Irish Music & August

www.IMDAwww.IMDAwww.IMDAwww.IMDA----MN.orgMN.orgMN.orgMN.org

Irish Music &

Dance Association 34rd Year, Issue No. 8

August 2016

Lúnasa

The mission of the Irish Music and Dance Association is to support and promote Irish music, dance, and other

cultural traditions to insure their continuation.

�ul�ural �fferings a� �rish �air 2016

By Mike Casey

There will be several new offerings when you visit Irish Fair’s Cultural Area this year.

Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising, the pavilion will host a series of displays on loan from the Irish Consulate in Chicago. The displays will tell the history of the Rising and help visitors better understand the chronology of the events that were so significant in the history of Ireland and Irish independence. There will also be several presentations in the Eoin McKiernan Speaker’s Tent, including talks on the “Women of the Easter Rebellion,” the lives of leaders Padraic Pearse, James Connolly and Thomas Clarke, “America and the Easter Rising,” and the impact of the Easter Rising on Irish literature. The Celtic Collaborative will reprise their production of “The Ghosts of 1916” from the St. Paul Irish Arts Week in April, with performances on both Saturday and Sunday. The IMDA Music Workshop Tent will present three workshops on the “Songs of the Easter Rebellion”(two on Saturday and one on Sunday) offered by three different musicians/bands. This year, the Cultural Area will be adding some dimension to the Famine Ship display. Members of the Cultural Committee and the community will appear in costume and character, representing passengers on the Famine Ship, telling their stories and answering questions about their experiences. Photographer Tom Dunne, who took photos of many people active in the local Irish community at his studio during St. Paul Irish Arts Week, will have those photos on display in the pavilion. And look for memorials to several key people in our local Irish community who have passed away in the last year. As usual, there will be representatives from Irish community groups to meet plus crafters, more music workshops, talks on Irish genealogy, the Irish language and, of course, the music, treats and many delights of the Trisceil Tea Room. New this year, the Trisceil Tea Room will be offering a special menu on Friday evening from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., as well as the well-loved scones and pastries on Saturday and Sunday.

Inside this issue:

An Leabhragan (Bookcase) 10

Cu Ceoil (Music Hound) 11

Northwoods Songs 12

IRISH CULTURE - BRILLIANT!

The Irish Fair of Minnesota August 12 — 14, 2016

@ Harriet Island

2


Irish Music &

Dance Association Tune of the Month by Amy Shaw

I am still getting tunes off Nathan Gourley and Laura Feddersen’s duo fiddle recording, Life is All Checkered. This particular track features Laura, backed by Brian Miller on guitar. Laura is from Bloomington, Indiana, a very musical town, and grew up playing Irish and American traditional music for dances and parties. It is fitting that she learned Child of My Heart from her father, Mark Feddersen. A similar, but not identical, version was collected by Francis O’Neill from John Ennis, a native of Co. Kildare who was a patrolman with the Chicago police and an accomplished piper and flute player. If you haven’t gotten around to buying your own copy of Life is All

Checkered, your life is very checkered indeed. Visit Nathan and Laura’s website at www.nathanandlauramusic.com to find out where to download it or order the CD. Usual disclaimers: The notation here is not meant to be a substitute

for listening. It is simply an aid to learning the tune.

The IMDA Board is:

President: Julia Rogers

Vice President: Jan Casey

Treasurer: Kathleen Rogers

Secretary: Jean Bergstrom

Board Members: John Concannon Kevin Carroll Kathie Luby Editor: John Burns IMDA Board Meetings are open to the membership. The Board meets regularly on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:00 pm at the Dubliner Pub in St. Paul. Members are encouraged to verify the time and location shortly before, as meeting times and locations can change.

Contact Information

E-mail: [email protected]

Newsletter Submissions We welcome our readers to submit articles of interest, news, and notices of events to be published in the newsletter. The deadline is the 20th of the preceding month.

Send to: [email protected]

3


Irish Music &

Dance Association It was with great sadness that we received the news that Denis Clarke had passed away at the end of June. Denis is recognized as the founder of Gaeltacht Minnesota, although he never deliberately set out to create any such organization. Denis was from County Armagh. He had learned Irish as a young lad, especially in summer study at a famous school in Rannafast (Rann

na Feirste), County Donegal. By some “small world” magic, the school in Rannafast was part of the work of an Irish priest and language activist, Father Lawrence Murray. Murray was ordained at St. Thomas Seminary in St. Paul, and taught at the (then) College of St. Thomas for many years. Denis ended up closing the circle, if you will, by using what he had learned in Father Murray’s school in Rannafast to bring the language to eager and curious students in St. Paul, decades later. In the early 1980’s – Denis would have been in his early fifties – he decided he’d like to polish up his Irish language skills. "I wanted to revise what Irish I had myself, what I had learned in Rannafast and in school," he said later. "I didn’t want to lose contact with it. After all, it is my heritage." Denis was looking for a teacher of the language. As he asked around the Irish community in St. Paul, he encountered people who could not point him to a resource, but who wanted to "come along for the ride" if Denis’s search bore fruit. And while his search for a teacher was unsuccessful, it certainly bore fruit in the end. Denis started working with half a dozen fellows on Monday evenings, teaching them what he knew. I very much doubt that Denis expected that 35 years later, volunteers would still be teaching free Irish lessons on Monday nights, much as he had. These days we run three levels, and between classes and workshops, participation at community events, newsletters and other activities, the organization that grew out of Denis’s early efforts has touched hundreds of lives.

Denis had retired from teaching by the time I stepped in front of the classroom in 1999, although we often met at language workshops and other events. But most of our current students probably never laid eyes on him.

That’s all the greater testimony to Denis’s generosity in giving his time and sharing his knowledge. He said, "I started teaching it to others to try to give back to the people here what I had got back there in Ireland."

Decades later, he is still giving back to a new generation of instructors and students. In Irish, we could say that Denis is now ar shlí na fírinne,

"on the way of the truth," a lovely way of saying he has gone to claim his eternal reward. Today we continue to reap the rewards of Denis’s decision, long ago, to enrich his community by making his own personal investment into passing on a precious element of Irish culture. Denis's story is reminder to all of us that you never know when making a seemingly small effort can have a wide and lasting impact. Go raibh míle maith agat, a thousand thanks, Denis! If you would like to learn more about Gaeltacht Minnesota, stop by our booth right at the entrance to the Irish Fair on Harriet Island. You’ll meet students who can answer your questions about what it is like to learn this fascinating language. And if you’d like to try the language out, or join our group, visit our homepage at www.gaelminn.org for information about our four-week "Introduction to Irish Gaelic" class offered through St. Paul Community Education. The class runs Monday evenings starting September 26. We’ll have a link, later in August, to on-line registration, which opens the day after Labor Day. Completing that class will allow you to join our ongoing Monday classes, helping us continue the tradition Denis Clarke began 35 years ago. Tús maith, leath na hoibre "A good beginning is half the work"

— Will

4


Irish Music &

Dance Association

Coming August 5-6, 2016 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, for family history re-searchers at all levels interested in discovering their Irish, Scots-Irish,

Scottish, Welsh, and Cornish origins, Celtic Roots Across America provides two full days of education, exhibits, and programs, plus optional tours.

The conference program features presentations from five international genealogical superstars—

♣ Brian Donovan - the Global Head of Irish Collec-tions at findmypast.com.

♣ Dr. Bruce Durie - considered one of Scotland’s top genealogists.

♣ John Grenham - writes the ‘Irish Roots’ column in the Irish Times and runs its ‘Irish Ancestors’ web-site.

♣ Brian Mitchell - widely recognized for his genea-logical expertise in North-West Ireland.

♣ William Roulston - Research Director of the Ulster Historical Foundation and holds a PhD in Archae-ology from Queen’s University Belfast.

♣ plus nine American experts, on topics including re-sources and repositories, records, DNA, getting started, and occupational research.

Network with and learn from the experts in a fun, infor-mational environment, with free cultural entertainment. Shop with international vendors for books and CDs, and enjoy the conference venue. The Doubletree by Hilton Minneapolis—Park Place offers lodging and program in one location, with easy access and navigation, free park-ing, discounted room rates, and close, convenient options for non-hotel meals. All of this at a great registration price--$150 (banquet and lodging extra).

The conference is produced by IGSI and The Irish An-cestral Research Association (TIARA), with sponsorship support from Eneclann, Ancestry, Discover SLP, and KerryGold.

For conference information, visit www.celtic-connections.org

Afternoon Tea in the

Trisceil Tea Room

at Irish Fair

You are cordially invited to Afternoon Tea

in the Trisceil Tea Room

at Irish Fair of Minnesota, served on

Saturday, Aug 13 from 2 - 5 pm.

Afternoon Tea is a lovely mid-afternoon repast

popular in Ireland.

Guests for Afternoon Tea in the Trisceil Tea Room

enjoy their own personal pot of hot Barry’s Irish Tea

and a scone with cream and jam or an Apple Bar,

served on genuine china teacups and plates.

Guests will enjoy traditional Irish music from

Trout in the Milk, Dunquin,

and Sona (Hannah Flowers and Mattie Ernst).

Plan to join us for this special occasion.

No reservations or special etiquette is required but seating

is limited.

Note: The Trisceil Tea Room will be offering tea and treats

on Friday evening and all day on Saturday and Sunday

with music throughout both days. Please see the Irish Fair

website to be sure to hear your favorite artists.

5


Irish Music &

Dance Association Inspiring Offerings in the Eóin McKiernan Speakers Tent

Named for the founder of the Irish American Cultural Institute and the 2004 recipient of the Irish Fair’s Curtin-Conway Award, the Eóin McKiernan Speakers Tent will talks on a wide range of topics, with a special emphasis of giving Irish Fair visitors some insight into the impact of the 1916 Easter Rising.

“THE WOMEN OF THE EASTER RISING” - MARY SUE MCFARLAND BROOKS

Mary Sue McFarland Brooks of the Irish Gazette will introduce some of the many women who were a part of the Easter Rising.

“AMERICA AND THE EASTER RISING” - JIM ROGERS

Jim Rogers, Chair of Irish Studies at the University of St. Thomas and editor of the New Hibernian Review will discuss the impact of the Easter Rising on America.

“LEARNING THE IRISH LANGUAGE” - WES KOSTER

Wes Koster, instructor for Gaeltacht Minnesota will share some of the pleasures and pains of learning and teaching the Irish Gaelic language.

“THE EASTER RISING IN IRISH LITERARY HISTORY” - PATRICK O’DONNELL

Dr. Patrick O’ Donnell, of Normandale Community College, will discuss the impact of the Easter Rising on Irish literature.

“DANNY WHO? 40 YEARS OF PLAYING IRISH MUSIC” - TOM DAHILL

Tom Dahill, multi-instrumentalist, singer and storyteller will share some of the Irish songs and tunes and stories that he has picked up on his many travels throughout America and Ireland.

“TRADITIONAL ARTS: THE SECRET WEAPON IN IRISH INDEPENDENCE” - DANIELLE ENBLOM

The history of the Easter Rising has been approached from many perspectives over the years. Danielle Enblom, accomplished Irish dancer and musician, has studied Irish dance and music both in North America and in Ireland. Danielle’s academic work has prepared her to approach this subject from an artistic perspective.

“THE GHOSTS OF 1916” - THE CELTIC COLLABORATIVE

The Celtic Collaborative, the Twin Cities literary and theatrical troupe, will encore their production from the St. Paul Irish Arts Week in April “The Ghosts of 1916.” This dramatic production presents the ghosts of 1916 from both the Irish and British sides. Connolly, Clarke, Ceannt, Pearse, McDermott, Plunkett and McDonough are joined by General Sir John Maxwell and the Grand Dame Britannia to provide multiple perspectives on arguably the most important event in modern Irish history.

“IRISH GENEALOGY” - BETH VOUGHT

Beth of the Irish Genealogical Society International will discuss the joys and challenges of Irish genealogical research.

“THEY LED THE WAY: PEARSE, CONNOLLY AND CLARKE” - PATRICK O’DONNELL

Dr. Patrick O’ Donnell, of Normandale Community College, will speak about three of the most important leaders of the Easter Rising – James Connolly, Padraig Pearse and Tom Clarke.

“50 YEARS OF THE ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE” - JIM AND MARY SUE BROOKS

Jim and Mary Sue Brooks of the Irish Gazette will talk about the history of the St. Paul St. Patrick’s Day Parade, with help from several of the people who made it happen.

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Irish Music &

Dance Association

IMDA is a proud sponsor of Irish Fair Minnesota The Irish Music and Dance Association is delighted to once again partner with Irish Fair Minnesota as the sponsor of the IMDA Music Workshop Tent. In planning the offerings for IMDA Workshop Tent, Irish Fair’s goal is to provide an educational experience for Fair visitors – on a wide range of topics. Be sure to take in one or several of these out-standing workshops: Saturday, August 13 11:00 am – Wigs, Jigs and Hard Shoes – the evolution of Irish Dance Traditions – Danielle Enblom 12:00 pm – Songs from the Easter Rising – Adam Coolong 1:00 pm – How Irish music became American: Roots Music - Dunquin 2:00 pm – Irish Songs about Work, or Lack of Same – Wenstrom-Murie Family Singers 3:00 pm – Learning the Bodhrán - Todd Menton 4:00 pm – Songs of the 1916 Easter Rebellion - Legacy 5:00 pm – Fiddling with Gaelic Storm – Kianna Weber of Gaelic Storm 6:00 pm – Songs I learned on the Road – Tom Dahill with Ginny Johnson Sunday, August 14 11:00 am – Sentiment in Irish Love Songs: Tender to Maudlin – The Eddies 12:00 pm - Songs of the Easter Rising – Derek Warfield 1:00 pm – Irish Songs from Tin Pan Alley - Legacy 2:00 pm – The Magic of the Irish Harp – Andrea Stern 3:00 pm - Songs from the North - Dáithí Sproule 4:00 pm - The Button Accordion in Irish Music - Charlie Heymann IMDA also organizes the “Best Legs in a Kilt” Contest at the Fair. Male contestants are judged in these categories: ♣ Best Distinguished Gentlemen Legs in a Kilt ♣ Best Legs in a Kilt, Youth Division

♣ Best Chicken Legs in a Kilt, ♣ Best Tattooed Legs in a Kilt, ♣ Best Crowd Pleaser ♣ Mr. Congeniality

Other categories may be added at the discretion of the contest organizers. Contestants sign up before and during the Fair, and are evaluated by a panel of judges on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 PM. Categories will close when entry slots are full. Register early. The competition is fierce. The winners receive a classy sash advertising their distinction – and bragging rights.

IRISH FOOD, FRIENDS & FUN!

The Irish Fair of Minnesota August 12 — 14, 2016

@ Harriet Island

7


Irish Music &

Dance Association Attention, Irish Bakers!

Irish Fair of Minnesota sponsors an annual baking competition open to amateur cooks. The contest has two main cate-gories, soda bread and scones.

Soda Bread Category

Traditional Irish Soda Bread is made without leavening, using baking soda instead of yeast or baking powder to make the dough rise. This gives the bread a special flavor that borders on the taste of cake. Traditional recipes include flour, baking soda, salt, buttermilk or sour milk, and butter. All purpose, wheat, bran, or rye flours can be used. For more information about traditional Irish soda breads, visit www.sodabread.us. - The traditional soda bread category features two sections: white bread and brown bread.

Scones Category

In Ireland, scones are often served with afternoon tea. They are made with many of the same ingredients as soda bread. Traditional recipes include salt, flour, baking soda, buttermilk, sour milk and butter. Scones entries should be submitted as a plate of 3 scones. - The scone category only has one section: traditional scones. All bread and scone entries will be judged by a panel of bakers.

Entry Deadline: Thursday, August 11, 2016

Shoot and Score in the Irish Fair of Minnesota Photo Contest

It is time again to focus your mind’s lens on the upcoming Irish Fair of Minnesota photo contest!

The contest is designed to give amateur photographers an opportunity to show their best work as it pertains to Ireland and Irish culture. Any photograph that evokes Ire-land or the sense of place and culture that are uniquely Irish is welcome to be en-tered. Photographs do not have to have been taken in Ireland.

Irish Photo Competition Entry Guidelines

Categories

• People – One or more persons are dominant subjects in which the photographer portrays an aspect of Irish culture. Winning entries best evoke their subjects’ feelings or spirits.

• Scenery – The mood of a place, or a setting in which mood is conveyed. There may be people in the photo, but they

must be incidental to the picture.

• Studies in Black and White – Photos of people and/or scenery. Winning entries best use black and white imagery to prompt a feeling or response in the viewer.

First place winners in each category receive the special McConnon Award Ribbon, named after the contest founder, and a prize (TBD). Second & third place winners receive ribbons and prizes as well.

All contest entries are displayed in the Irish Fair Cultural Tent for the duration of the Fair.

Entry Deadline: Tuesday, August 9, 2016 before 6:00 p.m. at Irish on Grand

For more information, rules and entry forms regarding both contests,

go to www.irishfair.com/contests

8


Irish Music &

Dance Association

IMDA Community Calendar August 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 8pm The Northerly Gales Wild Tymes & Palace Stage, St. Paul

2 7:30pm Pub Quiz Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 9pm St. Dominic’s Trio Driftwood Char Bar, Mpls

3 7pm Irish Social Dance Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 7:30pm Pub Quiz Merlins Rest, Mpls

4 6:30pm Pub Quiz 8pm Pub Quiz Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 7pm Irish Music Session J. Grundy’s Rueb ‘N’ Stein, Northfield

5 6pm Irish Music Session Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 7:30pm Bedlam Charlie’s Pub, Stillwater 8pm Celtic Session Merlins Rest, Mpls

6

7 Noon: Traditional Music Session Kieran’s Pub, Mpls

4pm Learners Irish Session 6pm Advanced Irish Music Session Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 7:30pm Pub Quiz Merlins Rest, Mpls 8pm Pub Quiz Dubliner Pub, St. Paul

8 7:30pm Sea Shanty Sing Dubliner Pub, St. Paul

9 7:30pm Irish Set Dancing w/ the Twin Cities Ceili Band Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 7:30pm Pub Quiz Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 9pm St. Dominic’s Trio Driftwood Char Bar, Mpls


11 3:45pm Greenwood Tree Centennial Lakes Park, Edina 6:30pm Pub Quiz 8pm Pub Quiz Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 7pm Celtic Music Showcase Underground Music Café, Falcon Heights 7pm Irish Music Session J. Grundy’s Rueb ‘N’ Stein, Northfield

12 Irish Fair

Minnesota @ Harriet

Island St. Paul

6pm Irish Music Session Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 8pm Celtic Session Merlins Rest, Mpls

13 Irish Fair

Minnesota @ Harriet

Island St. Paul

14 Irish Fair

Minnesota @ Harriet

Island St. Paul

7:30pm Pub Quiz Merlins Rest, Mpls 8pm Pub Quiz Dubliner Pub, St. Paul

15




19 6pm Irish Music Session Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 7:30pm Broken Spoke Charlie’s Pub, Stillwater 8pm Celtic Session Merlins Rest, Mpls

20 7pm 3rd Saturday Ceili The Celtic Junction, St. Paul 7:30pm Broken Spoke Charlie’s Pub, Stillwater

9


Irish Music &

Dance Association

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

21 Noon: Traditional Music Session Kieran’s Pub, Mpls 4pm Learners Irish Session 6pm Advanced Irish Music Session Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 7:30pm Pub Quiz Merlins Rest, Mpls 8pm Pub Quiz Dubliner Pub, St. Paul

22 7pm 4th Monday Shanty/Pub Sing Merlins Rest, Mpls

23 7:30pm Pub Quiz Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 7:30pm Irish Set Dancing w/ the Twin Cities Ceili Band Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 9pm St. Dominic’s Trio Driftwood Char Bar, Mpls

24 7pm Irish Social Dance 9pm The Langer’s Ball Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 7:30pm Pub Quiz Merlins Rest, Mpls


26 6pm Irish Music Session Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 8pm Broken Spoke Norm’s Wayside, Buffalo 8pm Celtic Session Merlins Rest, Mpls

27 9am Grreenwood Tree Farmers Market, Prior Lake

28 Jessenland Irish Festival Oratory of St. Thomas the Apostle-Jessenland, Henderson Noon: Traditional Session Kieran’s Pub, Mpls 4pm Learners Irish Session 6pm Advanced Irish Music Session Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 7:30pm Pub Quiz Merlins Rest, Mpls 8pm Pub Quiz Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 3pm Traditional Singers Club W A Frost, St. Paul

29




3 6pm Irish Music Session Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 8pm Celtic Session Merlins Rest, Mpls

4

10


Irish Music &

Dance Association An Leabhragan

(The Bookcase)

A Few of the Girls

Maeve Binchy

Alfred A. Knopf 2016

After her demise last year, Maeve Binchy's editors and spouse are still mining her work desk for stories and completed, never-published works. The extremely prolific Queen of Irish Writers left plenty of material, as it happens, so there's no end in sight yet. Dead writers never die; their back pages can go on for years, so I am skeptical any time Ms. Binchy's latest book is published as The Last One. The latest offering, A Few of the Girls, is a collection of short stories spanning her earliest works to her most recent writings. To her fans, this carefully curated group of stories will prove satisfying, if somewhat formulaic to the average readers' tastes: stories of love, loss, betrayal, unexpected friendships, triumphs and wisdom. This collection is great summer cabin reading fodder, quality chick-lit at its best. While limited to personal matters of the heart, Maeve Binchy does this sort of genre very, very well. The three dozen sto-ries are divided into six categories: Friends and Enemies, Love and Marriage, Your Cheating Heart, Relatives and Other Strangers, Work and No Play, and Holidays. Of course, many tales overlap these categories. Although the characters are Irish, their situations are universal, many of them at the crossroads of deciding what to do about love, children, emigration, ageing, life transitions. The book is in hardcover now, but don't let that stop you from packing it in your vacation luggage. Short story collections are made for inter-rupted reading on a summer's day. Who knows how many Binchy pages are still in the works? If there are any more, I'll let you know; meanwhile, enjoy this one with a long cool drink and a spot in the shade. Summer never gets any better than this.

Sherry Ladig is a Saint Paul, MN based trad musician and a former reviewer for the Hungry Mind Book-

store's newsletter, Fodder. Sherry welcomes ideas for books of irish and Irish-American interest to review---

-or, write a review yourself! She may be reached at [email protected] . Happy late summer reading!

11


Irish Music &

Dance Association Cu Ceoil

(“The Music Hound”)

" Music to the Irish is a living delight, a mysterious key to a host of undiscovered emotions hoarded in the

secrets of the soul." Mairtin Byrnes

Mike Casey is a lifelong fan of Irish music, as well as an amateur singer and musician. Mike dabbles in gui-

tar, concertina, bodhrán and 5-string banjo, is a regular at the Dubliner’s Shanty Night, and is an occasional

attendee at the Traditional Singers Club. A long time volunteer with Irish Fair, Mike served on the Irish Fair

Board for 14 years and continues to serve on the Fair’s Entertainment Committee. Mike has pursued Irish

and traditional music all over the place – attending Tommy Makem’s International Festival of Song in North-

ern Ireland for three years as well as attending many Irish music festivals here in the U.S. and Canada. Most

recently, he soaked in the music on Joannie Madden’s Folk ‘n Irish Music cruise. My taste preferences run toward the vocal, particularly good harmony. I was therefore thrilled when I re-cently discovered the recording, “In Harmony’s Way”. It is a compilation of 18 traditional singers in the San Francisco Bay area, led by Shay and Michael Black, of Ireland’s legendary Black family. The artists are all friends who frequently get together for song sessions, and in 2005, gathered for three days to make this re-cording. Of the 22 songs, you will find both English and Irish ballads, sea shanties, Appalachian tunes, and always superb choruses. The common bond is glorious harmony, and almost all the choices are unaccompanied. A number of these songs were familiar to me, but sometimes with totally differ-ent renditions, which, for me, is one of the joys of following traditional singing. There also is an accompanying booklet explaining the sources of all the songs. If you enjoy traditional singing, I would highly recommend this recording.

Entertainment, food, music and culture at

The Irish Fair of Minnesota

August 12 — 14, 2016 @ Harriet Island

12


Irish Music &

Dance Association Northwoods Songs: Irish Songs from Lumberjacks and Great Lakes Sailors

By Brian Miller

Northwoods Songs features a new song each month pulled from my research into old songs collected in the pine woods region that

stretches from New Brunswick west through northern Minnesota. In the 1800s, a vibrant culture of singing and song-making

developed in lumber camp bunkhouses and on Great Lakes ships. The repertoire and singing style were greatly influenced by Irish

folk repertoire and Irish singing styles. Many singers in the region had Irish background themselves.

Each installment of Northwoods Songs is also published online at www.evergreentrad.com along with a video of me singing the

song of the month. My hope is that others will learn some of these songs and make them their own as I have. -Brian Miller

PERSIAN’S CREW (REVISITED)

Sad and dismal is the story that I will tell to you, About the schooner Persia, her officers and crew;

They sank beneath the waters deep in life to rise no more, Where wind and desolation sweeps Lake Huron’s rock bound shore.

They left Chicago on their lee, their songs they did resound,

Their hearts were filled with joy and glee, for they were homeward bound; They little thought the sword of death would meet them on their way

And they so full of joy and life would in Lake Huron lay.

In mystery o’er their fate was sealed, they did collide, some say, And that is all that will be revealed until the judgment day;

But when the angels take their stand to sweep these waters blue, They will summon forth at Heaven’s command the Persian’s luckless crew.

13


Irish Music &

Dance Association No mother’s hand was there to soothe the brow’s distracted pain,

No gentle wife for to caress those cold lips once again; No sister nor a lover dear or little ones to moan,

But in the deep alone they sleep, far from their friends and home.

Now around Presque Isle the sea birds scream their mournful notes along, In chanting to the sad requiem, the mournful funeral song, They skim along the waters blue and then aloft they soar,

O’er the bodies of the Persian’s crew that lie along the shore.

______________________________________________________

We turn to the Great Lakes this month with a shipwreck song that was recorded from Minnesota singer Michael C. Dean in 1924 (hear the field recording at minnesotafolksongcollection.org). It commemorates the 1869 wreck of the schooner Persian in Lake Huron just east of the Strats of Mackinac. I wrote about it in this column in April 2014 but return to it here as The Lost Forty just posted a new video of us doing our arrangement of it. For our arrangement, Randy and I pared down Michael Dean’s version to the five verses above. We filmed the song in Grand Marais on the shores of Lake Superior and you can see the video at evergreentrad.com. It is likely that Michael Dean himself had some experience sailing on Great Lakes ships. Dean wrote that he learned some of his songs during his “wandering around on the Lakes” and collector Franz Rickaby, who met Dean in 1923, referred to him as a “sailor.” Great Lakes shipping operations provided a summer job for men who did winter logging work in the 1870s when Dean was rambling around Michigan and other Great Lakes states. In fact, he could have just as easily learned the song in a logging camp as the same repertoire passed around among men working these types of seasonal jobs.

Visit a full archive of all Northwoods Songs columns and songs online at www.evergreentrad.com

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State

Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

14


Irish Music &

Dance Association

The Center for Irish Music

Come check us out at

The Celtic JunctionThe Celtic JunctionThe Celtic JunctionThe Celtic Junction 836 Prior Avenue, St Paul MN

Please check the website for information on our full range of instruction in traditional Irish

music, language , culture and fun.

For class schedule and other information call or email

651-815-0083 [email protected]

Or visit our website

www.centerforirishmusic.org

Dedicated to Handing Down the Tradition

Smidirini* (*Irish for ‘Bits and Pieces’)

By Copper Shannon

♣ Comhghairdeas le (Congratulations to) Irish dancer and former IMDA Board Member Ciara Reynolds and Conor Luby, who are engaged to be married. (Ciara dances with Mactír Academy of Irish Dance and Conor is IMDA Board Member Kathie Luby’s nephew.) Best wishes for a long and happy life together.

♣ Best wishes to Beth Pitchford and North Star Irish Dance, embarking on a new location for classes in

the western suburbs (Hopkins). North Star also offers classes at Division Street Dance in Northfield. Get all the news at www.northstaririshdance.com.

Entertainment, food, music and culture at

The Irish Fair of Minnesota

August 12 — 14, 2016

@ Harriet Island

15


Irish Music &

Dance Association

Ceili Corner By Bhloscaidh O’Keane

Irish Céilí Dance:

Third Saturday Night Céilí - The Celtic Junction, 836 Prior Ave., No. St. Paul.

Irish Dance Classes:

Céilí Dancing - Wednesday Nights

Dubliner Irish Pub - 2162 University Avenue in Saint Paul. Learn Irish dancing in a genuine Irish pub with a wooden floor that has known a whole lot of dancing feet. Steps and dances are taught by Paul McCluskey and Kirsten Koehler. Basic beginning steps are taught beginning at 7:00, with advanced lessons and dancing continuing until 9:30 PM. Year-round; no children, and must be of legal drinking age. Free.

Set Dancing - Tuesday Nights

Dubliner Irish Pub - 2162 University Avenue in Saint Paul. Set Dancing at 7:30 pm on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month, music by the Twin Cities Ceili Band. The cost is $5 for the band, beginners welcome, for more information call Geri at the Dubliner (651)646-5551.

Check www.lomamor.org for all up-to-date Irish folk dancing information.

Update on IMDA Membership The Irish Music and Dance Association would like to remind members of a change in policy regarding membership. Because of rising costs in printing and postage, the Irish Music and Dance Association asks that members who want to receive their newsletter by U S mail support the IMDA by contributing at least $35 a year. All members have the option of receiving their newsletter by e-mail for faster delivery and color photos! We welcome your financial support of the IMDA at any level and that support helps us continue our work to promote Irish music and dance in the Twin Cities and beyond. You may also become a newsletter-only member without making a financial contribution. Whichever membership option you choose, we appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you at a concert or dance event soon!

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Music Dance Theatre Gaelic Volunteer

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Your monthly newsletter is delivered electronically via e-mail. Please advise us at [email protected] if your e-mail address changes .

Supporting members who contribute at least $35 annually may receive their newsletter by U S Mail. ___ Request US Mail

Revised 11/2013

Tear out the above form and send it with a check made out to “IMDA” to: The IMDA Membership Coordinator c/o Jan Casey 400 Macalester St. St. Paul, MN 55105

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Irish Music & August

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