
Central Missouri Celtic Arts Association Newsletter, November 7, 2002
In this Issue:
* CONCERT THIS Saturday, Nov 9 Barbara and Bernie McDonald
* Upcoming concert Tom Sweeney, Irish singer, Friday, Nov 22
(Reservations required)
* Irish Step Dance and Harmony Singing Classes begin soon
* Highland Pipe and Drums Workshop, Nov 23-24, Springfield, IL
* Kirkin of the Tartans in Springfield MO, Nov 30
* Dates for 2003 St. Louis Tionol and Celtic Festival
* Local and Regional Calendar of Events---------------------------
There will not be a Second Thursday Jam Session this month at Cherry Street Artisan, due to the opening of the play "Still as Rain" on Nov 14.
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Concert ~~~ Concert ~~ Concert ~~ Concert ~~ Concert
CMCAA Presents Barbara and Bernie McDonald, traditional Irish musicians
in concert at Cherry Street Artisan, Saturday November 9, 800 p.m.
$5 cover (kids 14 & under attend free, as always)Bernie McDonald, host of the "Ireland in America" radio show on KDHX St. Louis, is a self-taught, finger-style guitarist, composer and singer. Barbara is an excellent flutist who has been playing since she was seven years old and has traveled to Ireland to study and hone her skills. Mutual love of Irish music brought the couple together in the eighties and they've performed together since, sharing their joy in the music with audiences far and wide. They play traditional dance tunes songs, and are particularly well known for their lovely styling of the tunes of the 17th century blind Irish harper, Turlough Carolan.
Bernie and Barbara have performed at the Fall Festival of the Arts and First Night Columbia, but this will be the first full-length concert here in many years.
You can give them a listen if you aren't convinced!
Barbara and Bernie play an O'Carolan tune called Loftus
Bernie sings the traditional song "The Trees they Grow High"The concert begins at 800, and since there will not be a Celtic Jam on the second Thursday of November, we'll have a jam session after the concert. So bring an instrument or a song, and prepare for a really fun evening!
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Special Concert Announcement
House Concert with Tom Sweeney, Irish singer, Friday November 22, 8 p.m.
Tom Sweeney, nephew of Tommy Makem and grandson of the great singer Sarah Makem, is a ballad singer, story-teller and poet very much in keeping with the bardic tradition.
I've arranged this concert on short notice because it was a serendipitous opportunity to get Tom here since he was already going to be in the area. I saw him perform last year at a festival I attended in Ireland and really enjoyed him. He wraps all of his songs in stories, poems and history about the places and people, weaving them together into a seamless tapestry. Two hours flew by and we could have listened for many more!
$12 at the door or in advance
kids 14 & under attend free, but must have a reservation
Seating is limited to 45 people, so please make your reservations right away.To make reservations, read more about Tom and listen to two songs from his CD "The Fair Hills of Ireland," see http://www.chivalry.com/moceltic/sweeney.html
Tom would normally be much more expensive to present, but he's performing in St. Louis the next evening and needed another gig for Friday. Our good fortune!
We've not done a house concert since August, 2001, but they are really fun and very relaxed, so I'm looking forward to this!
WORKSHOP If you would be interested in attending a song workshop with Tom Sweeney at 6 p.m., (before the concert), please send me an e-mail. kakers@chivalry.com
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November 23-24 Two-Day Pipe and Drum Workshop in Springfield IL
The website for the workshop is http://www.central-illinois-celts.org/PipeDrumWorkshop.htm
Registration fee is $60
If you are interested in attending, contact Joyce McBeth at jmcbeth@mizzou.edu or (h)256-8155 (w)882-0785
She is planning to attend from Columbia, and is looking for people to share travel expenses and even has an extra practice chanter and set of drumsticks to lend someone.
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Irish Step Dancing Classes, taught by Ellie Grace
To register egrace@coin.org 573-256-4042
Beginning Irish Step dancing
* Wednesday evenings from 620 - 720
* Class runs for six weeks and begins on November 13th
* Cost for the session is $75Intermediate Intermediate Irish or Intermediate Tap
* Wednesday evenings from 730 - 830
* Class runs for six weeks and begins on November 13th
* Cost for the session is $75
* For dancers who have taken at least one class with me or have prior experience
Note - Whether it is Irish or tap is determined by the demand!By-Ear Harmony Singing Class, taught by Leela Grace
Register Call 573-256-6292 or e-mail lgrace@coin.org
When: Mondays 730-900 p.m. starting next Monday, November 11th
How Long: 6 weeks
Price: $75.00 for whole session (ask about provisions if you know you will miss one or more class(es) during the session, and/or if you are interested in registering multiple members of your household), due in full at the first class.
Age: 13 and up (ask about younger kids)What is this By-Ear Harmony Class All About Anyway Mostly it is all about singing . . . singing together, finding your voice, finding the power of voices raised in song together, listening, laughing, and generally having lots of fun. We will learn to understand harmonies and how they work by SINGING lots of different kinds of songs (mostly in the folk vein, although I have been known to delve into other genres a bit)! All abilities and experience levels are welcome (these classes have generally had a rather broad range of ability and experience -- from the self-proclaimed non-singers to the closet car-singers to the classically trained choral singers -- and everyone seems to find a great deal to learn and be very open and understanding)
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4th Annual Kirkin’ o the Tartans, in Springfield MO, Nov 16
The Celtic Society of the Ozarks and St. Johns Episcopal Church will celebrate Saint Andrew’s Day (November 30th) and the Scottish roots of the Episcopal Church with the 4th Annual Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans on Saturday, November 16, 2002 at 700 pm. St. John’s Episcopal Church is located at 515. East Division Street, Springfield MO, at the corner of Division and Benton Avenue.
The Kirkin’ service originated during the Second World War to raise funds for the British war relief and features flags, kilts, tartan, bagpipes, traditional hymns, readings and prayers to honor Scottish heritage and the contributions made to the United States by the Scottish people.
A special offering will be collected this year in the spirit of the original Kirkin’. All are welcome, regardless of denomination. There will be a reception afterwards in the parish hall with a Scottish Country Dance Demonstration, traditional music and sweets.
For more information, please contact Todd Wilkinson at 417.890.5653.
http://www.geocities.com/celticchief/----------------------------
On the horizon.... The St. Louis Tionol and Mississippi River Celtic Festival will be the weekend of March 28-30. Organizer Mike Mullins is already assembling a great line-up of master musicians to teach workshops and play music, so mark your calendar!
The Tionol and Festival usually includes a Ceilidh Friday night lots of music and dancing, intensive workshops all day Saturday, a concert Saturday evening with all the musician instructors performing, and a brunch at McGurk's and sessions most of the day on Sunday.
Information about the weekend will be posted here www.tionol.org