At John Gould Goddard College in Vermont

Assisted by teachers from the Washington County Folk Dance Association, young Vermonters study the old country dances at a mid-winter school at Goddard College.

Skiing in Vermont’s snow-covered hills and old-time dancing were friendly rivals for popular favor immediately after Christmas when the Washington County Folk Dance Association brought its summer activities up to date with a three-day school of country dances at Goddard College. And the same spirit pervaded the school as that which prevailed at the annual Vermont Folk Dance Festival in August on the college campus in Plainfield.

The city ballrooms of the nation have lately adopted country dancing with all the vigor of a new-found diversion, but to this group in Vermont folk dancing is something as old as the early “pitches” when settlers first brought cows into the Winooski valley. And since the attendance at the school turned out to be better than half school-age youngsters, it is likely that the country dances will remain a form of Saturday night recreation throughout Vermont long after city folks have taken up some new idea.

Vermont has a set of country dance traditions all its own, and several intricate dances unknown to the rest of the nation. To keep these traditions safe, the Washington County group organized many years ago for the purpose of searching out techniques and teaching them to other groups gathered solely for amusement. When the group heard that the folks down in Chelsea had a different twist on the promenade forward of a Boston Fancy, they sent someone down, and now the Chelsea tradition is known throught Vermont. During the year the group stands ready to send teachers, equipped with phonograph records and source material, anywhere in Vermont to teach country dancing – a free service that arises from a genuine love for the dance.

Throughout the year the group has bi-weekly dances at some small hall or farmhouse in Washington County, where the program is part recreation, part study. Every summer they call out competing teams from all over the state, and the lawn tennis court at Goddard College is the stage where men in white trousers and girls in peasant skirts and aprons strive to win the big silver cup. A couple of thousand Vermonters and summer visitors come to watch and applaud Money Musk, Hull’s Victory, Merry Merry Milkmaids, and dozens of similar dances done in the correct Vermont fashion.

Last summer the rising interest in this form of dance brought many out-of-staters, and Goddard College followed this success with the offer to sponsor a winter school with dormitory facilities for those coming from a distance. Emerson Lang of Danville directed the school, and its success assures annual repetitions.

Last night in Nelson, we danced a tremendous Money Musk to Dudley Laufman’s calling and the joyful accompaniment of four fiddles (Jacqueline Laufman, Dudley, Hunt Smith, and Sophie Orzechowski) and piano (Neil Orzechowski). Young and old, those who know the dance by heart, those doing it for the first time, we moved to the same notes and rhythms as the thousands who have danced before us. A good time was had by all.

One item of note: The Nelson Second Saturday Dance will be held on the First Saturday in August: 8/7. Old Home Day happens to fall on the second Saturday this year, and therefore there are many reasons to move the dance forward by one week. Dudley and Jacqueline Laufman will provide music and calling for what’s become an August tradition just before Old Home Week. As has been true for many years, there will not be a Peterborough contra dance on the first Saturday in August while Monadnock Music takes over the Peterborough Town Hall.

If there are writers in our audience who would like to publish essays related to local folklore on this web site, please contact us: info@monadnockfolk.org

Old New England: Deanna Stiles, Bob McQuillen, Jane Orzechowski

ONE IV is the newly released recording from Old New England, which is Jane Orzechowski on fiddle, Deanna Stiles on flute, piccolo and fiddle, and Bob McQuillen on piano and accordion.  As one might expect, the arrangements are fairly  straightforward, and the orchestration does not employ the rhythmical gymnastics and melodic pyrotechnics that are increasingly common with recordings of dance music. In the hands of less capable musicians that might make for tedious listening, but not only is this recording a total pleasure to listen to – I personally think it represents the best album yet from this trio.

Some of the appeal is achieved through understatement. An example of that appears in the first set. It starts with “Jack Beard’s Jig”, moves on to “Dr. Becky’s”, and then after a switch to “Martha’s Hornpipe”, I gradually realized the time signature had changed from 6/8 to 4/4. This is a common trick among contra dance musicians, but it is usually rendered with a bit of a flourish. Here it was a like a subtle but refreshing change of scenery on a drive down a winding country road.

Possibly the most “daring” device on the album is a series of key changes. It’s unusual to start a set in the key of A, as it is such a bright key and usually saved for the last piece of a set. But “Castle Hornpipe” starts in A, then you can’t help but smile when there is a half-step modulation to the key of Bb for “Mr. R. Catto”.  It ends up in C with “Chandler’s Hornpipe”.

McQuillen breaks out the accordion on “Fitzwilliam Polka”, and it’s nice to hear that he can still squeeze quite a bit of joy out of that instrument.  Given their long history together, it’s not surprising that Jane and Deanna’s playing is as tight as it is – there are moments of absolute simultaneity. Other times though you could swear they were dancing around each other as they were playing – such lovely harmonies and counter melodies come forth.  Throughout the album their musical virtuosity is manifest: there are times when I felt breathless just listening to the speed and vigor of Deanna’s flute playing.  In “John Brennan’s”  Jane is executing cuts (a Scottish embellishment involving playing a note three times in succession with machine-gun rapidity) that are at once powerful and light, adding some serious electricity.

Bob McQuillen’s waltz “Amelia”, has long been regarded not only as his most beautiful composition, but also among the most beautiful tunes in the traditional music genre. (Amelia, BTW, is Deanna’s daughter.) Enter a new contestant, a tune named (ironically) after Amelia’s daughter, “Arianna”.   This is an air, so it won’t be heard much at dances, but I predict that this will get picked up by musicians all over the world. It’s a born classic!

Indeed, about half of the tunes on ONE IV are McQuillen originals, mostly from his later books, including one that is pending publication in the forthcoming “Bookie 14.”

Though contra dance music is global, and its original influences are from older musical traditions, there is a flavor about the tunes that is often evocative of New England. Old New England is an aptly named band – as you listen to this music you can just feel the town halls, the village squares, the snow-bound winters and gentle summers that give character to this part of the world. This is Old New England, and it doesn’t get any better than this. You can order ONE IV directly from Old New England’s website.

Notes on upcoming events: The Folkway Remembered series (which is co sponsored by the Monadnock Folklore Society) continues with a concert by Tony Bird, a favorite performer from the Folkway era. Bird has been called “The Father of African Folk-Rock.” Yet, he is even more. He’s an inventive, passionate, theatrical performer who delivers the moving, searching anthems of a mature poet.  Tony plays at the Peterborough Historical Society on Saturday, May 15^th. Visit the PHS web site for more details of this concert and the entire Folkway Remembered project.

Next day (May 16) in Nelson at 2:00 there is the final dance of the current series of English Country Dances. These dances have been very successful in  satisfying the interest of folks who have done English dancing before and wanted something closer to home, and also in introducing this style of dancing to people who had not experienced it before. The dance leader is Dan Popowich, with music by Mary Lea and Jacqueline Schwab. Then at 7:00 pm Jacqueline returns to the Nelson Town Hall for a concert. Though Jacqueline could be considered a “folk pianist”, the term does not adequately describe either the range of her repertoire or the brilliance of her playing.  We refer you to one of the many quotes about her playing (from the Lexington Minuteman) “… full of colors and introspection which drew the listener into a musical reverie from which it was hard to return …” And we follow with a simple recommendation – this is a concert that will be well worth attending. Click here for more information and tickets. Note also that tickets to both the English Dance and Jackie’s concert can be had for a very special “advance-only” price of $18, but tickets must be purchased online.

Here in Nelson most of our roads are unpaved. I recently complained to the Selectmen: without a few days of don’t-bother-to-steer, up-to-your-axles-in-mud driving, we are deprived of experiences that reinforce our robust rural character. What’s a country boy to do? Our road agent, Mike Tarr, can be cited as being at fault here. Mike is something of a genius when it comes to understanding the concepts of water flow, drainage, and just when (and when not) to grade the road. When I first moved to town some decades ago my road would often wash down to bedrock in the spring, and anything less than a full sized pickup truck was worthless.  Indeed, perhaps one reason the roads have improved is that they are now built on a base of old Subaru’s that mysteriously disappeared each spring. But mostly I’ll give Mike the credit – he’s both technician and an artist. Every day the roads are a little different, with tweaks to angles and approaches to culverts. But in the end they get you where you’re going.

Kim Wallach

Which brings to mind a couple of my favorite song writers. I first heard Bill Staines at the Folkway in Peterborough back in the late 1970’s. I was introduced to Kim Wallach (then Boston based, now of Keene) a couple of years later.  Their songs are generally not similar – Bill’s often have a rural flavor, and Kim is more introspective. But as artists they accomplish the same thing that our road agent Mike does. They create a flow that has interesting tweaks to angles and approaches to culverts, but in the end they get you where you’re going (or in this case, where they want you to go).

Bill and Kim are co-billed at the sixth event of The Folkway Remembered Concert Series, on Sunday, April 25. This program is presented by the Peterborough Historical Society, with co-sponsorship by the Peterborough Folk Music

Bill Staines

Society and the Monadnock Folklore Society.

The series in turn is a complement to The Folkway Remembered Exhibit which opened in March and runs through September, where you can see various Folkway memorabilia, including a dining room and stage setup, and hundreds of photographs of musicians, Folkway staff and audience members. If you experienced the Folkway (which opened 35 years ago, and closed in 1996), the exhibit will bring back warm memories. And for those that weren’t around here then, going to the exhibit and especially attending one of the concerts is a great way to get a feel for what this wonderful place was about, and how it contributed so much to Peterborough and the Monadnock region.

For more information about both the exhibit and the concert series, visit the web site of the Peterborough Historical Society.

Madame Ax (Jon Brooks)

New Hampshire Furniture Masters will host a benefit concert Saturday, April 3, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord. The concert, “Rise Up! Out of the Ashes,” will raise money for the Jon Brooks New Studio Project. Brooks, a furniture maker and sculptor who is a New Hampshire State Council on the Arts Lifetime Fellow, lost his New Boston studio in a January fire.

The concert will feature music by Jon’s friends in three bands: Celticladda, Swing a Cat, and The Moores. To purchase tickets, which are $25 each, visit http://ccanh.com/ShowDetails/121/522. To make a donation to the Jon Brooks New Studio Project, visit http://www.jonbrooks.org/.

There’s a bit of folklore that once upon a time maple trees provided thick maple syrup year round. The People became complacent, neglecting their crops and community, and indulged themselves by lying beneath dripping maples with opened mouths. Glooskap (variously the son of Mother earth, or the first man, or the man from nothing) came across this situation and decided to force a modification of behavior. He diluted the syrup with water from the river, and made it so the sap would flow only once a year, forcing the People resuming a more structured existence of hunting, fishing, and growing crops.

Though the fantasy is enticing, mainlining maple syrup is indeed something that our inner Glooskap would not tolerate. Indeed, we seek out experiences that provide us with structure – something which in earlier times was provided by the simple requirements of day to day life.  This might explain the appeal of dance forms which are rooted in form, (albeit with plenty of room for individual expression).  And hence the exiting numbers of young people to be found at contra dances these days. The demographic for the new English dance series in Nelson is a bit older, but this could change as it becomes rediscovered.

The Monadnock Folklore Society is pleased to be doing its part in trying to keep the world together by sponsoring a number of local dances. The first Saturday of every month is the Peterborough contra dance, the second Saturday Nelson,  and of course every Monday in Nelson. The new English Country Dance in Nelson is on a four-month plan (through May), with the idea that popular demand may call for its continuation.  One of the great appeals for all of these dances is the music. If you are unable to dance, but want to come by any of these events just to listen, just let the person at the door know, and offer to make an appropriate donation.

This month’s English dance falls at the end of a wonderful weekend that starts on Friday, March 19th with a concert by Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers.  Let’s face it, it would be foolish not to go to a concert with a band that has a name like that – it can’t help but be interesting. And we assure you, it will be, as they render a tunes informed by Scandanavian, Irish, American old time, reggae, jazz and bluegrass,  with whatever refinements each of them might have gathered during their years at Berklee.  Hot stuff.

Come to the  Peterborough Historical Society on Saturday night as The Folkway Remembered series continues with a “coffeehouse” featuring various local musicians who once graced the Folkway stage. Also, note that the Folkway exhibit is now open Wednesday thru Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm, through the month of June. There are some great pictures, a couple of the old Folkway tables set up in front of a stage, and some wonderful audio, video, and print memorabilia. Check all of this out at the PHS web site.

Sunday, as mentioned, is the English dance in the Nelson Town Hall, starting at 2:00.

*Young Tradition Showcase Contest*

The annual Showcase Contest at Waterfront Park in Burlington, Vermont is a
primary focus of the annual Young Tradition Weekend. The program for the
contest starts in the mid/late morning on 5/15/10 and finishes by 3pm,
running simultaneously with Kids Day at Waterfront Park. It is designed so
that young singers, players and dancers (25 years old and younger) in
single, duo or group formats can perform 2 or 3 numbers. Participation is
not limited to Vermonters.

Prizes include showcase performances at a variety of concerts, festivals,
coffeehouses and tours, cash ($500 for 1st, $250 for 2nd and $125 for 3rd),
$1000 in scholarships, and more. There are no judges for the contest and
all styles and genres that fit under the ‘folk and traditional’ umbrella are
welcome. There is time for about 20 ‘acts’ and we strive to make sure that
what is presented at the contest is either directly related or inspired by
what is generally considered folk and traditional music or dance….. if you
think it fits, there is a good chance that it does.

Prospective performers who have not participated in the past are asked to
submit an audio and/or video sample. Samples will be returned if
self-addressed, postage-paid packaging is included with the
application. Samples should be e-mailed to

mrksustc@together.net

or mailed to:
Young Tradition Vermont
PO Box 163
Fairfax, VT 05454.

We strive for balance in the genres
presented, the instruments used, and the traditions presented, etc. (e.g. we
try to not have just fiddlers, just dancers, just singers, etc.).

Contact Mark Sustic, PO Box 163, Fairfax, VT 05454
802-849-6968
mrksustc@together.net
www.youngtraditionvermont.org

It’s encouraging to see a new generation of musicians taking hold. I suppose the term “new” is only relevant to those of us who are coming to represent the “older” generation, but not much we can do about that.

Annalivia did a fantastic performance in the Nelson Town Hall on February 5th.  Their eclectic mix of Scottish tunes and American ballads, technically brilliant musicianship, entertaining stage presence – all around good time. Looking up on the stage there’s Brendan Carey-Block, fiddler extraordinaire, who was a pre-school classmate of my daughter. The band’s singer, Liz Simmons, is the daughter of Leslie Vogel (an accomplished musician in her own right, who’s recent new recording was reviewed here). Leslie was a classmate of mine at High Mowing School back in the late 1960’s. Stuart Kenney, the bass and banjo player (it takes a lot of courage to play two such teased instruments), was just outgrowing teenager-hood when I first met him some decades ago, and now his son Matthew is getting his own reputation (at the age of 12) as an incredible percussionist.  Annalivia’s other fiddler, Emerald Rae (who is about the same age as Brendan) noted that she went to Berklee with all of the members of Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers, who are performing in Nelson on March 19th.

On February 21 MFS presents a concert with Windborne, which includes Will Thomas Rowan, the son of Bill and Anne Thomas who are both well known in dance and Morris circles in the area. Will, along with Lynn Mahoney Rowan and  Lauren Breunig, perform incredible harmony singing representing vocal traditions from all over the world.

There are lots of ways for young people to get into music, and while parental support is usually a factor, having a broader nurturing community is helpful as well. Some years ago Bob McQuillen (who spent some decades as a school teacher, and who is possibly the region’s most youthfully-spirited octogenarian), approached the Monadnock Folklore Society with the idea of providing a scholarship for young people to study traditional music. The result was the Johnny Trombley Memorial Scholarship (read more details here), which provides an annual scholarship to a person 18 years or younger. Last year’s recipient of this award, Perin Ellsworth-Heller, was able to spend a week at Ashokan fiddle and dance. Perin can often be heard playing a set or two at the Monday night dance in Nelson.

The point being that the kinds of music that are important to the Monadnock Folklore Society and its audience has been embraced with vigor and creativity by the younger generation. And if there is any doubt about the interest in contra dancing, just come by Nelson on a Monday night to see how many young folks are stepping up.

It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago that I was part of the younger generation, working at The Folkway Restaurant and Coffeehouse in Peterborough, and while there were many long-established musicians that came through there, many were my contemporaries. Among them, Lui Collins, who endeared herself to Folkway audiences, and whose career took some inspiring turns because of it. As the Peterborough Historical Society continues it’s celebration of the 38th anniversary of the founding of the Folkway, it is a pleasure to have Lui back in the area, with a concert on Friday February 26th (note: she is also performing the next night with David Mallett, but that concert has already sold out). For tickets and more information about the whole Folkway concert series, and exhibit, visit the PHS web site.

Annalivia will be performing in Nelson on February 5th. Here is an interview with Flynn Cohen, guitarist and founding member.

Click here for more show info and tickets.

Annalivia is: Liz Simmons, Stuart Kenney, Brendan Carey-Block, Flynn Cohen, Emerald Rae.

]]> http://www.monadnockfolk.org/?feed=rss2&p=2186 0 00:01:01 Annalivia will be performing in Nelson on February 5th. Here is an interview with Flynn Cohen, guitarist and founding member. Click here for more show info ... Annalivia will be performing in Nelson on February 5th. Here is an interview with Flynn Cohen, guitarist and founding member. Click here for more show info and tickets. [caption id="attachment_2185" align="aligncenter" width="499" caption="Annalivia is: Liz Simmons, Stuart Kenney, Brendan Carey-Block, Flynn Cohen, Emerald Rae."][/caption] Interviews/Profiles gpeery@centerpond.com no No http://www.monadnockfolk.org/?p=2158 http://www.monadnockfolk.org/?p=2158#comments Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:13:57 +0000 MFS http://www.monadnockfolk.org/?p=2158 The Monadnock Folklore Society has been approved for an FY2010 New Hampshire State Council on the Arts Mini Grant to support performances at the upcoming Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend. With its motto of “The Spirit of the Past, with a Vision for the Future,” the Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend was founded 23 years ago by the New England Folk Festival Association in collaboration with the Center for the Humanities at the University of New Hampshire. This weekend is named in honor of Ralph Page, who was pivotal in sustaining and reviving traditional contra and square dancing in New England.

Ralph started calling more than 70 years ago in Nelson, NH, the Monadnock area town that has had contra and square dancing continuously in its town hall for two centuries. Ralph was a popular caller in New Hampshire and in the Boston area. During various periods in which contra and square dancing were at low points in popularity, he was nearly the only person to keep the tradition alive.

Ralph Page became not only a caller but also a scholar of contra dancing. He published The Northern Junket newsletter monthly for many years. He wrote many excellent dances, and he researched and reconstructed many old dances. In 1977, Ralph Page received the Granite State Award given to outstanding citizens of New Hampshire. This award acknowledged not only his talents as a dance teacher, caller, and musician, but also his contributions to community life as a selectman for Nelson, NH from 1932-1938 and as president of the Cheshire County Historical Society for 15 years. When Ralph Page died in the early 1980’s, a committee was set up to keep his legacy alive; that eventually led to the Ralph Page Dance Weekend which has occurred annually since 1988.

From the beginning the emphasis of the Weekend has been on preserving the smoother style of dancing that Ralph favored. However, that doesn’t mean it’s a style of dancing only old people or old-fashioned dancers would enjoy. Contra and square dancing involve teamwork, and it never shows up better than at the Ralph Page weekend. Interested dancers are welcome to attend the entire weekend or any part, including the Friday or Saturday night dances. The Dance Legacy Weekend takes place from Friday, January 15 through Sunday, January 17th at the Memorial Union Building at the University of New Hampshire, Durham.

The 2010 Weekend Staff:

* Callers: Lisa Greenleaf & Tony Parkes
* Latter Day Lizards: Dave Langford, Bill Tomczak & Peter Barnes
* Old New England: Jane Orzechowski, Deanna Stiles & Bob McQuillen
* White Cockade: Vince O’Donnell, Ralph Jones, Sylvia Miskoe, Cal Howard, RP Hale & Allan Chertok
* Retrospective dance session: Marcie Van Cleave & Sylvia Miskoe will lead a celebration of the truly inspirational and varied life of Marianne Taylor.

More information about the Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend at http://www.nhcountrydance.com/music/rpdlw.html
More information about Ralph Page at

http://www.library.unh.edu/special/index.php/ralph-page

The Weekend is honored to be supported in part by a grant from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.