Monday 21st January 2008

There has been much talk this week on the Session grapevine of attracting new blood. Not that the sessions are in danger of dying exactly, but the more musicians that make up critical mass as it were, the better. Within reason of course. We wouldn't want an imbalance of any one instrument or heaven forbid that people should dash off and rifle their cutlery draw and head for their nearest session.

No, this is more of a question of how to advertise the session and attract the errr right sort of person. I'm nervous of that phrase because we don't do normal in any sense of the word and 'right sort of person' sounds like being vetted for a club. 'So tell me, ahm, Fozzy, how do you feel about Shetland Tunes in an Irish Session eh?'. No, not that at all. The right sort are musicians, and sessioneers dedicated to the art of traditional music as done in the Local Session. That's all.

Well it turns out that the local Music School won't allow their pupils to associate with the riff-raff who play tunes without music in front of them. 'But it can't possibly be the same two times running!' they exclaim. Exactly, we say. But I think there are rebels who secretly want to throw off the shackles of classical oppression and, dare one say, wing it. So they want some tunes to give them a pointer. We know that writing tunes down is against the tradition but let's face it, they have been noted down for a long time - even before Playford. But in writing them down, we write a skeleton, a bare outline of the tune. Ornament as you will. That's difficult for the scholars that is. 'But there isn't a triplet there and that top A is supposed to last for a beat and a half'. You can hear it now. Will the worlds ever meet and learn to get on?

Tonight is Tilmanstone for a mixed session although it will probably take a distinctly Auvergnat turn somewhere in the evening. I hope to make it along because a) I don't have my usual dancing tonight and b) it's nice to support sessions especially when their sessioneers are kind enough to turn out to support you. Wednesday now seem firmly established back at the Anchor in Wingham. That's the Irish Session. Jezz if you're reading this, we're back at the Anchor. We may do the odd Sunday at the Beverlie.
Thursday is the last Bear session before the old leader returns. On the 31st he has organised his son's band to attend with entourage. I suspect there will not be much of a session that night. If you want free entertainment it should be good. If you want to play tunes, you may not be as lucky.