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It is now well past Easter and two very successful gigs at the National Festival. Firstly we would like to thank the Festival organisers for the opportunity to play at the Festival, secondly thank all the players who turned up for both the practises and the performances and finally to acknowledge the members of the group that played at the ABC Marquee on the Monday morning as well as those that played at the National Museum of Australia later in the day. The list below shows all players at the first gig (if your name is missing please let me know).

What a buzz! Easter 2006 is now gone as have two very succesful concert spots at the National Folk Festival. The first concert in the "ABC" Marquee at 10am on the Monday was heard by a good sized audience albeit not SRO (something to do with the early hour of 10am). There is no doubt that the music eminating from the Marquee did draw in some of the crowd and perhaps one ot two came because of the interview held in the early minutes of the performance live on ABC 666AM with yours truly. Certainly the ABC was not backward in promoting the NFF locally (if not nationally). In addition to the 300 odd audience were the 66 present on stage (see list below) mostly, but not exclusively, fiddlers.

The second concert was held off site and unfortunately clashed with commitments of several members of the first concert elsewhere in the Festival. As a result some 37 fiddlers (and others) were present at the second concert held in the National Museum of Australia on Acton Peninsular (the site of the old Canberra Hospital). The foyer is a large open space with irregularly shaped concrete and glass walls and ceilings "ideal for acoustic groups" (quote from DO'N of the NFF) although I would have to say the sound did tend to get lost at times. Anyway, those performers present had a great time at both concerts as did the audience, judging by immediate feedback after the concerts. It is good to see the Folk Festival take acts out into the community as a way of promoting itself although I'd have to say organising transport for 40 odd fiddlers could have been made easier.

Whilst the bulk of the players were made up of members of the Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club and the Sydney Scottish Fiddlers there were many others present including a contingent from southern Queensland, Canberra, Western Australia and a regular from North Queensland. With ages ranging from 5 to 80 and support of keyboard, bass, guitar, whistle, mandolin and flute a full sound was apparent. Of particular note were the students of Melinda Gilkes from southern Queensland who also helped entertain us (and the audience) by dancing during one of the numbers whilst playing their fiddles. Thanks go to Melinda and the parents of the children who drove down from Queensland just for the weekend.

With the 2nd concert being some 20 minutes longer than the first we were able to play all of the arrangements bar one (the Irish Reel Set)

The following players were present at the concerts and we are grateful for their participation. Without them the performances would not have been as succesful.

fiddlers:
Lyn Ansell, Trish Barker, Claire Barrell, Jess Bigby, Alan Blakelock, Lisa Blumson, Sirocha Bruckard, Janetta Chan, Janette Chan, Jessie Chan, Sarah Davies, Alexander Deme, Jennifer Doyle, Hannah Dugan, Chris Duncan, Madeleine Earnshaw, Anne Eastaugh, David England, Kristen Fixter, Harry Gardner, Steve Gilbert, Elin Gilkes, Melinda Gilkes, Zack Gilkes, Margaret Goldfinch, Lachlan Green, Valerie Gutenev, Bridget Hickey, Christine Hickson, Sara Hughes, Darryl Larsen, Duncan Lean, Bjorn Lemfors, Steve Lockwood, Tom Loewe, Liam Mackay, Rob Mahony, Bridget Masters, Jean McConnachie, Ronald McCoy, Lily McDean, Neil McLennan, Pam Merrigan, Terry Moore, Uaine Neueli, Emma Nixon, Ann O'Donovan, Kate O'Leary, Shannon O'Leary, Sue O'Leary, Pria Schwall-Kearney, Molly Shorter, Rodney Smith, Tony Stuart, Andrew Tredinnick, Judy Turner, Margaret Williams, Lucy Wise, Ruth Wise.
other:
Athalie Brooks, double bass; Evan Davies, flute; Neil Adams, guitar; Phil Green, guitar; Norm Merrigan, button accordion; Leo Dent, keyboard; Tim Barker, mandolin & whistle.

As mentioned previously the theme of the concerts was the development of Queensland using tunes from the diverse ethnic backgrounds that provided the mix of the imported population. Starting with what proved to be a fabulous arrangement of Moreton Bay, that classic folk tune.

Please note the forum at http://scottishfiddlers.com/National_2006 will be closed shortly.

National Fiddle Rally 2006 - Tunes

Tune	Key	Type	# in File	ABC	Midi	Used in Dance Set
Across the Sea to Erin	G	Jig	203	Easter_2006		Aussie Jig Set
the Ale is Dear	Bm	Reel	180	Easter_2006		Ayr Set
the Auld Toun o' Ayr	D	Strathspey	179	Easter_2006		Ayr Set
the Bell Harbour	G	Reel	194	Easter_2006		Irish Reel Set
Bert Bretz's Heel and Toe Polka	G	Polka	184	Easter_2006		Heel and Toe Set
Black Rock	Em	Polka	196	Easter_2006		Irish Polka Set
Blair Athol	Am	Reel	112	Easter_2006		Blair Athol Set
the Bowral Jig	D	Jig	202	Easter_2006		Aussie Jig Set
the Boys of Wexford	G	2/4 Tune	189	Easter_2006		English Tune Set
Cairdin' 'o't	A	Reel	133	Easter_2006		Blair Athol Set
the Devonshire Lancers	D	Jig	200	Easter_2006		Aussie Jig Set
Earl of Morton's Jig	C	Jig	204	Easter_2006		Grampians Set
Farewell to Erin	D	Reel	193	Easter_2006		Irish Reel Set
Hans Rasmussens Vals	A	Waltz	187	Easter_2006		Scandinavian Set
Harry Cotter's Schottische	G	Schottische	181	Easter_2006		Schottische Set
Heel and Toe #1	G	Polka	185	Easter_2006		Heel and Toe Set
Heel and Toe #2	D	Polka	186	Easter_2006		Heel and Toe Set
Herb's Jig	A	Jig	201	Easter_2006		Aussie Jig Set
High Road to Linton	A	Reel	43	Easter_2006		Ayr Set
Knole Park	D	2/4 Tune	192	Easter_2006		English Tune Set
Kohler's Hornpipe	C	Hornpipe	205	Easter_2006		Grampians Set
Mazurka de Carolina	G	Mazurka	208	Easter_2006		Mazurka Set
Moreton Bay	D	Song	209			Moreton Bay
Neapolitan Tarantella	Am	Tarantella	206	Easter_2006		Spider Set
North of the Grampians	C	Strathspey	10	Easter_2006		Grampians Set
O'Sullivan's	A	Polka	199	Easter_2006		Irish Polka Set
Palmer River Song	D	2/4 Tune	190	Easter_2006		English Tune Set
Pop Wernoswski's Prince of Wales Schottische	G	Schottische	183	Easter_2006		Schottische Set
Punter's Graveyard	Bm	Reel	134	Easter_2006		Blair Athol Set
Rakes Polka	Am	Polka	197	Easter_2006		Irish Polka Set
Rättvikarnas Gånglåt	D	Polka	188	Easter_2006		Scandinavian Set
the Sailor's Cravat	D	Reel	195	Easter_2006		Irish Reel Set
Sea Shells Schottische	D	Schottische	182	Easter_2006		Schottische Set
Sicilian Tarantella	Dm	Tarantella	207	Easter_2006		Spider Set
Tripping on the Mountain	D	Polka	198	Easter_2006		Irish Polka Set
Willie Brewed a Peck o' Malt	G	2/4 Tune	191	Easter_2006		English Tune Set

The table below shows the set names and included tunes that were on the programme. Midi files containing the tunes as they are likely to be played are linked to the graphic in the Midi column. This is primarily to help provide some idea of the speed and structure of each set but actual dynamics are limitied to the structure of Midi and some variation will occur. PDF files containing the sheet music of the set are available in the PDF column and can be printed at any time through Adobe Reader.

Sets

#	Set Name	Type	Tunes	Midi	PDF	Slow	Fast
A	Moreton Bay		Moreton Bay
1	Ayr Set		the Auld Toun o' Ayr, the Ale is Dear, High Road to Linton
2	Blair Athol Set		Blair Athol, Cairdin' 'o't, Punter's Graveyard
3	Schottische Set		Harry Cotter's Schottische, Sea Shell Schottische, Pop Wernowski's Prince of Wales Schottische
4	Heel and Toe Set		Bert Bretz's Heel and Toe Polka #1 Heel and Toe Polka #2
5	Scandinavian Set		Hans Rasmussens Vals Rättvikarnas Gånglåt
6	English Tune Set		the Boys of Wexford the Palmer River Song Willie Brewed a Peck o' Malt Knole Park
7	Irish Reels Set		Farewell to Erin the Bell Harbour the Sailor's Cravat
8	Irish Polkas Set		Black Rock Rakes Polka Tripping on the Mountain O'Sullivan's
9	Aussie Jig Set		the Devonshire Lancers Herb's Jig the Bowral Jig Across the Sea to Erin
10	Grampians Set		North of the Grampians Earl of Morton's Jig Kohler's Hornpipe
11	Spider Set		Neapolitan Tarantella Sicilian Tarantella
12	Mazurka Set		Mazurka de Carolina

• National Folk Festival Tunes(8,487bytes)

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last updated Tuesday, 25th April, 2006