reach me at [e-mail].

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Bert Hansell
Date: 24 Jun 97 - 08:48 AM

A Hawaiian Temeloa?? Is that one of those things that looks kinda like a zither which is stopped by a steel slider on a pantograph thingy?
Bert.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Sharon
Date: 24 Jun 97 - 09:09 AM

Sorry: that's tremeloa.. Yes, one string at the top, a sliding bar with attached pick. Watch the angle of the bar, or you'll be too sharp or flat.. Top string is barred and picked with a whiney slidey sound, and clusters of strings (chord clusters) are plucked at the bottom. I've determined HOW it's played. but now to play it so it sounds decent, that's another story. Have you tried to play one?

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Sharon
Date: 24 Jun 97 - 09:09 AM

Sorry: that's tremeloa.. Yes, one string at the top, a sliding bar with attached pick. Watch the angle of the bar, or you'll be too sharp or flat.. Top string is barred and picked with a whiney slidey sound, and clusters of strings (chord clusters) are plucked at the bottom. I've determined HOW it's played. but now to play it so it sounds decent, that's another story. Have you tried to play one?

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From:
Date: 24 Jun 97 - 10:06 AM

I'm back in the circle (I think we've given up the fantasy of an evening folk circle and moved into a weekend circle!) I'd like to contribute an old favorite of mine, "The Calton Weaver". I'm partial to the old Ian & Sylvia version, although I think they may have called it "Nancy Whiskey". I can handle the guitar on this (Key of C)and the male vocal, but I could sure use that autoharp and maybe if someone can do a Sylvia Fricker style harmony we could really make a "loud and joyous noise". This was my favorite piece to perform when I played the bars back in Iowa City in the late 60's and early 70's. Yeah, I've been around for a while. I really should change these strings...

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Bert Hansell
Date: 24 Jun 97 - 10:45 AM

Sharon,

Re: Tremeloa.
I haven't tried to play one. I saw one in a local antique store and wondered what the heck it was. Unfortunately, at the time, I didn't have the $150 they wanted for it. When I came back later it was gone.

Bert.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: sharon
Date: 24 Jun 97 - 01:36 PM

You're lucky you didn't have the money! I had seen one at a dulcimer festival in Michigan. So I had an idea how it was played when I spotted one at an estate auction sale. Everyone else was speculating what it was: some kind of autoharp. no, it's a zither. (Zither seems to be a good catchall name for any instrument one can't identify) I said nothing - no one could figure out how to play it. I got it for a $25 bid.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Bert Hansell
Date: 24 Jun 97 - 01:48 PM

Wow, you got a good deal.
A zither is an istrument without a neck and with strings parallel to the soundbox
So it is a kind of zither, along with the autoharp, hammered dulcimer etc.
Bert

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: sharon
Date: 24 Jun 97 - 02:08 PM

Bert - Right. I have a couple guitar zithers.. Easier to play than the concert zither. Concert zither has all separate strings. Guitar zither has chord clusters at bottom, melody strings at top. A very playable instrument. Sort of an autoharp/harp combination. Fun. Which brings me to another topic. I just purchased a 3 1/2 octave folk harp. Any good harp sites that I might connect with?

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From:
Date: 24 Jun 97 - 02:19 PM

I'd like to do "Over the Hill", which is a beautiful little love song to the tune of "The Foggy Dew".. and I'll volunteer my pseudo-brother-minstrel-friend (don't ask, we do RenFaire together) for playing "The Chandler Shop"

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Blake
Date: 24 Jun 97 - 07:14 PM

"Last Thing On My Mind", by Tom Paxton. It's so well known that it's nearly an anthem, but it still sounds so good. Everybody join in with all instruments, exotic and otherwise. Key? Let's try D.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: ron k
Date: 24 Jun 97 - 08:59 PM

I heard some Lightfoot on the radio today. Let's try "Don Quixote".

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: ron k
Date: 24 Jun 97 - 09:01 PM

I heard some Lightfoot on the radio today. Let's try "Don Quixote".

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Helen
Date: 25 Jun 97 - 04:34 AM

Sharon

The best harp scene on the internet is the harp mailing list.

You can subscribe by sending a request to [e-mail] and then the e-mail address for posting articles is [e-mail]

There are huge numbers of harp sites, celtic sites, you name it. These are just some of the ones I have found in the last few months.

HREF="http://www.neosoft.com/~melody/celtmus.html" Melody's Early and Celtic Music for Harp page

HREF="http://www.halcyon.com/hertz/paul/virtual_harpers.html"Virtual Harpers

HREF="http://tns-www.lcs.mit.edu/harp/archives/" Index of /harp/archives/

HREF="http://www.tns.lcs.mit.edu/harp/" The Harp Page

HREF="file://tns-www.lcs.mit.edu/pub/mail-archive/harp/harp_archive.html"Harp Mailing List Archive

HREF="http://www.neosoft.com/~melody/celtmus.html" >Melody's Early and Celtic Music for Harp page

HREF="http://curiad.wales.com/zone/scw/6.html" SCW COF / FAQ - Cerddoriaeth / Music

HREF="http://www.epix.net/~lesley/carolan.html" Turlough Carolan - Main Page

HREF="http://www.epix.net/~lesley/carlinks.html#top" Turlough Carolan - Related Links

HREF="http://edweb.concord.wvnet.edu/%7Edeanca/celtic/" Chrys' Page of Celtic Stuff

HREF="http://celtic.stanford.edu/tunes.html#gif" Tunes at Ceolas

HREF="http://www.tassie.net.au/~celtic/htuneot.html" Celtic Southern Cross

HREF="http://www-leland.stanford.edu/~srpen/makers.html" Harp Makers

HREF="http://tns-www.lcs.mit.edu/harp/" The Harp Page

HREF="http://www.locksley.com/locksley/ezharp.htm" Locksley's EZ Harp Method

HREF="http://www.tiac.net/users/knighton/welsh.html" Wales

HREF="http://www.cs.brown.edu/fun/welsh/home.html A Welsh Course

HREF="http://www.ozemail.com.au/~dcundy/" The Lyrebird Duo, Harps and Harpists HREF="http://www.luminarium.org/mythology/ireland/" IRISH LITERATURE, MYTHOLOGY, FOLKLORE, AND DRAMA

HREF="http://celt.net/og/angaust.htm" Every Celtic Thing on the Web (Australia/Pacific)

Helen

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Sharon
Date: 25 Jun 97 - 08:22 AM

Thank's Helen! That should be enough to keep me from any housework, and hammered dulcimer practice, today! When you ask for help on the folk-line, help is just a paragraph away!

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From:
Date: 25 Jun 97 - 02:06 PM

Anybody willing to loan me a flute? I'd like to do a rendition of "Mile Marb'haisg Air A'ghoal".. it's a nifty little flute tune, and the title is the best part: the translation is "A Thousand Death Shrouds Upon Love". :)

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Max D. Spiegel
Date: 26 Jun 97 - 03:34 PM

Bert mentioned to send a tape around to create it. Good Idea, but I got a better one.

We made the investment to get a Real Audio Server, and can put up real music with no download time. The quality is not perfect, but it is stereo, and has come a long way. Check out http://www.deltablues.com/radio.html to get an idea of the quality. I recorded those for 28.8 connections and can adjust to fit the demographics.

Do you think enough of us have sound cards and 28.8 for it to be worth it?

Anyway, those who know how to record or encode their music on their computers can encode and label them themselves and email or ftp them to me and I'll put them in a "Mudcat Folk Juke Box" on the net. How many songs in the database do you think we could get? We cannot (yet) put published music up (copyright), but we can do covers and our own songs.

If you have a pc with a soundcard, you can download the Real Audio Encoder for free and encode anything live, through your soundcards input or you microphone. I just send my amp's output into the soundcard and it sounds great. You could patch your cassette deck into the audio card just the same. Radio Shack has every wire you could ever need. You may need a converter or two.

Those without sound cards, pc's or anything else neat can send tapes to others who do get set up and they can encode them and email or ftp them to me. I'll try to do my share of encoding if there is interest in this, but I would like some volunteers to help me out.

I figure if we stay to the old stuff or songs that we know we wouldn't get sued for, we should be alright. All tapes and Real Audio Files must be accompanied with any copyright info. If you can't find it, keep looking. Stay away from modern and popular stuff (major label) because that will likely kill the project.

Any other thoughts? What do you think?

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From:
Date: 26 Jun 97 - 04:28 PM

Max - unfortunately, I think that not enough people will have 28,8's.. but if there's a way to muck around with a 14,4, I'm willing to give it a try.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Max
Date: 26 Jun 97 - 05:00 PM

14.4 will do. There are encoding options to enhance for particular connections.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Laoise, Belfast
Date: 27 Jun 97 - 11:17 AM

I have never met such complete bunch of "folk" nutters in my life. Youse are all brilliant craic (except for the bloke who insists on bringing country music into it - my own personal taste).

Any of youse into traditional irish music, listen to the Bothy Band. They are the Led Zeppelin of Traditional Irish fiddle-dee-dee music. Their singer (although I don't rate her voice that much) does some good versions of "Sailor boy", "Factory Girl" and "Sixteen come Sunday". She also does "Maids of Coolmore" but the lyrics are hard to get. Does anyone know this track?

Some other good bands are Altan, Dervish, Deanta and Tamlin - All from Ireland. Tamlin are from Belfast and they have an album coming out soon. They are friends of mine so buy it if you can.

If I were to sing a song on this fantasy trip youve created, it would have to be "Bold Fenian Men". It's a classic, and OK the lyrics are a bit idyllic with reference to the Nationalist struggle in Ireland (trying not to be political - hard when youre living in Belfast)but it paints some brilliant images - "Tis fifty long years since I saw the moon beaming, on strong manly forms and their eyes with hope gleaming" to give you a sample. Also, the tune is beautiful. I normally sing it in AM.

Carry on singing.

Slan go foill

Laoise

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From:
Date: 27 Jun 97 - 04:23 PM

I am familiar with the Bothy Band and Altan.. some cousins of mine with whom I have been trading Celtic mix tapes sent me several songs by each group. Are you familiar with Clannad, Four Men and a Dog, and Silly Wizard?

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Doc
Date: 28 Jun 97 - 01:59 PM

Hey to Laoise. I've never been to Ireland but had the opportunity to see Dervish at the Washington, DC Irish festival last spring. My contribution would be "The Hills of Greenmore" in D.

Peace to Belfast

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From:
Date: 28 Jun 97 - 07:31 PM

Back from Albuquerque, where somehow I could hear you folks' excellent performances as well as I can here in Espanola. Since Peter says I get to get to recite a poem, I would make it, not "The Land" (charming though it is), but "Speak", by James Wright--but I'd rather imagine I had a good singing voice than a good speaking voice. So I'll do "To Celia", words by Ben Jonson (and in the DT), tune traditional. If we don't have a harpsichord, any of the harpists should feel free to help out (key of C major).

And then since that was so short, I'll try an even shorter piece from the Jewish liturgy for the High Holy Days--"Hu elohenu, hu avinu, hu malkenu, hu moshienu, v-hu yashmienu b-rachamav sheynis l-eyney kol chai." The way Cantor Bushman had one of his voice students sing it every year. (The words mean, "He is our God, he is our father, he is our king, he is our savior, and he will save us in his mercy in the eyes of all the living." Anyone know the meaning of "sheynis", the word I left out of the translation?)

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Laoise, Belfast
Date: 30 Jun 97 - 06:30 AM

Kiwi,

Yes I've heard stuff from all three bands you mentioned. Clannad are unique in combining the old celtic with the modern synth sound - it's a pity Enya is trying to copy them. She would be better off getting her own sound.

Four Men and a Dog are supposed to be excellent in concert. Friends of mine have seen them and are raving about them. I've heard stuff on tape but I really can't remember what I thought.

I am a big fan of the singer out of Silly Wizard. Their playing leaves much to be desired - too much "Hey-ho and away we go" on the box (accordian). The singer, however is brilliant - his name escapes me, but his voice sends me off into a trance. The only two songs I have of him are "If I were a Blackbird" and "The Fisherman Wife's Lament". I am open to suggestions of other tracks.

If you ever get a chance, check out the band More Power to your Elbow. I think they're from the Free State somewhere. Funky rock traditional - excellent!

Slan go foill

Laoise.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From:
Date: 30 Jun 97 - 09:54 AM

Laoise,

I don't think it's so much that Enya is trying to copy Clannad's style.. for a while, she was with Clannad, so doubtless that shaped her style a lot.

Silly Wizard sang "If I Were a Blackbird"?? Ooh, I'll have to go look for that now. *smiles* I only have one version of that, sung by a group called Double Indemnity. And THEIR lead singer does the same thing to me that the lead singer of Silly Wizard does to you. As for other songs by them.. I'll recommend "The Ramblin' Rover" and "Queen of All Argyle." I like the way that Silly Wizard does them.

Zhai'helleva and good searching, Kiwi

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Elsie
Date: 30 Jun 97 - 10:24 AM

ummm...is there any chance of switching this little detailed analysis of Celtic pop-folk to another thread?It sort of defeats the purpose of this one...thanks...

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Laoise, Belfast
Date: 30 Jun 97 - 11:45 AM

Sorry Elsie- got a wee bit carried away.

Message to Mountain Dog and Les Blank - any chance of getting "and the cat came back" on here. I hope this is the one I'm thinking of - with the class cartoon of a man in a house with a cat that destroys everything. If youre still singing it, maybe I could do a harmony.

Slainte, agus saol agat.

Laoise

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Bert Hansell
Date: 30 Jun 97 - 02:26 PM

Good point Elsie,

You sing one for us and then I'll sing "The Cornish Nightingale"

See I do know at leats one 'real' folk song. :-)

Bert.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Kiwi
Date: 30 Jun 97 - 04:44 PM

Elsie.. good idea, I'll go get another thread going..

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Bob Landry
Date: 30 Jun 97 - 04:47 PM

As an exile from Cape Breton, Farewell to Nova Scotia followed by Alberta Bound speak volumes to me and my ilk. I'd welcome any help from banjo, mandolin and fiddle players. Feel free to improvise.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Kiwi
Date: 30 Jun 97 - 04:51 PM

Bob, unfortunately I don't play any of those instruments.. how about a little background flute? :) I don't know the song, but I can fake it. :)

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: ron k
Date: 07 Jul 97 - 08:32 PM

Hello Bob.

I'll do the mandolin for you on both of those songs as long as you back me up on "Out on the Mira"

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: sharon
Date: 08 Jul 97 - 08:53 AM

I know it's been sung and sung, but I still love singing "The Water is Wide" . Think I'll do it with some chordal runs on my hammered dulcimer.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: SUZY
Date: 08 Jul 97 - 03:36 PM

MUST BE THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND WORE EVERYONE OUT AND NOBODY HAS ENERGY FOR A FOLK CIRCLE?

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: No, we all moved to a new session venue
Date: 08 Jul 97 - 06:40 PM

Someone kindly created a continuing thread - forgot to tell you we moved to a new session venue - come on over & join us.

Helen

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From:
Date: 10 Jul 97 - 01:13 AM

I'll throw in "Poverty Hill" in D on the six string, and maybe "The Dutchman" same key (yes I do it wierd compared to most singers, but I like it in that key - easy to finger-pick). If we stay in D, I like "marvellous toy" in that key - easy to both finger-pick and really ham it up with a lot of creative sound effects on the onomonopaeic (is that spelled right?) funky sounding, fun chorus....

Cheers

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Whippoorwill
Date: 10 Jul 97 - 11:29 AM

I think my 8-string tenor guitar has dried out after I dropped it in the lake. Are the kids still up? I'll do "Froggy Went A-Courting," and encore with "The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly."

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: GUEST,T.C.
Date: 16 Apr 08 - 04:17 PM

Old Peculier was written by Keith Marsden & is on the C.D. by Cockersdale.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: GUEST,offkey46
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 03:13 PM

I'd like to do Kev Carmody's "Droving Woman". No body else will know it (at least in N America) and it's 21 verses long without a chorus, but it's a beautiful song

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 07:39 PM

I guess I'm dense. From reading this thread I don't gather by what means it's to be done: MP3s as email attachments? Paltalk? CDs? Tape recordings?   Someone please enlighten me.

Oh, and I would submit Some Little Bug, in C, or maybe Db.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Gulliver
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 08:14 AM

Note that there's been a little time jump of eleven years here, Dave.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: GUEST,elorac
Date: 10 Jun 08 - 09:00 AM

Hi there
Does anyone know if the tune for Northwest Passage has ever been committed to print (paper or electronic)? If so where my I find / buy a copy for my son to learn.

---

The song should be in the Songs from Fogarty's Cove songbook, which is available for $20 at http://www.stanrogers.net/, the official Stan Rogers Website.
-Joe Offer, Forum Moderator-

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: GUEST,paddy
Date: 10 Jun 08 - 04:00 PM

"and it's 21 verses long without a chorus"
my worst nightmare!