Mad for Trad

A few from Saturday night. I've been on a bit of a shooting spree lately, so tried to lie low, photographically, that is. I didn't even take my real camera with me, thinking I wouldn't photograph anything at all, but I found that idea impossible, so yeah, between my cell phone and my G12, I did grab a few - couldn't help it - love these guys! The fact that I can play even one note and share the same air in the room - never mind being allowed to sit in with these top-of-the-line musicians - just blows my mind.













































This lass had the courage to belly up to what would have been - to any other beginning musician - a rather formidable group of grown-ups and play her accordion. Well done! (this last one taken with my Droid)

I just love the family aspect of this music.

House Session, 11-26-11

A few highlights (shot in very dim light @ISO 6400):

Frank Forde

This news arrived today from Rosanne Santucci via the Greenbriar mailing list:

Sad news!
We just heard from Larry Reynolds that Frank Forde - our gentle singer of a thousand songs in English and Irish - passed away quietly this morning. There are no details as yet about his funeral, but when they are available we will pass them on.
All of us at the Green Briar will very much miss Frank. He knew endless song and, weak as his voice had become lately, always started singing precisely in a standard key. I'll never know how he did that.
We would like to express our sympathy to his family - and particularly to his grandson, Brian, who was always at Frank's shoulder, supporting him.


Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
(May his soul be on God's right hand . . . May he rest in peace!)

I loved Frank - who didn't - and especially loved watching Frank and Brian together. Frank didn't know me all that well, but he always made me feel special.  God bless you, sir.

The following are from Frank's Birthday celebration at the Greenbriar last January.

We'll Go No More A-Roving/the Wise Maid

The audio was recorded last Saturday night, November 12, 2011 at the Littlest Bar, Boston, Massachusetts - one of the best sessions I've ever been to - and the photos are a compilation of some of the favorites I've taken in the past year and a half, in various sessions in Boston and on Martha's Vineyard.



Sunday November 20 - I discovered today that the first tune is called The Jolly Beggar Man.

There was a jolly beggarman
Came tripping o'er the plain
He came unto a farmer's door
A lodging for to gain
The farmer's daughter she came down
And viewed him cheek and chin
She says "He is a handsome man
I pray you take him in"

We'll go no more a roving
A roving in the night
We'll go no more a roving
Let the moon shine so bright
We'll go no more a roving

He would not lie within the barn
Nor yet within the byre
But he would in the corner lie
Down by the kitchen fire
O then the beggar's bed was made
Of good clean sheets and hay
And down beside the kitchen fire
The jolly beggar lay

We'll go no more a roving
A roving in the night
We'll go no more a roving
Let the moon shine so bright
We'll go no more a roving

The farmer's daughter she got up
To bolt the kitchen door
And there she saw the beggar
Standing naked on the floor
He took the daughter in his arms
And to the bed he ran
Kind sir, she says, be easy now
You'll waken our goodman

We'll go no more a roving
A roving in the night
We'll go no more a roving
Let the moon shine so bright
We'll go no more a roving

Now you are no beggar
You are some gentleman
For you have stolen my maidenhead
And I am quite undone
I am no lord, I am no squire
Of beggars I be one
And beggars they be robbers all
So you're quite undone

We'll go no more a roving
A roving in the night
We'll go no more a roving
Let the moon shine so bright
We'll go no more a roving

Vineyard Sesh, 2011

Second Annual Vineyard Autumn Session. Thanks for coming and making the music and the weekend great.

There were eleven musicians in all, this is from one of our first sets: The Rolling Wave, The Rolling Waves, and Behind the Haystack.

Another from Jim

Well, Jim's been at it again and surprised me with this one today:

Sara from Edgartown - Jig

My friend Jim McAuley, from County Antrim, Ireland, wrote a tune for me and has created a video that combines his tune with a few of my photos - of Edgartown and some of the people I have played with there. Jim is great - a wonderful teacher, and does so much for the music and the musicians, so this is indeed an honor. Thanks, Jim - well done!

Liam Hart at Tommy Doyle's

Liam Hart - Amhran an Da Chuan from Ryan Abernathey on Vimeo.

Recorded live at Tommy Doyle's pub in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Mass. Featuring Sean Connor on fiddle and David Bowman on whistle. Recorded by Ryan Abernathey and Sara Piazza and edited by Ryan.

We are there every Wednesday and Thursday evening!

Just Me

In a black room. Nothing fancy, or perfect, just a couple of relatively new tunes - one hot off the press (and perhaps not quite ready for prime time) this morning.

Da Slockit Light and The Hut on Staffin Island from Sara Piazza on Vimeo.

Taking advantage of an empty black room with a bit of morning window light and great acoustics. These are two of my favorite tunes from this past summer's porch sessions and will always be inextricably linked to Bob and the summer of 2011. The inter-weaving of tunes and people from all over is what I love the most about this music.

The Tosa Waltz from Sara Piazza on Vimeo.

This sweet waltz I learned this morning from my friend Jim McAuley in County Antrim, thanks to the wonders of the Internet and YouTube. Thanks, Jim!

A Few Last Tunes with Cormac

Safe travels, my friend, and come back soon!

Tommy Doyle's, Wednesday Night August 24, 2011 from Sara Piazza on Vimeo.

One last set with Cormac - this time around, anyway.

Penultimate Porch Party

Our second-to-last porch session for this season was wonderful - one of the best of the summer, I think. Between the brilliant musicians who have found their way to the porch - not the easiest session to get to, mind you, between busy summer schedules, buses, traffic, and ferries - so kudos and many thanks to all who bothered to venture this way, and many thanks as well as to the people who have stopped by to listen and/or to play with us; and thank you especially to the loyal regulars - Bob, David, Susie, and Karen. These sessions have truly made my summer, and I hope the music has brought a little joy to Main Street, as well (and judging by the smiles and the dancing on the sidewalk, that would be answered in the affirmative). A clipping that is in my possession -  from the Vineyard Gazette in 1948 (related post, link) - documents the moving of this house, by a team of oxen in 1848 to its present location, culminating with a party that included a feast and fiddlers, and my childhood in this house included many a kitchen hootenanny - with family and friends and neighbors gathered around the table - so it is only fitting, and deeply meaningful to me, that this house is becoming once again a gathering place and filled with music, in the tradition of Irish and folk music the world over. Thanks, everyone. To be continued.





Saturday Night Porch Session, August 20, 2011 from Sara Piazza on Vimeo.
Our regular Saturday night session, greatly enhanced this week by the addition of Emily, concertina and whistle; Adrienne, fiddle; and Dirk, guitar - all three from the North Shore of Boston; and Mando Mike, from Boston. Great stuff, everyone!


























































The morning after.
For the photo-tech geeks: video was shot with the G12,  BWs with the 5D (amazing quality for ISO 6400 and very low light, I think).

More Porch Magic

Edgartown Porch Session, August 13, 2011 from Sara Piazza on Vimeo.

Another magical Saturday night in Edgartown, featuring top-notch music, a steady stream of friends - including a healthy dose of townies, as well as many happy passersby, with special guests, Jose - from Bolivia, making a return visit with his charango; Eric, down from Boston; and Irene, who regaled us with a few more stories and songs from her childhood in Ireland. Thanks, everyone - especially the stalwarts, David, Bob, and Susie, for helping me to fill my home - indeed, the whole neighborhood - with music and making these sessions and the summer of 2011 truly wonderful.

Irene Max Introduces The Lonely Woods of Upton from Sara Piazza on Vimeo.

Irene Max Sings The Lonely Woods of Upton from Sara Piazza on Vimeo.

Porch Session, August 6, 2011

Edgartown Porch Session, August 6, 2011 from Sara Piazza on Vimeo.

Dual whistling by David and Chris; backed by Bob. A wonderful Saturday night in Edgartown, with many people stopping by the porch - friends and strangers alike.

Thanks, especially, to Chris for coming all the way down from Boston, and to Irene - from Derry - who graced us with stories and songs from Ireland.

Tommy Doyle's, Thursday Night, August 4, 2011

So great to be back in town for a couple of days.

Tommy Doyle's, Thursday Night, August 4, 2011 from Sara Piazza on Vimeo.

Messing with Premiere Elements - not enough time in the day to learn all I want to learn - in every department. Shot with G12. Great to be back in Cambridge - love you guys!

The Kane Sisters & Edel Fox at Katherine Cornell Theater

Great concert last night at Katherine Cornell Theater on the Vineyard. Lovely ladies, great spirit and energy, fabulous music! Thank you!

The Kane Sisters & Edel Fox at Katherine Cornell Theater from Sara Piazza on Vimeo.

Edel Fox at Katherine Cornell Theater from Sara Piazza on Vimeo.

A favorite set - When the Cock Crows, You Know it's Day/Patsy Garrity.

The Kane Sisters & Edel Fox II from Sara Piazza on Vimeo.

The Kane Sisters & Edel Fox at Katherine Cornell Theater IV from Sara Piazza on Vimeo.