ovff highlights (part 3)

Me, Jodi, Marlene Lusk and Allison. It was Marlene's FIRST
filk convention!


(continued from Part 1 and Part 2)

More personal highlights...

- When Paul Kwinn played Homecoming on guitar so that Allison, Jodi and I could sing it. My tendinitis is much improved, but I'm still not up to much guitarstuff yet. As a result, we've had to drop several Urban Tapestry songs in which I play guitar. Homecoming is one of these. Paul did a wonderful job; not surprising, since his group Puzzlebox covers this song. Thank you, Paul!




Paul, Seanan and Alisa perform in the Pegasus nominees' concert.


- The Pegasus nominee concert. It does tend to be several hours long, but there's always a good variety of filk songs and performers, and sometimes you get to hear performers do songs they don't normally cover. I enjoyed hearing Paul Kwinn, Alisa Garcia, and Seanan Maguire do "Black Davies Ride" by Cynthia McQuillan, for example.

- Hearing Alisa and Paul (part of Puzzlebox) perform together again.




Alisa and Scott.


- Playing Lady of the Wood with Scott Snyder, Allison and Jodi. It's a gorgeous song (by Scott) and brings back a lot of great memories.




Part of our children's concert audience. We ended up
with far more adults than kids. :-)


- Our children's concert was WAY fun to perform with Rand & Adam, and I think the audience had a good time as well, both kids and adults. :-) The playlist included: Hockey Monkey song, The Rattlin' Bog, I'm Gonna Make A Rocket Ship (my new song), Math, I'm A Believer, Columbia, Still Can't Buy Me Love.




Katy and Ju in concert, Judy signing.


- Hearing Seanan and Merav's music group perform. Such wonderful harmonies! I heard them do a one-shot as well as perform in the open filk circle.

- Kathleen Sloan asking Urban Tapestry to write her bio for the GAfilk program book. (insert evil cackle of anticipatory glee here)




Irish session filk.


- The Irish session filk. I SO enjoyed just sitting in the middle of the room and listening, letting the music flow all around, lifting me up. The joy in that room was infectious. I'd love to play along someday, not just noodling but actually being able to play the melodies along with the other session participants. Part of the reason I'm choosing the whistle is that I figure it'll be easier on my arms than the flute and guitar. I was also starting to do a bit of Celtic stuff on my harp when the tendinitis hit. Haven't been able to play harp for two years now, not sure when I'm going to be able to again.

Just looking at my harp in the corner of our living room puts a lump in my throat and an ache in my chest. I miss playing my harp more than I can say. Even writing about it is difficult.

Instead of moping about it, however, I'm trying very hard to focus on expanding my musical horizons other ways. Like singing more and learning about the Irish session tradition!




Another Irish session filk photo.


In fact, maybe some of you out there with Irish session experience can help me. I'd like to do a LOT more listening and will definitely investigate Toronto area sessions, but are there any recordings any of you can recommend for a newbie?




Ookla The Mok during a practice.


Also, I realize that REAL Irish session musicians don't learn from sheet music but being a paper-trained musician, I think it'll save me time if I do, then memorize the tunes. Can anyone recommend a good sheet music collection? I already have a music book and tapes from Homespun Tapes.




Andrea Dale.


Ironically, I was mistaken for being Irish once on the phone during my Inkspot days. An advertiser said he noticed a slight Irish accent, asked me about it. I laughed and said he wouldn't be asking if he could see me.

Though maybe he thought my last name ("Ohi") was pronounced "Oh-HEE" with an Irish lilt. :-)




Carla Ulbrich and Joe Giacoio in concert, with volunteers. Note the classy t-shirts!


Allison has been posting con reports and photos in her Livejournal, by the way, including a page of photos which includes shots of our children's concert, the beaded rings that Amanda made us, and me on penny whistle.




Allison and Rand.


Please note that I've uploaded most of these photos and will be uploading more to the Flickr Filking Group.

Hey, Allison and I are going to see Tom Paxton and Christine Lavin perform at Hugh's Room tomorrow night! I've never seen either; I am pretty hyped.




Rob, Andy, Dave and Erica.


And another HEY...Jeff actually posted in Blatherchat last night (about the chocolate bars)! I don't think he's posted there in years.




Allison, Jodi, Amanda, Scott, Bryan, Rand and Mary,
just before Scott & Amanda left.

Again, many thanks to the concom for putting this convention together. It was so wonderful to get together with old friends, and I also very much enjoyed meeting several newcomers to the filking community.

It's always hard saying good-bye at the end of the convention, but then again it's part of what makes these events so special to me. Each convention weekend is unique with its own wonderful moments of music and fellowship; deep down, you know that though there will be other enjoyable conventions, there will never be another just like this one. And for those few days, the rest of the world is a million miles away.

A song Allison wrote expresses some of my own feelings so well that I might as well just quote it here; it remains one of my all-time favourite Urban Tapestry songs:

---

MONDAY

Words and music by Allison Durno Apr/1998

My thoughts are unfocussed,
My memories are rambling as
I move through the ordinary
World of everyday,
Warmed by our friendship
Sure in the knowing
That wherever you are
You're feeling the same way.

CHORUS:
'Cause I find that I'm missing you
Our time went so quickly
But today seems too long,
Restless and wistful
My heart is still with you
Feel misty when I think of your song.

I once didn't know
That a lasting affection
Could be sparked in a day
Could weather distance and time,
But there's no denying
The bond that we now share
Or my wish today
That you could have stayed awhile.

CHORUS:

The sharing of old tunes
Soft harmonies blending
Can't help but open
A path soul to soul,
Warm hugs and plum wine
And late nights of laughter
Bring closeness and love
That were not there before.

CHORUS:

November 2004 comments: Read Blatherchat | Post in Blatherchat | Livejournal comments