mandolin-george

Kindness and Kinship in Kaslik : USEK 2012

George — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 05:00:56 +0000

What a privilege and honour to represent Ireland alongside the soldiers from UNIFL at the USEK 2012 Heritage and Cultural Diversity Day. This highly successful and popular event was organised by USEK Deputy Director Khalil Abboud -Ambassador of Goodwill , Tipperary Peace Convention. I am grateful to him, Guy Younes Chair of the Irish Lebanese Foundation and the Honorary Consul General in Lebanon, George Siam for such a wonderful opportunity.I was overwhelmed with the warmth, hospitality and friendliness of the talented group of organisers on the day – special thanks to Elena, Ghinwa and Jessy for their huge amount of encouragement, attentiveness and support (and plentiful supply of water)

I can honestly say it has been one of the most enjoyable days I have spent in Lebanon – well in any country come to that

Thank you for the dancing, clapping and cheering in the front row – you know who you are – you helped me get the “celtic groove” going – mubrook! -sorry about my dancing – but you started it!

It was good to relax with the group and soldiers in the afternoon – I enjoyed the craic! (look it up) Thanks for the cake and coffee – you spoiled me – my invitation next time

What a fantastic day! - I played soothing Celtic guitar melodies on the balcony watching the stars above Harissa until late at night – thinking of the day’s colurful events and the genuine harmonious blend of cultural activities ……lovely. My soul, musicality and enthusiasm have been recharged to the maximum – more to come – pictures and music -watch this space

I will see you all very soon

mandolin-george

Double Black and St. Patrick’s Day Crack*

George — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 08:47:04 +0000

What a good choice Ross!

This intriguing arts and crafts pub built in 1875 and remodelled three times spanning the art nouveau and art deco period was the first venue for our annual SPD “musical” voyage

Jammed into the corner of the door – the atmosphere, decor, food and Scottish Black Stout – was so good – I didn’t want to leave – or rather found it difficult to leave thanks to an injury sustained looking at a lovely celing in Temple in another establishment the day before while trying to photograph the interior and climb the narrow wedge end of a spiral staircase! – thats my excuse and it holds water – just!

If you are wondering what this has to do with mandolins, please bear with me ..some raw sound files of mandolin, bodhran and guitar (plus dodgy kazoo) will be uploaded to soundcloud and you can hear them in the window on the side bar of this page on 1 April 2012

The building is reminiscent of the famous Flatiron building (left) built in New York in 1902 and some say it has a resemblance to Bittles Bar (right) in Belfast - so is it Belfast or New York next year? I wonder……….

*Crack = Craic : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craic

but this term seems to irritate Kevin Myers…..who slams the celtic tiger for its plastic renaissance…judge for yourself

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/kevin-myers/kevin-myers-the-day-of-indulgence-is-done-the-time-of-duty-has-arrived-2108890.html

for more on the victorian architect responsible for the Black Friar and other pub architecture - see this

http://www.victorianweb.org/art/architecture/pubs/9.html

Well met – Ross, Bruce and friends – diehards one and all !

I enjoyed the Crack/Craic and Scottish black -(but not the crack of my back!)

My irish grandfather would have been proud of you!

I know I am – as always……. a bientot

Beannachtai na Feile Padraig

coming soon, sounds and images from the SPD weekend and the Mayor of London’s Parade and Paddy’s Day Bash along with health and safety concerns around the frolics in the fountains in Trafalgar Square

Meat, Malt, Mead, Music and “Merriment” in Milton

George — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:00:28 +0000

Thanks to everyone in Milton Keynes for a wonderful pre-Burns night Burns Supper – very enjoyable food and good company – your efforts were very much appreciated.

Meat : a variety of dishes all using haggis – even the Crannachan!

Malt : sorry but Mead or Johnnie Walker double black on the rocks is no big shakes

Music : Burns playlist on Spotify – good : Poetry not so good – live is much better

Merriment : Munchkins – yes you heard correctly – I did say munchkins !!!!

(Dear Rabbie Burns – please forgive them- for they know not what they do!)

Birthplace of Baseball Bans St. Patrick’s Day

George — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 09:00:56 +0000

Shame on the “Sham-rockers” of Hoboken – what happened?

How does this ……..

turn into a scene like this…….?

I thought it all about the music and having a good time -The commercialism and exploitation of celtic music has

killed “the craic!”

o me miserum!

Tone Deafness and Brain Thickness

George — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:00:01 +0000

The international laboratory for Brain Music and Sound Research (BRAMS) published an interesting study on amusia and cortical thickness

If your brain cells migrate to the right side of your brain – stop singing immediately! This is what happens if you don’t keep your cells well pruned!

Seriously, spare a thought for this group of people who cannot enjoy one of the basic human activities that precedes language development.

Amusia – is not amusing!

media article - http://www.mni.mcgill.ca/media/news/item/?item_id=28310

Bruce’s Birthday Boogie

George — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 17:43:02 +0000

Congratulations on reaching a quarter of a century – here is a little impromptu tune called Beirut Beckons – a hint at the welcome you will receive if and when you finally make the trip – one day!

peut etre!? yimkin?! ………………….. ps bring your keyboard!

Click on the new tune on sound cloud opposite to hear the sample – its based on a larger piece – a work in progress so to speak….

Nancy, “Trane” and Sgt. Bilko : a tribute

George — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:22:26 +0000

Thanks to Nancy for her kind gift of this bowl-back “neapolitan style” mandolin built by the Suzuki Violin Co. in 1970. It was my first mandolin. Your act of love and kindness has been remembered on what would have been your special birthday today. Here is my tribute -”Trane” playing a Phil Silvers (Sgt Bilko) penned song called “Nancy with the laughing face”- recorded by Frank Sinatra. Your smile, laugh and sense of humour at social gatherings will always be remembered with fondness, love and affection.

India and The Incredible String Band

George — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:53:29 +0000

I was pleased to discover that someone from India was the 200th unique visitor. It reminds of the day I stood in the music shop in the newtown of Edinburgh pondering whether to buy a small compact sitar once owned by the Incredible String Band – a psychedelic folk group formed in Scotland in 1966. A “difficult-to swallow” sound for the folk revival diehards! The record below is “The Painting Box” released in 1967 – you can hear it on the album “The 5000 Spirits or the layers of the onion (2006) – remastered version.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Incredible_String_Band

The sitar was selling for £45 which was a lot of money in these days, and besides my attention was drawn to a beautiful and unusual (German I think) 16 stringed mandolin ! Four courses of quadruple sonic heaven or a tortuous task of terrible tuning – depending on your optimistic/pessimisstic outlook. It had a large mother-of-pearl butterfly on the headstock and the back was bowl shaped with fluted ribs. I have seen a few 12 stringed versions from the continent but this is the only 16 string version I have seen first hand. Pictures exist of unusual 12 and sometimes 16 stringed instruments (see below) - but none as beautiful as this one was.

In the end, finances being what they were..

…………I left with nothing! C’est la vie!

Happy Holiday Hours with Hip Hop-Scotch

George — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:14:06 +0000

A new short clip to go with my latest track on soundcloud – see samples opposite or click on the You Tube channel button underneath the sample window. This will be developed in September / October.
Thanks to “Boogie” Bruce for helpful suggestions for further development. Best listened to through a sound system to hear the sub-bass and drums – laptop speakers do not cope well.

Congratulations Colorado – 100th Visitor

George — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:29:34 +0000

Thank you to the 101 unique visitors from 11 Different countries who have visited in the last 2 weeks
I note that there are 17 Flags collected (if you include regional state flags) so far.
First one Brazil – Last one New York – Congratulations to Colorado – the 100th visitor!

Typing this brought back memories of laying in bed on the 37th floor of the Sheraton Hotel in Toronto when the morning news broke of John Denver’s tragic demise on 12 October 1997. I had to fly over Colorado twice that month, on the way to Utah and back to Chicago. The snow was deep and it was “touch-and-go” to make it out of Salt Lake City as most planes were diverted to Denver due to the bad weather. The lyrics of “Rocky Mountain High” were impossible to shake from my head as I gazed down on the magnificent Colorado river and snow covered peaks. Sadly, another artist lost to yet another plane accident!