Kytrad's award concert

Subject: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 10:54 AM

here's the news:

National Endowment For The Arts Announces Annual Free Concert To Celebrate 2002 Heritage Fellowship Recipients

September 5, 2002

Washington, D.C. - The National Endowment for the Arts today announced the annual free concert to celebrate its National Heritage Fellowship recipients will be held Friday, September 20 at 7:30 p.m. in Lisner Auditorium on the George Washington University campus. The program will include performances by this year's 15 honorees and discussions with them about their lives and careers. The National Heritage Fellowship award is the nation's highest honor in the field of folk and traditional arts. Nick Spitzer, host of public radio's American Routes program, will emcee the event. Tickets are available through the National Council for the Traditional Arts (301-565-0654), the Lisner Box Office (202-994-6800), TICKETplace in the Old Post Office Pavilion (202-842-5387) and the House of Musical Traditions in Takoma Park (301-270-9090).

When:

Friday, Sept. 20 7:30 p.m.

What:

Free concert

Where:

Lisner Auditorium 21st and H Streets, NW

Who:

2002 National Heritage Fellowship recipients: Ralph Blizard (old-time fiddler), Loren Bommelyn (Tolowa tradition bearer), Kevin Burke (Irish fiddler), Rose Cree/Francis Cree (Ojibwe basketmakers/storytellers), Luderin Darbone/Edwin Duhon (Cajun fiddler and accordionist), Nadim Dlaikan, (Lebanese reed flute player), David "Honeyboy" Edwards (blues guitarist/singer), Flory Jagoda (Sephardic musician/composer), Clara Neptune Keezer (Passamaquoddy basketmaker), Bob McQuillen (contra dance musician/composer), Domingo "Mingo" Saldivar (conjunto accordionist), Losang Samten (Tibetan sand mandala painter) and Jean Ritchie (Appalachian musician/songwriter).

For more information about the National Heritage Fellowships, visit http://www.arts.gov/endownews/news02/Heritage2002.html or call the NEA Office of Communications at 202-682-5570.

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: Fortunato
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 12:41 PM

I'll be there. Thanks for the info, Bill. I've called for my tickets.

I wonder if we can we get a Mudcat cheering section going?

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: Mudlark
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 12:51 PM

Usually I'm very happy to be living in California...but come Sept 20 I'll be wishing I lived in Wash. DC. Have a great time, all who are able to go!

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 01:45 PM

Spaw, face it. Yer gonna have to take the boys on the road as Jean's roadies. You know it's only a matter of time.

~Susan

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 04:28 PM

I will expect a full report from you Chance!!! And once again, my congrats to Jean!

Spaw

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: artbrooks
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 05:08 PM

Any rumors of a web simulcast?

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: fretless
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 05:18 PM

Nope, no rumors. And based on past year's experience, there won't be any web simulcasting this year either.

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: Fortunato
Date: 06 Sep 02 - 09:13 AM

I shall report without fail, oh great and mighty 'spaw. chance

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 06 Sep 02 - 09:52 AM

I don't think you are supposed to reveal the identity behind a user name on the Internet.

For example, we all know that 'Spaw is actually HRH Prince Philip, but we don't just say so.
--------------------
Will this concert be televised or broadcast? (If so, I will need to find a friend with a television.) We do have a radio somewhere in the house.

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: fretless
Date: 06 Sep 02 - 03:09 PM

leeneia: these concerts haven't been broadcast in the past, and the folks at the heritage program at NEA don't know of plans to break precedent this year. They're looking into the question, though, and I'll repost with information if things change.

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 09 Sep 02 - 06:56 PM

They are to be videotaped; to what end I don't know- maybe to amuse/amaze future generations!

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: fretless
Date: 10 Sep 02 - 08:36 AM

Kytrad: my understanding is that the award winners (you!) get copies of the tapes, but that they're not broadcast. Which is a shame, because it's gonna be a great concert.

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 10 Sep 02 - 08:43 AM

got my tickets in yesterdays mail, looking forward to being there with my daughters and friends

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: Fortunato
Date: 10 Sep 02 - 11:49 AM

Got my tickets as well.

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: lamarca
Date: 10 Sep 02 - 05:32 PM

The concert is being produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA), which also puts on the US National Folk Festival each year (and for which I volunteer). Last year's concert was a wonderful, seamless celebration of both the musicians and craftspeople receiving awards, thanks to the excellent production sense of Dennis Blackledge of the NCTA - this year's will hopefully be the same! And, it's happening on my birthday...what a wonderful present, to get to hear KyTrad, Kevin Burke, Flory Jagoda, Bob McQuillan and Mingo Saldivar (5 of my favorite musicians), as well as the other talented folks with whom I'm not so familiar.

I've got my ticket, and I tell you what I think I'll do,
I'm goin' down to Lisner to settle down...

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: Fortunato
Date: 10 Sep 02 - 09:41 PM

I'll be wearing my #2 Panama Hat and a yellow Hawaiian shirt and my #2 Tuzedo jacket and my black Tony Lamas. Do you think you can find me?

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: fretless
Date: 11 Sep 02 - 09:20 AM

"I'll be wearing my #2 Panama Hat and a yellow Hawaiian shirt and my #2 Tuzedo jacket and my black Tony Lamas. Do you think you can find me?"

Unlikely to be conspicuous in this crowd. Now, if you wore a dark suit, white shirt, and tie... ;-)

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: Fortunato
Date: 11 Sep 02 - 09:29 AM

It's sort of 'Where's Waldo' thing. "Can you find Mudcatter Fortunato in a throng of folkies?" Winners get a hug... or a firm hand clasp is you're squeamish.

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: fretless
Date: 11 Sep 02 - 12:49 PM

I'm game. I'll be the guy with the beard.

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 11 Sep 02 - 01:01 PM

no, I'm the guy with the beard!

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: Fortunato
Date: 11 Sep 02 - 01:42 PM

A young man of my tender years has no beard.

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: Fortunato
Date: 22 Sep 02 - 09:10 AM

KYTRAD was stellar. Lisner auditorium was jammed, I mean it was SRO. The acoustics are pretty good in Lisner; we could hear quite well even though we were way up in the back. We had waited to give tickets to two young friends and went in at 7:20, a bit late. The entire concert was stirring. Ralph Blizard, Old-Time Fiddler from Bountville, TN was a stand out. Ralph plays the long bow style, characterized by long strokes of the boy eliciting many notes. David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Chicago bluesman, though 87 or so years old, sang with vigor and held the strong rhythmn that is his trademark. Lots more.

But of course we went there to see KYTRAD and the experience moves me still her on Sunday morning.
Her haunting, clear mountain voice came up to us and filled my eyes with tears. There she stood on the stage in the spotlights singing with all the conviction and beauty that has made her the ambassador of Appalachian song to the world. She closed with her song Now is the Cool of the Day, her prayer for the world, with her son singing harmony. Let me tell you, friends, she was the living, breathing validation of American Folk Music.

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: Amos
Date: 22 Sep 02 - 11:34 AM

Well said, Fortu!! And what is there to add but applause and agreement?   THis lady is a gem... I am sorry I missed it!

A

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: fretless
Date: 23 Sep 02 - 10:44 AM

Well said, indeed. It was a great concert, and a triumph for KYTRAD, the other performers, and the National Endowment for the Arts, which sponsored the concert and the heritage awards.

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: KathWestra
Date: 23 Sep 02 - 12:02 PM

It was a wonderful and moving evening -- Jean's singing was a special highlight, as were performances by many other musicians and presentations of the work of some phenomenal craftspeople. It is always my favorite folk arts event of the year because it recognizes not only the artistic achievements of the honorees, but also the role of their art in the context of community -- their dedication to sharing what they know with others and being the keepers of traditional wisdom and the tradition-bearers for us all.

Remember that the National Heritage Fellowships are unusual among grant programs. Any person can nominate a musician, storyteller, or craftsperson who exemplifies the award's purpose. The deadline for nominations for the 2003 awards is in October. Nomination guidelines are at nomination guidelines

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 23 Sep 02 - 01:43 PM

this is from a longer review of the whole evening, but must insert it here as well:

Jean Ritchie was in her element it seemed, resplendant in shades of emerald, viridian, cobalt, silver, coppery hair, golden glow. sat and sang in the old style, that one could hear echoed from the hills, a couple of verses of 'Come all you Fair and Tender Ladies'. Her voice is purer and stronger each time I hear her, no matter what she says about it! Then she was interviewed by Nick about her relationship with the Lomax Family, she being given the special Bess Lomax Hawes award this year as a keeper of the tradition. then joined by her son Jonathon on banjo to her dulcimer preformance of a play party song, then ending with the two of them on thier feet singing Jean's favorite (right now) of the songs she has written, she says, (explaining that for her sometimes there isn't already a song that completely expresses the feelings she's having, so the time to write one) 'Now is the Cool of the Day', getting much of the audience to sing along with them on the choruses. Truly the highpoint the evening was leading up to, in the spirit of peace.

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 24 Sep 02 - 10:37 AM

I think it needs to be said somewhere, and I don't mind being the one that says it, and not in any way taking anything from Jean's hard work and accomplishment, but adding to it in my mind, is that the ENTIRE Ritchie family, beginning with Balis and Abigail and all 14 children and aunts and uncles and cousins, and now the Pickow family as well, are and have been blessings to us all in this country and the world. Maybe they are not completely unique, but they have carefully and thoughtfully and graciously nurtured & saved much beautiful and timeless music, fostered and promoted a message of peace and goodwill, kindness and hospitality first to thier neighbors in Viper and surrounding Kentucky, and through Jean to the folks in NY, and through her books to the rest of the world. May they all be blessed as we have been blessed through them.

Subject: RE: KYTRAD'S AWARD CONCERT
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 02 Oct 02 - 04:43 PM

George and I are travelling again- just got the laptop operating, and am trying to figure out this "new" Mudcat- wonderful. Thanks, Max and all. And sincere thanks to all you friends who supported me at the Awards Concert at Lisner, and said such kind things afterward, and to Fortunato who gave lodging and friendship to my friend from Kentucky. An onstage anecdote for you: As we were all lined up at the opening, I stood to the right of Kevin Burke, and whispered to him that I sometimes had trouble walking backward, and to catch me if I started to fall on my face after advancing two steps to bow to the audience, then step back in line, as I was introduced. When I actually did take those backward steps, I felt this very light touch in the middle of my back, and looked sideways to see Kevin grinning at me. Sure enough, in the photos taken by George, you see Kevin's hand reaching out to be there for me, just in case-   talk about support!!!

Love to all,    Jean