FolkWorld Issue 39 07/2009

News & Gossip

++ Dave Goulder ++ John Sheahan ++ Judy Collins ++ Alison Kinnaird ++ Richard Thompson ++ Judy Collins ++ Duane Jarvis ++ Séamus Creagh ++ John Cephas ++ John Martyn ++ Jean Redpath ++ Coleman Music Centre ++ Up and Coming: Rudolstadt, Folkwoods, Tonder, Cork ++ Stan Rogers ++

  Win Between Now and Then CDs & Lute Pieces from the Renaissance Books  

"The Irish Folk Festival - Between Now and Then"; Magnetic Music; 2009

Thanks to Magnetic Music we are able to raffle off 4 "Between Now and Then" CD's, featuring new tracks by David Munnelly, Jennifer Roland, Niamh Parsons & Tommy O'Sullivan.
Competition closed!

Festival Info (German)

"Lute Pieces from the Renaissance Arranged for Guitar: England"

Thanks to the DUX publishing company we are able to raffle off 3 "Lute Pieces from the Renaissance" books, featuring 35 pieces arranged for guitar from Dowland, Johnson & Co. Competition closed!

Book Review (German)



Happy Birthday

www.davegoulder.co.uk

Dave Goulder, * 29.06.1939, England. Born at the Nottingham/Derby border, Dave Goulder started his working life as a porter, engine cleaner, fireman, steamraiser, tubecleaner and knocker-up at British Railways. In 1961 he moved to North Western Scotland to take charge of a mountaineering hostel for ten years, then became a drystone walling Master Craftsman, at the same time supplementing his income by occasionally touring the folk song clubs in the south. His first collection of railway songs, "Requiem for Steam," was recorded in 1971, depressed by the passing of steam locomotives. Some 17 years later he produced "The Man Who Put The Engine In The Chip Shop" following the setting up of many steam preservation groups. Dave is still actively involved in music, mostly with the Rosehall Ceilidh Band. He has provided music for radio and TV. Future projects include a book of railway songs and stories, an anthology of stone walling poetry, and to become a master craftsman on the Jew's harp.

John Sheahan

FolkWorld Review

John Sheahan, * 19.05.1939, Marino, Dublin, Ireland. John is a rather underrated traditional Irish musician. He took an interest in music at the age of 12, his class mates being Paddy Moloney, now of Chieftains fame, and Leon and Liam Rowsome, sons of the legendary uilleann piper Leo Rowsome. John studied the violin at Dublin's Municipal School of Music and annoyed his tutor with his improvisational skills, who would remark, Ah, you're composing again! In the early 1960s John played traditional music with several ceilí bands. In 1964 he joined the upcoming ballad group, The Dubliners, for a couple of concerts and stayed with them ever since. The quiet one and teetotal fiddler of the Dubs only separated from the group to help out on other artistes' recordings, including Kate Bush, Terence Trent D'Arby, and many many more. John also composed a number of tunes, which can be heard on Dubliners albums as well as a collaboration with the classical guitar player Michael Howard. His most popular composition is "The Marino Waltz" which was used in a TV commercial in the 1980s. Until quite recently, John had been very proud of his formal musical education. Then one day an old man asked him after a concert, Tell me, young fellow, do you read music or are you gifted?

Judy Collins, * 01.05.1939, Seattle, Washington, USA. As a child Judith Marjorie Collins studied classical piano, making her public debut at age 13, performing Mozart's "Concerto for Two Pianos." However, it was the folk revival that grabbed her attention. Soon she was playing guitar and made her way to Greenwich Village.

www.judycollins.com

In 1961, she released her first album, "A Maid of Constant Sorrow," featuring traditional folk songs and topical songs by Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger. In the mid-1960s she included music from Leonhard Cohen, Jacques Brel and Kurt Weill into her repertoire, and also started recording her own compositions. In 1967, her version of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" became a major hit and earned her a Grammy award. Judy Collins was the inspiration for Stephen Stills' "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes." The Clintons named their daughter Chelsea after her recording of "Chelsea Morning," she performed at Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993. Judy Collins is a representative for UNICEF and campaigns on behalf of the abolition of landmines.

www.alisonkinnaird.com

Alison Kinnaird, * 30.04.1949, Edinburgh, Scotland. Alison Kinnaird is recognised as one of the foremost exponents of traditional Scottish harp music, playing both gut and wire-strung harps. Her album "The Harp Key - Crann nan Teud" from 1978 was the first ever recording of Scottish harp music. Alison Kinnaird recorded several critically acclaimed albums, wrote several books of harp music, and co-authored the first published history of the harp in Scotland, "The Tree of Strings".

Richard Thompson

FolkWorld Review

www.richardthompson-music.com

Richard Thompson, * 03.04.1949, Notting Hill, London, England. Richard John Thompson is a British songwriter and guitar player. whose songwriting has been recognised by a lifetime achievement award from BBC Radio. He also was named in the top 20 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Thompson was exposed to rock and roll music at an early age, but also to his father’s collection of jazz and traditional Scottish music. He formed his first band Emil and the Detectives (named after a book by German author Erich Kästner) with classmate Hugh Cornwell, later lead singer of The Stranglers. He made his debut as a recording artist as a member of Fairport Convention in 1967. Largely on the strength of Thompson’s playing, American producer Joe Boyd took them under his wing. As Fairport’s sound evolved, Thompson continued to grow in stature as a songwriter with compositions like "Meet On The Ledge". In 1971 he left Fairport, recording with his wife and singer Linda Thompson (born Linda Pettifer). In 1975 the Thompsons decided to leave the music business and moved to a Sufi commune in East Anglia. They re-engaged with professional music in 1977. However, the couple separated in 1982, Richard Thompson continued recording as a solo artist. In recent years Thompson has toured his show 1000 Years of Popular Music, which takes a chronological trip through popular music from the 11th century to the present day. Since the early 1980s, Thompson has appeared at Fairport Convention's annual Cropredy Festival. He participated in many projects with other musicians, including albums by John Martyn, Al Stewart, and Nick Drake. "Morris On" was a collection of English traditional tunes arranged for electric instruments. The Bunch were a grouping of English folk rock musicians recording classic rock and roll tunes. "Bones of All Men" fused renaissance tunes with contemporary music.



Rest In Peace

www.myspace.com/duanejarvis
Duane Jarvis (1957-2009). Portland born guitar player and singer-songwriter Duane Jarvis died on 1st April after a long battle with colon cancer. He toured and recorded with Rosie Flores, Lucinda Williams, John Prine, Dave Alvin, Dwight Yoakam, Amy Rigby, M. Ward and many others. He also released several solo albums, and songs were featured in motion pictures such as The Horse Whisperer and The Rookie. Duane had a solid fan-base in Europe, and the Rolling Stone magazine in Germany declared his album Delicious (2003) a four-star CD. His music was a mixed bag of rock, country, R&B and blues, self-described as "country-soul rock-n-roll," what is nowadays called Americana. On stage Duane would sometimes proclaim "This is what we live for," before striking a chord and launching into one of his songs.

Séamus Creagh

FolkWorld Review

Séamus Creagh (1946-2009). The renowned Irish fiddler and singer was born in Killucan, County Westmeath. In the early sixties he spent many a night in O’Donoghues Pub in Dublin with Ted Furey, who was a vital bridge between the ballad and traditional scene. Then in 1967 he made a trip to Baltimore in West Cork, it was the start of a forty year immersion in Cork music. Séamus began playing with Jackie Daly. This opened his ears to the music of Sliabh Luachra, especially the polka repertoire. There followed a ten year partnership that was to be marked by the 1977 Gael Linn Jackie Daly and Séamus Creagh album. He made an album in 1997 with ex De Dannan box player, Aidan Coffey and had recently appeared with Jackie Daly, Paul De Grae and Alec Finn at the Gathering Festival in Killarney. Séamus Creagh passed away on March 15th, 2009. "A true gentleman of the tradition, he leaves a rich legacy of friendships and a body of recorded work which displays his love for and mastery of the Sliabh Luachra style. His final recording a double CD called Tunes for Practice is a fitting heirloom collection of music to pass onto the next generation." (Seán Laffey)

John Cephas (1930-2009). Piedmont blues guitarist and vocalist John Cephas passed away on 4th March at his home in Virginia. He was born in Washington, D.C. in 1930. A cousin taught him the alternating thumb-and-finger picking style that characterizes the Piedmont blues.

FolkWorld Review
www.cephasandwiggins.net
As a young man John toured on the gospel circuit. In 1977 he teamed up with harmonica player Phil Wiggins, performing all over the world. The duo was named W.C Handy Blues Entertainers of the Year in 1987, John received the National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1989. He also served on the Executive Committe of the National Council for the Traditional Arts and was a founder of the Washington D.C. Blues Society. He said: “More than anything else, I would like to see a revival of country blues by more young people. More people going to concerts, learning to play the music. That’s why I stay in the field of traditional music. I don’t want it to die.”

FolkWorld Review
www.johnmartyn.com
John Martyn (1948-2009). Just shortly after his 60th birthday, British singer-songwriter and guitarist John Martyn passed away on 29 January 2009 in a hospital in Ireland as a result of double pneumonia. Paying tribute to Martyn, BBC Radio 2's folk presenter Mike Harding said: "John Martyn was a true original, one of the giants of the folk scene. He could write and sing classics like 'May You Never' and 'Fairy Tale Lullaby' like nobody else, and he could sing traditional songs like Spencer The Rover in a way that made them seem new minted." To mark John Martyn's 60th birthday Island released a career-spanning 4CD boxed set, "Ain't No Saint," including many live recordings and unreleased studio material.



www.jeanredpath.com
Honorary degree for Jean Redpath

Scotland’s greatest living folk singer was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Glasgow. Jean Redpath received the honour at a ceremony in the University of Glasgow’s Bute Hall on 17 June 2009, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Scottish music and culture. Clerk of Senate & Vice Principal of the University of Glasgow, Graham Caie said: “Jean Redpath has made a huge contribution to the performance of Scottish folk song and the University is delighted to award her an Honorary degree in recognition of her contribution to Scottish culture and broadcasting. It is particularly apt for Glasgow to honour Ms Redpath for their work as the University is home to the Centre for Robert Burns Studies."

Born in Edinburgh in 1937, Jean Redpath first learned traditional Scottish music from her parents. As a Medieval Studies student at Edinburgh University, she met folklorist Hamish Henderson. Fascinated by the archive of tapes and discs of music and songs, Jean not only learned about 400 songs but also the oral folklore that put them into historical context. Her work recording the songs of Robert Burns, with composer and arranger Serge Hovey, represents the most ambitious Burns song project ever undertaken. Since 1979, Redpath has been a lecturer at the University of Stirling.



www.colemanirishmusic.com
Coleman Traditional Irish Music Centre

The Coleman Music Centre (Ceoláras Coleman) in Gurteen, Co. Sligo opened their new exhibition and information space in April 2009. In this purpose built facility, there are listening posts, display boards, interactive kiosk, quizzes and an audio-visual presentation, showing and illustrating the history of traditional Irish music. Besides the exhibition there also is a fully equipped recording studio, a music school, a theatre and venue, and the Coleman Cottage, a replica of the original Coleman home. The Coleman Music Centre is open all year around.

The Coleman Music Centre is a celebration of Irish music and culture as expressed in the South Sligo style of music played by Michael Coleman and other musicians of his time. Michael Coleman (1891-1945) was born in the townland of Knockgraine, Killavil. The area was famed for its fiddle tradition, and Michael developed a keen interest in both step dancing and fiddle playing as a boy. In 1914 he set sail for America. He began work as a performer with a travelling vaudeville theatre. During the 1920's and 1930's Michael made approximately 80 commercial recordings. His records were to have a major impact on musicians back in Ireland, and he became one of the most influential traditional musicians of the 20th century.



Malcolm Jones, guitarist with legendary Scottish band Runrig, has left hospital following successful heart by-pass surgery. Malcolm, 49, underwent routine preventative surgery after suffering heart problems earlier this year. His surgery forced the band to cancel a short Danish tour, which has been rescheduled, with additional dates, for December of this year. Malcolm will now spend July recuperating and resting at home before rejoining the band in early August for rehearsals for appearances at the 35th anniversary Tonder Festival in Denmark and a showcase, open-air Year of Homecoming Scotland show at Scone Palace, Perth on Saturday, 29 August.

www.runrig.co.uk
Up and Coming ...

3-5 Jul 2009 - TFF.RUDOLSTADT
Rudolstadt, Germany
www.tff-rudolstadt.de

14-16 Aug 2009 - FOLKWOODS FESTIVAL
Eindhoven, Netherlands
www.folkwoods.nl

27-30 Aug 2009 - TØNDER FESTIVAL
Tønder, Denmark
www.tf.dk

1-4 Oct - Cork Folk Festival
Cork, Ireland
www.corkfolkfestival.com

12-15 Nov - William Kennedy Piping Festival
Armagh, Northern Ireland
www.wkpf.org


FROG Festival Listing



www.stanrogers.net
Last but not least: Stan Rogers

It is over 29 years since I first encountered the work of the great Stan Rogers. And over 25 years since he died. This tells those who do not already know - can there really be ANYONE left out there? - of the horrible events of that day: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ck5F-zU35w

His loss in that freakish airplane fire was a major loss to the WORLD Arts Scene, not just Canada's. I have been impressed that YouTube now really does him justice. All my favourite songs are there. But they are not perhaps all WHERE you would expect them to be! Thus they are in the main not to be found by typing in his name and the song title. Look for what many regard as his masterpiece, "Lock-Keeper", for instance, and you will just draw cover versions out of the YouTube hat. But the songs are all there in "One Warm Line", a magical 45 minute 1989 documentary, that is presented in 6 parts on YouTube. For the record, Lock-Keeper is 1 min 23 secs into Clip 3. The high spot for me is the thrilling version of my joint favourite Rogers song, "Mary Ellen Carter", at the start of Clip 6. (Actually, just listen to the bonus of the splendid spoken introduction here, starting in the last 20 seconds of Clip 5)

Clip 1, Clip 2, Clip 3, Clip 4, Clip 5, Clip 6

And not all his greatest songs are on that 6-parter documentary. Try this "sound only" version of my other favourite Rogers song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=chTMOuuUZi4&feature=PlayList&p=690AFE13D9DE0930&playnext=1&index=14 (The lyrics are there if you click "more info" on the Right Hand Side of your screen.) Golly, one can spend all day here! But, there are "miles to go before I [we] sleep". So we must move on. Still, I hope that this trip into Stan Rogers country has moved you, like it moved me. WHAT a voice! WHAT a spirit!

Love and Peace, David "Dai" Woosnam



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© The Mollis - Editors of FolkWorld; Published 07/2009

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