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04 Jul 09 - 07:45 PM (#2671718) Subject: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: GUEST,Jerry A big move for the Eisteddfod Festival of Traditional Music: -- we are moving out of New York City and into the Great Beyont. With some trepidation and some excitement, the 2009 Festival will be at the Nevele Hotel in Ellenville, NY on October 16-18. Ellenville is about 2 hours north (and a bit west) of New York, probably 90 minutes from Albany. We very much hope that many will be moved to come who haven't before; the music has been genuinely extraordinary for the past 5 years since we revived it after it kind of vanished in Massachusetts. As always, full details on the staff (now essentially complete) can be found at www.eisteddfod-ny.org -- but here are a few highlights. ALison McMoreland and Geordie Macintyre will be coming from Scotland, with great songs but also an abundance of folklore. Claire Boucher will be coming from Brittany via Montreal, returning guests from last year include John Roberts and Tony Barrand (last year's winners of the Eisteddfod Award for long service to the tradition), as will Bill and Livia Vanaver who we hope will also be bringing their magnificent group of teenage performers. Robert Bouthillier (from Serre L'Ecoute) and Eva Guillerol (also from Brittany) will be doing Folkloric presentations (Eva has recently completed a doctorate on ancient ballad singing in Brittany), Enoch Kent is returning and will be conducting a panel kind of interviewing Eisteddfod founder Howard Glasser, and completing a very strong Scottish presence Norman Kennedy will be coming. We expect to announce the winner of the 2009 Eisteddfod Award in about 10 days, and perhaps a couple more exciting new performers. The fesitval is being run as the Pinewoods Folk Music Club's Fall weekend, so we will also have abundant opportunity for singing for all, a dance with a caller to be announced also within a week. The Nevele has, if you can tear yourself away from the music, a huge indoor pool, golf, spectacular food, and the ghosts of a lot of ancient Yiddish comics. . . talk about tradition --what more could you ask, oy? So do check out the website. . . . We are really hoping that the new location will be the opening of a new door for this magnificent festival, and we hope many of you will be moved to support its continuance by signing up for a spectacular time in a weekend of the greatest of traditional music. For any further info, you can call (718) 429-3437. Jerry Epstein |
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04 Jul 09 - 08:06 PM (#2671725) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: GUEST,Jerry I think there are a few more names I really should mention, especially those whom we have not had before. . . . but please do consult the web site. www.eisteddfod-ny.org We are very pleased that Paul Geremia will be coming this year, also Happy Traum, and Eric Weissberg and Mick Vandow. Dwayne Thorpe was a regular at the festival in Massachusetts, and we welcome him back, and we also welcome back from last year the terrific players and singers of the Wreck Room String Band. . . . and many more. Jerry |
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05 Jul 09 - 09:39 AM (#2671990) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: GUEST,Heather Wood Really looking forward to this one! Eisteddfod-NY: A Festival of Traditional Music. We listened to all the folks we met at otehr events who politely (or otherwise) declined to venture into New York City (big, scary, no place to park, etc.), and moved to the Nevele, which is a resort, no less. So if you get tired of the music, you can relax in their infoor pool. |
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05 Jul 09 - 07:27 PM (#2672310) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: GUEST,Pamela from Ithaca What a great line-up... and easy to get to from the Finger Lakes. I'm planning on being there, and looking forward to my first Eisteddfod. |
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08 Jul 09 - 10:20 PM (#2675352) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: GUEST,Rosalie I hate to see Eisteddfod leaving New York City, but having attended last year's (and a few before), I must go to the Nevele for this year's festival. Fabulous music, a friendly atmosphere, and now they are adding good food!! Don't miss it. |
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19 Aug 09 - 10:56 PM (#2704335) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: GUEST,Eileen Pentel I am looking forward to the festival this year. It has been moved to Friar Tuck Inn, not too far from the Nevele. Unfortunately the Nevele has declared bankruptcy. However, it will still be great fun and it is still in a resort/spa and it is still outside of NYC. See you there. Eileen |
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20 Aug 09 - 05:31 PM (#2704988) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: Rabbi-Sol Friar Tuck is a great facility, perhaps even better than the Nevele. Eileen, please make sure to bring plenty of Eisteddfod flyers to the picnic on August 30th and we will display them prominently. SOL |
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21 Aug 09 - 02:59 AM (#2705226) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: Anglo Is that the Friar Tuck just outside Catskill? |
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22 Aug 09 - 01:13 AM (#2705949) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: Barry Finn Maybe this is the year Barry |
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28 Sep 09 - 11:04 PM (#2733758) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Final program From: GUEST,Jerry Yes, to Anglo's question: -- took me a while to answer. . . . It is the Friar Tuck Inn in Catskill, NY, about 40 miles south of ALbany. I was just up there yesterday, with Heather Wood (I had seen it a few years ago for a family reunion). It is a very luxurious facility -- indoor pool, sauna, jacuzzi, exercise room, lots more, and is in excellent shape (in case you heard rumors otherwise). The staff and program is complete: You can see it all at www.eisteddfod-ny.org In addition to lots of super power well known folks, there are a few that you likely have not heard of that I think are of exceptional interest. I'll cite: Olga Zaric -- Serbian and Macedonian Traditions, and also sings Breton duets with Claire Boucher Louise Kitt and Una McGillicuddy: Irish unaccompanied traditional song, in English and Gaelic. It is quite a stunning staff. . . . take a look. . . . An earlier draft of the actual program is on the web-site, and the final program will be available shortly. |
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29 Sep 09 - 12:16 AM (#2733779) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Forgot 1 of special interest From: GUEST I think I should have cited one more person you are most unlikely to have heard of who might be of special interest. Eva Guillorel is a fine singer of Breton tradition, and has also just completed a Ph.D. on ancient ballad singing in Brittany. She will also do a folklore presentation on that topic. There are actually quite a number of folklore topics and Oral History sessions at the festival, so check the schedule. Jerry |
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29 Sep 09 - 07:29 AM (#2733938) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: Susan of DT The workshop schedule looks wonderful, but please don't run the Jeanne Robertson and supernatural songs workshop opposite ballads. Of course, you are running lots of wonderful ballad sessions - thank you. And you have several performers in two places at once. Schedule Scroll down for workshops. |
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29 Sep 09 - 11:33 AM (#2734159) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: Booklynrose Yes, Susan, I find it impossible to attend two workshops at the same time, but there are an exceptionally large number of workshops I want to attend. My big thrill this year is having Allison McMorland and Geordie McIntyre there for the whole weekend. The first time I went to NEFFA, Maddy DeLeon pointed to their names on the schedule and said, "You're going to like them." Wow! I love their singing of traditional "big ballads" and the depth of their knowledge of folklore. I'm disappointed when`they do contemporary songs, but I have heard that there are people who like contemporary songs. |
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29 Sep 09 - 03:22 PM (#2734371) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: GUEST,Guest Deborah I am very excited about the Eisteddfod. I used to go every year when it was in Massachusetts. Then it vanished. Then it reappeared in Brooklyn and Queens in NYC. Now, once again, it is in the kind of expansive setting it really needs. There will be lots of musicians mixing freely with the audience, and we will be able to bring the music outside into the woods as well as to many late night casual locations for jamming indoors. I look forward to seeing many of you there. |
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29 Sep 09 - 04:14 PM (#2734413) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: Thomas Stern Jerry, Great schedule, attested to by the great many conflicts among sessions I'd like to attend. One was to overcome this problem would be to record everything, and make copies available after the festival. This is done by a number of organizations I know of - such as the ARSC, Kerrville, and WFMA. ARSC makes almost all their panels available in perpetuity. Kerrville makes selected concerts available for a short period following the festival. WFMA has highlights of their annual concerts available. Some advantages of recording Eisteddfod: preserve some important panels and performances; create an additional source of income for the festival; further the aims of Eisteddfod. Profliferation is preservation! Obviously equipment and personnel are needed to attend to recording. Performer and presenter permissions are needed for sale of recordings. Issues - how long and to whom the recordings would be available. (e.g. limited time as Kerrville does; only attendees or anyone - probably depends on performers wishes. flexibility is needed.) I welcome discussion (public or private)of this. Best wishes, Thomas. |
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29 Sep 09 - 11:10 PM (#2734694) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: Suffet Great lineup! Unfortunately, I have another commitment and will be a couple of hundred miles to the west. Maybe next year. --- Steve |
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30 Sep 09 - 04:13 PM (#2735265) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: GUEST,GUEST, Deborah Great suggestion, Thomas. I think we do tape everything. The problem is what to do with the tapes afterwards. If you are coming to the Eisteddfod this year (October 16-18), you might want to talk to Howard Glasser, who has been involved in the forming of a folk music/culture archive at U. Mass, Dartmouth. His recordings and research will be there, and so will those of other important collectors. Preserving this material is a big, ongoing concern. Deborah |
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01 Oct 09 - 10:03 AM (#2735810) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: GUEST,Rosalie Tom, I know you have been involved with Eisteddfod, so you probably know that the present incarnation is presented by the Folk Music Society of New York, an all volunteer organization with no outside funding. Recording the programs of the Eisteddfod and making them available afterwards would be terrific. Who would you find that has time or money to do it? I believe the sound man records the programs in the hall that has amplification, so that is a start. |
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01 Oct 09 - 10:46 AM (#2735848) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: Thomas Stern There are 5 workshop/concert areas - sound equipment is in at least one, probably 2 of these spaces. I believe finding equipment to record the other 3 (or 4) could be satisfied with recorders owned by members of the club. If not, there wereple who offered to purchase the needed equipment. I also believe that there are sufficient people who know how to use the equipment who can be found either on the panels, or audience, who would be willing to see that the panels are recorded. If agreements to sell copies of the recordings are obtained, that represents a new revenue stream which should offset costs. I also observe that at every workshop I have attended, someone in the audience recorded the event. If FMSNY can't do the recording, the 'audience tapes' should be sought out, copied and archived. Best wishes, Thomas. |
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02 Oct 09 - 09:14 PM (#2737054) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: GUEST,Rosalie It sure would be nice to make recordings of all the wonderful music at Eisteddfod, and to sell them, but who would do the work? I don't know very much about making recordings, but I believe there are technical procedures to make sure that the recordings sound good. It would be necessary to get permission from musicians, track down copyrights and get permission to use copyrighted songs, and then package and market the recordings. Who can do the work? The web site of the Folk Music Society of N.Y. http://www.folkmusicny.org tells how to contact the society's officers with your suggestions. If it can be done, it would be a really good idea. |
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03 Oct 09 - 07:06 PM (#2737623) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: Thomas Stern There is no need for any technical wizardry - a reasonably clean recording is all that is needed. Finding copyright info is relatively easy since BMI and ASCAP have online catalogs - however most material presented should be traditional therefore PD. Issuing cd's does not need packaging other than an indication of who and when. All pretty straight forward. The most valuable workshops to issue would be discussions and interviews - the music is frequently largely available elsewhere, though some unique associations of performers would be nice to make available. |
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03 Oct 09 - 09:36 PM (#2737686) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: GUEST,Rosalie Are you offering to do this? |
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03 Oct 09 - 11:52 PM (#2737721) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: Thomas Stern I certainly would be willing to operate a recorder at any workshop I attend. Perhaps volunteers to cover the recording can be solicited at check-in. I also would would be willing to help in other ways if I can. I would not do the transfer and mastering, not having appropriate software currently. I think someone from among the people who have produced their own cd's might take that on. Also would be willing to burn and ship cd's to anyone who buys them. Concerning copyright clearance - performers should know if they are using copyright material (since they are liable for royalty payments) so should be the primary source of that info. Again, I would undertake correspondence with anyone who has approved the issuance of their workshop appearances to make such determinations. My view of this is to avoid grandiose expectations - this process should create a document of significant workshops presented to be archived, with a simple reference copy available for purchase by festival attendees, possibly to others. The contract process should include permissions for recording and accept or decline publication rights, with release approval. Feedback forms should request feedback indicating which workshops the attendee wishes to purchase. The first step in all this is putting in place the process to assure all workshops are recorded. |
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04 Oct 09 - 09:06 AM (#2737888) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: Dave Ruch I'm with Thomas on this one. If we enjoy attending these workshops for the combination of music, information (via song introductions and general banter) and spontaneous interactions they offer, why wouldn't we want to hear the ones we've missed and/or hear the ones we attended again? I often will record sessions that I attend for that reason, and when there's a conflict, have been known to give my portable recorded to someone who's attending the one I can't make. Last year at Eisteddfod I had a conflict and couldn't make the "Irish Here and Abroad" session with Len Graham, Donal McGuire, Dan Milner and Barry O'Neill, so I gave my recorder to Dave Webber and an hour later I had a recording of it. I have since sent a copy to Jerry E, who lamented that he too was not able to attend the session. In other types of music I've been involved with over the years, the recording of workshops and concerts is a standard thing. It seems to me that the material offered at Eisteddfod - - with so many performers who've spent lifetimes studying and/or living with traditional music - - is even that much more worthy of being documented for the future. As for this year, I can't make it to the festival but I see several workshops on the schedule I'd be willing to pay $10 each (as a rough number) to hear later. As a side benefit, once the recordings are made, a monthly "Best of Eisteddfod 2009" podcast could be easily created, or a 60 minute workshop or concert in it's entirety could be used for the same, and distributed to people around the world who are interested in traditional music as a means of promoting the festival. Establishing some "brand identity", if you will. There are folks who travel across the country and even between countries to attend festivals with performers of this quality. |
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04 Oct 09 - 12:10 PM (#2737997) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: GUEST,Alan Well, another annual Eisteddfod is almost upon us. It looks like another stellar group of musicians and, because I can only be in one place at a time, it sure would be nice if recordings of all workshops and concerts were available. |
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04 Oct 09 - 05:58 PM (#2738313) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: Thomas Stern The following from HOWARD GLASSER: The NY group has clearly demonstrated their ability to present first rate - hardcore traditional fare -- During the 25 years of the festival at SMU/UMD in New England -- All events were recorded -- ALL -- I had it written into our contracts -- any performer who had a problem with that were not invited -- Even in the days of reel to reel tape and later cassette it was never a hardship to fund or to find people to do the recording -- My personal feeling that the recordings were MORE IMPORTANT than the performance to the small audience -- I have heard recordings of unique interviews or workshops with - perhaps - one or two people in the audience -- My mission for the festival was to inspire research and performance in - what I considered - relevant heritage -- Boston area PBS stations often asked to record -- and broadcast -- Has anyone thought to ask NY, NJ, CN, PA, WA or MA stations about recording ??? or other "folk" stations in exchange for right to broadcast ?? --- I have spoken -- and done my best to see these ideas continued in NY -- It has been made clear to me that recording and preservation has no priority at this time -- It seems very sad to me -- to see all of these rare traditions revealed in live performance -- evaporate -- At this time we have an Archive -- funded -- staffed -- equipped -- housing the htg collections from Scotland, West VA, Pittsburgh Carnegie Ceilidh and concerts, the RI Kingston Ceilidh, the SMU/UMD ceilidh and concerts - and 25 years of recording every workshop of our New England Eisteddfod -- We have assisted the Paul Clayton Archive -- have now acquired the New Bedford Tryworks tapes, the Peter Johnson concert tapes -- various tapes from Clyde Tyndale -- Even though the Eisteddfod Committee of several years ago agreed to put their tapes into the archive -- we have not had a date for their delivery -- several people have offered to transport them -- I still have hopes that when I return from this years event my car will be filled with all the promised tapes -- I really don't understand what all the excuses are about -- the new technology offers recording of excellent quality, as every mans art -- Howard T Glasser |
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05 Oct 09 - 08:14 AM (#2738739) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: Ed Brown I strongly support the recording of all festival workshops. It is true that many of the individual songs by workshop participants can often be found on other recordings. BUT: There are so many other irreplaceable "Precious Memories" that should be preserved. - Where else than on such workshop recordings can one experience the the depth of emotion that some traditional lyrics, like those of "I Know Moonlight", can evoke - when delivered by Helen Bonchek Schneyer at an SMU Eisteddfod - as she struggled to finish - even as the images of the lyrics overtook her as they did so many of us in the audience that day? - Where else can we again hear the audience at an SMU Eisteddfod laughing along with Sandy Paton as they caught on to his playful quick wit after he posed what at first sounded like a straight question of lyric interpretation to the audience? Regarding "My Lord What a Morning", he asked for a show of hands on the question: "How many people think it refers to 'Morning'?. Now, how many think it refers to "Mourning"? ... purposely not spelling out the alternative homonyms! - Where else can we again hear Johnny Collins' dedication of "What's the Life of a Man" (any more than a leaf) to the memory of Stan Hugill at the Mystic Sea Music festival that celebrated Stan's life - after death ended Stan's annual presence there with us? I do hope that any obstacles to the preservation of such recordings of festivals celebrating traditional music, and the people who preserve and share it with us, can be overcome. |
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05 Oct 09 - 09:20 AM (#2738778) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: WFDU - Ron Olesko "Has anyone thought to ask NY, NJ, CN, PA, WA or MA stations about recording ??? " I will gladly bring WFDU-FM's Marantz hard drive recorder and donate its use and my services to record workshops. The recorder has a 20gig hard drive and can store about 30 hours of .wav files and I believe significantly more as a high quality MP3, which should suffice for archive purposes. A simple cable and it can patch into a board, or I can bring a couple of mics to setup where an event might not have a sound system. My hope is to record the two oral history workshops that I will be involved in and air portions on my radio program - with everyone's permission of course. I completely agree with Howard on the importance of recording this event and creating an archive, and I offer my help to create such a projrect. Not having spoken to anyone, I can imagine that there might be factors that the organizers are facing that could prevent recordings - contracts, equipment, and I have seen some venues that will not allow recording for union considerations. All of these items can be overcome with time and money - and I suspect the organizers of the event have their hands full with other details that need to be addressed in order to present this event. A valid argument can be made that people tend to stay away from attending the actual event if they have access to "free" recordings or broadcasts at a later date. In order for events like Eisteddfod to succeed, people need to attend and not become armchair particpants at home. However I do think there is potential benefits for the future - aside from all the important considerations that Howard described. From a radio perpective, I feel that having a broadcast of moments from Eisteddfod will serve as a publicity tool to attract attendees for the future. Ed's eloquent recollections of past Eisteddfods attracts attention, but being able to listen to such recordings would make for a great "commercial" for the future. |
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10 Oct 09 - 11:14 PM (#2743257) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: WFDU - Ron Olesko This Sunday, October 11, at 4pm ET, I will give a little "preview" on my radio show on WFDU. You can listen online at www.wfdu.fm. We now archive our shows for two weeks, so if you miss it and would like to hear it, please log in. Looking forward to next weekend!! |
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11 Oct 09 - 09:39 PM (#2743843) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: Booklynrose Ron, I didn't see that you were doing an Eisteddfod preview until the show was over, and I can't figure out how to listen to it on www.fdu.cm. No choice but to go to the Eisteddfod itself. It is really starting this Friday. The list of performers is at http://www.eisteddfod-ny.org I heard some of them at the memorial for Sandy Paton. This is going to be a fabulous festival. |
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11 Oct 09 - 10:01 PM (#2743857) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: WFDU - Ron Olesko On our homepage, in the center, you will see the words "Missed Us?" and then "check out up to two weeks of streaming programs by clicking here". Click on the word here. I do agree, the best thing is to actually go to the festival!! I'm really looking forward to it!! |
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12 Oct 09 - 12:12 PM (#2744190) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: Booklynrose Ron, Maybe I did not click on the right part. If I miss the radio show, I have to find chores near the computer to listen. At Sandy Paton's memorial on Saturday, I saw and heard a number of the people who will be performing at Eisteddfod: Allison & Geordie, John & Tony, David Jones, Heather Wood, ... plus quite a few who were in Eisteddfod in past years: Joe Hickerson, the Johnson Girls, and Ken Sweeney for starters. People who could not make it to Sandy's memorial may want to come to Eisteddfod on Sunday for Howard Glasser's Celebration of the singers, musicians, and folklorists whom we have lost. |
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13 Oct 09 - 06:35 AM (#2744761) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: bbc Folk Legacy will be represented at the weekend by Caroline Paton & Duane Degutis. If you were unable to attend Sandy's memorial or didn't have a chance to speak with/hug Caroline, here's another chance to express your love & support. Caroline & Duane will be selling Folk Legacy recordings, as well as handling performer sales. best, Barbara |
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15 Oct 09 - 09:47 PM (#2747118) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: bbc The weekend starts tomorrow evening. I will be helping set up the Folk Legacy stand Friday evening. Hope to see some of you! Today is Duane's birthday. I bet he'd enjoy belated best wishes! best, Barbara |
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15 Oct 09 - 10:04 PM (#2747126) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: WFDU - Ron Olesko I'm really looking forward to this weekend!! See you all there! |
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19 Oct 09 - 05:58 AM (#2747772) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: Ed Brown Eisteddfod NY 2009 (held this past weekend at the Friar Tuck Inn near Catskill NY) successfully recaptured the spirit of the old SMU Eisteddfod - the finest festival celebrating tradition-based music, songs and singing that I have ever known. Diolch yn fawr (Welsh for THANK YOU very much) to all involved in making it happen. |
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19 Oct 09 - 05:53 PM (#2748265) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: Dave Ruch I was sorry to miss the festival this year. Looking forward to reports. |
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19 Oct 09 - 11:17 PM (#2748467) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: GUEST,Howard Glasser Oh, yes -- nit picking can be done -- always room for improvement -- especially adjusting to a new space -- But I, and several others that I spoke to, -- felt that the '09 Festival ranked among the best -- For me personally -- every workshop, concert and encounter -- was like a magic tonic for me -- an inspiration to move on to the new work that needs doing -- I met a number of people that were there for their first time -- One couple from PA and another from NY -- They were so enthusiastic about what they saw -- They intended to join and tell friends -- All those involved in this year's event may take pride in this success -- I personally wish to express my gratitude as audience -- As well as someone with a vision -- that you have carried forward in such fine fashion -- You have truly honored me -- In truth -- it is now your fine work -- and you that should be honored -- thank you all -- Howard |
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20 Oct 09 - 11:01 AM (#2748703) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: GUEST,Linda Prager I am sitting in my apartment listening to "Our Ship Is Ready" from the CD, "White Wings" with Alison McMorland & Geordie McIntyre. Before I attended the Eisteddfod Festival this past weekend, I had not heard (or heard of) these wonderful performers. Now as I listen to the CD, I am reliving the incredible feeling of a joyful discovery. There were many other new discoveries for me this past weekend. While a member of Pinewoods since the early 70's, I am more recently discovering the music that was presented at the festival. So, while I have heard several of the performers, many were new to me. In addition, to the great music that was presented, these discoveries are what made the weekend so special for me. The challenge of the weekend was to choose between so many workshops that called to me. I was not disappointed in the ones I attended, and I'm sure I would have felt the same way regardless of which workshop I went to. But, one has to make a choice, so I did. I started Saturday morning laughing and singing along in a workshop called, "Always Good for a Laugh". Everyone should start their day this way. Then I went on to listen to stories and songs about the "Urban Folk Revival"; heard "Songs of the Supernatural"; had lunch; traveled to the Mississippi Delta to hear Paul Geremia play the blues; and ended that day with "More Ballads from Europe". Each workshop ended too quickly for me, but then I got to go to the next one. So, I really can't complain. Sunday started with a workshop by Alison and Geordie, called "Roots and Routes". I knew they felt the pressure of time, because they had so much to share both with their recollections of how they become involved in their music, and the songs themselves. At the "Catskill Mtn. Tradition" workshop, we got to sing along, and give our voices some exercise. Then we learned from Roy Harris, how to get people to join in on the chorus; again giving us an opportunity to sing. This morning for me, was a great blend of listening and participating. The concerts (Friday and Saturday evenings, and Sunday afternoon) gave us the opportunity to hear more from everyone, and was a way to hear people whose workshops you couldn't attend, and to sing along. Sunday's concert and the festival ended with David Jones leading us all in "Let Union Be In All Our Hearts". The room was filled with all our individual voices joined together in song. Roy Harris talked about the joy in being in a community of people making music, and that's what this weekend meant for me. The festival was presented by the Folk Music Society of New York, Inc. (New York Pinewoods Folk Music Club), as well as many other organizations (too many to mention here). I want to thank the Pinewoods board for creatively combining their usual Fall Weekend with this Festival. It was a great way to combine two wonderful events, and to bring people together who might not have otherwise had the opportunity to meet and hear each other. I know that's what happened for me. As I end this piece, I am still listening to the CD, and Alison's voice is coming to me through my computer's speaker. Not the same as seeing her expressive face as she sings, but I didn't know her singing before this weekend, and isn't that what it's all about? Linda Prager |
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22 Oct 09 - 12:35 AM (#2749988) Subject: RE: Eisteddfod 2009, Festival now upstate From: GUEST,maddy De Leon The experiment worked, with few snags, but the festival was great, with performances by artists of the highest caliber: Norman Kennedy, Enoch Kent, the Vanaver Caravan, Paul Geremia, Dwayne Thorpe, and many more, including Breton singers for what I believe was an Eisteddfod first. If having the festival away from NYC, means that more people from distant places are able to attend, I'm all for it. |