Taking 2nd Place

Last month, I participated in the Northeast Fiddler's Association's 42nd Annual Old-Time Fiddle Contest and actually came in 2nd place! I've been participating in this competition for years and each year I flail as I perform because it's so darn nerve wracking...Not this year. My only goal was to complete my three tunes without completely screwing them up. Not only did I do that but I came in 2nd place. Here's to setting a goal and achieving it.

Competing in a fiddle contest

There you are on stage under the spotlight. The audience is so quiet you can hear a pin drop. Though you can't see them, you can feel their eyes staring right at you. Judges are waiting silently back stage with headphones to listen to your every note. Your competitors are back stage wondering what tunes you'll play and if they will overlap with the tunes they plan to perform. Then all of a sudden you see the green light turn on indicating your 4 minutes have begun. Suddenly you can't remember the first note of the first tune. "Breathe," is what you tell yourself as your hands suddenly take over while your mind follows...

I'm not quite sure I understand the point of fiddle contests or why the heck I keep entering them every year. It's not so much that I want to prove to anyone that I'm a better fiddler. It's more that I want to prove to myself that I can play under pressure. I have been performing on stage for over 5 years now and I am never as nervous as I am when I'm competing. Maybe it's the green light that screams at you as it turns to yellow and then to red and the fact that I have a time limit on what I'm playing. Or it could be the fact that I am surrounded by some of the best fiddlers this side of the Mississippi or that the judges are sitting there listening to every note or it could be a combination of it all.

Anyway, this weekend I will attend and compete once again in the Northeast Fiddler's Association's annual fiddle contest in hopes that I can just get through it without flailing.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

Wish me luck!

Session Obsession

Okay, I have to admit, I haven't been playing much lately. Maybe it's because the weather has been absolutely gorgeous here and there is so much to do outside instead of practicing. So needless to say I have yet to research any tunes or players as I said I would in my last blog entry. I'm sure you were waiting on the edge of your seat, so I'm sorry to disappoint you.

What I do want to write about today is the obsession with sessions that I have. Each Wednesday night a little coffeehouse bar in Burlington, Vermont called Radio Bean, hosts an Irish session at 9pm. The last time I went I got there a bit early to catch the tail end of the Jazz session that plays before us and I was struck completely by the similarities and differences between the two jam sessions and here's what I wrote on a tiny piece of paper at the bar:

I sit here waiting for the Irish session to begin and I am listening to the Jazz session that plays before us. Tonight there is a bass player, guitar player, drummer, trumpet player and two cellists. It's amazing to watch and listen to it as they play only what inspires them at a given moment. Although we have specific tunes we play, it is not so different in that we play the tunes that inspire us and hope that the rest of group hops in and plays with us.

I guess sessions are the same no matter what genre they are in. In essence they are just a forum to express yourself through your music.

So if you're in the Burlington area on a Wednesday night head on over to Radio Bean for the Jazz jam followed by the Iris session. You won't be disappointed.

The history of traditional Irish tunes

It's amazing the things you learn at a session. The other night I was at the weekly Irish session at Radio Bean in Burlington and in between tunes some of the musicians were talking about where they learned a particular tune or that it sounded like a particular musician wrote it and I realized just how little I know about the music I play. So I'm on a quest to learn all I can about the great musicians and composers of Irish music.

I'm starting with one of my favorite CD's, Live at Mona's, because there are a lot of great tunes and musicians on this album. It is a session that was recorded at a bar in New York City called Mona's. What I love most about this CD, aside from the fact that it has amazing tunes on it, is that if you listen closely you can hear people playing pool in the background, a cell phone ringing and at the end of the album you can hear the bar tender calling "last call." It really gives a sense of what a good session sounds like and with headphones on, you feel like you're actually there.

I've been on a quest for weeks now to learn every tune on this CD. It's not an easy task by any means but I've already gotten 4 under my belt and am working on another one this morning. Though I am learning the melody of the tunes, I should be learning the history the tunes I play and the players who I am learning them from. Some of these tunes are hundreds of years old and have been passed down from country to country and from generation to generation...It's all so fascinating and I'm sure when I find out all I can about this music, playing the tunes will be that much more enjoyable.

I'll keep you posted as to what I find...

Summer tuning your instrument

My fiddle is a French instrument called Renoux built in 1936. She's got the most beautiful voice but is very picky when it comes to the weather. Living in Vermont can make keeping her in tune quite a challenge.

In the summertime, my pegs stick. Because I don't have a tailpiece with fine tuners this can make it very difficult to fine tune each string as the wood swells in the humidity making it almost impossible to turn the pegs. So what I usually do is take off each string one by one and goop the peg so it slides more easily inside the peg box. The goop is called peg lubricating compound and looks almost like a crayon. The trick is to take your string off and just put a little dab around the peg and restring it. Then do the next. Be sure not to put too much of the goop on. If you do the peg will become too greasy and won't hold the string in place. Just a little dab is all you need.

You can find the peg goop in any violin shop and possibly any music shop (though I haven't actually looked in other music shops). It's pretty cheap and can make a world of difference.

Well, there is your tip of the day. My pegs were sticking and I had to goop them up so I figured I'd pass the word along.

Happy gooping!

Listening to Crowfoot

A couple of years ago, I was introduced to the band Crowfoot at the New World Festival in Randolph, Vermont. I fell instantly in love with the band's music and bought their debut album Nadajai which has been played so much in my car's CD player that I'm surprised the CD still has grooves.

The band is made up of three exceptional players that create a huge sound. They are influenced by the traditional music of England, Ireland, Quebec and the Appalachian Mountains. Their music is fast and furious and is perfect for contra dancing and even better for cruising in my MINI with Soul Donkey playing at full blast.

My absolute favorite tune set on this album is the aforementioned, Soul Donkey. It starts off with the fiddle as the guitar starts building in the background and then in comes the drum complete with a drum solo that is subtle yet powerful and finishes of with this danceable, happy tune that rocks.

Another great tune set on this album is Hair on Fire. This one starts off with the fiddle droning chords in the background while the flute plays the tune, then they switch and the flute plays some choppy chords while the fiddle plays the tune. It's catchy and good.

Their sound is colorful, creative and inspiring so if you haven't heard them yet check out their website for when they are playing again.

Enjoy!

Leahy

So if you didn't already know this Natalie MacMaster is married to Donnell Leahy. How fun are their family gatherings? Anyway, if you like Natalie's playing you'll like Leahy. They are playing at the Flynn on St. Patrick's Day and they totally rock. The band is made up of eight brothers and sisters and one outsider. All of which are very talented multi-instrumentalists. They sing, they dance and they can fiddle like there's no tomorrow. So, if you have nothing to do on St. Paddy's Day check out Leahy at the Flynn.