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15 Jun 15 - 02:17 PM (#3716796) Subject: June Press Room(NH) Memorial Shanty Sing From: Bat Goddess This coming Saturday, June 20th, is the Shanty, Forebitter and Foc's'l Ballad Session at The Press Room, Daniel St. in Portsmouth, NH from 3:30 to 7:30 PM. Traditionally, it would have been both the regular monthly, and the Sixth Annual Barry Finn Memorial session. But we lost founder Tom Hall in November 2013 and Justine (Barry's widow) and I (Tom's widow) agreed it doesn't seem quite right to have two separate memorial sessions. So this month's singaround will be a memorial singaround...for Barry Finn, Tom Hall, David Behm (another session regular who passed away in December 2006), and Jay Smith. Jay Smith was the founder of The Press Room and owner from 1976 to 1996. He passed away in September 2002 and Tom instituted the first Press Room Open Sing at the Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival later that month in his honor. It was so successful that Tom started our monthly shanty sing in January 2003, so I think Jay should be included as the inspiration for this session although he wasn't alive to participate. Tom chose the June session for Barry's memorial in hopes that singers who had been in the area for the Mystic festival might still be in New England and could make the Press Room memorial session. I really hope we'll have a good turnout to honor those singers who were such an important part of the Press Room, the Press Room sessions, and the Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival. Please join us in keeping the songs they sang alive and in making the Press Room rafters roar! Linn |
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15 Jun 15 - 03:01 PM (#3716807) Subject: RE: June Press Room(NH) Memorial Shanty Sing From: ranger1 I'll definitely be there. Hoping to bring one of the current crop of Americorps kids and her significant other, as well, but we'll see. |
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16 Jun 15 - 11:19 AM (#3716967) Subject: RE: June Press Room(NH) Memorial Shanty Sing From: Bat Goddess ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸Reresh¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ |
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16 Jun 15 - 11:20 AM (#3716968) Subject: RE: June Press Room(NH) Memorial Shanty Sing From: Bat Goddess "Refresh", of course. Linn |
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16 Jun 15 - 10:12 PM (#3717069) Subject: RE: June Press Room(NH) Memorial Shanty Sing From: ChanteyLass I'd love to go. I've had fun when I've been there, but down here I'll be at the Summer Solstice Festival. |
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18 Jun 15 - 03:42 PM (#3717367) Subject: RE: June Press Room(NH) Memorial Shanty Sing From: Bat Goddess ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸Refresh¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Linn |
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19 Jun 15 - 09:39 AM (#3717513) Subject: RE: June Press Room(NH) Memorial Shanty Sing From: GUEST,Pirate of Cape Ann Someday, we'll all be in Davy Jones' locker. If there was a memorial sing for each individual who carried the slop-bucket forward there would be no time for regular sessions. Each time I belt out a song, I remember those who have plowed ahead of me, in the near and distant past, those whose voices plied their trade and those who carried that tradition along. Some, like Dave, Tom and Barry I saw in the flesh, others are but a thought in my mind of what history has taught us. So, as my voice reverberates off of the Press Room walls, my mind imagines that they are right there with me and I can almost hear their harmonies, edging me on to give it my best! See you tomorrow! |
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19 Jun 15 - 01:55 PM (#3717577) Subject: RE: June Press Room(NH) Memorial Shanty Sing From: Bat Goddess That wraps it up, Pirate of Cape Ann. We're all remembering -- with just about every song we sing -- those who have come before us, including those who are no longer with us here. I learned and now sing so many songs from Tom Hall and from Jay Smith. And became familiar with songs through David Behm and especially Barry Finn. This morning I was working on my archive from 2009 -- that was the year of Tom's loss of voice and vocal cord cancer surgery, and the year Barry Finn died. Tom and I couldn't go to Barry's funeral because we were on the Downeaster to Boston for tests, etc. prior to Tom's first throat surgery the next day. The physical presence of all four of them is felt so often at The Press Room. They're still with us and touch our hearts and voices even if we can't physically reach out and grab their hands. I miss singing with each one of them so much. Alexander Thompson reminded me of what Jean Redpath said when she eulogized Robert J. Lurtzema back in 2000. She said, "Cry if you must, parting is hell. But life goes on, so sing as well." Linn |
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20 Jun 15 - 05:28 AM (#3717663) Subject: RE: June Press Room(NH) Memorial Shanty Sing From: RoyH (Burl) How I wish I could be there. Please sing one in my name. 'Doodle Let Me Go' would be good. Have a great singin honour of those two fine lads. Cheers, ROY |
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20 Jun 15 - 08:59 AM (#3717724) Subject: RE: June Press Room(NH) Memorial Shanty Sing From: Bat Goddess I will, Roy -- truly wish you could be here with us. I'll sing my version of "Madam Gashay's", though, because that's what I know. Chorus of "Do, do let me go", not "doodle". Love the folk process! I'm learning more and more of Tom's songs, both land and sea. And I taught "Down Below" to Barry. (I got it from Evan Leonard.) Others sing David's songs...and the Jay Smith songs I sing aren't maritime. Linn |
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20 Jun 15 - 11:54 AM (#3717759) Subject: RE: June Press Room(NH) Memorial Shanty Sing From: Bupkes I and some Gloucester friends look forward to coming up this fine day! Marty |
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21 Jun 15 - 10:57 AM (#3717994) Subject: RE: June Press Room(NH) Memorial Shanty Sing From: Bat Goddess Odd. I just found myself cookie less and had to sign in. It's a lazy, rainy, Sunday here. I'll try to get the song list posted later today. Tomorrow at the latest. Lovely session yesterday and a fine tribute to our Absent Friends. Linn |
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21 Jun 15 - 06:00 PM (#3718097) Subject: RE: June Press Room(NH) Memorial Shanty Sing From: Bat Goddess The crew was me (Bat Goddess; Linn Schulz), Dave Hallowell, Peter Hale, Dianne Lavoie, Gardi Winchester (Pirate of Cape Ann), Barry O'Brien (for awhile -- he's recovering from 6 broken ribs), Doug Mahoney from Seattle, Bob Eaton, Marty Stock (Bupkes), Don Hale, Jeri, Carol Coronis, Justine Donovan, Gail & Jim Finn with their daughter Amanda, Tami Bill, Bill Perry, Bruce MacIntyre, Alexander Thompson & Liz Duff, Bill Lehrman & Carol Pierson, Peter, Audi & Zinnia Souza, Peter Bixby, Dave Nunes, W.B., Phyllis Richard-Sloat, Gail Diderickson and her sister Janice, and a couple more people from Gloucester whose names I don't know. (Please let me know!) I hope I didn't forget anyone. I brought the gavel, or should I say, The Gavel. And had to tell the story again, too. Back in the early 1990s, David Behm, who was a wood turner, made the hand turned maple gavel for Tom Hall (Curmudgeon) to keep order at our Friday Press Room trad sessions. Even in the comparatively early days (session got started in 1982), it was often like herding cats. A few years ago I brought the gavel and a few other items for "Show and Tell" because a lot of the session regulars weren't yet coming to the session in the early '90s. I said that Tom had actually never USED the gavel...but pointed out that it was in MY hands now. And what we sang was -- 1. Jolly Roving Tar - Dave Hallowell 2. Isle au Haut - Dianne Lavoie 3. Sailor's Prayer [Tom Lewis] - Barry O'Brien 4. Boys of Killybegs - Bob Eaton 5. Whiskey-O, Johnny-O - Linn Schulz 6. Bully In the Alley - Marty Stock 7. Yangtze River - Pete Hale 8. Rolling Down the River - Justine Donovan 9. Cruising 'Round Yarmouth - Linn Schulz 10. Carrion Crow - Gardi Winchester 11. Come Up the Stairs - Doug Mahoney 12. Shenandoah - Amanda Finn 13. Saltpeter Shanty - Don Hale 14. John Dead - Jeri 15. Marching Inland - Dianne Lavoie 16. Barrett's Privateers - Pete Hale 17. Alabama John Cherokee - Barry O'Brien 18. Race of Long Ago - Linn Schulz 19. Santiano - Carol Coronis 20. South Australia - Jim Finn 21. Noah's Ark - Bob Eaton 22. St. Brendan's Voyage - Doug Mahoney 23. Cannery Shed - Alexander & Liz 24. London Julie - Justine Donovan 25. I Wish I Had Someone To Love Me - Dianne Lavoie 26. Ida Lewis - Justine Donovan 27. Out On the Ocean [tune] - Doug Mahoney (& Pete Hale, Bill Perry) 28. Pleasant and Delightful - Marty Stock 29. Fire Down Below - Jeri 30. John Kanaka - Gardi Winchester 31. White Squall - Pete Hale 32. 16 Fishermen Raving - Doug Mahoney 33. Rose of Allendale - Gail Finn 34. Paddy Lay Back - Bill Perry 35. Three Score and Ten - Bob Eaton 36. Plum Island National Anthem - Linn Schulz 37. Song About Barry - Alexander Thompson & Gardi Winchester 38. Baidin Fheilimi - Jim Finn 39. Donkey Riding - Peter Bixby 40. Astoria's Bar - Linn Schulz 41. Johnny Come Down to Hilo - Peter Souza 42. Bulgine Run - Bruce MacIntyre 43. Shake Her, Johnny, Shake Her - Linn Schulz 44. Cod Liver Oil - Doug Mahoney 45. Paddy West - Don Hale 46. Good-bye My Riley-O - Justine Donovan 47. Heave Ya Ho - Marty Stock 48. Aboard the Kangaroo -Pete Hale 49. Erie Canal - Liz Duff 50. Ye Marners All - Peter Bixby 51. Martin Greigh - Pete Hale 52. Dirty Old Town - Doug Mahoney 53. Hard Times In Old Virginia - Audi Souza 54. Maggie May - Linn Schulz 55. Keep On Fishin' [Jon Campbell] - Bob Eaton 56. Chicken On a Raft - Pete Souza 57. If Not For the Whiskey - Dave Nunes 58. Bold Fisherman - Bruce MacIntyre 59. Crazy [short, crazy version from his aunt] - Alexander Thompson 60. Being a Pirate - Liz Duff (with a few new verses about hair & brains) 61. Grey Funnel Line - Don Hale 62. Crossing the Bar - Marty Stock 63. Nelson's (Seaman's) Prayer - Don Hale & Company Again, please let me know of any corrections or additions. Thanks! Charlie, we missed you, but Dahlov needed to get to Boston. Linn |
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21 Jun 15 - 06:14 PM (#3718100) Subject: RE: June Press Room(NH) Memorial Shanty Sing From: Bat Goddess This is something I should have read yesterday at the session. Last year on Tom's birthday in September, I didn't want to be at home, so I headed to mid-coast Maine and partially retraced a trip Tom and I had taken 16 years before. In Cundy's Harbor I walked straight to the three prominent slate markers for poet Robert P. Tristram Coffin, his wife Ruth, and their daughter Peggy…right where Tom and I had left them sixteen years ago. Besides taking photos, I transcribed the epitaphs. RPT's was probably from one of his poems, but I've not yet located which one. I'm sure he wrote the epitaph for Ruth, and that's what I should have read at yesterday's memorial session. I teared up as I transcribed it and I choked on the last lines last fall as I read it aloud. (The stone's tympanum has three fir trees and a 6-inch band of life-sized strawberry plants – same as her husband's.) Ruth Phillip Coffin Died April 5, 1947 Summers, when the years were young, You climbed this hill, you chose This graveyard for your own between The spruces and wild rose. Now on this island where you found Wild strawberries and love You lie, in the graveyard of your choice. And the sea winds blow above. Deer stare at the tinkling cows. Rest, where you chose to be. The high fog comes in over the hill Gray eternity. |
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22 Jun 15 - 06:19 PM (#3718320) Subject: RE: June Press Room(NH) Memorial Shanty Sing From: Bat Goddess Does anybody read this? Are there any corrections or additions? Linn |
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22 Jun 15 - 11:11 PM (#3718352) Subject: RE: June Press Room(NH) Memorial Shanty Sing From: ChanteyLass I've read it, but because I wasn't there I have no corrections or additions to suggest. |
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22 Jun 15 - 11:26 PM (#3718355) Subject: RE: June Press Room(NH) Memorial Shanty Sing From: GUEST,Don Hale Of course we read it, Linn! I just finished getting the song list into a Word document and printing a copy. Helps me to not sing the same thing every month, as well as starting me on a search about the songs sung, many of which I don't know the title of, let alone the lyrics or origins of. Also, I'd like to find and learn a song that was sung by David Behm, for next June's session. Don |
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23 Jun 15 - 06:36 AM (#3718401) Subject: RE: June Press Room(NH) Memorial Shanty Sing From: Bat Goddess Thanks! I need the feedback as much as, earlier in the cycle, I need readers to refresh the thread so it doesn't look as if I'm the only one refreshing it and keeping it wher it wil be seen for the week leading up to the session. Linnf |