Category: Music

  • And now, in praise of supremely awesome people

    And now, in praise of supremely awesome people

    One of the things I’ve always loved about Great Big Sea fandom (and a lot of you who have read my posts over the years can back me up on this) is that it’s filled with genuinely wonderful people. I have been deeply privileged to discover that the same can be said for the extended…

  • Reading Grey Larsen's Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle…

    Reading Grey Larsen's Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle…

    … and even though I’m only into Chapter 1 thus far, already I’m finding this thing highly informative. Some of what he’s going over in the first chapter is familiar to me–basic stuff about how time signatures work, for example. And the difference between a tongued note and a slurred one. I remember these things…

  • Fun with reels and podorythmie!

    Fun with reels and podorythmie!

    It was inevitable, O Internets, that when I fell in love with the podorythmie in Quebec music, I would of course eventually have to try it myself. Those of you who have seen me post about the monthly Quebec music sessions I’ve been going to know that I’ve already tried it a time or two…

  • An evening of flute practice

    An evening of flute practice

    As y’all know I’m a writer first and a musician second, but Musician!Anna is really only a few steps behind Writer!Anna, and if the instruments yell loud enough I have to pick them up. No questions asked and no quarter given. Tonight, the instruments yelled loud enough. So I grabbed Norouet and Shine for some…

  • Because Susan continues to have all the Awesome

    Because Susan continues to have all the Awesome

    So y’all know how I was gushing about my friend Susan arranging a Le Vent du Nord concert in Uxbridge? Well, she commissioned some art by Kevin Bolk of the boys, and made some posters of that art to promote the concert, and she was handing them out as incentives to raise money for Doctors…

  • De Temps Antan at the Royal Room in Seattle, 8/14/2012

    De Temps Antan at the Royal Room in Seattle, 8/14/2012

    Continuing my quest this year to get to see as many Quebecois bands perform as possible, this week I finally had the pleasure of seeing De Temps Antan perform for the first time! I’ve gushed about these boys in blog and journal posts before, of course–but as always, getting to see a group in live…

  • The roundup post of All the Musics!

    The roundup post of All the Musics!

    Internets, I came back from this vacation with a grand spanking total of 13, count ’em, 13 CDs! Most of these were bought in Newfoundland, but considering that Quebec threw me discs by Bernard Simard et Compagnie (and any band that includes Olivier Demers is by definition GODDAMN RELEVANT TO MY INTERESTS) AND three out…

  • A link roundup for the imminent Great Canadian Adventure!

    A link roundup for the imminent Great Canadian Adventure!

    Since Canada is very, VERY nigh, I now present for you, O Internets, this roundup and summary of everything that and I will be doing while we’re there! First up, Toronto! Where we will be enjoying the hospitality of the most excellent , as well as getting to meet Susan Who Is the Most Awesome…

  • Things I have NOT yet observed in Quebecois music

    Things I have NOT yet observed in Quebecois music

    As a followup to my previous post, I would also now like to present to you this list of things I have not yet observed in Quebecois music, but which I’d pay good money to hear. Or commission. I’m just SAYIN’. 😉 Bouzouki players. Because who says the violin players get to have all the…

  • The things I learn from Quebecois music

    The things I learn from Quebecois music

    I’ve been having great fun, O Internets, learning that yeah, Quebecois trad is pretty much only a skip over from Celtic trad in general when it comes to the overall themes that show up in the songs. As I have frequently joked, the themes of Celtic music are Whiskey, Sex, and Death, and a lot…