OUR 18th SEASON BEGINS!

• 3-4 p.m. Kids Session
• 4:15-6:15 All Ages Workshop/Playing Session
• 6:30 Pot Luck Supper
• 7:30 Ceilidh Coffeehouse with Sessions, Open Mike Performances, Refreshments

A 1997-1998 Coda

The day started out with a big group at the kids session, and that set the tone for the day. By the time the afternoon workshops with the Rally performers began, we had a very large gathering, eager to play and hear music.

First up was fiddler/pianist/stepdancer Jackie Dunn. She taught a Cape Breton step dance to about a dozen people eager to learn the steps. It looked like they were picking it up quickly and having fun too.

Then we had workshops with fiddlers Iain MacFarlane and Wendy MacIsaac. Each taught us a tune by ear. From Wendy we learned "Father John Angus Rankin's Strathspey" and from Iain, a three-part march called "92nd Gordon Highlanders."

Then all four performers, including harpist and pianist Ingrid Henderson, took questions. Someone asked how to find the sheet music without the title of a tune. Pointing to his ears, Iain answered, "That's what these things are for." He said that, even if you know the name of a tune, you might not be able to find the music. In some cases, tune names have been lost, and some tunes were never named. "That's part of the tradition, and you have to put up with that. You just have to try to remember."

Iain and Wendy talked about the connection between their styles of playing (Highland and Cape Breton, respectively), what it's like to play in bands with Gaelic singers and the recent revival in Scotland of the Gaelic language. For her part, Jackie said that, unlike fiddlers, pianists tend not to copy other pianists' styles. You're expected to develop your own, she said.

To close, Iain encouraged us to "keep the music going."

After dinner the guests gave performances. Iain started out with several slow, dreamy airs. The rest of the set included a few tunes from the 1997 Rally: "The Braes of Mar" and "Jenny Dang the Weaver." He also played a set of jigs, with Ingrid on piano. Then Ingrid played a set of jigs by herself, on the harp.

Since Jackie had to catch a plane home, Janine Randall accompanied Wendy on piano. Wendy played an air and several strathspeys and reels, and then, like the others, a set of jigs.

Meanwhile, in the coatroom, I caught some of the kids dancing. Neil Pearlman was giving the instructions: "You cross four times." Now I wonder who he learned that from?

Before the evening session started, Ed took a few minutes to thank everyone who worked on the Rally, especially Mary Lamey, Erica Weiss and Mike Falkoff.

About 20 of us gathered for the evening session playing, including Iain. The music inspired Lois Grocki, Danny Pitts, Laura Scott and Jannaruth Jenner to do some step dancing on the stage.

- Phyllis Lindsay

June 14 Fiddle Club Meeting

We heard about a dozen original tunes from eight members: Laura Davidson, Mary Barron and Steve Cushing - each of whom contributed several tunes - as well as Nathan Silva, Paul Milde, Stu Soloway, Ed Pearlman and myself. There were several strathspeys and marches, lots of reels, plus a jig, a waltz and an air. Everyone listened while each composer played his or her tune. Then, after an intro, we all joined in.

On a few tunes, there was a question about where the beats were; they didn't seem to fall where the music indicated they should. Ed said writing words to a tune can help you determine where the beats go. He also noted that writing music out is a different experience entirely from playing it. I'll say it is! When it was time to break for dinner, Ed thanked everyone who wrote tunes.

We had a busy open mike. Pan Chan played some Bonnie Rideout tunes. We heard a set from fiddlers Karen and Debbie Billmers, with Nathan on bodhran and Danny Pitts on guitar. Then Danny and Nathan (on pipes this time) played a set. Betsy Hooper, a former member in town for a few days and a former U.S. Scottish Fiddle champion, also played - on her new fiddle!

Ed played a few tunes, too - including one called "Forglen House" by William Marshall - and was then joined by Laura Scott, who did some pretty incredible step dancing. I wonder how it sounded to their son Neil, who crept under the stage just before Laura started dancing. Later, Neil played on the stage (piano, that is) with Nathan on banjo and Eli Grocki on fiddle. The trio played "Put Me in the Box."

We were also treated to several more original tunes - from fiddler Mary Barron, piper Dave Fogel, and Laura Davidson, who took to the piano to play a tune we had tried out earlier: "A Scottish Farewell."

- Phyllis Lindsay

Renew Your BSFC Membership Now!

BSFC Performs at First Annual Boston Folk Festival

The Celtic program really started before our two-hour slot, when the great Scottish band the Tannahill Weavers performed. Our set began with the Fiddle Club (see Richard's article), continued with Cape Breton music from fiddler Joe Cormier (with Tony Cuffe on guitar), great Irish music from uillean piper Paddy Keenan and fiddler Seamus Connolly (again accompanied by indefatigable Tony Cuffe), and was capped by a rousing finish by Irish flute player Skip Healy and guitarist Brian Hanlon.

- Ed Pearlman

Boston Folk Festival - another view

Fiddler Ed Pearlman emceed and directed the group, which included fiddlers Connie Caswell, Ed Los, Debbie Billmers and Duncan Jenner, as well as cellist Jannaruth Jenner, accordionist Charlie Rapport, concertina player Richard Dillon and flute/whistle player Karl Goedicke - all accompanied by Tony Cuffe, guitarist and vocalist.

The musicians played tunes and sets from the 14th annual Scottish Fiddle Rally, beginning with the jigs "As I Was Kiss'd Yestere'en" and "The Way to Judique" and ending with some strathspeys and reels: "The Banks of Spey," "The Left-Handed Fiddler" and "The Fiddler's Coming Tonight." Sandwiched in between were tunes from the Rally: "Kindness Forever Mair," "An Honorable Peace," "Tail Toddle" (featuring Tony on guitar and vocals and Ed on fiddle) and "The Boatman of Pitnacree."

- Richard Dillon

"Living Tradition" Has Only Good Things to Say About Fiddle Club CD

This CD is subtitled Masters of Scottish and Cape Breton Fiddling. This is no idle boast: the featured artistes are Buddy MacMaster, Natalie MacMaster, Jerry Holland, Alasdair Fraser, Aly Bain and the excellent Boston Scottish Fiddle Club, led by Edward Scott Pearlman, all, with the possible exception of the last, well known to readers of this magazine, I'm sure.

Recorded "live" at a series of concerts in Boston, USA between 1985 and 1995, this is seventy-five minutes of the finest Scottish and Cape Breton fiddle music around, and with artistes like these, I suppose that goes without saying.

The range of styles and the multitude of tunes covered by the seventeen tracks are all played with impeccable skill, helped in no small part by the superb accompaniments provided by Hilda Chiasson, John Coakley, Mary Jessie MacDonald, Beth Murray and Jacqueline Schwab.

Apart from the great music, it is the atmosphere produced by this CD that I enjoy; these are "live" recordings that really work. The audience and artistes obviously enjoyed themselves and the "feel" of the concerts is evident throughout without obtruding on the musical performances. It must have been tremendous to have been present.

There are no duds on this well-produced CD. The sound quality is uniformly excellent on all tracks, quite unusual on a "live" recording, let alone one recorded over a period of ten years. I can find no fault with this most enjoyable release. Well done, Greentrax, for making it readily available over here.

Highly recommended.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

• Alasdair Fraser & Skyedance In his first-ever concert on his own in the Boston area! Saturday, Oct. 24, 8 p.m., Somerville Theater Tickets: $22, $18. Charge tickets by calling 617-876-4275.
• Natalie MacMaster Trio Saturday, Nov. 21, 8 p.m., Somerville Theater Tickets: $22, $18. Charge tickets by calling 617-876-4275.
• Celtic Night - to benefit Arlington Catholic H.S. Saturday, Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m., Regent Theatre, Arlington Adults: $20; Children under 12: $10 For tickets, call 781-646-7770. Performers include: Gillian Boucher (Cape Breton fiddle), Michael Kerr (Scottish bagpipe, guitar), Meaghan and Sara Marsh (Highland dance), and Mary Macgillivray and Judy MacKenzie (Cape Breton stepdance).
• Ongoing Gaelic Club, third Sundays (3-7p.m.) at the Canadian-American Club, 202 Arlington St., Watertown, 617-924-9827.
• Friday night sessions at the Canadian-American Club, 202 Arlington St., Watertown, 617-924-9827. All musicians welcome. The playing usually starts around 9 p.m.
• Remaining Fiddle Club Meetings for the 1998-1999 Year Second Sundays: Nov. 8, Dec. 13, Jan. 10, Feb. 14, March 14, April 11, May 9, June 13