"Far From Home": in this workshop I discuss (and illustrate) songs and ballads of Britain and Ireland and their American counterparts, examining the ways in which their new environment sometimes modified them, often giving to them a distinctly New World flavor. I perform songs unaccompanied and with five-string banjo and mountain dulcimer, and play recorded illustrations, as well. (Variable length.)
"Popular Music in the Civil War": I discuss and illustrate various genres of popular and traditional music (including military songs, parlour ballads, traditional songs, slave songs, and minstrel compositions), examining them in both their musical and socio-cultural dimensions. Performed unaccompanied and with banjo and fiddle. (Variable length.)
"Children's Workshops": traditional American (Ozark and Appalachian) and Irish music, songs, and stories for children, ages 5-13. I emphasize participation on the songs, while illustrating various folksong genres and demonstrating several folk instruments (banjo, guitar, fiddle, and mountain dulcimer). (Length variable. See below for further information.)
"Cupid, Sly Cupid": a look at courtship in traditional Irish society, from both an anthropological and a musical standpoint. I discuss such subjects as divinations and charms, meetings, elopements, made matches, and wedding traditions, and I sing songs from the Irish tradition which reflect the slippery slope to matrimony-both the reality and the fantasy. Performed unaccompanied and with guitar and fiddle. (Variable length.)
"For Want of Education": in this workshop I discuss the Irish "hedge schoolmaster" and his sometimes charming, sometimes grandiose songs. Placing the schoolmaster in social and historical context, I look at the traits which characterized his songs and examine how they reflected his background, training, and aspirations. I sing several of my favorites as illustrations. (1-1 1/2 hours.)
"Songs of the Donegal Gaeltacht": illustrated with both live and recorded performances, this lecture describes the genres, performance styles, and social background of the song tradition of West Donegal. Songs are in both Irish Gaelic (with translations) and English. (1-1 1/2 hours.)
"Banjo Basics": this workshop is geared for beginning and intermediate clawhammer banjo players, with an emphasis on the basics of banjo playing: tunings, playing techniques (e.g., double-thumbing, the "Galax lick," etc.), and how to approach playing traditional tunes and song accompaniments, with performed illustrations. Handouts include list of tunings and discography. (Variable length.)
"Open Guitar Tunings": an in-depth look at open tunings and their infinite variety. I illustrate several tunings and play recorded samples of others, discussing not only the tunings themselves, their uses, and
their limitations, but also general approaches to playing tunes and song accompaniments on the guitar, giving specific examples to clarify my points. Handouts include chord charts and a list of tunings. For intermediate and advanced guitarists. (1-2 hours.)
If you would like me to do a workshop on a subject or area of American, Irish, or British folklore, folk music, or oral history not included in this list, please feel free to ask: many of the above started out as requests.
