Bush Orchestra Monday 08/02/10

Present: Leonie, Kathryn, Rob R, Chris K, Christine McD, Christine H, Rhonwyn, Pam, Dave, Annette, Helen, Bruce S, Rob D, Michael d V, Greg O, Wendy, Alasdair, Simon D, Bruce W, Gyrah, Czarline, Zion, Zymone, Czarina, Athaliah

We reviewed God Bless You and Bugger Me and Sally Sloane's Mazurka prior to the break.
After the break we got the rhythm and melody groups together to play both tunes.

We also ran though the general repertoire including: Black Cat, Railway Hotel, Old Schoolmaster, Watching the Cattle, Gervasoni Waltzes, Rita Baker, Herb's Jig, Cunnamulla Stocking Jig, The White Cockatoo,West Clare Jig and finished off the evening with a few old time tunes including, Clinch Mountain Backstep and Whisky Before Breakfast.

Many thanks from Greg, Bruce and Michael for the certificates of appreciation presented to them by the Sisters of Zion Fiddle Group!

Bruce

Choir in fine voice for 2010

It was a great start to 2010 with 18 people at the first Newport Community Choir rehearsal. Much as we miss the space and atmosphere of the Baptist Church, it's kind of fun to be back where it all began at Outlets. Old hands and newcomers alike settled down to the business of warming up our voices, reviving a few old favourites such as Pick a Bale of Cotton and the All Night, Swing Low Quodlibet and starting on a new song, Roof Rack. Looking forward already to our gig at the Williamstown Festival!

Bruce Williams at Breizoz

Hi folks,
Come and hear our own Bruce Williams and friends at Breizoz in Williamstown.
7PM Thursday 11th Feb.
Going to be agreat night. GregH

Bush Orchestra Monday 01/02/10

As Michael mentioned the Bush Orchestra kicked off with a bang for 2010.

Present: Wendy, Marilla, Pam Rhonwyn, Kath C, Kathryn, Dave, Simon, Chris H, Chris K, Rob R, Rob D, Helen, Leonie, Bruce W, Bruce S, Llyn, Alasdair, Greg, Annette.

Tunes played: Black Cat Piddled in the White Cat's Eye, Rita Baker, West Clare Jig, Herb's Jig, Cunamulla Stocking Jig, Gardebylaten, Gervasoni Waltz 1 & 2, Syd Briggs Lead Up

We also discussed the general direction for this year. Here is the gist of it:

As an experiment we will run 2 nights this year

Monday 7.30 to 9.30

General Bush Orchestra - organised as follows:
First half 7.30 to 8.20 split into 2. Bruce works on Rhythm
Greg revises melodies from our past repertoire for the present anyway
Second half 8.45 to 9.30
All together work on tunes and orchestration and songs. Build and strengthen repertiore.

Tuesday 7.30 to 9.30

Beginners night to build ear skills in beginners and teach tunes.
All are welcome to both sessions. beginners pay same as regulars. The only proviso is the emphasis
Beginners session goes at the pace of the slowest (within reason)
Our Monday session assumes a modicum of skill.

Upcoming Events - Bush Orchestra and otherwise

Feb 19/22 Fiddler's Convention Blackwood
March 13/14 Echuca Celtic Festival weekend
March 21 Newport Lakes Bush Dance - Newport Bush Orchestra
Easter National Folk Festival - Canberra -

Whew... that's about it for now. I'll try to list Bush Orchestra attendees, tunes played and other relevant info here on a weekly basis.

Bruce W

Bush Orchestra kicks off for 2010

Well here's the evidence - the music has well and truly started in Newport for 2010. Greg O'Leary and Bruce WIlliams and by my reckoning almost 20 players got stuck into the terms work of playing music and having fun. The group always takes great pics after they have been playing for an hour and these photos give some sense of the fun that is the Newport Bush Orchestra. The Bush Orchestra seems to have been around for long enough to be called a local institution (not of the lock up kind) but on checking the records the first public performance of the NBO was in April 2006so it is just coming up for 4 years - and going very strong. The NBO already have a gig booked up in Northern Victoria this term for what looks like another busy year of playing and contributing to the local and wider communities. If you are intersted in joining the NBO come along on a Monday night and check it out - guaranteed to get the blood coursing through the veins.

Back into the swing for 2010

We're back into it after the break with Bush Orchestra (tonight), Choir (Wednesday) and Bruce Williams and Friends kicking off Breizoz on Thu 11 Feb.

Next club night is Fri 26 Feb.

Lots of music to come in 2010!

Visiting The Abbotsford Gypsy 'Djam'

A contingent from the NFFC went to Abbotsford convent on Sat 23 Jan to check out the MelbourneHot 'Djam' at the rotunda. The get-together was a variation on the regular session they run from 1-4pm, this time marking the would-be 100th birthday of Django Reinhardt on Jan 21st.

I filmed a short clip of the session and the beautiful surrounds.

for those I have not seen yet, happy new year! from Steve