28th January. Because of the extra material, we did our pre-Christmas gig in three 45-minute sections. This gave the band two 15-minute breaks. It worked well. Our latest gig was two days ago. We reverted to two halves. It went well though, on reflection, I think 3 x 45-minute sections is better overall as it provides some relief for our ageing hands, arms, lips, tongues and throats. I must propose it to the band.
I have started preparing for our next gig. Because of our limited practice time, it is hard to add new material, but I would like us to try Stephen Foster’s “Hard Times Come Again No More” (very popular in Ireland Hard Times Come Again No More, Mary Black & Dolores Keane, 1986 ), and a set of two barndances. Barndances don’t seem to have a fixed rhythm, but they are mainly 4/4 and played at a slower pace than reels.
Here are a couple. I’d like us to do the first one at a more jaunty pace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ewkYWUhMAY
These are nice too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC39w5KKhK0
Andy would also like us to rest our usual hornpipe set (Chief O’Neill’s Favourite & Friendly Visit) and replace them with Alexander’s & Walsh’s, which we have played in the sessions.
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