Summer Tune List Selected

There's lots to report after tonight's Slow Session.

As you know, I am not an accompanist, and I am generally reluctant to put  chords on the music. Also, I've been giving out spots and not ABC for the most part. We found out tonight that Nancy has been gathering chords for the music, not just for our session but for a wide range of genres that she plays. It turns out that Paul has been taking her information and creating ABC files and turning them into PDFs.

This is great news for those who don't learn by reading music or who want to work on accompaniment but aren't sure what the chords are. A huge thanks goes to Nancy and Paul for gathering the materials. Also to Gary, Nancy and Paul for seemingly always having sheet music to everything.

Here's what we worked on: Miller of Droghan, Joe Bane's Schottische (or Barndance as we have it), Anne Walshe's Reel, our Jig set (Hole in the Hedge/Seamus Cooley's/Kerfunten), Gentle Maiden waltz, the polkas from last year (Egan's-Kerry Polka/Maids of Ardagh/Knocknaboul #2 - 3 part), and a new/old set of reels (Silver Spear/Merry Blacksmith/Sally Garden).

There was a lot of discussion tonight, which is always enjoyable. Folks talking about chords, approaches to accompaniment, discussion different tunes, etc. After we played our sets, we discussed the tunes that we are going to learn/work on for this summer. We also discussed meeting at John's house during the summer. The schedule has to be finalized, so we will release dates and information shortly.

We also got feedback that a second monthly slow session at John's would be welcome. John is checking to see if the scheduling works. Perhaps it will be on a different day of the week? That will be determined and the second monthly session date will begin in the fall.

OK, now for the fun part...TUNES! Here's what we've picked for our summer learning list:

Jigs: Carraroe (also called The Portrowe by Martin Mulvihill) followed by Rambling Pitchfork
also Butcher's March and Moloney's Wife
Reels: Imelda Roland's/Gregg's Pipes
Slow Tune: Lord Inchiquin

Tune sheets, ABCs and sound files to go up soon.

By the way, if folks are interested in gathering somewhere for a slow session down in East Durham, the Wednesday would be a great day to do it - Pauline Conneely is holding a CD launch party down there somewhere on the Wednesday evening, and I'm hoping to get to it. Perhaps Colleen O'Sullivan would be interested in co-hosting a slow session that evening at The Rose Motel and we could do a potluck or something and all go the concert together.

Thanks very much for a lovely evening, everybody! I'm looking forward to next month already.

Cheers,

Hilary

NOTE: June Slow Session in East Greenbush

Pat O'Connor and Eoghan O'Sullivan live in Amherst, MA

I just got back from being out on the road with my friends and musical spirit guides Pat and Eoghan.The lads played all up and down the east coast, and were blown away by the talent they met and the beautiful music they heard in sessions. They were especially impressed with how nice a session there was after their concert at John and Michelle's house.

I hope you can join our Slow Session at John Conway's house tomorrow night, Wed., June 15 from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. to dive deep into our great learning tunes together. FREE. 5 Honey B Lane, East Greenbush,NY. (Using a mapping or navigation app on your phone? Make sure you type in "Honey B" and not Honey "Bee".) Questions? 518-424-8701.

We will take July and August off, just like Comhaltas. Speaking of the Albany CCE, on Sunday, June 19 a traditional Irish music session will be held at the Capital District Irish American Association, 375 Ontario St., Albany, NY 12208 (near corner of Ontario and Mercer Streets, parking lot entrance is on Mercer) -- Learning session at 2:30 pm followed by regular session at 3:30 pm.  Sessions occur every 3rd Sunday of the month except in July & August. Admission is Free.

All the Best,

Hilary