September 2020 Dance Association Meán Fómhair

Irish Music & September 2020 Dance Association Meán Fómhair

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.

Young Musician Takes on New Challenges

By Jan Casey

Musician John Anderson, age 10, of Roseville, first began studying Irish music at the Center for Irish Music by studying bodhrán with his grandpa. It was a great way for the two of them to spend time together doing something new and fun. John tells us that he enjoys playing Irish music “because I really like how the music sounds” as well as being “a great way to connect with the community and my Irish heritage.” John also studies English concertina and wants to learn the Anglo concertina.

John’s recommender, his bodhrán teacher Todd Menton, tells us that John’s “grasp of the nuances of rhythm and melody is excellent and, not for nothing, he manifests a raucous spirit, frequently racing ahead of me in trying new ornaments and patterns on the bodhrán.” Todd also tells us that John has a curious and eager attitude in playing and the “raucous part comes out in his music.”

John has enjoyed playing bodhrán at a variety of events, including collaborating with his sister Ginger (a 2018 IMDA Educational Grant recipient) for the Rince na Chroi ‘From the Stage to your Heart’ show and with his grandpa for the Celtic Junction’s Holiday Hooley. John has also competed in the Midwest Fleadh Cheoil as well as attending the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in Drogheda last year. John attended Scoil Eigse there studying bodhrán, which gave him the opportunity to learn different styles of bodhrán as well as learning to play spoons and bones. John had planned to complete in this year’s Midwest Fleadh, which was unfortunately cancelled.

John will use his IMDA Educational Grant for the purchase of an Anglo concertina. John tells us that he is “interested in learning the anglo concertina because it is better for playing more Irish tunes and I would like to learn how to play both types of concertina.”

The Irish Music and Dance Association is delighted to help this dedicated musician continue to expand his skills and enjoyment of the music.

Jan Casey serves on the IMDA board and coordinates the IMDA Educational Grant Program.

www.IMDA-MN.org Irish Music & 2 Dance Association

The IMDA Board is: President: Julia Rogers Vice President: Jan Casey Treasurer: Maureen Engelhardt Secretary: Cindy Ladany Board Members: Kathie Luby Amber Ladany Aja Beers Gemma Forbush Editor: Kathie Luby

IMDA Board Meetings are open to the membership. The Board meets regularly on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:00 pm at the Dubliner Pub, 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] Celtic Junction Arts Center Newsletter Submissions We welcome our readers to submit articles of interest, news, and notices of events 836 Prior Ave. N. to be published in the newsletter. The deadline is the 18th of the preceding month.

St. Paul, MN Send to: [email protected] 612-874-8892

Celtic Junction Fall Outdoor Concert Weekend: Sept 18-20

Enduring ongoing natural disasters, human tragedies of injustice, and the continuing pandemic, we feel that it's time to do what we do best - celebrate humanity, community, and the arts. Celtic Junction Arts Center is so proud to welcome all of these Twin Cities-based musicians to entertain you and lighten your hearts.

Come out and hear live music over the weekend of Sept 18-20. Each show is individually ticketed to benefit each artist. There are 12 acts over three days! Tickets are limited and available for all shows now.

Thank you for supporting live music in these truly difficult times!

These shows will follow Covid-19 guidelines and be outside, socially distanced, staggered times, and masked. (Click on the band links to purchase tickets.)

FRIDAY, September 18

Twice Banjaxed in Concert @ 4:00 - 5:00 pm. $10

Welcome the youngest act of the weekend! Twice Banjaxed is Derek Anderson (banjo) and Morien McBurnie (banjo, guitar). This duo is forever stretching, exploring, pushing, playing, and learning. These young musicians play classic Irish trad and contemporary tunes with a twist.

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Friday, September 18 continued….

Dean Magraw in Concert @ 5:30 - 6:30 pm. $15

Dean Magraw has fine-tuned his passionate “Heavy Meadow” approach to music from years of performing and recording with some of the finest musicians in North America, Europe, and Japan. For this concert, Dean will be joined by one of those - special guest Dáithí Sproule.

Todd Menton in Concert @ 7:00 - 8:00 pm. $15

Todd’s calling card is his wry, edgy performing style, focusing on warm, vibrant vocals and sharp playing on guitar, bouzouki, bodhrán, and harmonica. Folks can ex- pect all the drama and hilarity of the traditional songs and tunes, and the darkly hu- morous word-play of his original songs, delivered with wit and crackling energy.

SATURDAY, September 19

Liam Slattery & David Ochs in Concert @ 12:30 - 1:30 pm. $10

This wildly creative duo on fiddle and guitar is a pair that flew the Celtic Junc- tion / Center for Irish Music / O’Shea Irish Dance nest a few years ago. In that time, they have spread their wings traveling the world, performing, dancing, fiddling, and more. They are back in Minnesota to share some original compositions and free- wheeling improvisations with us.

Dakota Dave Hull in Concert @ 2:00 - 3:00 pm. $15

Dakota Dave is a restlessly curious, adventurous traveler along the broad highway of America’s music. In his playing the masters speak, but in a vocabulary that is Dave’s alone: alternatively mirthful and moving, always melodic.

Dennis Curley & The Explainers @ 3:30 - 4:30 pm. $15

The Explainers are Dennis Curley, Katy Hays, Tony Wirth, Leo Lenander and Matthew Zimmerman. They are best known for their engaging and danceable pop, rock and country cover songs.

www.IMDA-MN.org Irish Music & 4 Dance Association

Saturday, September 29 continued….

Gary Rue in Concert @ 5:00 - 6:00 pm. $15

Gary Rue’s Music honors the craft of songwriting, reminiscent of the Everly Broth- ers, Roy Orbison and Mose Allison. Influenced by nearly anything and everything musical, but most often by Frederic Chopin, Kurt Weill, The Beatles, Motown, and the poets of Tin Pan Alley and their Brill Building offspring.

Wild Colonial Bhoys in Concert @ 7:00 - 9:00 pm. $15

WCB shows are a rollicking good time, the music is tight and the banter is lively. They’ve honed their craft over their fifteen-year career, and their ten albums give them plenty of material to draw on.

SUNDAY, September 20

Patsy O’Brien and Dick Hensold in Concert @ 12:30 - 1:30 pm. $15

An hour of traditional Celtic music with unique and innovative arrangements. Patsy O'Brien and Dick Hensold in concert includes a variety of songs from Britain and Ireland accompanied by guitar and Northumbrian smallpipes and a variety of whistles.

Taking Flight Collective @ 2:00 - 3:00 pm. $10

Featuring Adrienne O'Shea (vocals, flute), Ian McKenna (accordion), and Joe De Georgeo (fiddle) with guitarist Brian Miller, this performance marks the launch of a 2020 -21 pilot project from the Center for Irish Music called Taking Flight Collective.

Dáithí Sproule and Laura MacKenzie in Concert @ 3:30 - 4:30 pm. $15

Songs and Music of Ireland & Scotland, plus original instrumentals featuring master musician Dáithí Sproule on guitar and voice with multi-instrumentalist Laura MacKenzie on flutes, whistles, pipes, concertina, and voice.

Two Tap Trio in Concert @ 5:00 - 6:00 pm. $15

Two Tap Trio will be performing their unique blend of traditional dance tunes. The Two Tap Trio is two-time Live Ireland Awards “Best Vocalist of the Year” and flute player Norah Rendell, fiddler Mary Vanorny, and guitarist Brian Miller. Formed in 2007 and based in the Twin Cities, the Two Tap Trio mixes driving fiddle and flute du- ets with Norah’s singing, underpinned by intricate guitar and bouzouki backing.

www.IMDA-MN.org Irish Music & 5 Dance Association

The Gaelic Corner By Will Kenny

In early August, the Irish-language online leath- are a way of expressing "one" of something. In newspaper Tuairisc.ie ran a particular, the Irish use leath to headline that you will probably be refer to one of something that able to decipher even if you don't comes naturally as a pair. speak Irish: "Tús feachtais agus Kamala Harris roghnaithe mar Suppose I "take a knee," that is, leathbhádóir ag Joe Biden i rás get down on one knee. That puts na huachtaránachta i Meiriceá." me ar mo leathghlúin, glúin being Obviously this is a report about Joe Biden choosing the word for "knee." Now, leathghlúin looks like it Kamala Harris to be his running mate on the means "half knee," but it really means "half of a pair of Democratic ticket in this fall's election. knees," or "one knee." Many body parts show this same pattern, including leathchluas ("one ear"), The interesting word in that headline is leathlámh ("one arm"), leathchos ("one leg"), and leathbhádóir, a compound of leath and bádóir, used leathuillinn ("one elbow"). If someone makes a here to mean "running mate." A bádóir is someone comment and I say of him, "Bhí a theanga ina who operates a boat. When you row your boat across a leathphluc aige," I'm saying his tongue was in his half lake, you are a bádóir. cheek, that is, in one cheek. ("He was speaking tongue in cheek.") Leathaghaidh, "half face," is one of the two Leath means "half." Is this headline saying that sides of your face. In other words, it is your "profile." "half a boater" is running for Vice-President? Well, in a peculiarly Irish way, yes! Nor is this usage confined to just body parts. If you go to the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Leath has plenty of straightforward, non-peculiar rivers, where two rivers combine into one, you could uses in Irish that more or less correspond to how we refer to the Minnesota river as a leathabhainn, one half use "half" in English. If you were up "half the night" of the two rivers, in effect. If you were on one "side" of because of thunderstorms, that would be leath na the river, that would be leataobh, or half of the two hoíche. Or we might say, Bhí an baile beag Hamline sides available. If you only have "one stocking" out of a leath slí ó Minneapolis go St. Paul, "The village of pair on, that's leathstoca, just as leathbhróg is used for Hamline was half way between Minneapolis and St. "one shoe", half of the usual pair. Paul." Leath am is "half time," as in a sporting event. And if you know someone who is a "twin," cúpla In a slightly different form it is used in the phrase being the word for "twins," that person would be a go leith to mean "and a half." So something a foot and leathchúpla, one half of the pair. a half long is troigh go leith. A year and a half would be bliain go leith. As for our boaters, if you have two people rowing a boat together, each one is a leathbhádóir, half of the Leath is used as a prefix in many words besides the pair of boaters. This word is often used for "shipmate," leathbhádóir mentioned earlier. A leathuair is a "half so you can see how it would be applied to the hour" and that is used to express time, as in "half past candidates on a two-person ticket. three," leathuair thar éis a trí. A leathchiorcal is "half a circle" or a "semi-circle." At Gaeltacht Minnesota, we go way more than halfway in exploring this beautiful language. Check us out at To speak in a leathchogar, a "half whisper," is to speak www.gaelminn.org. in a loud whisper or what we call a "stage whisper." And a leathamadán, a "half fool,"is a "half-wit." Tús maith, leath na hoibre "A good start is half the work," or So far, so good. But now we come to that peculiarly "Well begun is half done" Irish use of leath. Many compounds beginning with

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www.IMDA-MN.org Irish Music & 7 Dance Association

An Leabhragan (The Bookcase) Let the Great World Spin Colm McCann Random House 2009

It's early autumn, and if you're like me, the big stack of books you started at the beginning of the summer has winnowed down to some older novels you always meant to get around to when you got the time, but somehow never did. But what have we now, if not time? There are some real gems at the bottom of my stack. Here's one of the best of them.

The central event in this novel, to which all other events and persons are connected, is true. On August 7, 1974 a tightrope walker named Phillipe Petit breached security at the World Trade Center and, with accom- plices, strung a cable between the North and South (still under construction) towers. He entertained thousands of New Yorkers gathered on the streets below for 45 minutes; dancing, spinning, even lying down on the wire and then rising again. He finished his act by spinning into the hands of the waiting police atop the South tower.

All the other fictitious tales and characters in this book are linked in some way to this amazing true event. A dozen people in New York tell their ordinary and unique stories: An Irish lay priest provides coffee and sanctuary to the hookers on his street. A group of bereaved mothers of Vietnam soldiers meet to talk about their sons' lives before the war. The orphaned daughters of a sex worker are rescued at the last possible moment by their upstairs neighbor, who knows nothing about kids and everything about what an overbur- dened bureaucracy can do to them. Let The Great World Spin is passionate, multi-layered, at times funny, and bordering on magic. What happens to twelve souls in New York is the story of life day to day in all its splen- dor and squalor: tragedy, tenderness, loss, hope, and most of all, connections. Colm McCann asks us to look up---and see ourselves in each other's eyes. He knows how to spin the threads of a story into a spellbinding, true weave of strength and beauty. Read it and marvel at the enduring art of a great storyteller.

Sherry Ladig is a Saint Paul-based Irish trad musician and a former reviewer for the Hungry Mind Bookstore's newsletter, Fodder. She welcomes books of Irish or Irish-American or local interest to review, or- -- write a review yourself as a guest columnist. Sherry can be reached at [email protected].

Happy September reading!

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

The Hat My Father Wore

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Chorus: Oh, it’s old but it’s beautiful and the best you’ve ever seen, It was worn for more than ninety years on that little isle so green; From my father’s great ancestors it descended with galore, It’s the relic of old decency, the hat my father wore.

I bid you all good evening, good luck to you I say, And when I’m on the ocean, I hope for me you’ll pray; I am going to my happy home in a place called Ballymoor, To be welcomed back to Paddy's land with the hat my father wore.

Chorus

And when I do return again the boys and girls to see, I hope that with old Erin’s style you'll kindly welcome me; And sing me songs of Ireland to cheer me more and more, And make my Irish heart feel glad with the hat my father wore.

Chorus

The sheet music for “The Hat My Father Wore” was printed in New York City in 1876. The cover of that publication lists it as one of the “Popular Songs SUNG BY JOHNNY ROACH THE GREAT FACIAL AR- TISTE” with words written by Daniel Macarthy. Vaudevillian Johnny Roach also had a hand in popularizing the song “Dick Darby the Cobbler” (sung by Tommy Makem and countless others) as that song was part of a larger routine he did called, simply, “The Cobbler.” Roach also sang “When McGuiness Gets a Job” which, along with both other songs, went into tradition in the north woods. It is also worth noting that “The Hat My Father Wore” and the Orangeman’s song “The Sash My Father Wore” are directly related in text and tune but it is unclear which came first.

The Hat” was in the repertoire of Minnesota singer Michael Dean and many other north woods singers I have researched throughout the Great Lakes and Maritimes. The above melodic transcription comes from the beautiful singing of Maine/Nova Scotia singer Carrie Grover (thanks to two digitized recordings available on the Carrie Grover Project site). Grover’s melody is full of delicious deviations from the much simpler melody printed in the 1876 sheet music. The text above is my own blend of Dean’s and Grover’s.

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. www.IMDA-MN.org Irish Music & 10 Dance Association

Smidirini* (*Irish for ‘Bits and Pieces’) By Copper Shannon

. Comhghairdeas lenár gcairde a phós le gairid! (Congratulations to our friends who recently married!) to Cara Weggler (of the traditional band Dòrain) and Phill Menge on their recent wedding. “May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace. May your troubles grow few as your blessings increase.”

. Beannachtai Dé ar a hanam. (God’s blessings on her soul.) Maeve O’Mara offers this insight: “We lost a good person in Kathleen (Annie) Pruszinske, nee O’Connell. Kathleen was born and reared in Tarbert, Co. Kerry. Like many Irish emigrants, she first emigrated to England where she met her husband, Al, who was serving in the American Air Force. She followed him back to Little Falls where they were married. Kathleen worked all her life as a seamstress and she was one of the best in The Cities. When Al and herself moved to St. Paul Kathleen worked at St. Paul Sportswear and eventually the Wedding Shoppe on Grand Avenue.

Kathleen was always involved in the Irish community and loved a good party. As Sheila Jordan said, “Kathleen and Mary (Morrissey) would come in the night to a party where everyone else was losing steam and they were ready to go til the wee hours – she had the best voice ever.” Liz O’Leary put it well “sure she was wonderful so full of warmth and fun and energy” or as Eileen O’Connell said “she was simply lovely.” Kathleen was a member of the Nativity Parish and she would attend often mass with her Irish friends, Mary and Monica. She was preceded in death by her son, Jimmy, and is survived by her loving husband of 66 years, Al and son Mike. RIP.”

Looking for the IMDA Community Calendar?

As you know, nearly everything is on hold right now, but the calendar includes a number of on-line events. Keep an eye on the calendar as our “Stay at Home” order is modified in the coming weeks.

We’ll add events as the information becomes available.

The IMDA Community Calendar is your go-to place to find out what’s happening in Irish music, dance, literature and cultural events in the Twin Cities and beyond.

The Center for Irish Music

Come check us out at The Celtic Junction Arts Center

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

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All Request Live Stream with The Langer's Ball Every Wednesday, 7:00 pm facebook.com/langers.ball

The Langer’s Ball is the Minnesota Renaissance Festival House Band for the 2020 Feast of Fantasy 2020

Tickets are still available this weekend - Saturday, Sunday AND Monday! It is a socially-distanced, outdoor event. Get your tickets here. https://tickets.vendini.com/ticket-software.html…

Patsy O’Brien at Irish on Grand

1124 Grand Ave, St Paul, MN 55105 Thursdays. Noon –1:00

Livestreamed from Patsy’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/patsysongs

Also, catch Patsy’s Friday 12:30 pm lunchtime livestream from his Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/patsysongs

www.IMDA-MN.org Irish Music & 12 Dance Association

Let’s celebrate our love of Irish dance at the first annual International Irish Dance Day! This event takes place Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day.

Irish Dance Schools will be congregating at The Celtic Junction for a private Irish Dance celebration. Due to the pandemic, this will be a socially-distanced outside event. Although we are starting small this year, we have big dreams to have International Irish Dance Day be a pillar for our dance genre and something that is celebrated by everyone with a connection to Irish Dance.

Participating dance schools and schedule to be announced.

IMDA Membership

Demonstrate your support of live Irish music, dance and cultural activities by becoming a member of the Irish Music and Dance Association. Become a supporting member by making a financial contribution. Member bands, businesses and organizations receive priority listing in the IMDA Community Resources List. All IMDA members receive the newsletter by e-mail. ’ Name: Today s Date:

Address: Where did you hear about us?

Membership Type (circle one) Individual $20 ______Family $25 ______by US Mail $35 ______

Band/Organization/Business $25 ______Name ______(Name of Band/Organization/Business)

Interests (circle all that apply) Music Dance Theatre Language Volunteer

E-mail Address: ______Phone Number: ______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 11/201

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

Or visit the IMDA website (www.imda.org) to pay electronically.