Issue 9 5/99
Two News pages
FolkWorld. Once again, we have two English news pages. The news & gossip form, where you can post us news items, and the links to aditional news in German language are on the bottom of the second news page.
Edward II say Farewell to Reggae
England. In October, the English band Edward II gives its Farewell Tour as a Reggae Band in Germany. Reason for the farewell of the Reggae is
that the 3 Rastafarians of the band have to go out of religious reasons to Ethiopia until the year 2000. The band is currently working on new musical concepts for the band; definitely, Edward II won't be doing any more reggae stuff. It might be more "cutting edge Roots
Music with ethno influences". The Edward II tour from 1.-10.10.99 is the last chance to see Edward II as a Celtic Roots Reggae Band in
Germany/Austria/Switzerland. Tour Infos: Music Contact
A children's award for World Tales
United States. Tim Jennings' and Leanne Ponder's exciting story telling project "World Tales - live at Bennigton College" (reviewed in FolkWorld No. 4) has won for their album an prestigious Award: It became an "American Library Association 1999 Notable Children's Recording". It is the most high class award you can get for a children's recording, or for any kind of storytelling recording, in the US. Other recipients this year include Meryl Streep, Samuel L. Jackson, and Maria Muldaur. Tim Jennings comments: "We're not dead keen on the "children's" part, but those are the natural consumers of folk tales, so we don't mind too much. (This is also one of the reasons we have "college" in the title of our recording - we don't mind kids liking it. The material doesn't seem to care what age you are - but you can get typed so quick, and we do not want to be in the same category as most children's artists, here in the states, anyway.)"
It's easy to believe that it is hard to get people to listen to this stuff - it doesn't really fit into any box, and also, there is not much time for listening to the art of story telling in these hectic days. Infos on World Tales from Tim Jennings.
Photo: Jolly Jane Sherburn; by The Mollis
Towards the design of a new, student-level English concertina
England. Alistair Anderson`s work in teaching and popularising the English concertina is legendary. One of Alistair`s concerns has always been the lack of good quality, affordable concertinas, (a concern shared widely amongst the concertina fraternity) - “the potential interest in the instrument is considerable, especially amongst youngsters”, he says, “but the lack of affordable and suitable instruments has always held things back.”
Now, FolkWorks may shortly be in a position to commission the manufacture, and the purchase of, a substantial number of `student-
grade` concertinas. These will form part of Folkworks` “Bank” of borrowable, non-standard, hard-to-find folk instruments, that FolkWorks
can use in its education work. “We need to establish a `critical mass` of new players, so that teaching and learning the concertina can be
along the same lines as the teaching and learning of more common, less scarce instruments” says Ali.
FolkWorks is interested in commissioning a first order of between 50 and 100 instruments, and are considering an English System instrument of 32 or 36 keys, depending on price. There are, of course, existing sources of moderately-priced instruments, but Alistair sees this major purchase as a great opportunity for the concertina-making fraternity to collaborate and to design a new, standard, student-level instrument that would be more suited to the job than the current moderate/basic models. With the creation, there would then be a steady - and growing - demand around the world, a “catalyst for a new way into playing the instrument” as Ali puts it.
Ali is still looking for help and advice. You can contact him either via Neil Wayne, or via FolkWorks.
Music for a new Scottish Parliament
Scotland. On the 6th of May, Scotland will vote for their first own Parliament since more than 200 years. Simon Thoumire, the witty concertina player from Edinburgh who has recently started his own successful label Tartan Tapes, thought that this event would be a great reason to celebrate Scottish music in a big showcase. The "exciting piece of music" by Simon features 13 top folk and jazz musicians (Simon, Aidan O'Rourke, Rory Campbell, Fiona Mackenzie, David Milligan to name but five). The premiere of the piece will be two days before the parliamentary elections, on the 4th of May 99, in the Queens Hall Edinburgh; and will that night also incorporate 4 politicians representing the four main parties, who will have to speak for 1 minute on why their party should be elector's choice.
Another clever but still great idea of the crazy concertina player.... Further information directly from him, e-mail hootz@globalnet.co.uk.
Photo: Keep it Up in Tønder; by The Mollis
Fiddles at Fowey
The charming harbour town Fowey in Southern England will host a fiddle feast in May. For the second year "Fiddles at Fowey" offers a relaxed weekend of good fiddle music. The residential fiddle weekend will be at Penquite House, Golant near Fowey, from 21-23 May 99. The tutors are Mike O'Connor and Chris Bartram, and the workshops and sessions will be looking mainly at English and Cornish music.
You don't have to read music, and inexperienced fiddlers are welcome. Further Info from Mike O'Connor by phone: (UK) 01841 540042 or
e-mail (mikeoconnor@ndirect.co.uk).
Photo: Carlos Núñez in Cologne; by The Mollis
Jimmy Crowley back on the road
Ireland. Jimmy Crowley, a living legend in Irish traditional song, is building up his gigs again after a period where he went back to university as a mature student to study Irish folklore and Gaelic. His latest album, UnCorked, has won high praise for its collection of well-loved songs about his native Cork city and southwest Ireland. He is currently working on an album of sea songs from Ireland, Scotland, England and the USA. He has just launched a useful website.
To the second FolkWorld News page (with Competition)
To the (older) FolkWorld News of Nr. 8
To the (newer) FolkWorld News of Nr. 10
To the content of FolkWorld online magazine Nr. 9
© The Mollis - Editors of FolkWorld; Published 5/99All material published in FolkWorld is © The Author via FolkWorld. Storage for private use is allowed and welcome. Reviews and extracts of up to 200 words may be freely quoted and reproduced, if source and author are acknowledged. For any other reproduction please ask the Editors for permission.