Rhythm Player A Newsletter of the Rhythm Bones Society Volume 19, No. 4 2017

In This Issue: A Trip to Austra- Executive Director’s Column lia & New Zealand Ronnie McShane, bones player with the Chief- Ronnie’s playing on those records had a Ronnie McShane tains, Ceoltoiri Chullanan and good friend of Sean major impact on me, though he remained an Obituary O’Riada passed away on October 28, 2017 due to elusive, almost mysterious character, in an age complications with Diabetes. Ronnie was a great where finding out information was much more Preliminary Bones Fest XXII Informa- character, and his bone playing was featured on the difficult than it is today in the age of the smart tion Chieftains recordings #5, and Bonneparts Retreat. phone and vast internet. Ronnie was the first bone player I heard when I On that day in 2003, we spent several hours An Interesting purchased Chieftains 5 in 1975, and it sent me on together, talking and playing the bones, and Note From the Li- brary of Congress a quest to find the bones, ultimately leading me to when I won the contest that year, he was my Percy Danforth. biggest supporter. Eventually I interviewed Update From Nick But it wasn’t until my first trip to Ireland in 2003 Ronnie for the RBS Newsletter, spending an Driver to compete in the All Ireland Bone Playing Champi- hour on the phone with him on a St.Patricks A Lifelong Affair onship, that I met Ronnie in person. By coincidence Day, him in Ireland and me in my cellar, hearing With Traditional he was staying at the same bed and breakfast that I all about his life, growing up in a theater family Percussion was, and when the landlady introduced me to him, it in Dublin, working as a consiererge at a 5 star took me totally by surprise. hotel in London, and touring with the Chieftains Playing in a Session Can Be Political A Trip to & New Zealand Report on BFXX Sea Music Work- Bucket List - a movie starring Jack Nicholson and BMC members for a light meal and an evening shop Morgan Freemen and a concept. For my wife, Janet, of stories and playing. and myself it was a long awaited vacation to Austra- In the group as shown in the photograph Civil War Comes to Hillsborough lia and New Zealand. It was a cruise from to below was Dale Dengate, Sandra Nixon, BMC’s Middle School Melbourne and Hobart, Tasmania and then a circle secretary, Wally Bollinger, Sharyn Mattern, trip to several port cities in New Zealand including BMC President, Ann and Frank Maher. Columns: Wellington. We arrived a day early to visit with a Their website (bushmusic.org.au) describes Executive Director few rhythm bones oriented Bush Music Club mem- them as the oldest folk club in Australia and, bers and had lunch with RBS member John McInnes arguably, one of the oldest folk clubs in the En- Editorial in Wellington, NZ. glish speaking world. They have been actively RBS had known about the Bush Music Club in promoting Australian folk (Continued on Page 6) Letters to the Editor Sydney for years and one of their members, Bob Bolton, had given us a drawing of a person’s hands holding a pair of rhythm bones to use as a temporary logo (to see it go to rhythm- bones.org/documents/RBP- Vol1to16.pdf and look in the upper left corner). To my great disappointment Bob was unable to join us due to health issues as were several out-of-Sydney members. After a day visiting the Blue Mountains outside of Sydney, I went to the home of Dale Dengate to meet with a few Bush Music Club of Sydney members, Dale Dengate, Sandra Nixon,Wally Bollinger, Sharyn Mattern, and Ann & Frank Maher hooked. Mardeen Gordon Rhythm Bones Player Editorial In Sept. of 2016 Ann and I attended Rhythm Bones Society The front page story is about my trip to Dick and Rose Coffin’s Annual Anniver- sary Lobster Party in Falmouth at which Volume 19, No 4 Australia and New Zealand where I met Fourth Quarter 2017 with local rhythm bones players. I don’t The Don Roy Trio always provides ISSN: 1545-1380 have a sense that I discovered the real the musical entertainment, and I make Editor presence of rhythm bones down under my usual guest appearance playing my rhythm bones. Pam Rhodes, who was Steve Wixson (Australia a big country), but rhythm [email protected] bones are alive with the people I visited. my lab assistant at the Univ. of Southern There is a nice update from Nick Driv- Maine during the time that I served as a Executive Director biology lab instructor after having retired Stephen Brown er that provides a bit of insight about his [email protected] former rhythm bones maker business. from BHS in 1987, recorded my per- Wow! Look at the note from the Li- formance with her iphone. I’m sending Web Site Coordinator brary of Congress on the opposite page. along the two links to it should you wish Steve Wixson [email protected] We can all take pride in it especially to view them. https://youtu.be/kVy6gnt- flK8 and https://youtu.be/ePIUmNHllPM those who have written articles or made Board of Directors another contribution. Our twentieth year By the way, Dick’s father, Robert Peter Steve Brown, Executive Director of publication is just around the corner. Tristram Coffin, was a Pulitzer Prize Skeffington Flynn Sharon Mescher My wife’s parents lived in the Ozarks, winning poet and a professor at Bowdoin for many years. Dick and I were child- Tim Reilly so I was pleased to hear of Steve Green Bill Vits, Assistant Director and have him write his story of a lifelong hood friends. Steve Wixson, Secretary/Treasurer Several years ago Don Roy organized Kenny Wolin interest in traditional Percussion. the -iceous Orchestra of Maine The Rhythm Bones Player is published and will be having four concerts this quarterly by the Rhythm Bones Society. Letters to the Editor Nonmember subscriptions are $10 for one year; RBS members receive the Player as part Bones Fest XXI was everything we of their dues. hoped it would be, though we didn't re- The Rhythm Bones Players welcomes ally know what to expect. We had heard letters to the Editor and article on any aspect of bones playing. All material submitted in advance that the registration numbers for consideration is subject to editing and were low, and at first we were a little condensation. bit disappointed that only twelve RBS members showed up. But we immedi- Rhythm Bones Central web site: rhythmbones.org ately felt so welcome and comfortable actly how to hold them, not one of them with everyone that it seemed almost like was able to make them click properly. a reunion of a family we didn't know I guess its harder than it looks how to we had. It was an intimate gathering of play them. As a result of the prolonged like minded people sharing their love of standing ovation at the conclusion of the rhythm bones, with each other and with last tune on the program, Don Roy had the dozen or so lucky people who hap- the orchestra and guest performers join pened upon one of our performances. together for an encore. I really enjoyed seeing the many dif- My picture was on the poster adver- ferent styles of very talented bonists, and tising the concerts, a copy of which I’m everyone's collections of bones made of sending along. Warm regards, Claude all sorts of materials. Even better, we got Bonang to try playing all of them, and everyone shared their techniques and tips freely. Hi. As you know, Nick Driver has October. Don invited me to make a guest Jamming with a bunch of rhythm made great contributions to maintain- appearance playing my rhythm bones bones players can be a cacophony of ing the tradition of bones playing. [see with two of the songs that they’ll be clacking, but when everyone has such article on next page]. Do you happen to playing. mastery of dynamics and rhythm, wheth- know whether it is still possible to buy The concerts went well. When Don er we let each other take a solo or played the bones he made? I had recently been Roy introduced me I mentioned that all together, the rhythms flowed and thinking maybe I should get a couple during intermission I would provide a blended with complexity that allowed us pairs of them. Bonnie Dixon [Let me free lesson to anyone who would like to all to hear each other's unique style. know via our Contact Us Page if you learn how to play the bones for which It was truly the most fun we have ever can help Bonnie. See Bonnie and Nick many took advantage of the opportunity. had playing rhythm bones. I think we are perform at rhythmbones.org/video/Nick- However, despite me showing them ex- Driver&BonnieDixonVideo/]

2 (Executive Director From Page 1) ue for preparations in Australia. He was a gracious, lovable Bones Fest XXII 7:00 PM – Concert! character who I will never forget, and Sunday: Good-byes ☹ it was through his efforts that the bones Preliminary were elevated to a place in prominence An Interesting Note by Sean O’Riada, and later Paddy Molo- Information ney. RIP dear friend! Bones Fest XXII will be in Lincoln, From The Library For many years I have longed for a NH on June 7-10, 2018. Lodging will be Bones Fest in New Hampshire. This in the cottages at the Indian Head Resort of Congress would be a state where bones players in Lincoln, NH where room rates for the The American Folklife Center is proud Shorty Boulet, and Cecil Rivers lived, given weekend would be $80-$90/night to be a repository for the Rhythm Bones where the bones could occasionally be per cottage, each sleeping up to 4 people. Player. We recently re-cataloged the heard at folk festivals and contra dances, The cottages are individual structures all newsletter with full subject classification. and where ethnic music from Canada, located right next to each other in a small Todd Harvey Cape Breton, and Ireland have survived “village”, allowing us to all be near each Serials Coordinator for a number of years. other and have a communal lawn area American Folklife Center It seems my dream is about to come to grill, hang out and play bones! For Library of Congress true, as Jesseye and Sky Bartlett, with those who prefer regular hotel rooms, the 101 Independence Ave., SE assistance from Ernie Duffy, are busy or- Indian Head Resort offers these as well at Washington, DC 20540-4610 ganizing Bones Fest XXII in the heart of a slightly higher price. For more informa- the White Mountains, Franconia Notch! tion about the cottages, visit: https://indi- I have visited the Notch since a child, anheadresort.com/indian-head-cottages/ Update From Nick and Jennifer and I have made a number Registration fees is $75. of trips their with our kids over the years, A tentative schedule is as follows: Driver and it truly is a magical place. With Thursday: I was reflecting that it was back in amazing natural wonders like the Flume, 7:00 PM – Reception at a local bar/ 1977 that I launched my impassioned and the Basin, all in the shadow of some eatery with a separate room for us to play drive to get bones playing back on the of the highest mountains in the North- (appetizers & finger food included with map and found Percy doing much the east, I always get a thrill from being registration) same thing across the pond, we be- there. And now the bones will be played Friday: came very close friends and even had a in that amazing place! 8:00 AM – Breakfast in conference wonderful meeting. The business I set An even more prospect is the Bones room at the Indian Head Resort (included up used a number of outworkers demand Fest attendee’s staying in adjacent cabins with registration) was so great, especially from specialist at the Indian Head Motel and Resort, 9:00 AM – Workshops music stores all across the world. On playing and celebrating to our hearts 12:00 PM – Take gondola up to the top wooden bones alone I would buy mas- content! The details are included in this of Loon Mountain to eat lunch (included sive logs of rosewood from the importers newsletter, don’t miss this extraordinary with registration), take a photo shoot, and to be converted into planks and then into event! Steve Brown play on the top of a mountain! bones. Cured cows shin bones came from 6:00 PM – Dinner on your own in Argentina in large crates to produce the Ronnie McShane Lincoln OR join us at the cottages where thousands of polished bone bones that we will be grilling dinner (included with I marketed. I did TV shows and radio Obituary registration) with my musician friends to promote Ronnie McShane former bones player 7:00 PM – Jamming at the Indian Head the bones, did the album recording, with the Chieftains and Ceotoiri Chual- Resort Conference Room until the last wrote articles, advertised extensively ann passed away October 28th in Dublin, man stands! and researched and wrote the first tutor, he was 84. Ronnies' playing had a Saturday: which is still in print. It all now seems profound impact on me when I first heard 9:00 AM – Breakfast at Polly’s Pan- so very long ago and then your Society his playing on Chieftains 5, and later on cake Parlor (included with registration) started some twenty or more years later Bonneparts Retreat. I met him at the All and jamming/workshop and flourishes and does so much for the Ireland Bone Playing Championship in 12:00 PM – Perform at Clark’s Trading instrument which is wonderful. I am Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick in 2003, and Post for regular day guests and do a aware of how much you and others put we instantly became good friends. I was special performance for and interactions in to running things. I hope all goes well able to see him several more times, and with the Boy Scouts. For more informa- for you, especially your health, My best interviewed him for the Rhythm Bones tion about Clark’s, please visit: http:// wishes, Nick Society's Newsletter. He was a great www.clarkstradingpost.com/ character, and a real gentleman. RIP 5:00 PM – Dinner on your own in Ronnie! Steve Brown Lincoln 5:30 PM – Doors open at concert ven-

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playing the “bones.” one foot. Then, at some point, the down A Life Long Affair with Folk from “off,” which is anywhere beat becomes a heel strike, and in the Traditional Percussion that is not the Ozarks, call them rhythm manner of the camel’s nose in the tent, bones, but around the mountains here, the toe will tap the offbeat. It’s downhill In the Ozark Mountains of northern they are just bones. Up until the 1980’s, from there, as younger folks, say 80 and Arkansas, traditional Old Time music and most folk had an elder family member, below, start experimenting with using dance have always been easy to find. My often “grandad,” who played. Nowadays, both feet to add other rhythms and em- own earliest dance memories are from I suppose that would be a great grand- bellishments. This useful juxtaposition of my paternal granddad’s front room in the parent. I think this is where my love of hands and feet is a wonderful thing and 1950’s, where square dances and percussion started, sunk its roots in my we should not take it for granted. As it were danced with gusto. My memories of brain, and has flourished ever since. As turns out, this anthropomorphic arrange- the square dances at my grandad’s house a child, playing the bones was beyond ment is a marvelous gift from the great are shadowy, but more distinct are later me, but there were other ways to keep architect, as a bones player who has both reminiscences of aunts telling of how I the beat of the music. Probably around hands and feet, and I suppose, a chair, was under foot all the time. age 6, to my parents chagrin, I discov- has infinite possibilities for their art! ered the fascinating rhythm possibilities I now make my own bones, which of whacking the furniture with sticks in I suppose we all do if there is enough time to music! Ah, the dubious calcium in our diet. For percussion, pleasure and pride of having children though, I use various species of wood, interested in percussion. I enjoyed those having found that the sound can be dances and gatherings during my child- quite different by design and species. In hood, but somewhere in my later teens I general, shorter length and harder wood discovered the wider world. gives the higher the pitch. Of those I’ve Thinking of those years, I will skip used, ebony is far and away the loudest, over the late 60’s, the 70’s, and early and has the most bell-like tone. Next 80’s, as life style experimentation and would be white oak, followed by cherry, mullet haircuts share the attribute of maple, red oak, and way down the list, being of most interest at the moment and pine. One might think, then, that ebony to one’s self. Those years do further this is the go-to wood, but that would be like story, however, by virtue of being the always playing the loudest snare drum backdrop for a return to my interest in for all venues. In fact, my ebony bones Old Time music, dance, and percussion. are a bit too loud for front-room jams. When traditional music again entered When I play with both hands, I currently my awareness in the mid- 80’s, I em- use longer (10 inch) cherry bones in my braced it like a returning prodigal. To my left hand, and shorter (6.5 inch) white surprise, there were people all over the oak bones in my right. The cherry gives country who played this kind of music, a slightly deeper and hollower sound, danced the dances, and sang the ballads. which is nice for sounds around the basic And what was really a trip, others wanted beat. The white oak has a crisper sound, to learn how! Somewhat later I met my feathers well, and is great for triplets and wife, who is a gifted singer in the ballad other accents. tradition. She formed her own group For several decades I’ve taught work- “Sugar on the floor,” www.sugarsingers. shops and performed around this country com, and together we formed “Ozark and out of it, and I’ve run into some Foot Song,” www.ozarkfootsong.com. interesting folks. In England in 2015, at Ozark Foot Song relishes everything the Whitby festival, I met Bert Draycott, percussive, and bones are included in a world champion spoons player. Now, I That part of the country felt that per- lot of what we do. haven’t been to any spoons competitions, cussion had a place in any good time, and As you’ll understand by now, for me, or bones competitions, for that matter, dancers “jigged” in time with the music percussion exists inextricably entwined but Bert is top notch. In his 80’s when I as they moved through the figures of the with Old Time music and dance, and met him, we shared a concert spot, and square dance. I didn’t know it at the time, has as many expressions as there are after that went to a gathering at a local but what I was seeing and hearing was body parts and simple tools. Seated foot pub. He was still going strong in the wee the local form of the traditional percus- percussion, most identified with the hours when I staggered home! sive dance they call “flatfooting” back Quebecois musicians and singers, exists Some years before that, I had followed East in the Appalachians. The percussion in every culture, as seldom will you find my nose to Ireland, and found the Willie was not limited to the dancers, though, a traditional instrumentalist who can play Clancy Festival in County Clare. Many as a band would often have someone without keeping the beat with at least of the folk luminaries of the Ireland

4 music scene regularly play there, and the sound (to spare nearby ears), an abso- is associated with I make it a point to combination of being a Yank, a tradi- lutely solid down beat, and a discernably avoid. This session leader is well known tional percussive dancer, and playing the different tone to the off- beat. The occa- and, like me, has also played at the White bones got me a concert spot one evening. sional rattle of double beats or triplets House. Hank Tenenbaum I was more than a little intimidated to should be there and gone, leaving the follow several of the musicians from the musician’s ears wanting more. It is a sad Report on BFXX Chieftains on the program! bit of cosmic unfairness that most music It was on the flight back to the US that does not really need much beyond that. Sea Music Workshop airport security decided that my bones Now don’t misunderstand, as you can see The emphasis of this workshop was constituted a risk to airline safety! I was from my concert video bits of adrenaline to work on our singing and playing the used to explaining that the two well fueled tomfoolery, I love syncopated trip- bones at the same time through authentic rounded sticks of wood were a percus- lets with overhand cast-backs as much as sea shanties and forecastle songs of the sion instrument, but a very stern man saw the next fellow. But those are for percus- 19th century. through my words to deadly possibilities sion jams, percussion concerts, and tune/ Tim Reilly and I broke down the shan- should they be allowed on an airplane. song arrangements with your own music ties (work songs) into different categories As my explanation fell on deaf ears, he group. When we join musical jams, we depending on the various heaves and fixed me with the TSA gimlet gaze, and are the accompaniment, the point of hauls needed to operate various ship- asked “would you like to voluntarily which is to contribute to the ensemble board equipment (i.e. Halyard, capstain, relinquish these?” By that time I had an sound. Percussionists are in the back row. bunting, pumps, etc). These were all sung audience of his TSA comrades, and a Alas, life is not fair! Steve Green in a call-and-response manner. backed up line of irritated travelers, so I We also performed forecastle, or recre- ventured a tremulous “yes?” With what Playing In a Session ational songs, accompanied by all of the I’m sure was a practiced monotone, he attendees, ending with a rousing version said, “that was the correct answer,” and Can Be Political of Spanish Ladies (as mentioned in Mel- let me through. Some years ago I saw an ad for open ville's Moby Dick, Chapter 41). Concerts, road trips, and plane flights sessions advertised in the DC City There is a vast repertoire of this aural notwithstanding, I have the most fun at Paper at Nanny O'Briens on Connecticut tradition, but we tried to emphasize bone the local jam sessions around Fayette- Avenue. The ad indicated a session on friendly pieces, some of which are as ville, AR, the nearest city to my hilltop Saturdays for more experienced players follows: home. The old time music scene loves to and a Sunday session for less experi- • Fuba-Wuba John (opening warm up get together for jam sessions, and I’m at- enced players. Both were listed as 'open'. song) tracted to them like a moth to a flame. By Figuring I had sat in with a number of •Haul Away Joe way of the school of hard knocks, I’ve luminaries on the local and national scene •Johnny Come Down To Hi-Lo ("...I learned that less is more when presuming I headed up to Connecticut Avenue for put that jawbone on the fence and I ain't to add percussion, whether flatfoot per- the Saturday session. I started playing Heard nothing but the jawbone since") cussive dance, body percussion, or bones on a tune and was promptly told by the • Reuben Ranzo to a musical jam session. The Irish have a leader this was a 'closed session' and • Haul Away For The Windy Weather genre of jokes that demonstrate the kind required that the players have a certain • Strike The Bell of cynical attitude musicians may have level of expertise. Figuring I had played • Old Balena about percussion, particularly pertaining for years at the Ben Bow with Jesse & When demonstrating the bones to peo- to the Irish bodhrun, an open sided drum. Terry Winch (Celtic Thunder), and taught ple who have never seen them before, it's To wit, “How does a gentleman play the Karen Seime Singleton bones at the Ben a nice option to have a little ditty to sing bodhrun?” Answer –“He doesn’t.” Ouch, Bow and sat in with DeDannan at the as an accompaniment (to the bones,of I mean, are our manners that bad? Birchmere there shouldn't be a problem. course!). Jam session etiquette is basically the Not so, said the leader and was told the You can discover more shanties (also same as school-yard etiquette from the Sunday session was open, Saturday was spelled "chanteys") by a quick YouTube 2nd grade, a feature it happens to share reserved for 'experienced' performers. So search for Stan Hugill, who was a sea with national politics. On the grade I left. Two weeks later I figured I would music historian and the last true work- school playground, the wise child joins show up again and see if this 'leader' ing Chanteyman. Between Stan and the a play group, especially if it’s a circle, was still obtuse. As I started to play the X-Seamen's Institute, that's about as from the outside, and quietly. Playing so called 'leader was about to bust my authentic as it gets. there quietly, you demonstrate that you chops when Rowan Corbett came in and (Honorable mention to Steve Wixson understand and respect the existence of greeted me. He asked if I would come also discovered a rare album from Bristol the group, and eventually someone will sit by him so we could trade some licks by Erik Illott who sings and plays the ask something about what you are doing and compare technique. At that point the bones on most of the tracks). with those sticks. That is your invitation 'leader' left me alone and I played until Remember, in the words of Stan Hugi- to move closer. Techniques that serve the session ended. I never went back to ll, a strident voice is much preferable well at jam sessions are feathering your this session and any session I know he over a pretty one! Kenny Wolin

5 traditions for over 60 years and will con- “Wally and his twin George joined the made sure to photograph all BMC events. tinue to do so well into the future. Bush Music Club in the 1970s and have “I love singing, but can’t hold a tune Sandra Nixon said, “The Bush Music caused confusion ever since because on my own so attend every singing ses- Club was founded in 1954 to collect, they look very alike (though are not sion I can. I also run two folk clubs, one publish and popularize Australia’s identical). Wally is an expert on percus- in BMC and the other elsewhere.” traditional songs, dances, music, yarns, sion - bones and lagerphone. George is The meeting had been arranged by recitations and folklore and to encourage an expert on playing and repairing con- Sandra Nixon, and you can read about the composition of a new kind of song certinas and . Wally turned my visit from their point of view by - one that was traditional in style but up at a concert given by a concertina going to this link - https://bushmusicclub. contemporary in theme. player and I said hello George! blogspot.com.au/2017/12/visit-by-steve- “Once upon a time most Australians “George was at another concert where wixon-of-rhythm-bones.html. When lived in The Bush, which was anywhere a lagerphone needed playing and after a you visit this website you will see their outside the cities and their suburbs. Now look of sheer horror when it was handed blogging has a long and rich history. most of us live in cities to him, gingerly moved it a few times, Here are a few BMC blogs about “In the early 1950s people across Aus- then did a credible job! rhythm bones. tralia started looking for traditional songs “Dale Dengate is an artist, singer, Bones - Part 1. How to make (1958) and tunes, in reaction to the increasing songwriter, retired teacher, and bones & play (2017) the bones. (May 2017). Americanization of our culture, and some player. Dale’s late husband John was a https://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com. of them founded the Bush Music Club. brilliant songwriter, poet & performer, au/2017/05/how-to-make-1958-play- famous across Australia - also an artist, 2017-bones.html singer, guitarist & a retired teacher. Bones - part 2 - Collections of Bob Information about Dale & John is at Bolton & Ralph Pride (July 2017). http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com. https://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com. au/2012/06/talks-from-bmcs-2012-na- au/2017/07/bones-part-2-collections-of- tional-folk_04.html. bob-bolton.html “Sharyn Mattern is President of Bones - Part 3 - Singabout Article in BMC, a concertina player, dancer, choir Mulga Wire no. 101, February 1994 (Oct singer, and now a bones player due to a 2017). https://bushmusicclub.blogspot. quick lesson by Steve Wixson on top of com.au/2017/10/bones-part-3-singabout- all of Wally’s unsuccessful attempts in article-in-mulga.html. Sharyn Mattern and Frank Maher with Bones Fest the past. There was also a short article in IX Ballcaps “Here is some information on folks Rhythm Bones Player, Vol 16, No 1, “American culture came to Australia who could not attend. Ralph & Helen 2014 on the BMC and rhythm bones with the 19th century gold rushes and live way outside Sydney, Helen Romeo written by Bob Bolton. increased after the Civil War when many several hours south, down the coast and Let us hope the Rhythm Bones Society Minstrel Shows arrived. The radio and Ralph Pride several hours south, but in- has the staying power of the Bush Music movies brought more American influenc- land. Ralph & Bob Bolton were friends Club making it to the 2060s with maybe es and we have a lot more now. from their teens (if not earlier?) and Sky Bartlett as our Executive Director. “Here is more on the people in atten- even shared a pair of bones way back in dance. the 1960s when they were learning (see John and Marion McInnes Visit. “Frank joined the Bush Music Club blog article, Part 2, below). After a morning of on/off bus touring (est. 24th October 1954) in it’s first year. “Helen plays concertina, bones and the beautiful city of Wellington, New Ann came to Australia from Manchester spoons, and also teaches bones and Zealand, John picked us up downtown (UK) in 1960 and they married in 1964. spoons to young musicians 8-16 years and took us to their lovely home about a Frank has been singing since he arrived “As for me, Sandra, I’m a retired half hour drive from the city center. Their at BMC and played bones, lagerphone librarian, and was elected as Secretary house is nice and their yard is a botani- and bush bass (tea chest with stick and of Bush Music Club about 20 years ago cal garden that isolates them from their cord.) He now concentrates on bones and am the self-appointed Librarian, neighbors. Plants of all kinds flourish in which he plays one-handed. Ann has Archivist and photographer. I’ve been New Zealand and their backyard. been playing the lagerphone since she taking photos in the folk scene of most His wife, Marion, is a retired general joined BMC. Both sang and played of that time, but will never be a profes- practitioner and John considers himself on records in the 1960s, Frank is still sional like Bob. a writer. You can learn more about John singing, but Ann no longer sings on her “I appointed myself Librarian and Ar- at his website - johnmcinnes.weebly.com. own or leads songs, she just sings along. chivist when Bob Bolton retired and the Marion has always played the . See a photo of Ann with the lagerphone Boltons sorted out BMC archives from In the 1980s they lived with some other in 1964 plus lots of different lagerphones. their collections and I took them on. people, and most of them were musicians http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com. When Bob stopped attending festivals, I who played various instruments. John au/2015/01/the-lagerphone.html.

6 them down to him. The man said to take decided he would like to be a part of that the bones and learn how to play them be- bones from Lark in the Morning. He also so he began collecting percussion instru- cause you are the percussionist. So I did, bought some bone bones and lent them ments and learned to play them. but I started thinking you obviously hold to someone who never returned them. He Then he said, “I joined a band called them in the middle and play both ends. makes animal bones drying them on his ‘The Famous Plumerton Bush Band and By the end of the 90s the Internet was tin roof. He sometimes plays three bones it was a bush band. coming in so I began to look up bones. in one hand. John will also quiet them by A bush band is a sort of a Celtic band and I found Mel Mercier’s Bodhran playing them on the edge and will also that has gone bush. It’s Australian music and Bones instructional video (I’ve still turn the stationary bones 90 degrees. from the outbacks that are called ‘the got it). I watched the way he play and When he first learned, he would take bush.’ They were people in the outback learned to play like him. So the way I them on dog for walks and people said with Celtic background, and they have play is copied exactly off the Med Mer- they could be heard all over the neigh- written quite a bit of music too. This cier video. borhood. John has been called down by band played mostly Celtic music. We It’s more flexible that doubled ended some band players because the ring was went around Wellington playing dances, and allows me to do more. Sometimes too loud. cheoli’s and that sort of thing. I’ve pick up a pair in my left hand, but John then gave me a pair of these I went along with some of my percus- basically I am one handed like most bones (check out the photo) John, I’ll sion gear. Then I discovered someone people around here. And Mel only played take these to the next Bones Fest. In there had a pair of rhythm bones, actually one handed (Steve pointed out that Mel return, I gave John one of the left over two pair of ebony bones that they could plays both ways now and considers them Bones Fest IX ballcaps. Steve Wixson not play. I think his father has passed two different instruments). When I play in a band or sometime Civil War Comes To Marion and I go on our own where we play retirement and rest homes and plac- Hillsborough Middle es like that, I also always play at least School one tune with the rhythm bones because An era gone by was recreated at the people love them even though some peo- Hillsborough Middle School Wednes- ple have never seen them before. So that day December 20 by the Hardtacks, a is how I got into bones playing. musical ensemble specializing in mid You hardly ever see anyone playing 19th century music from the Civil War rhythm bones here, however, I am too and Antebellum periods. Of course what busy to go to folk festivals where I might discourse on music of this era would find more players. be complete without playing the bones! We also have a group who plays in During the day, classes would rotate in church once a month with fiddle, double to the Computer Lab where they would bass, piano and my percussion. be treated with songs and music which One of the reasons I have these instru- represented the music and instruments of ments is cause some of them are very this time period. All done with the fiddle, light. I will often play rhythm bones in and bones providing the authentic a church service and have developed a music of the day. Students particularly way of playing that has a light sound that liked the banjo and the bones, and could is behind the melody and the bass. That sign up for a hands on bone playing why I have some rhythm bones that are workshop during their free period from almost paper thin. They are so light but 11:45-12:35. And sign up they did, when they are making a genuine rhythm bones 30 or so students arrived at the workshop sound. These were made at my specifi- all taking their turn at the bones. A truly cation and you can see they have a thin enthusiastic group, soon a number of end and a thick end (see photograph). I students were producing taps and rat- did that cause it gives a range of sound. tles, and playing along with the music. As you move the bones up and down you As the day progressed it was clear, the can get a great variety of where they are bones had made a real impression on the hitting - many different sounds but they young students. A concert was held in are all light. the evening where the students and their So they are made to my design, not parents could listen and try their hands made by me, but a man from Christ- at the various instruments provided. It’s Church. They are more clackers than always exciting to see the young folks ringers.” get involved in the bones, with many John has purchased Shooting Star looking to try their hand at them in the John McInness’ rhythm bones with thick end future! Steve Brown

7 Marion and John McInnes playing together in their music/percussion room (see story on Page 6) Steve Green and Ozark Foot Song (see story on Page 4)

Rhythm Bones Society 1060 Lower Brow Road Signal Mountain, TN 37377-2910

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