lildogturpy

The server that hosts the Montreal Tunebook (for free - thanks Gord Fisch!) ran a security audit that really didn't like me using the unix abcm2ps behind the scenes. I rewrote the site to offload that part to a different computer that doesn't complain. Seems to be running smoothly at the moment. At least, I haven't had any complaints, either from people using the site or from Gord :-) The abcjs java rendering engine is really quite impressive. Very easy to use despite almost no documentation that I could find. The only problem I found so far with it is if you annotate notes A3A as A>A in the editor, the greater than sign confuses it.

Editor is curtesy of abcjs - pretty slick javascript implementation of abc indeed. Let me know any suggestions to make the editor better

I'll be driving down on the Friday from Montreal. Robin

Photo taken during a CD launch in 2010 Playing with my brother Steve at my fathers memorial service in 2009 Snap taken by Dave Barnert on his phone at a NESI workshop several years ago

What a fun weekend !! Chimney Corners was a very nice venue, pros and cons with the distances between venues but still, a great place. There is a use for NESI after all: Limericks

I should be arriving about 10:00pm tonight. I hope there is music still going on then :-) Does anyone know if the new venue has wi-fi?

I'll try to remember my powercord this time :-) WOW the new place looks good. I plan to be staying in a tent so long as there are no more hurricanes coming through

I plan to be there this year too. Haven't seen the new venue yet but I heard good things from those who were there last year.

I had planned to go to the 2010 NESI but couldn't at the last minute, I've had withdrawal symptoms ever since. I took a look at the new place online and it looks very promising. I have September next year pencilled in already.

Have to think about that - maybe I can suggest it to the organizers :-)

as soon as I get my ftp permission back on the server I'll add the tune to the website - thanks Chris

For those interested in quebecois music, I keep adding tunes when I have time to the quebec section of our website http://music.gordfisch.net/oregans/music/quebec.php

I confess, that is me up on the balcony. Playing an English, wheatstone Aeola, metal ended extended treble. The commando trad is a great idea. My favourite so far is number 3 I think, where they compiled video people took of themselves playing along with a radio interview on New Year's day. I am also seen fleetingly in Commando Trad 2 in a black sweater with coloured stars. There is another English concertina player in Commando Trad two, but I can't remember his name. The balcony I was standing on felt a little shakey and I was glad I wasn't one of the dancers on the other balconies. It's all in a good cause, to get traditional quebecois music out there :-)

I would have to agree with L'Albatroce on this. Living in Montreal it is amazing how completely bilingual people who have grown up here are. Many have not a trace of accent in either language. A very common feature of any conversation is a peppering of words and expressions of both languages.

Spindizzy is Christine Jordan, based on her page at Jodrell Bank Observatory. Close to my parents house since you can see Jodrell Bank from White Nancy

I believe Marc (Australia) is Markus Dow

I play mostly ITM on the EC but also add in some English, French and Quebecois tunes along the way. I must confess to being at a loss over the discussion of whether the EC can play ITM. All comparisons seem to be with the Anglo but the EC is a completely different approach to making sound, almost like comparing a banjo and a fiddle, which can both use the same tuning but the movements required to make sound are completely different. To me it seems to boil down to, do you like the sound or not?

I gather there is still some accommodation available in the NESI cabins and that the enrolment is down on last year. Probably because of the clash. Still, I'll be at NESI and we're bound to have some fun. If I could put in a request for some nice warm sunny weather, everything would be perfect.

I've been working on the C#D accordion for the last year with a few of the quebecois tunes. I'm all for learning a few more. I've been trying to transcribe quebecois tunes from the SPTDQ school here in Montreal. Making progress but lots more to do. They will be going up on our website as soon as I have them ready (Montreal Session Website)

I'm planning on driving down from Montreal on the Friday afternoon. See you all there.

I think perhaps the most visible case of this was astronomer Patrick Moore on television. While he was talking a fly flew into his mouth. He simply swallowed it and carried on.

It's going to be cold in the campground

You should certainly drop by our regular Wednesday night session at O'Regan's pub on Bishop, just south of Ste Catherines. Mostly Irish but some Quebecois. Very friendly crowd.

Unfortunately No. I would love to go, it's a great weekend but I'm stuck here in Canada this year. You could always come up and play some tunes here :-)

Dear All As I write this I’m sitting at my ‘office’ window looking at the recent snow sparkling in the fading sun ontop of the Torridon Mountains in the distance. Yes, I was fortunate enough to sell my house in Otley and I have moved to ‘bonny Scotland’ – so please make a note of my new contact details below. Whilst we all seem to have come to a standstill because of the snow, it’s hard to think that spring is just round the corner, but it won’t be long before it’s time for this year’s Swaledale Squeeze – a convivial weekend of concertina playing, meeting friends, music, concert, ceilidh, sessions, Black Sheep bitter, walks, the comfort of Grinton Lodge and fantastic scenery – what more could one want!! As usual, everything will be centred on Grinton Lodge (a former shooting lodge) which is now a Youth Hostel, based just outside Reeth, in the picturesque setting of Swaledale. The venue is excellent for our purposes and we are made to feel very welcome. All accommodation is in bunk rooms (bedding provided) and meals are included for those in bunks (with or without the Friday evening meal which will be served at 7.30pm). Campervans and tents are also welcome but, because the dining room is relatively small, campers are asked to use the self-catering kitchen. There are also many B&Bs in the area if you would like more comfort/privacy – please let me know if you’d like a list. You are welcome to bring your own alcohol to the ceilidh but not to consume at Grinton Lodge. Friday consists of a walk in the afternoon led by Nick Hopkinson (for those who can make it), a meal at 7.30 pm and informal sessions in the evening – a chance to unwind after your journey, play a few tunes and meet friends old and new. I will also put on a couple of kegs of Black Sheep! There will be workshops on Saturday and Sunday, a mini-concert on Saturday featuring Pauline de Snoo & friends, a ceilidh on the Saturday evening, featuring ‘spots’ from participants, and a farewell concert on Sunday afternoon, including tutors’ ‘spots’. The ceilidh & concert will be held at Reeth Memorial Hall. Families & friends are welcome too – they may enjoy the area’s many craft shops, tearooms and outstanding walks. Once again we have an interesting line-up of tutors. Two of our guest tutors are well known to you and will be making a welcome return: Alistair Anderson (English) and Iris Bishop (Duet). We will also be welcoming a new Guest Tutor, Claire Keville (Anglo). Claire comes from Co. Galway and presents a Music programme on Clare FM Radio. Both sides of her family had a strong interest in music and she is well known to Harry Scurfield who says “Claire Keville is a great concertina player, at the heart of a rich tradition. I have heard her in the company of some of my favourite great 'Irish trad' musicians such as Pat O'Connor, Mary MacNamara, Andrew MacNamara, and many others: she brings her own powerful style, with a rich, thoughtful emotion and a beautiful controlled technique. In a region known for its many excellent concertina players, Claire Keville contributes her own special individual part." Our regular team of tutors will also be there: Harry Scurfield (Anglo), Paul Walker (Anglo and English), Pauline de Snoo (English), Dave Ball (English) and Carolyn Wade, once again conducting the Concertina Band. Best wishes, Jane Edwards wrenbeck_at_googlemail_dot_com