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The George Session - December 2007.


PeterT

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Spot Alan Day and one or two other C.net members lurking in these videos:

 

The George Session - 1

<a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DaPp8pOR9B4" target="_blank">http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DaPp8pOR9B4</a>

 

The George Session - 2

On d'onoren gorda/Bourrée d'Egletons:

<a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca2qonkYDKo" target="_blank">http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca2qonkYDKo</a>

 

The George Session - 3

<a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2NgrTgA3Oyo" target="_blank">http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2NgrTgA3Oyo</a>

 

The George Session - 4

<a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9HWjX74eozA" target="_blank">http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9HWjX74eozA</a>

 

The George Session - 5

<a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XE0t_iY0Ngg" target="_blank">http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XE0t_iY0Ngg</a>

 

The George Session - 6 (added 5th December, for the fans of hurdy-gurdy!)

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=OpY9w50EIEQ

 

 

For those interested in London's historic buildings, here's some information about The George Inn:

 

<a href="http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/...ce/w-georgeinn/" target="_blank">http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/...ce/w-georgeinn/</a>

Edited by PeterT
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For those interested in London's historic buildings, here's some information about The George Inn:

 

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/...ce/w-georgeinn/

Excellent videos, if the background was a bit less noisy they'd make a really useful tool for practising to playing in sessions too.

 

I hadn't twigged before that it was that George Inn - an amazing pub and one of my favourite haunts in my past life working in the City. I can lay proud claim to being the third generation (& possibly the fourth) of my family to be drunk in this pub :) as my father used to meet his climbing buddies in there in his younger days, and my grandfather used to pop in there sometimes with his brothers, and he might even have taken his dad in there too :o . I'll have to make sure I take my kids there when they're old enough to keep the tradition going & when they see their old man's a bit unsteady on his feet they can carry me home B)

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[i hadn't twigged before that it was [i]that[/i] George Inn - an amazing pub and one of my favourite haunts in my past life working in the City. I can lay proud claim to being the third generation (& possibly the fourth) of my family to be drunk in this pub :) as my father used to meet his climbing buddies in there in his younger days, and my grandfather used to pop in there sometimes with his brothers, and he might even have taken his dad in there too :o . I'll have to make sure I take my kids there when they're old enough to keep the tradition going & when they see their old man's a bit unsteady on his feet they can carry me home B)

 

You see, that's what I love...family traditions. ;)

 

Great place and it was a real blast to see Al making music in his element. Just seeing these clips and checking out the George has given me a thirst. Fortunately it is Tuesday and by 7:30 I'll be a Stone's Public House with a Naraganset Ale in hand and setting out chairs for the session :P .

Edited by Mark Evans
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[i hadn't twigged before that it was [i]that[/i] George Inn - an amazing pub and one of my favourite haunts in my past life working in the City. I can lay proud claim to being the third generation (& possibly the fourth) of my family to be drunk in this pub :) as my father used to meet his climbing buddies in there in his younger days, and my grandfather used to pop in there sometimes with his brothers, and he might even have taken his dad in there too :o . I'll have to make sure I take my kids there when they're old enough to keep the tradition going & when they see their old man's a bit unsteady on his feet they can carry me home B)

 

You see, that's what I love...family traditions. ;)

 

Great place and it was a real blast to see Al making music in his element. Just seeing these clips and checking out the George has given me a thirst. Fortunately it is Tuesday and by 7:30 I'll be a Stone's Public House with a Naraganset Ale in hand and setting out chairs for the session :P .

Hopefully Mark you may join us one day at the George ,as did Allison , Jim Besser and his Wife and Daughter.

I hope it brings back some happy memories.

For most of the first half of the evening it is noisy, as you can hear, with office workers, but although they talk through the evening most are enjoying this type of music for the first time. It is sometimes difficult to hear what is being played at the other end of the table,but the sessions are good fun and you are correct Mark it is an aspect of concertina playing I enjoy the most.

Al

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[Hopefully Mark you may join us one day at the George ,as did Allison , Jim Besser and his Wife and Daughter.

I hope it brings back some happy memories.

For most of the first half of the evening it is noisy, as you can hear, with office workers, but although they talk through the evening most are enjoying this type of music for the first time. It is sometimes difficult to hear what is being played at the other end of the table,but the sessions are good fun and you are correct Mark it is an aspect of concertina playing I enjoy the most.

Al

 

That would be lovely.

 

The noise is all part of the fun for me. Folks coming and going, unwinding. I imagine that like Stone's things slow down later and there end up being two session incarnations. Late night for us is a thinned out crowd who listen and then we bitter enders can really do some nice music making.

 

I'm with Chris on the hurdy gurdys...wow!

 

Hum, a visit to the George... Perhaps Dominique will alow me to carry her bags the next time she has an engagement at the Proms. Maybe my Claude could tag along should ole dad get a little unsteady on his feet and help me out the door. :P

Edited by Mark Evans
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[Hopefully Mark you may join us one day at the George ,as did Allison , Jim Besser and his Wife and Daughter.

I hope it brings back some happy memories.

For most of the first half of the evening it is noisy, as you can hear, with office workers, but although they talk through the evening most are enjoying this type of music for the first time. It is sometimes difficult to hear what is being played at the other end of the table,but the sessions are good fun and you are correct Mark it is an aspect of concertina playing I enjoy the most.

Al

 

That would be lovely.

 

The noise is all part of the fun for me. Folks coming and going, unwinding. I imagine that like Stone's things slow down later and there end up being two session incarnations. Late night for us is a thinned out crowd who listen and then we bitter enders can really do some nice music making.

 

I'm with Chris on the hurdy gurdys...wow!

 

Hum, a visit to the George... Perhaps Dominique will alow me to carry her bags the next time she has an engagement at the Proms. Maybe my Claude could tag along should ole dad get a little unsteady on his feet and help me out the door. :P

Sounds like a good master plan to me Mark. We can also make a corner for Obi.

For those of you who do not know this instrument,there is a good close up of Mark playing the Hurdy Gurdy where you can clearly see his wrist action.By jerking the wrist as the wheel is turned it activates a little floating bridge which causes the buzzing accompaniment.This is an amazing idea and how it was developed I do not know.Possibly by mistake with something breaking half way through perhaps.A good Hurdy player can vary the buzzing sound by introducing off beats,, or playing four buzzes per revolution.The best player in the UK who used to come to our sessions got so excited when he introduced the buzzing that his speed of playing increased and we had to try and pull back the speed to what it was originally. There were two Hurdy Gurdies featured on the Rosbif albums

The person playing French bagpipes (he made himself) is the very talented Mel Stevens who plays melodion with me on the Rosbif Waltz,plays Trombone in GIGCB.Mel also plays his home made Hurdy Gurdy,plays Fiddle, also home made,used to play Banjo and is currently playing a large button accordion.I was having a conversation a while ago about Blues music and the person I was taking to said the best blues guitarist he had ever heard lived in Crawley "Mel somebody"

" Not Mel Stevens" I replied" That's him" he said.I was not even aware that Mel had ever played Guitar.

Al

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Is that 2 hurdy gurdys ??!! - Wow!

 

Chris

Well, since there appears to be some interest, I'll add video (No.6) to the original posting. Quality is not so good (you'll hear why), but I'll try to get some better "footage" at another session.

 

Regards,

Peter.

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One wonders if every George has a Dragon? :huh:

 

"Er. Can I borrow the phone?" :unsure:

"No!" :angry:

"Er. Escuse me, would you mind. Could I have a word with George for a moment?

:P

Chas

As a variation on last year's joke, Chas, I think the Dragon is known by another name.

 

Regards,

Peter.

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As someone who was also at The George Session last monday, sitting right next to Peter while he was filming (in one of the clips you can see my concertina sitting on the table, playing itself ;) ), I'd like to say that, while it is a lovely venue, there are often a lot of noisy punters in addition to us musicians. Their loud chatter does tend to drown out the music somewhat, which I find irritating, and a quiet instrument like the concertina can be barely heard. So, starting off a tune sufficiently loudly enough for others to hear what you are playing, so they can join in, can be difficult, unless of course you are Al, with his 80 decibel Jefferies! That said, all credit to Peter T for coming along with his camera, filming some of the tunes being played and posting the results on You Tube. As least you get the flavour of the session.

 

That reminds me. William Shakespeare walks into his local. "You're bard", says the landlord! Ditto, a horse. "Why the long face?", asks the barman.

 

Chris

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One wonders if every George has a Dragon? :huh:

Didn't see him in the video. I can think of two reasons:

  1. He's the one who appeared in the Beowulf movie, and now that he's professional, he won't appear without a lucrative contract.
  2. He was already off filming Beowulf II - Grendel's Revenge!

:D

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