minstrel: Hello!

[Banquo]

Greetings,
    Upon seeing postings regarding 'hellos' and send mail to get mail, I
thought I'd participate!  I have posted the odd message before, but an
introduction is probably in order.
    I write from the Barony of Seagirt, Kingdom of An Tir (mka:
Victoria, BC, Canada.)  I have recently become involved in the SCA (yes,
I'm a Newbie!)  I have been playing folk music for two or three years
now, beginning with the Bodhran, then whistles (penny and Low D), and
discovered eight months ago my true passion in a 26 string harp, which I
think may be of the Continental variety.  Chances are that I'll
eventually learn more insruments in time.
    I play in a five piece ensemble, and rumour has it that I'm a
professional musician.  We have a website, address at bottom, feel free
to pay us a visit!  The most of the other members of our group have also
lately been introduced to the SCA and it seems that it is the right
place for us to be.  This summer we attended the Seagirt Summer Tourney,
which was the first event for three of our number, and we were honoured
with being asked to play during opening and closing courts.  We are also
going to be playing for the dancers in our Barony very soon.  In
'mundane' performance we perform in garb, and reaction from audiences
has been very good.
    If there are any other folk out there that may be able to help me
with info regarding this harp I have, I would REALLY appreciate it.  A
picture of it and myself can be viewed on the Banquo site.  The harp was
crafted 20 years ago here on the Island by a gentleman by the name of
Ronald Wall.  Our vocalist has recently purchased an almost identical
harp by the same maker.  I'd also like to get in contact with other
harpers for exchange of info (post to me personally.)
    I'd also like to add my tuppence on the 'bodhran issue.'  There are
two schools of thought on the origin of the bodhran, one is that is a
recent invention, and the other is that it's original usage was as a
seive for chaffing grain.  It seems to be a very old argument and one
that will probably not die down anytime soon.
    I am not too familiar with Irish folk ways, but in my research in
the Scottish folkways, the sieve they used looks remarkably like a
bodhran!  It seems to me that, with our species need to make music and
the originality of using what is at hand, it would only seem natural
that such an object would become an instrument when not used for
chaffing.  One must remember that the Scots and Irish relied on the oral
tradition, hence dodgy reference materials; one reference book will say
one thing and the next one will say the opposite!  At any rate, I am not
one to get embroiled in controversy, and just play the $@*& thing!
Judge as you will is my advice.

mka:                                ska:
Darren Giles, harper         Darran MacFhionghuin, cruiter
Victoria, BC, Canada       Barony of Seagirt
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Banquo Folk & Early Music Ensemble: www.bc1.com/users/banquo
Lochaber DesignWerx: www.lochaber.homepage.com
Personal Site: www.harperladdie.homepage.com



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