Monadnock Folklore Society

A Celebration of New England Contra Dance Music Honoring Bob McQuillen

About

Jul 132012

Bob McQuillen at the Nelson Town Hall

Sunday July 15th, 2 PM, 25 Main Street, Peterborough NH

Welcome to a musical program honoring New England legend Bob McQuillen, patriarch of the longstanding tradition of New England Contra Dance music. After a short historical overview of the importance of this music to our region, we will be treated to a concert of contra dance music from past to present featuring Bob McQuillen and his band, Old New England, with Jane Orzechowski, Deanna Stiles and some fabulous surprise guests.

Bob McQuillen is a living local legend who has been instrumental in keeping contra dancers on their toes in the Monadnock area for a very long time, connecting back to the legendary caller Ralph Page in the 30s. In the 70s, he worked with Dudley Laufman and the Canterbury Country Dance Orchestra. In 2003, he received a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. These days, at 88, he is still found at the piano Monday evenings in Nelson and at the first Saturdays Contra Dance here in Peterborough.

McQuillen is a prolific composer, with close to 1,500 tunes that often carry the name of the person who inspired them. McQuillen compositions are popular among musicians as well as dancers, available in Bob’s Notebooks. “Old New England,” Bob’s current group with Jane Orzechowski and Deanna Stiles, represented New Hampshire at the 1999 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and performed at the Celebrate New Hampshire festival in 2000. “Old New England” has released four CDs.

“Mr. Mac” is also remembered and well loved for the 30 years he spent teaching shop class at Peterborough High School (now Conval). Bob has always taught, mentored and inspired people, especially aspiring musicians. “He’s one of those angels that just floats around making a difference in everyone’s life,” said Leslie Jose, whose son Mike inspired “Mikey’s Reel.” “There’s no way you could even put into words the magic that Bob McQuillen has.”

Narrator Gordon Peery has been playing for contra dances since the late 1970s. He has toured throughout the US, as well as Canada and Europe. Gordon was a founding director of the Monadnock Folklore Society, and is currently President of the Peterborough Historical Society.

Update from New Hampshire Traditional Arts Program

About

May 282012

Greetings from the Traditional Arts Program!

In June and July of this year we are presenting a series of public programs to celebrate traditional arts in New Hampshire with a specific focus on our Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grant program. This grant category funds a master artist of a craft, music or dance tradition to teach an experienced apprentice in one-to-one sessions. These grants help preserve traditions that are a part of our living cultural heritage.

The project kicks off with an exhibit entitled “Shaping Our Heritage” that will be held at the State Library in Concord from June 8 to July 20. We hope you’ll be able to join us for the opening reception June 8 from 4:30 to 6:30 and if so, please RSVP to carey.a.johnson@dcr.nh.gov
If you are unable to join us for the opening reception, we hope that you will have the opportunity to view the exhibit June 11 to July 20, anytime between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm.

We are also holding a Traditional Arts Conference tailored to the needs and interests of traditional artists on June 9, 2012 at the beautiful McLane Center on the grounds of the New Hampshire Audubon Society, 84 Silk Farm Rd, Concord, NH from 9 am to 4:30 pm. The conference promises to be a unique opportunity for traditional artists to meet, exchange ideas, and build a stronger community. We are working out the last of the arrangements for the workshops and we hope it is a memorable and enriching day for everyone. We’ve invited Barry Bergey, director of the Folk Arts Program at the National Endowment for the Arts, to open the conference. Here is a link to the portal on our website with more information on the project: http://www.nh.gov/nharts/artsandartists/exhibitgallery/tradapprenticeshipexhibit.htm

Conference registrations are coming in nicely and we are almost at capacity. As of today, we still have space for around 25 more traditional artists. If you know of a traditional crafts person, musician or dancer that could benefit from this opportunity, we invite you to pass along an invitation to register for the conference.

There is no charge to attend. However, because the Audubon Center has space limitations, we are providing lunch, and we have a fixed budget, we need to make sure everyone who plans on attending is registered. Our deadline is Friday, June 1, 2012 and “First-registered, first-accommodated!” To register for the conference, artists should contact our special project assistant Julianne Gadoury at julianne.gadoury@dcr.nh.gov or by phone: 271-0791 8:30 am to 1:30 pm.

Fierce Modal: A New Recording from Flynn Cohen

New Recordings

Mar 272012

When I first heard Flynn Cohen (several years ago) he was playing backup guitar behind three stellar fiddlers who were wowing the audience with an array of fancy stuff. It wasn’t until late in the concert when Flynn did a solo set that his ability to similarly dazzle was displayed. Since that time I’ve come to admire his playing for his willingness to understate. Or perhaps another way of saying that is that Flynn doesn’t play a note unless it needs to be played.

His latest solo album, Fierce Modal, is a daring effort consisting of entirely original instrumentals. It opens with a gentle meditation he calls “End of an Era”, which gave me an image of a pool of water, glimmering in sunlight, but seemingly standing still. Then you realize that the water is moving – not very fast, and not very far, but in a very logical way. Continue reading »

Interested in CDSS Summer Camps for Dancers and Musicians?

Special Programs

Jan 272012

The Monadnock Folklore Society maintains a Group membership with the Country Dance and Song Society. One of the benefits of Group membership is that we can recommend people for the following items:

1. Groups can nominate 1 or 2 people for priority admission to CDSS summer camp programs
2. CDSS matches some scholarships that Groups offer to their members.

Please go to http://www.cdss.org/priority-matching-scholarships.html for more details on each of these programs.

Fiddle Camp North, April in Mass.

Workshops

Jan 222012

Did you make a New Year’s Resolution to have fun and learn more on your fiddle?

If you did, I’d like to invite you to attend Fiddle Camp North, April 13-15, Charleton, MA. Even if you didn’t, join us anyway! We’ll have an enjoyable variety of workshops and jams at multiple levels and in different styles to keep you happy for the weekend.

Fiddle Camp North is a weekend-long celebration of the Fiddle in Bluegrass, Old Time, Irish, Cape Breton, and New England styles! Our goal is learning — and having a great time doing so!

I’m the Fiddle Coordinator and will be teaching quite a few workshops. Our staff will include Alan Kaufman, Skip Gorman, Martin Grosswendt, and possibly more instructors. All are traditional players with excellent teaching and performing experience. We generally teach by ear, but many classes will have handouts also.

Fiddle Camp North is held in conjunction with Mandolin Camp North. The two Camps will be held at Prindle Pond Conference Center, a beautiful wooded setting in Charlton, Massachusetts. Buildings are heated, and meals (including vegetarian option) are provided as part of the tuition package. Thursday night lodging is available for those traveling a long way, whether driving or flying to FCN.

The Camps will open Friday at 12:30 PM for registration, jamming, and instruction. We’ll have hands-on workshops, round robin demonstrations and guided jam sessions (at multiple levels) for three days, a Friday night “meet the faculty concert,” a formal concert Saturday night, and lots of time for jamming and getting to know each other. If you’re there for Fiddle Camp, it’s fine to attend any of the Mandolin Camp sessions as well that pique your interest. Fiddle and mandolin are tuned the same.

Most of the classes are hands on, practical learning situations, covering different styles and repertoire, bowing techniques, improvising, chords, and many more topics. A few are demonstrations or mini-concerts, but even in these classes the intention is for you to take something away that you may want to learn or speak with the instructors about later. You are encouraged to bring a recording device (such as an MP3 recorder).

Details and registration are at http://www.FiddleCampNorth.com . Please register through that website, although we’ll have a Facebook event up soon for Fiddle Camp North.

If this is your first time at Fiddle Camp North or Mandolin Camp North, Mike Holmes (our esteemed Camp Director) has generously offered a $100 discount if you register by February 19th.

Dave Reiner

Report from Ralph Page Legacy Dance Weekend: Fosters Daily Democrat Newspaper

Contra Dance

Jan 162012

By AIMEE LOCKHARDT
Special to the Democrat
Monday, January 16, 2012

DURHAM — From hemlines to dance moves, the University of New Hampshire looked like a town dance from the old west Saturday—that is if they wore sneakers and watches or used a microphone to call out steps.

At the 25th annual Ralph Page Memorial Dance Legacy, sponsored by UNH and the Center for Humanities, those who participated in the three day weekend, which ran Friday to Sunday, not only celebrated the Granite State caller’s life, but also took part in a tradition he helped keep alive—contra and square dancing.

Click here to read more

How To Write A Mummers Play

FolkNotes

Dec 182011

How To Write A Mummers Play
By Allison Aldrich
December 2011

‘Twas a month before Solstice, and all through my head
Ran a host of ideas and thoughts, so instead
Of paying my bills or attending to mail,
I spent every day on the Web, without fail
Trolling for news items, searching for memes-
Soon it was haunting my thoughts and my dreams.
Oh, no! it’s December! And I haven’t written
A line or a phrase- I must have been smitten
With rushes of blood to my head to agree
To write this ridiculous annual spree.
But now they are asking, “So, how is it going?”
“Just great!” I assure them, sincerity flowing.
In fact, I’ve a plot in my head that might work,
And yes! Just in time, there’s an obvious jerk
In the news, who is perfect for playing the Fool,
And the maiden is there, but the hero’s in school
And can’t be consulted. The Dragon could be
Any number of nasties that daily we see
On the news, on the streets, but whichever I choose,
You can bet that the week of the show there’ll be news
Of an impending threat or a star on a bend,
Who should be included, but now to attend
To rehearsals, and costumes, and last-minute changes-
The rhymes don’t quite scan, Father Christmas arranges
A family party the day of the show!
The Fair Maiden’s costume’s revealing to show
What must not be shown- can we get underway
And perform a complete and acceptable play
That has humor and context and couplets that rhyme,
And scan the right rhythm, for most of the time?
Will the audience laugh? Will the swords ever lock?
Will the hero lie there with a hole in his sock?
Yes , they will, yes we can, yes we did, it was fun!
And now I can file this son-of-a-gun!
Will I do it again? Oh, I will if they ask,
Despite all the worries that come with the task.
And now to relax, celebrate with good cheer!
I wish you good Solstice, and happy New Year!

Annalivia Band using “crowd-funding” for latest album

About

Dec 042011

The Kickstarter funds will cover the following costs: Studio time, mixing and mastering, graphic design, manufacturing and duplication costs, promotional materials such as posters and stickers, and producer and guest artist fees.

Annalivia is a folk-fusion string-band from the Boston area that has been in business for a few years and has recently undergone a lineup change. They are revamping their sound, bringing it back home to our American roots, while still allowing a multitude of influences to be present. Each band member brings impeccable musicianship, thorough training in his/her instrument, stellar arranging abilities, and overall stylistic versatility and innovative sensibilities. This project will be their third album to date, and will consist of original songs and tunes as well as adapted traditional material. Twin fiddles, driving guitar, flat–picking, mandolin, and strong vocals are what can be expected– with some surprise guest artists in the mix.

Summer Dances: Thank You Card from Kroka Expeditions

Contra Dance

Nov 282011

Among the many things we love about the summer in Nelson are the youth groups who join us for dances. We all know about the Apple Hill Chamber Music program, which brings youth from around the world to Nelson. Another wonderful group that joins us is Kroka Expeditions, which provides outdoor education through challenging trips.

This summer’s Kroka youth sent a lovely card to the Monadnock Folklore Society, reproduced below. Thank YOU, Kroka!

MFS is looking for writers

About

Sep 112011

With the departure of Monadnock Folklore Society board member Dave Eisenstadter to Boston in order to advance his journalism career, MFS finds itself in need of writers.

If you would like to review local concerts, write about folk traditions, interview visiting personalities, or have other ideas about articles that belong on this web site, please contact info@monadnockfolk.org.

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