Snoupi's Saloon

Mary Travers, RIP

noreply@blogger.com (Snoupi) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:28:00 +0000

House Concert with Amy Dixon-Kolar

noreply@blogger.com (Snoupi) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 18:02:00 +0000

Last night we were delighted to attend a house concert featuring Amy Dixon-Kolar at the home of Mary and Randy Charles in Kennebunk, Maine.

Though I have known Amy through the ezFolk.com music site for a couple years, this was the first time I met her in person. It was more like seeing an old friend after a long time. Hugs and onversation came easily.

Amy's concert was a delight. Not only does she have an exceptional voice, but her musicianship is outstanding. Each song is a complete arrangement, as her guitar provides bassline, harmony, counterpoint, and call-and-response to her stirring vocals. She is expert at modulating volume and attack to give her music even more expresson and variety.

Amy started her set with Now it's Time, a song to which I personally relate:

The music never died
It was just buried alive
But now it's time for a resurrection
Now it's time

Next came Morning Quiet, a haunting gem that is a personal favourite.

Amy proceeded to delight us with a selection of widely varied offerings, including some blues, traditional songs, and covers, as well as her own superbly crafted originals. She ended her first set with her anthem to change and hope, Rosa Sat. In the tradition of Pete Seeger, she taught us the song and had us all singing along - a moving moment indeed!

Amy's concert was a real treat, as she demonstrated not only superb musicianship but also a great stage presence and a fine feel for entertaining her audience. We are blessed to have had her come to our area.

After the concert we had a little more conversation and hugs and posed for pictures. It was great to see my old friend!

Thank you, Amy, and thank you Mary and Randy.

ezFolk: An interview with Tony Provencher 8.14.09

noreply@blogger.com (Snoupi) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:11:00 +0000

Yours truly is the subject of this week's artist interview by Holley Hall on ezFolk.com

ezFolk: An interview with Tony Provencher 8.14.09
Source: ezfolk.com
Free MP3 and video hosting for folk and acoustic artists.

Thank you, Holley.

Rest in Peace, Dad

noreply@blogger.com (Snoupi) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:14:00 +0000

Dear friends,

Dad passed away early this morning.

I made this little poem for him recently:

Mother's Garden

Please keep him in your hearts and your prayers, and wish him safe journey.

Peace,
Tony

Happy Groundhog Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Snoupi) — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 23:58:00 +0000

Ma Normandie et Moi

noreply@blogger.com (Snoupi) — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 19:33:00 +0000

Below is an excerpt from a page in my new website, Ma Normandie dedicated to the song, Ma Normandie, by Frédéric Bérat, and the charming countryside that provided its inspiration:

Ma Normandie et Moi

This is a story of gifts. It all started some years ago, when my parents gifted me with a compact disc album, Vive la Normandie, by Émilio Corfa. I was very much taken with the beauty of the song, Ma Normandie. My mother was from Normandy, and I was born there. I loved visiting my Normandy, and had made a few stabs at making a song that would convey my love for this land, but with little success. The project was still on the back burner. When I heard Corfa's rendition of Ma Normandie, my quest was over. I knew that any attempt on my part to make another song like this masterpiece by Frédéric Bérat would pale by comparison. My new quest would be to make this song my own.

A few years later, my parents gifted me with an Appalachian dulcimer that they had picked up at a flea market. It was a sweet-sounding instrument with reasonably accurate intonation. Though I had never played the ducimer before, I was familiar with it from my college days, hanging around with my fellow 'folkies' and swapping songs between classes. Later, the popular Rhode Island folk duo, Atwater-Donnelly cemented my love and respect for the instrument. In short order I taught myself some playing techniques, and before long was working on an arrangement for Ma Normandie. When I thought I felt comfortable enough, I set out to unveil it in public.

I decided to debut the song at an open-mic in nearby Londonderry, New Hampshire. I invited my parents without telling them anything about my repertoire for the evening. I wanted to surprise them with a gift of the song they had given me on the instrument they had given me. I can't explain why -- perhaps, because it meant a lot to me -- but I found myself suffering from a terrible case of nerves that night. When it came my turn to play, I sat on the stage with my dulcimer in my lap, looked down at my dulcimer, and felt like I had never seen this instrument before. I was staring at a foreign fingerboard of fleeting frets. I managed to find a note here and there, and avoided striking any wrong notes, but I sang the song mostly a capella. The audience was polite, and my parents were appreciative, but I felt that my gift was inadequate.

A couple of months later, my wife and I attended the Rhode Island Old-Time Music Festival in Pawtucket, two days of banjo, dulcimer, and old-time music workshops, hosted by Aubrey Atwater, and featuring the great Jean Ritchie. On the evening of the first day, we had a round-robin, and I chose Ma Normandie. When my turn came around, I stepped up to the 'hot' seat right in front of Aubrey. Jean Ritchie was not in attendance, but I was still, once again, feeling overcome by nerves. With Aubrey over my left shoulder, I introduced the song, dedicated it to my mother, explained my nerves, and proceeded to play. This time it was magic. My trembling fingers did their job; my voice rang out pure and clear, if somewhat quavery, and the audience fell silent. When I came to the instrumental break, I heard the audience quietly humming along, and on the crescendo of the final verse, the audience came forth, humming and harmonising. As the last note faded, I heard Aubrey whisper, "Wow!"

Many congratulations, comments, and questions about the song followed. My wife pointed out that one young woman in the corner of the room had been brought to tears. This young woman, Bernadette came up to me and asked if I had a recording of the song, or if I would make a recording for her. We were invited to a get-together at Aubrey and Elwood's the next day. There Bernadette trotted out an old cassette recorder, and had me sing and record the song for her. Then Jean Ritchie came into the room, and Bernadette had me play the song for her -- A command performance for Jean Ritchie! -- Jean commented what a sweet song it was, and complimented me on my performance. My gift was worthy.

The following Spring, I visited my Normandy for the first time in thirty years, and found her beauty undiminished. It would be my mother's last visit in this life. She passed away in August of that year. We would return to Normandy the following year to spread her ashes in her beloved waters in the bay of the Mont-Saint-Michel. At her funeral I sang and played Ma Normandie for her. The gift was complete.

Autumn's Child

noreply@blogger.com (Snoupi) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 04:30:00 +0000

Autumn is upon us once again -- my favourite time of year.

I've created a new musical slideshow to celebrate:

You will need Windows Media Player to view slideshow.FREE DOWNLOAD HERE

Enjoy!

Homesick

noreply@blogger.com (Snoupi) — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 18:42:00 +0000

This Tuesday, (May 1st.,) my father and my sister, Betty, are leaving for a couple of weeks in France to visit relatives and the place of departure of my mother's ashes in 'ma Normandie'.

Judy and I are staying behind, this year, to give our exhausted budget a chance to recover... but I sure am feeling homesick!

To help assuage my homesickness -- and to share 'ma Normandie' with you -- I have created this musical video slideshow:

Ma Normandie
Best viewed full-screen @ 1024x768 resolution.
Takes some time to load... please be patient.
Stream
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A Song for Earth Day

noreply@blogger.com (Snoupi) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 17:26:00 +0000

Some time ago, Kelly Hamel, a friend and fellow member of 'The Cowpasture Collective', which ran the Canal Street Coffeehouse and published the Merrimack Valley Progressive, wrote this poem. I was moved to make it into a song - a song for Earth Day:

If the River Could Speak

poem by Kelly Hamel
music by Tony Provencher

If the river could speak
of its worries and woes,
we would hear angry tears
in the sadness that flows.

If the meadow could speak
with a voice of its own,
we'd hear tell about people
who have hearts made of stone.

If the forests could scream
like a jet through the sky,
we would shudder with fear
as they toppled and died.

If the wind called your name,
as it sobbed through the trees,
and asked for your voice,
would you silently leave?

If the ocean turned red
from the blood of the earth,
would you still wash your hands
of the blame?

Play HiFi (Broadband)
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Q: What shall we do with a drunken sailor? A: Put him at the wheel of an Exxon Tanker...

noreply@blogger.com (Snoupi) — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 02:29:00 +0000

Well, it took a while, but I finally recorded and uploaded this song, and am dedicating it, as promised to my nephew, Jeremy, and his wife, Michelle, who have embarked on a sail of the South Pacific, as part of a planned circumnavigation of the globe.

Stories and photos of their escapades can be viewed HERE

So -- Jeremy and Michelle, (and the wee tar in the hold,) -- This song is dedicated to you:

Drunken Sailor

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Lyrics

Presidents' Day

noreply@blogger.com (Snoupi) — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 12:11:00 +0000

Many of our presidents are remembered for the insightful and inspiring words they spoke:

George Washington: "The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves."

Abraham Lincoln: "Fourscore and seven years ago..."

Teddy Roosevelt: "Speak softly and carry a big stick."

John F. Kennedy: "And so, my fellow Americans... ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."

William Jefferson Clinton: "I experimented with marijuana a time or two... I didn't inhale." and "I did not have sexual relations with that woman..."

With that in mind, I offer, as my observance of Presidents' Day, this little ditty / history lesson:

Monica Lewinsky
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by snoupi

Monica Lewinsky
Tara Lipinski
I've always had trouble remembering names.

When I first heard the news
I was so confused.
I heard that our pres was with what-was-her-name;
That cute little skater?
With that old masterb... beguiler?
She was only fifteen, what a crime and a shame!

Now, I see you shake your head and say that I'm confused;
That is not the crime of which our president was accused!

No, Monica Lewinsky,
I mean, Tara Lipinski
Won an Olympic gold medal, an ice skating star!
But Tara Lipinski,
I mean, Monica Lewinsky
Won fame for what she did with the president's cigar!

She smoked it in a most peculiar way.
And told Linda Tripp how she'd been led astray.

Ken Starr, the old fogey,
He wanted that stogie;
He wanted to put Mr. Clinton in jail.
But Bill wasn't guilty
Of anything filthy;
He didn't really have sex, 'cause he didn't...

inhale.

The Lord Helps Those...

noreply@blogger.com (Snoupi) — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 18:11:00 +0000

I don't know if anyone saw this onTV or in the papers earlier. I found this story inspiring:

from The Columbus Dispatch January 29, 2007

Robbers pick the wrong church

We certainly have been changed in the aftermath of 9/11.

This song came from that inspiration -- rough draft for now:

The Lord Helps Those...

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words and music by Tony Provencher

Once upon a Sunday morn

In Columbus Ohio

Bob and Carol rose from bed

To worship they would go.

Father Michael said his sermon;

The basket passed around;

And just before the bread was broke

Carol heard a rustling sound.

The woman sitting next to her

Had stolen Carol’s purse.

When Bob rose to defend his wife

The woman yelled a curse.

The man who had come with her,

He pulled out a gun.

He pistol-whipped poor Bob and said

These words when he was done:

The Lord helps those who help themselves.

We’ll help us to our fill.

The Lord helps those who help themselves --

This pistol says we will.

So hand over your wallets,

Your bags and purses too.

The Lord helps those who help themselves --

We’ll help ourselves to you.

But while the thieves were gathering

The bags and wallets too.

A fire stirred up in the hearts

Of people in the pews.

"Let’s roll," the voices rumbled,

The ghosts of Flight 93;"

Let’s roll; the Lord helps those who help..."

"Let’s roll! Get off your knees!"

The Lord helps those who help themselves --

‘Let’s Roll’ our battle cry --

The Lord helps those who help themselves --

Let’s roll; let’s do or die!

Those thieves cannot imagine

That we would ever dare...

The Lord helps those who help themselves --

Those thieves don’t stand a prayer!

And so they rolled into the thieves,

While others used their phones.

They rushed and threw the gunman down;

The woman ran alone.

They held the gunman down

As the police sirens wailed

The thieves were put in handcuffs then

And taken off to jail.

Bob went to the Hospital;

Got stitches, nothing worse.

Carol said a prayer of thanks

For getting back her purse.

The congregation gathered

For services delayed.

Then Father Michael broke the Bread

And grateful prayers were prayed.

The Lord helps those who help themselves --

You can pray your woes away --

The Lord helps those who help themselves --

But it’s not in the words you say --

Just hold on to your bootstraps

And give a tug or two --

The Lord helps those who help themselves --

It’s in the things you do.

Amen.

Je Suis Grand-Père

noreply@blogger.com (Snoupi) — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 00:56:00 +0000

Random Image:

noreply@blogger.com (Snoupi) — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 22:16:00 +0000

Happy Holidays!

noreply@blogger.com (Snoupi) — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 03:57:00 +0000

A little musical slideshow Christmas card for our friends!

Turn volume on if you dare!

noreply@blogger.com (Snoupi) — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 03:02:00 +0000

Guess who has been selected this week's

Tony Provencher

Happy Autumn

noreply@blogger.com (Snoupi) — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 21:32:00 +0000

Autumn --
my favourite time of year --
a time, at once, of change and timelessness --
a time of reflection and reminiscence...

I have created this musical slide show of Autumnal photos I have taken, set to my song,'Autumn's Child' (best viewed full-screen @ 1024X768 resolution):

Autumn's Child Music Slideshow

Hope you enjoy it.

Boston Folk Festival '06

noreply@blogger.com (Snoupi) — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 11:45:00 +0000

Went to the Boston Folk Festival this weekend at UMass Boston. The campus is a lovely venue, situated on a paeninsula off Boston Harbour. The weather was perfect. Sadly, we were not allowed to take photos nor (obviously) use any recording devices. I did get a hat and a duckie, though.

We arrived just in time to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of his demise with the Phil Ochs Tribute, hosted by Sonny Ochs, and featuring Kim and Reggie Harris, Greg Greenway, and emma's revolution. They all together started the set off with 'Power and Glory'. I wept. The sound and the memories reached deep into my soul.

My eyes misted up again when Greg Greenway performed a haunting rendition of 'No More Songs'.

I pulled myself together enough to lend my voice to everyone else's on the finale, 'When I'm Gone', a song that, for me says it all:

"And I won't be laughing at the lies when I'm gone

And I can't question how or when or why when I'm gone

Can't live proud enough to die when I'm gone

So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here."

Next we were treated to the sweet voice of Tish Hinojosa singing her songs of the West and her multi-cultural heritage.

Next came Richie Havens, another moving and spiritual experience, as he interwove tales of his Greenwich village days with stirring renditions of topical songs of yesterday and today, all relevant to our current sociopolitical experience.

His performance of 'Lives in the Balance':

"There are lives in the balance

There are people under fire

There are children at the cannons

There is blood on the wire"

was nothing short of electrifying.

A beautifully hypnotic rendition of Joni Mitchell's 'Woodstock' led into a climactic performance of 'Freedom/Motherless Child' which left us shaken AND stirred. Pass the hanky please.

Havens left us with a message of love -- "Do for each other..." which seemed to become the theme of this folk festival.

Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul came on next to close the evening, and got everybody dancing and singing with their exuberantly and impeccably played blend of Celtic, Jazz, and show tunes. We were tired puppies as we headed home.

The next day, we arrived too late to catch Tony Bird, a performer I had hoped to see.

We staked out our spot in the main field and enjoyed the traditional and original songs dance tunes of the Cottars,a fine group of young musicians from Cape Breton.

Next came the Kennedys. Pete and Maura Kennedy regaled us with their captivating and spiritual original songs, including 'Half a Million Miles', a delightful song about their falling in love and marrying at Buddy Holly's grave.

In keeping with the aforementioned unofficial, yet apparent theme of the festival Pete and Maura taught us to sing in Sanskrit and Japanese:

"Namistai, (the divine spark in me recognises the divine spark in you,)

Domo Arigato, (thank you.)

Next we moved to the Coffehouse Stage to hear Pierce Pettis perform his very moving original songs.

We returned to our stakeout in the main field to hear Jesse Winchester, another favourite of mine. Jesse's laid back demeanor gave the impression, even though we were several thousand strong, sitting in a six or seven acre field, that we were invited for a little chat in his living room. The chat was filled with Jesse's beautiful voice, untarnished by time, singing some of the most accessible melodies ever written, delivering lovely lyrics that touched us all deep inside.

The spiritual theme of the festival continued as Jesse finished by leading us all in a rousing a cappella gospel song.

Which leads us to the headliner for the festival -- Bruce Cockburn. Bruce is not only a brilliant lyricist, but also a consummate musician. Accompanied by only a drummer and a keyboardist who doubled on harmony vocals, Bruce delivered an impeccable set that was at once danceable and enjoyable, and yet spiritually profound. Like the songs of Phil Ochs, Bruce's songs, while topical, are timeless.

Bruce paints a bleak picture of Baghdad today in 'This Is Baghdad':

"Carbombed and carjacked and kidnapped and shot

How do you like it, this freedom we brought"

Bruce dipped into his new album to end his set with a sing-along song called 'Mystery'. One of my favourite verses from this song is:

"Infinity always gives me vertigo

Vertigo

Infinity always gives me vertigo

And fills me up with grace"

The last verse reiterates the theme of the festival:

"So all you stumblers who believe love rules

Believe love rules

Come all you stumblers who believe love rules

Stand up and let it shine

Stand up and let it shine"

We all stood shining and applauding and brought him back for an encore -- 'If I Had a Rocket Launcher'. We remained standing and dancing through this song. Amazing how relevant the lyrics are today, some twenty years later!

We headed back to the car to the driving beat of 'Night Train', a perfect finish to a perfect weekend.

My New Instruments

noreply@blogger.com (Snoupi) — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 05:18:00 +0000

Hi, Folks,

A couple of months ago I returned from France with a small inheritance. I used most of it to lighten my debt load, and squandered the rest on musical instruments and such. I bought a Roland MP 60 piano, an Edirol UA 4-FX Recording interface, (which I still can't get to work with my computer,) and these two folk instruments: an Ome Juniper openback banjo, and a Walnut Creek mountain dulcimer:

I took a little ride to Bar Harbor, Maine, to try out the Walnut Creek dulcimers at:

The folks there are very nice, and have a great array of folk instruments at reasonable prices.

I bought my Ome banjo online at:

John there is also very nice. Anybody who sells banjos and unicycles can't be all bad.

Here are a couple of tunes I laid down quickly to give everyone a chance to hear these wonderful instruments, (albeit clumsily played):

The Cruel War / How Can I Keep from Singing
Dulcimer
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Shady Grove / Pretty Polly
Banjo
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Road Rage Handbook: Turnsignals

noreply@blogger.com (Snoupi) — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 00:44:00 +0000

Q. Why doesn't anybody use their turnsignals anymore?

A. Because using your turnsignals gives your opponent the advantage.

a day late and a dollar short

noreply@blogger.com (Snoupi) — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 02:25:00 +0000

Richard, our ezFolk guru, some time ago started a patriotic song project on the ezFolk forums to coincide with the approach of the Fourth of July. My contribution is late, as usual.

I knew that I wanted to do something with Woody Guthrie's This Land Is Your Land.

I also knew this:

"The anthem of unity and beauty which so many children learned in school was actually written in response to the equally reverenced "God Bless America". ... Woody was infuriated with the lack of realism and the message of complacency in this song which infiltrated the nation's air waves. In response, he wrote "God Blessed America For Me" which later became "This Land Is Your Land"."

from AMERICAN STUDIES at the University of Virginia

So I endeavoured to create a sort of a medley:

It took me awhile to put it together and teach it to myself. I still can't play it all the way through without a noticeable mistake.

It's a day late; it's a dollar short; it's crude, but here it is:

This Land Is Your Land / God Bless America

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