Trad Session get-togethers at AV?

mcdewey

mcdewey

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Are there any places where musicians gather to play in the evening? I'm actually looking to join up with an Irish session somewhere on the grounds.

There used to be an open-mic gathering over by the red barn in the evening, but I'm not finding any mention of it anymore.

If there isn't one, anyone interested in putting together a trad seisiún, open to beginners, intermediate, advanced and even allowed to bring sheet music? Instruments would be guitar, banjo, tin whistle, concertina, fiddle, bodhrán etc.
 
mcdewey said:
Are there any places where musicians gather to play in the evening? I'm actually looking to join up with an Irish session somewhere on the grounds.

There used to be an open-mic gathering over by the red barn in the evening, but I'm not finding any mention of it anymore.

If there isn't one, anyone interested in putting together a trad seisiún, open to beginners, intermediate, advanced and even allowed to bring sheet music? Instruments would be guitar, banjo, tin whistle, concertina, fiddle, bodhrán etc.
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I have zero musical talent, but I'd be interested in coming to listen!
 
Jim K said:
I have zero musical talent, but I'd be interested in coming to listen!
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Hopefully, I can gather some other musicians and we'll have a grand old time!

If you can't play an instrument, you can sing along. If you can't sing along, you can stomp your foot, clap your hands, swing your head, or sway back and forth. If you can't do any of those, we'll put your body outside before you start to smell the place up. :D
 
I think my sister might be there for a day or two, her husband is working at Aeroshell this year.

She used to fiddle with a group that was good enough to record a CD back when those were a thing. :rofl: She might enjoy joining in. Keep us posted with plans!
 
I'm talking with the Flying Musicians guys and we're seeing what we can set up. It would be in the latter half of the week in the evening. They're working out the details and told me to hold off on a specific date. (And yes, the music is still by the red barn for those who have been to it in the past)

Anyone else maybe interested in joining us? Never too early to start planning for Oshkosh!

Typically Irish Trad (Traditional) music is any the following instruments:
o Fiddle
o Uilleann pipes
o Tin whistle
o Guitar
o Mandolin
o Keyboard
o Banjo
o Bodhran

For those not familiar with Irish Trad Music, take a look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_traditional_music. It has a particular style and is generally dance music, lively, fast-moving and it's hard to not tap your foot. You'll love it after a long day wandering the grounds. Music + flying; what could be better!
 
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This is coming together!! 7- 9pm (or whenever) Thursday, 7/27 at the UltraLight Forum Tent. More details to be posted at the Flying Musicians Association (FMA) site and here as I get them. I believe we'll even show up in the list of events put out by EAA.

Here's the blurb I'm putting up at various places:

Flying Musicians Trad Session
Are you excited about flying? Are you excited about traditional Irish music? Are you especially excited about flying and Irish music? This year at AirVenture 2023, the Flying Musicians Association is holding a trad seisiún on Thursday night.

All attendees are welcome, especially those who play an instrument associated with Irish music, be it fiddle, tin whistle, uilleann pipes, bodhran, guitar, banjo, or mandolin. We’re inviting everyone at all levels of skill and we’ll find some tunes for you to join in.

Also, for those of you who perform Irish dance, be it ceilli dance or step dance or whatever, you’re welcome to come and join the fun. Maybe rope in some spectators and show them how it’s done.

Finally, for those who don’t dance or play an instrument, come on down! We need enthusiastic clappers, foot stompers, and cheerers.

This is our chance to show off some Irish culture at the world’s best aviation gathering and have a great time together!


Hope we get to see you there!!

P.S.
And by the way, the FMA is looking for good keyboard players for their Jam Session on Friday night at the same venue and some other events they have planned. If you'd like to be part of that, contact John Zapp at John@Flyingmusicians.org soon!
 
flyingcheesehead said:
I think my sister might be there for a day or two, her husband is working at Aeroshell this year.

She used to fiddle with a group that was good enough to record a CD back when those were a thing. :rofl: She might enjoy joining in. Keep us posted with plans!
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We'd love to have her. She can contact me and I can try to answer any questions she might have. PM me for my email address.
 
Also, if anyone is planning on dropping in, let me know. Especially instrumentalists. Seeing as this is an inaugural event, would love to see who else is interested.

While we want to focus on traditional jig/reel tunes, I'm putting together a list of popular Irish songs that are fun to sing (Irish Rover, The Parting Glass, Galway Girl, Black Velvet Band, etc.). Add any requests you have and we'll see what we can do.
 
mcdewey said:
Also, if anyone is planning on dropping in, let me know. Especially instrumentalists. Seeing as this is an inaugural event, would love to see who else is interested.

While we want to focus on traditional jig/reel tunes, I'm putting together a list of popular Irish songs that are fun to sing (Irish Rover, The Parting Glass, Galway Girl, Black Velvet Band, etc.). Add any requests you have and we'll see what we can do.
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I'd be there in a heartbeat just to sing The Parting Glass. I'm in the process of arranging it for my tuba quartet...

How's such a thing voiced at a session like this? I sing bass and I like to do a low part instead of the melody, but I've been working from this, my favorite version, so I'm not sure what the traditional harmonies would be. I hesitate to do something like ask for a written part. ;)

 
flyingcheesehead said:
I'd be there in a heartbeat just to sing The Parting Glass. I'm in the process of arranging it for my tuba quartet...

How's such a thing voiced at a session like this? I sing bass and I like to do a low part instead of the melody, but I've been working from this, my favorite version, so I'm not sure what the traditional harmonies would be. I hesitate to do something like ask for a written part. ;)

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If you can find a scored version of the song, bring it along and sing whatever part you want. Of course, when I typically hear this song at pubs, the crowd is either shouting out the words, singing it in some other key, or sobbing over their beer. :biggrin:

BTW, your sister planning on dropping in with her fiddle?
 
Also, lovely rendition of the song. I'm a sucker for songs with rich harmony, like barbershop quartets and groups like this!

I also took a look out for scores for the song. Lots of SATB (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass) scores. If you're serious, find one in D or G. Hey, I got volunteered to take this on, the least I can do is share the love.
 
mcdewey said:
If you can find a scored version of the song, bring it along and sing whatever part you want. Of course, when I typically hear this song at pubs, the crowd is either shouting out the words, singing it in some other key, or sobbing over their beer. :biggrin:

BTW, your sister planning on dropping in with her fiddle?
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I'll see what I can do... Which prolly ain't much. ;) I just kinda feel like bringing sheet music to a trad sesh would make me "that guy" and frankly, I'm better at doing things by ear anyway.

The Face Vocal Band version is really good, best I've heard yet. It's also really difficult to do it the way they do, where pretty much at least the first half is together, yet out of tempo.

My sister is definitely interested, but not sure yet whether she'll be there.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
I'll see what I can do... Which prolly ain't much. ;) I just kinda feel like bringing sheet music to a trad sesh would make me "that guy" and frankly, I'm better at doing things by ear anyway.

The Face Vocal Band version is really good, best I've heard yet. It's also really difficult to do it the way they do, where pretty much at least the first half is together, yet out of tempo.

My sister is definitely interested, but not sure yet whether she'll be there.
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Well, I'll be that guy, since I'm going to bring sheet music and books for any newer folks that are there or tunes we want to learn together that no one knows. I'm also going to bring my extra whistles for people/kids that want to borrow and try one out.

I hope I get to meet you at the venue. I'm looking at the live webcams and our tents are up!
 
mcdewey said:
Also, lovely rendition of the song. I'm a sucker for songs with rich harmony, like barbershop quartets and groups like this!

I also took a look out for scores for the song. Lots of SATB (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass) scores. If you're serious, find one in D or G. Hey, I got volunteered to take this on, the least I can do is share the love.
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Turns out the Face Vocal Band sells their own arrangements. I'm gonna buy it. The SATB is in C, the TTBB is in Ab (which is they key they're singing in that video). There's also an ATTBB in Ab that appears to be the one they actually are singing in the video (or very close to it).

I'm kinda tempted to get all three. SATB for us to do at the show, and I might just give up on my arrangement and simply transcribe from the others for my quartet.
 
at one point folks were jamming over by the ultralight barn
 
Thanks to all who stopped by! We had 20-30 people at some points. It was quite an adventure and about 10,000° in the tent, but we had a good time. Thanks to the singers who came up also! I got some great suggestions for the next time and maybe I'll be an advanced player instead of an intermediate. It was a challenge to keep the speed up. Also, maybe we'll get some more folks to bring their instruments. I got a lot of "I play the ...., but I didn't bring it with me"

Special thanks to Greg from the Fellowship of the Wings chapel music team on mandolin, Colin on bodhran, and especially @flyingcheesehead who gave me a ride back to N40 Thursday night. Besides having perfect pitch, he's a great guy.
 
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