Here’s a question I thought of while having a look over at the pipers’ board; I’m going to be attending whistle classes in East Durham next month and I was wondering if it would be a good idea to bring my C whistle? Anyone out there know from experience? I’d rather not take any instruments I won’t be using so what do you think? Thanks!
Hi, if you’re looking to travel light, then a D whistle is really all you’ll probably need for your week. The tunes in the sessions you’ll attend as well as your class will be in keys in which you’ll need the D whistle. I had a funny dream the other night that I went to the Catskills Week and something tragic happened and I lost my whistle. lol! So, perhaps a backup D whistle would be good! haha Have a awesome time. Remember to take a recording device to your class as well!
I have it on good authority that there will be a few C sessions at E. Durham. I know quite a number of people (myself included) who are bringing C instruments. Most of us will be meeting privately as we don’t like big sessions, but I’m sure there will be some C sessions in the pubs; just wander around until you find one. You can still “travel light” and bring a C whistle with you, it’s not like it weighs very much 
Actually, tunes in Ddor, and Gdor and CMaj are common enough at some sessions that I’d never go without a C whistle anyway!
Speaking of which… Would a Bb/F concertina play in “C” instead of “D” if I use the same fingering? I suck with key relations 
Yes, Az, I believe that’s right. For any given fingering, everything will come out transposed down a whole step (major 2nd). D → C, G → F, etc.
This thread made me realize that I’ve never been to a particularly big session. I’m going to East Durham for this Arts Week, and from the pictures (of recent years Arts Weeks), it looks like some of the sessions in East Durham are pretty big. I’m going by the photos posted by Tim Raab.
What’s it like playing in a room that big, packed with that many players?
-
Can you even hear yourself play?
-
Would it be advisable to bring hearing protection? Esp. if one is surrounded by high whistles?
-
If you get up to go to the bar for another pint, are you surrendering your seat, never to see it again?!
Awful. Although on one level it’s an amazing experience and on the rare occasions when everyone’s in synch and in tune it can actually be quite powerful as a social experience if not a musical one.
You can simply pretend to play and nobody will notice the difference, least of all you.
You could bring an iPod and a set of noise-cancelling headphones. Then you can play along with your favorite CD. Nobody in the session will be able to hear you anyway, so it won’t matter that you’re not playing the same tune as everyone else.
Only if the seat you hold is closer to the “real musicians” (the instructors and experienced players who are at the center of the session) than the seat of someone who’s dying to get in on the action. These people will watch every seat in front of them like a hawk and grab it as soon as it’s available, gradually making their way forward until a critical mass of wannabes surround the instructors and force them to give up. It’s like a military coup in slow motion.
You make it sound really really awful Brad
Heh. The year I went there, we had a lovely session at Steph’s house the night before we all drove to East Durham. That was by far the best session I was at all week – until Friday night, which started with a superb listening session with Peter Horan and Mike Rafferty, followed by a sweet late night session with most of our gang supplemented by a handful of really great players.
Hah! Nicely told, Brad.
Nevertheless I think I’ll have to attend at least one of those mega-sessions. Especially if there are some of those real musicians attending. I’d do it, just for bragging rights. “Edel Fox? Yeah, I played with her, and Jimmy Noonan, and the Kane sisters, one time…” (and I might forget to mention that none of the aforementioned musicians could actually hear me playing…)
I am so jealous. Maybe next year if secondbaby is well-behaved…although John always wants to go to Milltown instead.
Edel is mine! Minnneeeeee!!! 
Justine, stop making babies for a second will ya, and come over! 
I don’t know what’s going on but somehow the babies just keep showing up!
I’m curious, now: what variety of instruments do you tend to find in a C session? Whistles of course, and I guess concertina players could play in C, if they have a concertina of the appropriate key…? Who else?
I mean, I play mandolin, but there’s no way I could just suddenly start playing D tunes in C at the drop of a hat. Are there string players who can do that? Or do they tune their instruments down?
There are indeed string players who can do that. But mere mortals would usually tune their fiddles down for a C session.
Lots of pipers seem to have sets in C, C#/D players can just play a B/C box, there are flutes in C, etc.
We should organize a Chiff and Fipple session on a night that is a bit slower. My family and I own Blackthorne Resort in town and would love to host it. If anyone is interested PM me and I’ll try to find a good night for everyone.
Which is the Blackthorne again? I’ve been there, just don’t remember which one it is.
Its right at the beginning of town. You turn off of Rt 145 onto another road and its just a ways in.
Can some Catskills Irish Arts Week veterans give me a little info on how the week starts?
Should I show up on Sunday to check in or register or something? I’m assuming there’s some kind of registration desk. Is that desk even open before Monday? I guess I could register Monday morning, except I have a Monday AM class and I wouldn’t want to miss class from being stuck in a registration line. And, I’m not an early riser.
Also, the schedules that they have online (from 2007) show the concerts, sessions etc starting Monday. But I’m guessing that there are probably a lot of informal sessions taking place Sunday night…? Or do folks not show up till Monday?