Sad, but true, there are many people in this world who are clueless when it comes to the best genre of music, and most interesting culture (in my opinion) in the world.
I think they all live in my town.
I’ve seen a few mentions on the Board of Celtic Fests in larger cities like Chicago. I’m jealous! I was wondering where I could find information about where such festivals take place. I’m hoping some of the larger places around me, maybe Tampa, Miami, or Tallahasee? Or anywhere in Florida, really. If anyone knows anything about it, I’d really appreciate it! Thankee!
[Err, I decided to add this part about 15 minutes later, because I realized that nooobody knows yet who I am! (And here I pause to wonder if it wouldn’t be better to let it remain that way…) Well, just a quick introduction. My name’s Sara, I purchased my Clarke D about 6 months ago, and though still floundering through newbie-ism, I’m totally hooked! I know just from reading through old threads how accomplished so many of you guys are, and I can’t wait to join in the fun/insanity(?). Slainte!]
“All things by immortal power, hiddenly,
to eachother linked are;
though canst not stir a flower
without troubling of a star.” (Madeleine L’Engle)
[ This Message was edited by: Soineanta on 2002-09-20 18:57 ]
THANK you, Walden, exactly my point. The so-called wonderful basketball team hasn’t an idea that the pronunciation of their name is actually incorrect. You should see the looks I get.
Me: “Celtic, you know…”
Random Floridian: “Err, how do you spell it?”
Me: “C-e-l-t-i-c.”
R.F: “Nonono, that’s Seltic. They did well this year!”
Me: “::hopeless sigh::”
And, thanks so much Steve, I’ll definitly check that out. Wow, you guys are snappy!
Keltic, of course!
And, whooee, 6 listings for florida on the Sessioneer webbie, and all within a 2 hours’ drive. Thanks so much, Steve. I’m definitly making some calls to certain pubs tonight!
And thanks also Tony.. I absolutely love the “Curfa tunes” MP3 on Eamonn Dillon’s webbie. The tone of the whistle is so bright, its delicious! (And, no, don’t worry folks.. while I call the music yummy, I don’t actually try to eat my own tinwhistle.)
Actually, IMO, Eamonn Dillon sounded much better without “Curfa” pick up his solo CD and you’ll see what a mean. His sister is one hell of a fiddle player though, and even she puts virtually all of us to shame on the whistle as well.
I tried to get lessons with Eamonn for about a year, and finally gave up, he was simply to busy to arrange it.
Anyway, don’t go strictly by the info listed on the websites, some of that is out of date: Specifically, there are currently no open sessions in Tampa.
I’m sure Kevin/Dazed can tell you about the Bradenton sessions. There’s also a something going on in St. Pete Beach, but it hardly qualifies as ITM from what I’ve heard.
Can’t speak for happenings out side the Tampa Bay area.
On 2002-09-20 19:05, Soineanta wrote:
THANK you, Walden, exactly my point. The so-called wonderful basketball team hasn’t an idea that the pronunciation of their name is actually incorrect…
I dunno that it’s wrong for sports teams. In Scotland, the football (soccer) team Celtic is also pronounced “Seltic” rather than “Keltic”.
I have a vaguely similar problem of having no idea how to describe the whistle to others:
“I have taken up the penny whistle”
“What is that?”
“ummmmmmm…”
I havent yet said “a long thin tube with holes in it” but usually that is all I can really think of saying…
How do others describe it to the unenlightened?
Stella
The clueless people aren’t all in your town -
I swear I think half of them are in the town I live in. Whenever I tell anyone that I play the whistle they have no clue what it is. I usually explain what a pennywhistle is by saying (while moving my fingers like I’m playing an invisible whistle) “It’s like a flute, only different - it’s played straight out”. After I explain to them what it is they act like they couldn’t care less. Oh well.
Once again, welcome to the board!
“Tell me, did you sail across the sun
Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all faded
And that heaven is over-rated” - Drops of Jupiter
[ This Message was edited by: Sara on 2002-09-21 11:55 ]
Sara,
Being from a big town with lots of “keltic” people is a mixed blessing. Cleveland is sort of a smaller, more manageable version of Chicago. We have a nice Irish music scene here. About 25-35% of the population has Irish roots. However, most of them have no interest in “keltic” culture beyond the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. If you have ever seen a Cleveland Browns football game you know that one end of the field is called the Dawg Pound, and fans wear dog masks, brown and orange paint and throw beer containers at referees. Yes, more than half of them are “keltic”. The same ones who throw up on the St Pat’s day parade floats.
So I say, find the music where you can. Who knows, you may be the beginning of a new Celtic tradition in Fla.
Mike Burns
I love living in Florida (Jacksonville) but the word ‘whistle’ doesnt seem to make any sense to anyone around me either. They look @ me like Im a freak or somthing. If you are ever up in the NE Floriday area, let me know. Me and Tradgirl will be glad to have a mini session with ya.
Thank you for the warm welcome, Other Sara! I’m glad now that I decided to use my Gaelic nickname for the Board, or things could get confusing.
Loren, is “Storm the Kettle” the solo CD you’re referring to? If so, I’m already plannning on ordering that as a present for myself. Muaha. I listened to the 3 clips available on the website and just wanted to hop up and dance.. I knew I had to have it!
Tradman, I might in fact be going to college at FSU, which is closer to Jacksonville than where I am now.. so it might have to wait a year. But there’s no doubt I’ll still be whistlin’ away in a year, and I’d love a mini-session! Please also let me know if you’re ever gonna be around further south towards the West coast.. that goes for everyone, for that matter.
Also, a true story about the ignorance of people concerning the whistle: once when I told someone I played the pennywhistle, they thought it was actually made out of molten pennies. Oi!
“a true story about the ignorance of people concerning the whistle: once when I told someone I played the pennywhistle, they thought it was actually made out of molten pennies.”
Maybe it was made of pennies! In the Philippines they had to reduce the size of the 25c coin, as it was worth more for the brass than the amount minted on it, and brass smiths were using it instead of buying more expensive brass to make their wares.
A couple of years ago, NPR News Radio ran an April Fool’s Day sports story (that should have been the first clue), that the Boston Celtics (pronounced with an “s” sound) had negotiated a contract with a whiz Irish player. The contract called for the Celtics changing the pronunciation of their name to use the “k” sound, and that the Irish national anthem be played at all home games.
What was even funnier was the dander and ire raised by listeners who challenged the wisdom of making such changes!
