Cork HD Fest 2002

Cork Dulcimer Festival 2002 - July 27 Report and Pictures

We got up on Saturday morning, ate, got ready and started our walk up to the University College Cork Music Building - and up it was - all the way just as Christie had warned us! However, it wasn't too far, and even with my dulcimer and stand, the walk uphill wasn't bad - besides, I could use the exercise.
The Music Building is a new building for the Music Department at UCC. It had been a dormitory for a monastery, and was connected to a church on a hill which overlooked Cork.

John and Christie at Music Building 7/27
The front door of the Music Building with John and Christie inside.

The view from the left window of the beginners'' classroom 7/27

The view from the right window of the beginners'' classroom 7/27

Here are some pictures of Cindy's Beginners' Workshop with which I assisted. There were 6 students, and some had never heard a dulcimer until the night before! Leaving behind new dulcimer players in Ireland was a unique privilege for both of us.
Cindy's Beginners' Workshop 7/27

After the afternoon workshop, Seamus Brady demonstrated his unique roll which he uses for holding out long notes. Here Cindy and I learn how he does it.
Seamus showing Cindy and Rick his roll 7/27

Rick trying Seamus's roll 7/27

Once the workshops were done for the day, at 4PM, we all went downstairs to see the presentation by the 3 tradition bearers, Nat Magee, Seamus Brady and Barry Carroll. The presentation was MC'd by Mel Mercier, the professor of Ethnomusicology at UCC, and Christie's advisor.
Nat had prepared a speech on some history of the hammered dulcimer in Ireland, talking about John Rea and Andy Dowling, and playing some tunes on his dulcimer which was a direct copy of John Rea1s dulcimer. Notice that Nat puts his dulcimer on a little box up off the table - this provides an open sound. Putting it flat on the table deadened the sound.
Mel Mercier, the MC for the presentation 7/27

Nat with his dulcimer at the presentation 7/27

Nat playing at the presentation 7/27

Seamus Brady's dulcimer 7/27
Seamus Brady's dulcimer.

Seamus playing at the presentation 7/27

Next was Seamus Brady, who sang a song, then played the air for it. For those who don't know, an air is the melody of a song played on an instrument. I have heard the song Seamus sang before, done by some well-known Celtic group, but I have never heard it sung like Seamus sang it that day. I think the song was Vanished Like The Snow, but I am not certain. Whatever it was, it was moving.
Seamus at the presentation 7/27

Barry Carroll mostly played tunes, and his playing style was clean and quick, just right for the jigs and reels.
Barry playing at presentation 7/27

Here are Nat, Seamus, Barry and Mel at the end of the presentation.

That night we attended a concert at the Triskel Arts Centre. Performing were Adrian Schofield and Jenny Coxon, Setanta (Jack Bethel, Colin McAllister and Gaeroid O Laoghaire), and.........................
Adrian and Jenny at the concert 7/27

Setanta at the concert 7/27

David James. Mel Mercier played a couple of tunes with David near the end.
David and Mel at the Concert 7/27

After the concert, sessions went on until the wee hours...........

[CDF 2002 Pix Index]
[CDF 2002 Pix Pre-Fest - July 22, 23]   [CDF 2002 Pix Pre-Fest - July 24]      [CDF 2002 Pix Pre-Fest - July 25]
[CDF 2002 Pix July 26]      [CDF 2002 Pix July 27]      [CDF 2002 Pix July 28]

We got up on Saturday morning, ate, got ready and started our walk up to the University College Cork Music Building - and up it was - all the way just as Christie had warned us! However, it wasn't too far, and even with my dulcimer and stand, the walk uphill wasn't bad - besides, I could use the exercise. The Music Building is a new building for the Music Department at UCC. It had been a dormitory for a monastery, and was connected to a church on a hill which overlooked Cork.	The front door of the Music Building with John and Christie inside.

Here are some pictures of Cindy's Beginners' Workshop with which I assisted. There were 6 students, and some had never heard a dulcimer until the night before! Leaving behind new dulcimer players in Ireland was a unique privilege for both of us.
After the afternoon workshop, Seamus Brady demonstrated his unique roll which he uses for holding out long notes. Here Cindy and I learn how he does it.
Once the workshops were done for the day, at 4PM, we all went downstairs to see the presentation by the 3 tradition bearers, Nat Magee, Seamus Brady and Barry Carroll. The presentation was MC'd by Mel Mercier, the professor of Ethnomusicology at UCC, and Christie's advisor. Nat had prepared a speech on some history of the hammered dulcimer in Ireland, talking about John Rea and Andy Dowling, and playing some tunes on his dulcimer which was a direct copy of John Rea1s dulcimer. Notice that Nat puts his dulcimer on a little box up off the table - this provides an open sound. Putting it flat on the table deadened the sound.
Seamus Brady's dulcimer.	Next was Seamus Brady, who sang a song, then played the air for it. For those who don't know, an air is the melody of a song played on an instrument. I have heard the song Seamus sang before, done by some well-known Celtic group, but I have never heard it sung like Seamus sang it that day. I think the song was Vanished Like The Snow, but I am not certain. Whatever it was, it was moving.
Barry Carroll mostly played tunes, and his playing style was clean and quick, just right for the jigs and reels.	Here are Nat, Seamus, Barry and Mel at the end of the presentation.
That night we attended a concert at the Triskel Arts Centre. Performing were Adrian Schofield and Jenny Coxon, Setanta (Jack Bethel, Colin McAllister and Gaeroid O Laoghaire), and.........................	David James. Mel Mercier played a couple of tunes with David near the end.
After the concert, sessions went on until the wee hours...........