It’s been a long lockdown in the winter of 2021, so I’ve found learning new tunes to be very therapeutic.
The Soor Milk Cairt was such a joyous tune that it was very uplifting and
Bronwyn Jenkins is another great tune from Jane Griffiths. I hope you enjoy them too.

WordPress has updated and “retired” the theme which was the basis for the Slow Session website design… Unfortunately the old maxim “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it” no longer applies and I had to find a new theme.

After much searching I am hoping that this one is bearable and that you find you can navigate the pages and find the tunes you are looking for… but if any links are not working or any pages looking particularly ropey, please could you tell me: oxfordslowsession2014@gmail.com and I will endeavour to fix it (although my skills are limited) and I will appreciate your help in spotting problems. Fingers crossed it works ok…

Ray has made a video out of a recording of McCrea’s Delight that he’s put together of me (suke), Tess and himself that we all recorded separately in lockdown! If you would like to record yourself playing along and be added to the recording on the website, please get in touch. Meanwhile, enjoy this one!

Hope to see you either on Zoom or in the bandstand in Florence Park on Easter Sunday!

A new tune for the new year: I’ve managed to learn McCrae’s Delight… but in G rather than in D.

It’s a beautiful tune written by Iain MacCrimmon and played by Anna Massie and Mairearad Green (the second of these two Retreat Marches). I hope you like it as much as I do.

In lockdown, I recorded myself playing it and sent it to Ray who has worked out the chords and also recorded an accompaniment (on three different accordions) and so I’ve added the ensemble recording to the page. If you fancy recording yourself playing along, please email me and we can add your recording to the ensemble!

The doodle poll and emails were pretty much all in favour of returning to our old time of 3.30pm. So that’s what we’ll do. I fear it is unlikely that February 2021 will be in-person, but whatever happens, there will be a zoom session as well. Hope to “see” you there!

And early bird tickets (to ALL the concerts are available for only £30) for a limited time. Online is not as good as live… but for those of us who’ve never managed to get to Glasgow in mid-January, online is better than nothing. And an opportunity to hear Rant, Imar, Talisk, and Mairearad Green and many others.

https://www.celticconnections.com/news/celtic-connections-2021-announces-initial-line-up-and-early-bird-tickets/

I’ve been struggling to make the Tune of the Month page a little easier to read (especially on a mobile)… It is not yet solved, but I hope you find it is a little (emphasis on little) improved.
But better news is that I’ve added The Musical Priest (with lots of links of places to listen to it) and Nantwich Fair (fewer places but a good recording instead). Because it’s taken me a while to add these, I thought we could practice Seven Stars as the next tune of the month, so that we remind ourselves how play it for future pairing with Nantwich Fair.

The Winter Glasgow School of Folk will be going ahead on the 5th and 6th of December.

To register please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/winter-glasgow-school-of-folk-tickets-123890320283
It is free to register at eventbrite (just using it to keep track of numbers), but they will be releasing a paypal donate link closer to the event with a suggested donation of £5 per class.

Please don’t worry if you change your mind about which classes you will attend, we will make sure we leave room for some changes.
All classes and sessions will be held over zoom.

Two days of instrumental workshops, sessions and craic for adults hosted over zoom organised and taught by folk musicians

About this Event

Join Calum MacCrimmon (whistle), John Somerville (accordion), Laura-Beth Salter (mandolin) and Adam Sutherland (fiddle) for their second online Glasgow School of Folk.

Over the two days there will be ten 1hr workshops, plus evening sessions hosted over zoom where you can join your tutors for a tune and a dram. Most of the workshops are aimed at specific instruments, but you are welcome to join any of them you like. It is a good opportunity to drop in on a class or tutor you wouldn’t usually get to work with.

We are happy to welcome back Fiona Hunter for another guest scots song workshop, plus a new ‘big tune’ workshop for all participants and tutors.

Please use eventbrite to select the classes you think you might attend (it is no problem if you change your mind, it is just so we can keep track of numbers). The course runs on a suggested donation of £5 per workshop attended, and a paypal link will be made available for this closer to the time.

We have a new tune: Seamus Cooley’s Jig which is lovely, and also some new pages…

One about learning to play and more importantly, one about our Covid precautions if you are able to come along to the outside sessions.

Also don’t forget that Friday 2nd October is another Bandcamp Friday where you can buy music with no commission (and there are lots of suggestions of who to look up on this previous post) and support your favourite musicians.