Cultural Preparations

[alternative-energy]

My local pub has a folk night, sing / play around once a month.( I have jsut returned, hopefully not too worse for wear.) I've been attending for about 5 years now and within the last 3 years or so have learnt and performed between 3 - 4 songs each session. My wife can play the concertina and though is much more musical than myself does not find it so easy to perform in public. It's very daunting when singing for the first time, especially if like me you aren’t really that good, but the folks there are very supportive and know that new performers must be encouraged for the tradition to live on. Now I have about 30 songs in my repertoire which I can either sing unaccompanied or with the aid of simple guitar chords. Some of the regular folkies have hundreds of songs and stories that they can call upon and I find it a real inspiration,
It does strike me that the learning and performing songs, traditional or otherwise, is a bit of a dying art, as is sharing a traditional song together, even if it is joining in with a chorus. Those that go to church would know what I mean as many traditional tunes were plagiarised to be used in church hymns but that's another story. Also I much prefer to sing with a pint in my hand!!
For me and a few of my friends we really enjoy the opportunity to enjoy each others and our community’s talents in this way.
Is anyone else here involved in anything similar and would you agree with me that this type of resilience is as important as growing your own veg.

[extractorfan]

Is anyone else here involved in anything similar and would you agree with me that this type of resilience is as important as growing your own veg.

I would agree with you yes. In my pub songs such as "I'd rather be a p*cki then a scott" are regularly sung towards the end of the evening, and although I don't like it I tend to hide my feelings on the matter and have thought before that it still, however tribal and primitive, performs the same social bonding. Perhaps as time goes on these types of song may evolve into ballards such as "when the ship comes in", still a call to war but on a much more intellectual level.

[DominicJ]

bloody 'ell where do you drink!

[extractorfan]

It's what might be termed a working mans pub, I won't name it outright but anyone who knows Ricky area would probably guess.

Up north we used to call this sort of place a reptile house. It's not as bad as it might sound.

[biffvernon]

Our local folk club, which meets fortnightly, used to have a guest each month - somebody semi-professional who was paid to perform. The last few years the quality of local floor singers who just do it for the love of it has been so high that the organiser rarely invites a guest. And it's not just old men with a finger in their ear but a whole new generation of young troupadores.

[emordnilap]

Is anyone else here involved in anything similar and would you agree with me that this type of resilience is as important as growing your own veg.

One of the central reasons I live where I do is the music (and song). It is massive here, no exaggeration. Music (we both play) is just everywhere to the extent that we have many choices of places to play, practically any night. Monday nights are a bit quieter...

As for singing, it is unbelievably strong. Much is unaccompanied but it depends on the general consensus. I don't sing myself but I get involved in various ways with local singing. The nicest music sessions are those where some of the musicians are singers too.

It is part of the culture; it never went away. It is the only place I've ever been where anyone can sing a song any time, virtually any where (pubs being the obvious venues but not necessarily) and people will listen and usually praise.

On top of those 'public' performances, we're invited to house sessions every few weeks and have our own. Now there is real bonding! Sessions in pubs are well and good but getting to know people over a tune, song, sandwich, cup of tea, can of beer, learning a few words of Irish, whatever, in their own home, those are the most memorable, enjoyable and, ultimately, most useful nights.

Oh, and I haven't seen a single person with a finger in their ear in all the time I've been here!

[alternative-energy]

Is anyone else here involved in anything similar and would you agree with me that this type of resilience is as important as growing your own veg.

One of the central reasons I live where I do is the music (and song). It is massive here, no exaggeration. Music (we both play) is just everywhere to the extent that we have many choices of places to play, practically any night. Monday nights are a bit quieter...

As for singing, it is unbelievably strong. Much is unaccompanied but it depends on the general consensus. I don't sing myself but I get involved in various ways with local singing. The nicest music sessions are those where some of the musicians are singers too.

It is part of the culture; it never went away. It is the only place I've ever been where anyone can sing a song any time, virtually any where (pubs being the obvious venues but not necessarily) and people will listen and usually praise.

On top of those 'public' performances, we're invited to house sessions every few weeks and have our own. Now there is real bonding! Sessions in pubs are well and good but getting to know people over a tune, song, sandwich, cup of tea, can of beer, learning a few words of Irish, whatever, in their own home, those are the most memorable, enjoyable and, ultimately, most useful nights.

Oh, and I haven't seen a single person with a finger in their ear in all the time I've been here!

Sounds like you have a very active music life!

Biff's comment about the age of the musicians is interesting. My local is very much of the old man type - and I guess the quality of the performers is not that great; not a problem for me as I'm no spring chicken with a voice of a lark myself!
Perhaps due to the South East reserve this type of event does not seem to attract the younger musicians or perhaps it's because there's too many old men there!

[emordnilap]

Biff's comment about the age of the musicians is interesting.

We mix with five-year-olds to one-hundred-and-five-year-olds. It's particularly gratifying to see oldsters picking up new stuff off the youngsters!

But something else - I can't think of a young musician/singer (say, below 18) who is in any way obnoxious to know, apart from maybe having the rare swelled head from being quite obviously a very good musician.

Is it a type of person who learns music or does the music make nice people?

[Ludwig]

Biff's comment about the age of the musicians is interesting.

We mix with five-year-olds to one-hundred-and-five-year-olds. It's particularly gratifying to see oldsters picking up new stuff off the youngsters!

But something else - I can't think of a young musician/singer (say, below 18) who is in any way obnoxious to know, apart from maybe having the rare swelled head from being quite obviously a very good musician.

Is it a type of person who learns music or does the music make nice people?

The rare experience I have of playing (badly) violin duets is that communal music making bonds people in a very deep way, and skill at bonding generally makes people happy and relaxed.

I wasn't good enough to really enjoy it, but I got a sense of just "knowing" what the other player was going to do. I know it sounds weird, but the sense of intimacy can be almost sexual.

[Catweazle]

I know it sounds weird, but the sense of intimacy can be almost sexual.

Singing a duet can be like that.

[Eternal Sunshine]

It's what might be termed a working mans pub, I won't name it outright but anyone who knows Ricky area would probably guess.

Up north we used to call this sort of place a reptile house. It's not as bad as it might sound.

I think I'd change my pub.

[PS_RalphW]

We are organising our local band of woodcraft kids to sing (campfire style) songs at a local OAP home next month. It's either going to be brilliant or excruciating...

[alternative-energy]

We are organising our local band of woodcraft kids to sing (campfire style) songs at a local OAP home next month. It's either going to be brilliant or excruciating...

[woodpecker]

I've joined a harpsichord group and have also taken up small-group piano lessons to improve my keyboard skills.

A lot of the old English virginal and spinet music - which can be played on virginal, bent-side spinet or harpsichord - was based on traditional tunes.

These instruments are good company for violins, recorders etc. A bent-side spinet is surprisingly portable (and you can even get a harpsichord, which is bigger, into a car, unlike a piano). There's been quite a resurgence of the craft skills involved in making these instruments, and the virginal and spinet are also great instruments to build for someone with a few DIY skills.

Quick intro to the virginal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrr8g3b- ... re=related

[DominicJ]

I've joined a harpsichord group and have also taken up small-group piano lessons to improve my keyboard skills.

Do they play anything interesting?
I get really really bored playing soggy semolina, but for all the whining about how modern pop music is too simple, I cant find any books that teach this simple music.