Ok, so I’ve been to a bunch of them, but last night was the first night where I got up the nerve to pull out my flute and whistles, and attempt to play along.
Played “Fields of Athenry” on the flute, and the Kesh jig, christy barry’s set one the whistle (All as solos), and played (very muted) on the flute trying to pick out notes on a lot of the rest of the songs.
Damn lot of fun! Even met a fellow C&F’er there, who let me play around with a couple of his whistles. (Thanks, msheldon!) Really liked the Meg that I played, I may have to get one myself. The susatos I have are great for solo and when you know a tune, but when you are trying to pick things out they are a little loud.
Took a long time for me to join in, but…I’m hooked…
Really liked the Meg that I played, I may have to get one myself. The susatos I have are great for solo and when you know a tune, but when you are trying to pick things out they are a little loud.
That’s a good tip. I attended my first seisiun just this past Sunday. I took all four of my whistles (Meg D and C, Feadog D, and my Susato D) but didn’t have the nerve to even speak to anyone much less play! My husband and I stuck out like sore thumbs in this bar, sitting there drinking coffee. But the musicians could tell we were there only to see them and I think it tickled them. They smiled at us a lot. A young lady sang “Black is the Color” and it was truly beautiful.
What did the other musicians do when you joined in? I bet they were happy for you too. Were they encouraging? Tell me more!!
What did the other musicians do when you joined in? I bet they were happy for you too. Were they encouraging? Tell me more!!
Well, since four of the regular musicians used to play for our stepdancing group at the Az Ren Faire, another three are from the SCA, and I know all but one or two, they were razzing me about it taking so long.
Mostly they were encouraging!
The way it usually goes (Although this hasn’t been the norm lately) is that the “tune charge” travels around the table, and when it gets to you, you have to start up with something. Hence the solo, I think they were nervous that harmony and counter melodies might mess me up…
Aodhan
And, on another note, this, right here, this one, yes, this very post is my 100th post on the board. WOOHOO!
Three of the players at the seisiun I went to were part of a band I’d seen before in a restaurant (John-N that posts here is the whistle-player for them, but he wasn’t there that evening). So these guys have seen us before and we are pretty obvious because we usually have our two little boys with us.
But this time they were playing in a full fledged bar. I don’t believe I ever went in this type of bar, ever…even in my “younger days!” LOL If it wasn’t the definition of seedy, I don’t know what is and don’t want to know! A few of the patrons were practically comatose and most everyone else was there just to drink and visit with each other. Nothing wrong with that, but we came to just listen. Heck, the bar had to brew us a fresh pot of coffee! LOL
So imagine me, a slightly pudgy Southern Baptist housewife and my straightlaced husband walking in the place…it was a hoot. They had this boston terrier sitting there that stared at me the whole time. It was really funny and I had a really great time listening to the music.
I would never go there without my husband though, it’s that rough. So I doubt I’ll get too many chances to join in.
Apparently there’s a group that meets about an hour north of here, once a month. I might try to get in on that.
Really liked the Meg that I played, I may have to get one myself. The susatos I have are great for solo and when you know a tune, but when you are trying to pick things out they are a little loud.
That’s a good tip. I attended my first seisiun just this past Sunday. I took all four of my whistles (Meg D and C, Feadog D, and my Susato D) but didn’t have the nerve to even speak to anyone much less play! My husband and I stuck out like sore thumbs in this bar, sitting there drinking coffee. But the musicians could tell we were there only to see them and I think it tickled them. They smiled at us a lot. A young lady sang “Black is the Color” and it was truly beautiful.
What did the other musicians do when you joined in? I bet they were happy for you too. Were they encouraging? Tell me more!!
Kim
Kim, what percentage of songs/tunes did you recognize as they played?
On 2002-09-06 02:25, blackhawk wrote:
Kim, what percentage of songs/tunes did you recognize as they played?
I would say I recognized three quarters of them, but not by name. I have just heard them before. I knew 3-4 names. Black is the Color, Blarney Pilgram, Swallowtail Jig, Peg Ryans(?). I know the ST Jig, and Peg Ryans well from memory, still working on Blarney Pilgram and I can’t find any music for the tin whistle for Black is the Color. The tunefinder one sounds odd.
But this time they were playing in a full fledged bar. I don’t believe I ever went in this type of bar, ever…even in my “younger days!” LOL If it wasn’t the definition of seedy, I don’t know what is and don’t want to know!
Hey, settle down there, Kim. That’s no way to talk about a local landmark! Okay, maybe Arnie’s is sort of, uh, “rustic”, but surely not “seedy”. No way is it “seedy”.
Anyway, don’t worry about the coffee. The barkeep knows to bring out the diet cokes when the wife and I show up. Nobody seems to care.
