# Central NY Dulcimer Circle

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The CNY Dulcimer Circle web page is moving. Once the new site is up and running, I'll post a link here. Meanwhile, you can email me for current information.

The CNY Dulcimer Circle offers a quarterly meeting for musical fellowship, including jamming, sharing, and socializing. The circle is for you, whether you've just gotten your dulcimer or just recorded your tenth album. While our focus is on hammer dulcimer, we welcome the support of other acoustic instruments and listeners. The only cost is a few bucks to cover dinner. Keep reading for information about the next meeting, reports on the first and most recent meetings, comments from attendees, a list of tunes played or handed out, and a description of the Virginia group that inspired this one. Check out the Gallery for some more pictures of us, too.

### Next Meeting: Winter Session 2006

Date: Sunday, February 26, 2006
Time: 3 - 7 p.m.
Location: Keith and Marty's house

RSVP by email by February 19

We generally play tunes from our common repertoire list, play other tunes most people know, or take time to learn one or two tunes or techniques together.

Please also bring copies of a tune to share -- either one we're likely to all know or one you might get to teach -- and some cash for dinner. If you decide to share copyrighted music, be sure to include the copyright information on the copies. If you have special dietary needs or would like to contribute food, let us know when you RSVP.

BEGINNERS are always welcome. Even if you don't yet feel comfortable playing along on every tune, you can learn a lot and have lots of fun here. Besides, you'll be welcomed and supported by other players, and the quarterly meetings can help motivate you to practice and develop your skills.

ADVANCED PLAYERS are likewise welcome. This is a great way to meet other players and show support for the dulcimer community. Your expertise can spice things up and give others new ideas, and it may be refreshing for you to just hang out with other players, without the pressure or stress of a gig.

LISTENERS and OTHER ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTS are also welcome.

### Previous Meeting: Fall Session 2005

Yesterday, we had seven dulcimers, a washtub bass, autoharp, fiddle, harp, mountain dulcimer, and concertina, all gathered on Eric's deck for our last chance to play together outside this year.

Bassist Ted's daughter and granddaughter were visiting from Japan; when we got too distracted with talking, the granddaughter let us know that we should play some more. Most of the talking was at least on topic -- we discussed the classes Keith, Marty, and I took at the Upper Potomac festival last weekend in WV, mentioned the Cranberry festival, and heard from Gail about the week-long Blue Mountain (did I get that name right?) festival somewhere north of here.

John Wilmot moderated, alternating between our common repertoire tunes and other material, including warm-up exercises, new tunes, and demonstrations of the unhammered instruments.

Eric and Joan provided a deli platter, supplemented by attenders' baked beans, a corn and black bean dish, crackers with pepper jelly and cream cheese, pasta and green salads, fruit and dip, brownies, cookie bars, and an apple pastry ring.

### Tune Lists

Common Repertoire List

Ash Grove
Ashokan Farewell © Jay Ungar
Galician Waltz

(October 8, 2004: I have recently learned that the tune I learned as "Galician Waltz" is really titled "Cau'l Chouzano" and was written by an Asturian musician, Fernando Largo. I still haven't been able to get in touch with him or his publisher.)

Irish Washerwoman
Liberty
Road to Lisdoonvarna
Si Bheag Si Mhor
Trip to Sligo

Session Lists:

Tunes and songs with * indicate solos or duets; all others were played together. If your browser doesn't display the tune lists, click here.

WINTER '05 I think this is the one that snow cancelled. | SPRING '05 Spring (© John Wilmot) *Sleigh Ride (© Leroy Anderson) Simple Gifts Swallowtail Jig Irksome Girl (© Marcy Prochaska) Dancing Bear (© Bob McQuillen) Redwing Angelina Baker *Canon in D Heidi Mueller jig (© Heidi Mueller) Chopsticks Staten Island Hewlett *Parson's Farewell Grandfather's Clock Coleman's March Haste to the Wedding | SUMMER '05 Angelina Baker Canon in D Carolan's Draught Coleman's March* Easter Thursday Far-Away Fields Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring Lord Inchiquin Mairi's Wedding Old Grey Cat Old Joe Clark* Planxty George Brabazon Prelude for Lute* Scotland the Brave* Smash the Windows Snowy Path Soldier's Joy Third Street Market* (© Marcy Prochaska) | FALL '05 Ash Grove Ashokan Farewell Auld Lang Syne Carolan's Draught* Coming Home (© Duggan) Far Above Cayuga's Waters Farewell* Galician Waltz Grandpa Song* (© Wilmot) Hard Times (© Foster) Inisheer Irish Washerwoman Kesh Jig Liberty Road to Lisdoonvarna Si Bheag Si Mhor Snowy Path Staten Island / Julia Delany* Swedish Dance Trip to Sligo Westphalia You are my Sunshine

WINTER '04 An Comhra Donn The Dying Soldier Emmanuel Eric's Christmas Medley Haste to the Wedding Jesu, Joy Karen's Waltz (© John Wilmot) Liberty *Love Story *Menuet (Quantz) Road to Providence (© John Wilmot) Rights of Man Road to Lisdoonvarna Si Bheag Si Mhor Soldier's Joy Swallowtail Jig Trip to Sligo *Whitewater (© Emory Enroth) Willow Garden | SPRING '04 Amazing Grace Ash Grove Ashokan Farewell (© Jay Ungar) *Un Canadien Errant Galician Waltz Liberty Lord Inchiquin *Orea Peloponissos Redwing Road to Lisdoonvarna Shenandoah Falls Si Bheag Si Mhor *Song for a Grandchild (© John Wilmot) Swallowtail Jig *Trillium Lane Trip to Sligo | SUMMER '04 Archibald McDonald Ash Grove Ashokan Farewell (© Jay Ungar) Galician Waltz Inisheer Irish Washerwoman Liberty Trip to Sligo | FALL '04 Ash Grove Ashokan Farewell (© Jay Ungar) Auld Lang Syne Banish Misfortune Cau'l Chouzano (© Fernando Largo; aka Galician Waltz) Dancing Bear Down the Brae Harvest Home Haste to the Wedding Irish Washerwoman Liberty Lord Inchiquin Mairi's Wedding Nonesuch Ook-Pik Waltz Rakes of Mallow Red Wing Road to Lisdoonvarna Sean Matthew (© John Wilmot) Si Bheag Si Mhor Soldier's Joy Southwind Star of the County Down Swallowtail Jig Trip to Sligo *What Child Is This? / Menuet

WINTER '03 Amazing Grace Devil's Dream Golden Slippers Liberty Over the Waterfall Pachelbel's Canon Princess Royal Road to Lisdoonvarna Robin's Bodhran Sadie's Waltz Si Bheag Si Mhor Simple Gifts Spootiskerry Sweet Sunny South Whiskey Before Breakfast Willow Garden | SPRING '03 The Diamond Galician Waltz Lie Easy Morrison's *Prelude River of Jordan Robin's Bodhran Spootiskerry Spring (© John Wilmot) Sweet Sunny South Tripping Upstairs | SUMMER '03 no list taken | FALL '03 Arkansas Traveler Ash Grove Black Nag Branle des Cheveaux Dancing Bear *Dill Pickle Rag Edelweiss Grandfather's Clock Harvest Home *Hassavi In Him Will I Trust (© Marcy Prochaska) Liberty *Menuet Old Grey Cat Pachelbel's Canon *Passepied Minuet Shenandoah Falls Si Bheag Si Mhor Soldiers Joy *Whiskers Rag

### Our First Meeting: Winter Session 2003

Thirteen musicians gathered in the Fellowship Room of Bethel Grove Bible Church on Sunday, January 19, from 3 to 7 pm. Twelve of them were dulcimer-players -- the thirteenth alternated between upright bass and guitar. All agreed that this first meeting of the circle, modeled after a similar meeting in Williamsburg, VA, was a smashing success.

The dulcimists included every stage of experience or ability, from nearly-raw beginners to more advanced players. The instruments also showed variety -- sizes from small 12-11's to larger extended-range chromatic dulcimers, made by such builders as Masterworks, James Jones, Hudson, Chris Foss, and Jerry Read Smith.

The round-robin began once everyone was present and tuned. On their turn, most people chose a tune for the group to play. Because we were all new to the group, and to help the beginners, we spent quite a bit of time teaching the tunes or writing chord charts on the chalkboard. We broke for dinner after everyone had had their first turn. During the break, some folks tried each other's hammers and dulcimers, or fixed tuning. Then the round-robin resumed, but our time was up before we'd quite finished going around the circle again.

### Comments from Attendees

"A lot of fun!"

-- Jen

"Had a great time yesterday and I am looking forward to March 30. I was pleased that there was such a range of experience there -- and instruments. That bass and the guitar really added a lot to the sound."

-- Dannie

"A wonderful afternoon and evening."

-- John

"It was a lot of fun, even though I was intimidated at first. I have a long way to go, but I can see that this type of forum for playing is exactly what I need for motivation, networking, and improving my skills."

-- Lisa

"Although I wasn't able to participate much (yet), I really enjoyed myself. It was great meeting the other folks, and hearing them play. I was quite inspired."

-- Diane

### My Inspiration: The Eastern VA Gathering

One by one, the dulcimists arrive, setting up their instruments, doing some last-minute tuning, chatting with friends and new players. Some folks bring guitars, flutes, or other acoustic instruments. Some folks bring friends who just want to sit and listen. The circle begins with a tune -- copies of the music are passed out to those who need them, and everyone plays. The next person plays a new composition for the group, asking for impressions, title ideas, or other feedback. Someone else asks a friend to play a tune she's been trying to learn but needs to hear. Another person picks a tune for the whole group, and someone else presents a mini-workshop on a new tune, hammering technique, or arrangement idea. Someone suggests a chord progression for the group to improvise together on. Three friends play a trio arrangement for dulcimer, flute, and folk harp. And so it goes... until it's time for a dinner break: pizza, deli sandwiches, or something else easy and quick. During the break people look at each other's instruments, try each other's hammers, catch up on each other's news since the last season's gathering. Afterwards, the circle resumes until, one by one, folks head home -- refreshed, inspired, and encouraged.

(Many thanks to Tim and Ann for organizing the Gathering, and for all the great folks who came -- I miss playing with y'all.)

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