June, unfortunately, did not go to plan. Harat’s cancelled our session, I wanted to hold a session at home, but a lot of things got in the way, including my birthday, and visitors from Athens and abroad.
It’s July now and, as expected, nothing is happening. I will try to wake from my θερινή νάρκη after 15th August. My major task is to find a bar near a car park with no TV. By TV, I mean no sports channels. I took the noise of the football fans to be part and parcel of playing in a sports bar, so I was surprised by the level of discontent among our musicians. Regarding a day and times, I hope to keep the session on a Sunday but with a later start. 5:30 – 8pm or 6 – 8:30pm would be my preferred time slots. Our most recent session time was 4 – 7pm, not the ideal starting time in siesta-loving Greece. Moreover, 2 ½ hours is more than enough. We don’t want to run the risk of the landlord hitting us with the Austenesque, “You have delighted us long enough.”
At the end of June I went to a session at the Peacock in Stepney Green, London. Three players – all at least semi-professional – on fiddle, banjo and concertina. Unfortunately, the pub was very quiet. The musicians played some lovely sets, and I noticed two things: long breaks and an early finish. I’m not sure if these were normal session practice or if the musicians were disconcerted by the poor attendance.
Notwithstanding my summer torpor, I have been blessed with uncharacteristic creativity over the past few days. Over 20 years ago, I tried to compose a lively polka for my sprightly daughter. I got as far as the first eight bars. I also wanted to write a jig for my son. I got nowhere with that. A few months ago I managed to finish a jig, which I called March to the Dubliner. I sent it to the ex-manager/owner of the bar as a little present. My resident Chordmeister and I also suggested a couple of alternative titles and added that he could select one of his own. He chose Last Call at the Dubliner. In the email to Ken, I wrote, ‘… the problem with composing any Irish tune is that you’re always afraid that some fucker will say, “That’s the same as/similar to Mickey O’Dea’s Pitchfork” and you end up looking like a right eejit.’ So – at the risk of public mockery or opprobrium – here it is:
I don’t know what’s come over me, but in the past week I have completed the polka for my daughter, and I have written the following:
Luke Garry’s Hornpipe D (I may change the name to Summer in Toroni)
Leaving Ennis (Reel) A Dorian
First Days in Glasgow (Jig) Dm
The Salonika Reel (Am/Amaj) – a variation on the Greek song Beautiful Thessaloniki (Όμορφη Θεσσαλονίκη). I think this still requires some work.
More news will follow when I finally get off my arse and start looking for a new session home.