Okay so I am officially nuts because I signed up for concertina with Edel Fox and harp with Kathleen Loughnane. Maeve Gilchrist, who is, by the way, Kathleen's niece is also teaching and they plan to team teach, which should be interesting. I'll go to both classes on Monday and then I'll decide . . . It was only 60$ extra to get the option of both classes (340 to 400) so it seemed worth it.
Besides deciding what to wear I've been practicing both instruments a lot.
I should also add that so far this year I've acquired a decent number of tunes on the harp, to my surprise!
Brand new:
1. Isabella Burke (Carolan) (from Dominique Dunne)
2. The Orange Rogue (set dance) (from Hilari and Benedict's class, learned first on C'tina)
3. The Drunken Gauger (set dance) (ditto above)
4. The Flail (also known as Cathal's Favourite) (jig) Vincent Broderick (Emily's request*)
5. The Whistler at the Wake (jig) also Vincent Broderick (ditto)
"Emily is my sister, a fiddle player. I was supposed to learn these on the C'tina but they are much better on the harp!!!!!
I've also worked hard to really learn for keeps
All Alive (Carolan) which Laoise Kelly taught eons ago at an Irish Arts
I will post a photograph after I get to Irish Arts.
I'm looking forward to seeing pics and hearing about what you've learned and any of the craic in general from the Irish Arts Week!
ReplyDeleteIt was great--first time I've been in four or five years. Taking two classes was a bit silly, but once I'd visited each one I couldn't choose. Loved meeting Kathleen Loughnane and the dynamic between herself and Maeve Gilchrist is terrific (aunt and niece). Edel is a good concertina teacher but the class was too large. On the other hand, once again I was reassured that I'm doing all right at it. Learned lots of new tunes--brought home 13 from the assorted classes to work on--the jig Paddy from Portlaw was the best, great on both instruments.
ReplyDeleteSister Emily and I stayed at a B&B in Greenville, kind of a small inn, which was a different way to do CIAW but very relaxing, only a ten minute drive. We loved our room which had a porch and there was a gorgeous pool- so of course it was only hot the first day!
There were some great listening room evenings and I attended a couple of good sessions. I don't care so much about the sessions as we have excellent ones right here and I prefer playing with people I know. That was the big drawback to staying where we did, not much chance of a spontaneous bit of playing with one or two others.
Tomorrow I'm off to Somerset. Sheesh.
Sometimes just being reassured that you are doing it 'right' is all you need to keep you going for a while. But sounds like you got even more out of it than that! Have a blast at Somerset!
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