Virginia Scottish Games in the Media

WTOP had a great piece about the Games, and your Webmaster & Games Coordinator was interviewed on Fox 5 news! It's going to be a great weekend, so come on out.

Final Set Order for Virginia Scottish Games Concert

1. QUICKSTEPS: Corriechoillie’s Welcome to the Northern Meeting (XVIII-2) / Loch Ruan (XVIII-2)

2. STRATHSPEY AND REEL: Allowa Kirk (XVIII-22) / Far Form Home (XVIII-4)

3. LESLIE’S SQUIRREL: Leslie’s March (XVIII-9) / The Squirrel (XVIII-23)

4. STRATHSPEY AND REELS: Thorn Bush (XVIII-24) / The Hurdle Race (XVIII-24) / The Bungalow (XVIII-5)

5. FAIRY SET: I Left my Baby Lying There (XVIII-26) / Cailleach Beinn na Bric (XVIII-27)

6. MAGGIE’S GENERAL STORE: Maggie Lauder (XVIII-8) / Linda and Barry’s Treat (XVIII-20) / Patterson’s General Store (XVIII-19)

7. TROWS IN 6/8: Vallafield (XVIII-29) / Aith Rant (XVIII-29) / Garster’s Dream (XVIII-29)

8. CAPE BRETON MSR: James Cameron (XVIII-20) / Miss Ann Moir’s Birthday (XVIII-30) / West Mabou (XVIII-30) / Gin I Had a Bonnie Lassie (XVIII-30)

9. AIR: Johnnie Faa (XVIII-16)

10. CAPE BRETON JIGS: The Trippers (XVIII-31) / Minnie MacMaster (XVIII-18) / The Four Musketeers (XVIII-31)

11. AIR, STRATHSPEY AND REEL: Eilean Beag Donn a’ Chuain (XVIII-5) / Charles Leslie of Findassie (XVIII-33) / Mr Natty McColl (XVIII-33)

12. TROWIE SET: Winyadepla (XVIII-25) / Wast Side Trows’ Reel (XVIII-28) / Hylta Dance (XVIII-28)

13. AIR AND COUNTRY DANCE: My Nanny O (XVIII-13) / Flowers of Edinburgh (XVIII-11)

14. MARCH STRATHSPEY REEL: Burning of the Piper’s Hut (XVIII-1) / Loch Ness (XVIII-7) / The Wooden Whale (XVIII-32)

Fiddle Club mourns the passing of Newsletter Editor Leah Sparks

John Ward has recently notified the board of the sad news that our wonderful newsletter editor, Leah Sparks, passed away last night. She had just turned 39. Her parents have sent us the following:

On August 31, 2011 Leah Joy Sparks died peacefully at her parent’s home in Severn after a long battle against soft tissue sarcoma. Leah endured fifteen months of chemotherapy with seven different drugs and also radiation until she exhausted all of her options. To quote her oncologist, “You fought the fight and finished the race.”

Leah was born August 30, 1972, in Delaware, Ohio. In 1986 she lost her left leg to osteosarcoma during her first bout with cancer. She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1995 and held a Master’s in Library Science from the University of Maryland and a Master’s in Publishing from Oxford-Brookes University in Oxford, England.

Leah was employed as an intelligence analyst for the FBI in Baltimore. She was extremely dedicated to her job and it brought her great joy to work for the Bureau. She was given the Leadership Award by her FBI colleagues at Quantico, Virginia and was the student speaker at graduation. Leah wanted to be remembered for her integrity, her loyalty, and her love for her family and country. She was a voracious reader and enjoyed playing the Scottish fiddle and cycling; she once rode 54 miles using her biking prosthesis. She was a member of Severn United Methodist Church where she wrote the bi-monthly newsletter and prepared the weekly bulletins. She insisted on finishing the bulletin after being admitted to hospice eight days before her death.

Leah will be forever held in the hearts of her grateful parents, Rev. Dr. Kelly and Myra Sparks, her sister, Erin Sparks Talbot and her husband, Mark Talbot, of Moorestown, New Jersey. “Auntie Leah” will never be forgotten by Ethan and Spencer Talbot, Leah’s 7 year old twin nephews. Other survivors include Leah’s maternal grandmother, Mrs. James Holtsclaw of Charleston, West Virginia and paternal grandmother, Mrs. James Sparks of Hurricane, West Virginia. Leah was loved and respected by her many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Leah wanted everyone to remember her as she was before her illness. At her request, a private viewing for family only will be followed by a celebration of her life on Saturday, September 3rd, 2011 at Severna Park United Methodist Church in Severna Park, Maryland at 3:00 p.m. A private burial will follow.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Leah’s favorite charity, the Ronald McDonald House

A Cape Breton Photojournal

I'll be redoing this post into a full travel log at some point, but here are the pictures and videos Amy and I took during the Fiddle Club trip to Cape Breton:

YouTube Playlist

Day 1: W. Lake Ainslie & Mabou

Day 2: W. Lake Ainslie, Inverness & Broad Cove

Day 3: Judique & Glen Ora

Day 4: Cheticamp, Cape Breton Highlands Park, Ingonish
Part 1
Part 2

Day 5: Baddeck, kayaking at North River Bridge, Ceilidh at Elke's

Day 6: Bell museum in Baddeck, Cabot Trail shops, Rollie's Wharf jam in North Sydney

Day 7: Bird watching off Big Bras d'Orr, more Cabot Trail shops, Indian Brook concert

Day 8: More Baddeck, then Paul Cranford/Hilda Chiasson concert in Ingonish

Irish Music at CCE MAD Week

Mitch Fanning writes:

Hi Peter & Elke,

Peter, we met many years ago in passing when I heard your playing at the Royal Mile. Elke, we
haven't met, though I hope to correct that soon. I hope our paths intersect soon.

I'm also hoping you'll both help promote CCE MAD Week among your musical contacts. MAD Week is an
exceptionally fun week of trad Irish music and dance, not exactly the same cup of tea, but there are
many Scots and Irish over the border.

We have an exceptional faculty this year:

Fiddle: Martin Hayes, Patrick Ourceau, Jesse Smith, Cleek Schrey, Bob Spates, Donna Long, Joe DeZarn, Dylan Foley
Flute/Whistle/Uilleann Pipes: Kevin Crawford, Laura Byrne, Jerry O'Sullivan
Guitar Accompaniment (DADGAD): Josh Dukes
Bodhran: Jesse Winch, Myron Bretholz
Button Accordion: Sean McComiskey (Friday only)
Tenor Banjo: Keith Carr
Singing/Song Circle: Len Graham
Set Dance/Sean-nos: Marilyn Moore, Shannon Dunne

Would be happy to extend early registration discount ($45) to any and all of those you would care to invite!

For more information about schedule, faculty bios, and registration information:
http://www.ccepotomac.org/www/MADWeek.html

I've also attached a flyer (.pdf) for your information and convenience. Please feel free to post or forward at will.

If either of you would like to attend the public faculty concert on Wednesday, July 20th (7:30 p.m.) at Takoma Park
Community Center, please let me know and I'll be happy to set aside comp tickets in your name. For more information
about the concert, please see the calendar section of the IMT website: http://www.imtfolk.org.

Thanks much for your consideration and assistance.

Sincerely,

Mitch Fanning, Director
CCE MAD Week 2011


http://www.ccepotomac.org/www/MADWeek.html
jmitchellf@yahoo.com
m. 703.989.7369

SummerTunes 2011

Liz Donaldson writes:

Hello all - A gentle reminder that SummerTunes 2011 - Saturday, July 23 - 10 am until.... is in two weeks. Alex and I are hoping you can come join us for another splendid day of making music together. The registration form is posted on the MMFAC website- www.contradancers.com/mmfac/. Do let us know if you are planning on attending so we know how many SummerTunes tunebooks to order.

Information: http://www.contradancers.com/mmfac/, or contact Liz Donaldson - liz@us.net or (301) 986-1291 or Alexander Mitchell Fiddlemuse@yahoo.com or (240) 344-7806.

Thanks. Liz

DVD Review: Scottish Step Dancing with Dannsa

One of the things I enjoy most about receiving the newsletters from Music Scotland and Foot Stomping Celtic Music is that they pitch products I'd never think to look for, but might be of interest to me.

Recently this happened when one of them advertised a new DVD, Learn to Scottish Step Dance with Dannsa. The name itself piqued my curiosity, so I ordered it and eagerly awaited its arrival.

In summer 2003, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival featured Scotland, and one of the acts - the Mitchellson Brothers, discussed the various forms of Scottish dance. What struck me was their claim that there were still a few exponents of old Scottish step-dancing left in Scotland, independent of Cape Breton, and they demonstrated the ever so subtle differences between the two. I wondered, in ordering this DVD, if this might be the almost-lost Scottish form, or if the differences would be discussed.

Alas, that was not the case. This was straight-up Cape Breton style step dancing, just as taught by Scottish dancers and instructors Caroline Reagh & Sandra Robertson, accompanied by Fin Moore (son of the pipe-maker Hamish) on the reel pipes, who make up the ensemble Dannsa. But don't let that deter you! In the extras section, we are told precisely why they consider this dance form to be Scottish, perhaps preserved in Cape Breton, but still authentically Scottish. And whatever its ultimate provenance, it looked like a lot of fun to dance!



The DVD starts with a section on warmups, and then goes independently through the various steps for Strathspey, reel, and jig dancing. The most basic step is shown first, and then variants are discussed. Demonstrations begin with Fin playing for the dancer at tempo, and we see the dancer from the front, going through all the steps in the section in succession. Then each individual step is broken down at slower tempos, first from a frontal close-up view of the feet, then rear and side views, while verbal instruction is offered in the form of a voice-over. Eventually the tempo increases and we see the dance at full tempo again, still zoomed in on the feet.

Now I have to say, I have two left feet. Prior to taking a few Scottish Country Dance classes this fall, the only dance I could do was the Breton An Dro (and that's a pretty simple one!). But this DVD is perfect for the beginner with little coordination - one can watch the step over and over, repeat as necessary, until one gets it. I'm still mastering the basic reel and jig steps, but I'm not daunted by the difficulty, since the DVD successfully portrayed the step in a manner I can understand and, if imperfectly and slowly, repeat. I figure if I do 10,000 more steps, I'll get the hang of it!

One thing you have to remember when practicing is to wear the right shoes. Dress shoes with a low square heel are necessary - hiking boots and tennis shoes just aren't the right shape! In my case, I pulled out some 18th century style buckle shoes I use when I do living history, and they were perfect for the job.

All in all, if one is interested in learning Scottish/Cape Breton step, and doesn't have an instructor handy, I can't recommend this DVD more highly. It might even be worth it for Fin's piping alone. And, given some time, some effort and some floor, one might soon have a few steps of one's own to put to it.