October Events! Helen Creighton Folklore Society

Hi gang,

Summer has gone by way too quickly and the absence of WTF! is making us restless but Fall has some interesting things happening that just may fill the void.

*** HCFS AT THE LIBRARIES ***

The Helen Creighton Folklore Society has a few programs going on in October to celebrate 25 years of our involvement with the annual ghost story writing competition. These programs can be found in the current library guide.

25 Years of Ghosts! : Songs, Stories, Folklore

Families/Ages 7+

The Helen Creighton Folklore Society’s musicians, singers, and storytellers celebrate 25 years of ghost stories! The Society members will tell, sing or perform 25 songs, stories, and folklore bits in this 1 hour program for families and for adults who dare to attend. Not for the faint of heart!

Alderney Gate Public Library Sunday, October 19/2:30 pm.

How to Craft a Scary Tale

All ages

Maritime Folk Series Workshop with Cindy Campbell Stone.

Youth leaders, campfire storytellers, film makers, and writers... iit all starts with   a tale well told.

Tantallon Public Library Saturday, October 4/2:00 pm-3:00 pm

Registration required

Maritime Folklore Series: The Supernatural!            

2-part session with Margo Carruthers

Supernatural songs and stories, superstitions, folklore, and a bit of Gaelic too!

Alderney Gate

Wednesday, October 22/7:00 pm & Wednesday, October 29/7:00 pm

Haunting Encounters

with Cindy Campbell Stone

Ages 9+

What kinds of ‘things’ go bump in the night? Hear stories that may make your heart pound, your blood curdle, and the hair stand up on the back of your neck.

 Tantallon Public Library Saturday, October 25/2:00 pm

*** HCFS PRESENTS GEOFF KAUFMANN***

The Helen Creighton Folklore Society with support from the U.S. Embassy is presenting a series of events with the legendary Geoff Kaufmann on October 23,24 and 26. Geoff is known internationally for his work at Mystic Seaport organizing the annual sea music festival. He is the program director for music at the museum but is also an accomplished musician, singer, songwriter and historian.

On Thursday, October 23, Geoff will be the featured performer at the Rose and Kettle Concert Sessions. A great evening of sea music starting at 7pm.

On Friday, October 24 at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic at 7pm, Geoff will present his one-man show "So Long from Home: A Connecticut War of 1812 Tale in Prose and Song” based on the diary of Benjamin Franklin Palmer, a United States privateer taken prisoner in the War of 1812 who kept a detailed diary of his experiences here at Melville Island Prison and subsequent detention at Dartmoor Prison in England. This event is being held in collaboration with the Company of Friends at the Maritime Museum.  Earlier in the day at 1 pm, Geoff will be conducting a workshop on the application of music to heritage interpretation.

On Sunday, October 26 at 2 pm, Geoff will be presenting a program reflecting spirituality at sea called "Natural Reflections" at All Saints Cathedral in Halifax.

I hope that you will find something of interest here to tempt you out of the house and into the company of other WTF! friends looking to reconnect after this very long hiatus.

Margo and Cindy

Singing Storytellers Symposium- part of Celtic Colours

Singing Storytellers Symposium - October 9-12th 2014

PRELIMINARY PROGRAM

***THURSDAY, October 9th: James McConnell Memorial Library 50 Falmouth Street, Sydney (downtown). 10:00 am – 4:00 pm***

Registration: 9:00 am Thursday October 9th: James McConnell Memorial Library.

SPECIAL EXHIBIT - 9:00 am – 4:00 pm: Bringing Storytellers to the Screen Through The Films of Vincent Moon / Ely Rosenblum, ART/E/FACT, University of Cambridge

MAIN LIBRARY – Workshops and lecture-demonstrations

10:00 am -10:40 am: Come From Every Way: Canadian Songs of Immigration and Survival / Anne Lederman.

10:45 am – 11:25 pm: A Scottish town in five songs / David Scott, University of the West of Scotland.

11:30 am – 12:10 pm: The Storyteller Who Stopped in the Middle: Bringing Research Present / Kira Van Deusen.

12:15 pm – 12:55 pm: Hootenanny Tonite: Pete Seeger – American Troubadour – the early years / Leo Feinstein.

1:00 pm – 1:40 pm: Orality and Poetry: Cultivating Melody, Metre, and Memory in the Storytelling Body / Shauntay Grant, University of British Columbia.

1:45 pm – 2:25 pm: One Epic, Two Traditions: A Performance of Nepalese Epic Singing / Pushpa Raj Acharya, University of Alberta.

2:30 pm – 3:10 pm: The Musical Structures in 10th Century Chinese Storytelling Performance / Pengfei Wang, University of Alberta.

3:15 pm – 3:55 pm: The Wild Woman Archetype: From Fairy Tales and Myths to Song / Rita di Ghent, York University.

PROGRAM ROOM – Presentations and Papers

10:00 am – 11:00 am: “Every force evolves a form”: the mediatization of Scotland’s bardic tradition with reference to Sorley MacLean and Hamish Henderson (paper/film screening/workshop) / Kathryn A. Burnett and Tony Grace, University of the West of Scotland.

11:00 – 11:30 am: Digital Technology and a Changing Folk Music Mediascape (paper/performance) / Wayne Hansen, University of New Brunswick, Saint John.

11:30 am – 12:00 pm: Arash the Archer: A Persian Operatic Narration (paper) / Afarin Mansouri Tehrani, York University.

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Feature Presentation: Sing as if narrating, narrate as if singing: A Literary Duet / Gary Geddes and Ann Eriksson.

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm: Singing and Storytelling: Creativity, Healing and Empowerment in Indigenous Communities (workshop session).

•  Dancing in My Bones / Daya Madhur, University of Alberta

• The Impact of Music / Donovan Shirt, iHuman Youth Society

• Tunes and Talk: Journey of Healing / Michael MacInnis and William Herney

2:30 pm – 4:00 pm: Storytelling in Popular Song (paper presentation session)

• Surgical Crimes: The Transhumanism of Jonathan Coulton / Todd Pettigrew, Cape Breton University

• Tradition and Authorship in Contemporary Cowboy Songs / Gillian Turnbull, Ryerson University

• “The day may come when the paper rolls no more”: Singing the Industrial Heritage and Legacy of Newfoundland / Janice Tulk, Cape Breton University

* * * * *

***THURSDAY October 9th 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Sydney Curling Club, 619 George Street, Sydney (downtown) - SPECIAL SESSION***

“A Life in Song and Story”

Matthew Allen’s documentary film on the life of famed traditional Irish singer Seán Ó Sé will be screened at this session, as well as a presentation from Seán Ó Sé himself. The session will conclude with a question and answer period moderated by Lillis Ó Laoire, National University of Ireland, Galway.

• Seán Ó Sé: A Life in Song and Story / Saol Caite le hAmhrain agus Scealta (Documentary Film) / Matthew Allen, Wheaton College
•  Abair Amhran: Say Me a Song / Seán Ó Sé

• Lillis Ó Laoire, National University of Ireland, Galway (Moderator)

WTF! What the Folk! Superstitions

Well gang... it's June and we now have only two more WTF! nights left before we disappear to wherever we all go during the lazy hazy crazy days of summer. And speaking of crazy... let's GO crazy brave and thumb all our noses at... triskaidekaphobia!!!!

Since this WTF! night happens to fall on Friday the 13th, under a full moon no less, the theme absolutely has to reflect this rare convergence of influences. And since Cindy will be away at the Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival... I, as solo host, can do whatever I want... Oh! the power!... and so the theme shall be...

SUPERSTITIONS

At considerable personal risk...

For one night only Chebucto Coffee has been officially declared a triskaidekaphobia-free zone

Now I realize that the storytellers amongst us likely won't have a problem with the theme but for most of you singers, it may pose a dilemma. So rather than have you stay home out of fear of theme failure... I am throwing out a challenge and a chance for you to...

 STUMP THE HOST.

Wait! Wait! Wait! Curb your enthusiasm! Puhleease!

I didn't say 'stomp' the host although I can understand the temptation.

HERE'S THE CHALLENGE:

Bring anything you want. If your song or story does not contain an actual superstition... I, armed with nothing more than my wits... Stop that! It's rude to laugh at other people's misfortunes... and Helen Creighton's Bluenose Magic... must find an element within your song or story that has a superstition attached and share it with you. If I fail to do so... then you have stumped the host and may be eligible for an allegedly fabulous prize... should you be brave enough to accept it :)

So... with Cindy transported off ... into the mystic ...... while the brat's away... the louse will play.

The timing of Friday the 13th a coincidence? I think not :)

Margo

Warning from Cindy:

I am sorry ( or maybe relieved) I won't be there, but seeing that it is Friday the Thirteenth, remember...in the words of George Elliot: " ...superstitions carry consequences which often verfiy their hope or their foreboding".

WTF! is an artistic outreach program of the Helen Creighton Folklore Society. We meet every second and fourth Friday of the month at CHEBUCTO COFFEE, 6430 Chebucto Road, corner of Chebucto & Kline in Halifax where Mike's extraordinary culinary fare is approaching legendary status. Come early for a bite and stay for the entertainment which starts around 6:30 and goes until 9:00ish. As always... admission is by free-will donation towards the Society's work.

The Lady in the Lighthouse: The Catherine Gallagher Story

Cindy Campbell Stone presents the story and songs of Catherine Gallagher ( Mrs Edward Gallagher), the lighthouse keepers’ wife, who lived in the lighthouse at Chebucto Head at the mouth of Halifax Harbour from 1928-1950. A former school teacher, Catherine raised a family, and assisted in the war effort while living next door to a WWII barracks.

Catherine Gallagher (Mrs. Edward Gallagher) was one of the primary tradition bearers who worked with Dr. Helen Creighton. Her life changed when many of her songs were published by Helen and she became a performer on radio and in concerts for many years afterwards.

Friday, May 30: 12 noon-1pm

Spring Garden Road Library, program room

Cindy will focus on Catherine's life in story, song and a few photos. 

Tuesday, June 3: 7:30 pm

Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

In this ‘live-performance style' program and slide show presentation , Cindy will focus on Catherine’s sea songs and ballads. Four of these songs, Chesapeake and the Shannon ( War of 1812), Henry Martyn (privateers), The Broken Ring (sailors’ promise) and The Golden Vanity (power and greed at sea), can be found on the Songs of the Sea CD featuring traditional singers and field recordings from the Helen Creighton Collection (available for purchase).

Here is the link to the MMA website, and the Library website under Local History and Geneaology: Maritime Folklore Series.

For more information, contact Cindy at cindystoryteller@gmail.com

Songs for the Season and Stories Too! with Bill Plaskett

Hi all,

First off... last week's guest hosts... Morris and Mr. Moose wish to convey their most sincere appreciation to all those who shared the night of Fun & Games with them. They were particularly delighted with the success of their intro number from the Broadway musical Gypsy. Who among us will ever forget the Meese's high spirited rendition of Together, Wherever We Go? And the rest is hilarious history :)

This week, on Friday, April 25th WTF! welcome a singular Guest Host... last year's Knight of the Living Trad... the always affable  Mr. Bill Plaskett  who sent me the following:

"And theme-wise, maybe we can go for something like ... the Knight of the Living Trad has thrown away his silly hat and says simply... 

let's have a good old sing up, with Songs for the Season and Stories too!

... taking a cue from the likes of Owain Phyffe:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPMumoZRSCk , the Clancy Brothers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04U7Om1a2GY, or these little guys: http://vimeo.com/7246043, whatever you fancy".

You gotta love Bill! He's organized! He left me verily speechless! A veritable blessing in disguise for all of you who havelong suffered through my verbosity :)

He even sent a pic. See below... your man of the evening (without his Knight's hat).

In the immortal words of Stevie Wonder... "Isn't he lovely? Isn't he wonderful?" :)

Xo Margo

WTF! is an artistic outreach program of the Helen Creighton Folklore Society. We meet every second and fourth Friday of the month at CHEBUCTO COFFEE, 6430 Chebucto Road, corner of Chebucto & Kline in Halifax where Mike's extraordinary culinary fare is approaching legendary status. Come early for a bite and stay for the entertainment which starts around 6:30 and goes until 9:00ish. As always... admission is by free-will donation towards the Society's work.

long suffered through my verbosity :)

He even sent a pic. See below... your man of the evening (without his Knight's hat).

In the immortal words of Stevie Wonder... "Isn't he lovely? Isn't he wonderful?" :)

Xo Margo

WTF! is an artistic outreach program of the Helen Creighton Folklore Society. We meet every second and fourth Friday of the month at CHEBUCTO COFFEE, 6430 Chebucto Road, corner of Chebucto & Kline in Halifax where Mike's extraordinary culinary fare is approaching legendary status. Come early for a bite and stay for the entertainment which starts around 6:30 and goes until 9:00ish. As always... admission is by free-will donation towards the Society's work.

     

It Never Trains But It Pours at WTF!

Hi all,

 

Well... there's good news and there's bad news. The good news is that our next WTF! night on June 28th will feature the delightfully charming Pixie Currie and Kate Dunlay guest hosting their chosen theme of TRAIN songs and stories. Yayayay!!!! The bad news is that this will be the last WTF! night until September.  Awwwwwww!

 

So... for those of you who have been so generous with your praise for my weird little stories and have been begging for more... here is another... my gift to tide you over until we meet again. Names have not been changed to protect the innocent :)

 

                           IT NEVER TRAINS BUT IT POORS

 

Kate wiped her fevered brow and breathed a sigh of relief. Classes were finally over, marks had been handed out and she was free, free, free of all that academic bullspit for the summer. "I think I'll SHUFFLE OFF TO BUFFALO or maybe THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS. The CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO sounds like a plan too. I LIKE TRAINS. It really doesn't matter where I go. All I know is that I'M MOVIN' ON. CHOO CHOO CH' BOOGIE!!!"

 

As Kate was pondering her vacation, Pixie was reporting for work. She'd been on mandatory hiatus for a while after the WRECK OF THE OLD 97. "I don't know why I had to take the heat for that one", she grumbled. "I'VE BEEN WORKIN' ON THE RAILROAD since JOHN HENRY was a tadpole. I'd like to have seen him keep the beast on the track while tryin' to avoid BILL GROGAN'S GOAT. And I was only ONE TOKE OVER THE LINE too!!"

 

Kate, totally oblivious to the potential hazards of riding the rails, headed for the station. Unfortunately... in her haste to escape SMU, she forgot her purse. "Yikes! How will I get aTICKET TO RIDE now? "

 

So there she stood... forlornly... WAITING FOR A TRAIN as the conductor yelled GET ON BOARD, LITTLE CHILDREN. THIS TRAIN IS BOUND FOR GLORY. It's THE LAST TRAIN TO CLARKSVILLE today. Next one by will be THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL."

 

Kate wasn't planning to wait around all day for the MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO GEORGIA or worse... all night for a MORNINGTOWN RIDE. Yet... without her purse, she was penniless. "Ah ha!" she exclaimed in a lightbulb moment, " I'll hop that FREIGHT TRAIN belching over there."

 

And so she did.

 

Little did she know though that the ever reliable CASEY JONES had been replaced for this run by the newly re-instated Pixie who was none too pleased with the demotion. "Geez! I know I said I would TAKE THE "A" TRAIN but I didn't mean the A-hole train! What are ME AND BOBBY MCGEE gonna do now? There's gonna be one mean MAN OF CONSTANT SORROW in PETTICOAT JUNCTION tonight."

 

Yes... Pixie was pissed! She'd planned to be ROLLIN' IN her SWEET BABY'S ARMS in a few hours and now it looked like it could be days. Just then she got the ALL ABOARD sign from the stationmaster. "PEOPLE GET READY!" she snarled as the train pulled out onto THE ATCHESON, TOPEKA AND THE SANTA FE line. "This ain't no PEACE TRAIN!"

 

Kate, blissfully unaware of the potential for impending disaster, opened up her fiddle case and smiled. "Well at least I didn't forget the most important thing. If worse comes to worst, I can always play a tune or sing for my supper. Just HEAR THAT LONESOME WHISTLE BLOW. Music to my ears. Reminds me of that melancholy set of slow airs I heard in Mabou last summer. I think I'll play them here and now to pass the time away."

 

And so she did.

 

But... the walls were thin so the fiddle sound carried and in the car ahead... Pixie was not amused. "Don't tell me we've got STRANGERS ON THE TRAIN again. Probably ONLY A HOBO but that ain't no HOBO'S LULLABYE. I'm not goin' one more mile listenin' to that infernal racket let alone 500 MILES!"

 

Kate was so well ensconced into her SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY that she didn't hear Pixie furiously shrieking GO TO SLEEP YOU WEARY HOBO. But she was soon roused out of her reverie by the sudden screeching of metal on metal as Pixie slammed on the brakes. In a matter of seconds, the boxcar door flew open and Pixie stormed in.

 

With eyes flashing and tongue lashing, Pixie, the TULSA QUEEN, exploded. "That were no ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL, my dear. Where I comes from, they hang folks for less crimes than that! I haven't heard the likes since THE NIGHT THEY DROVE OLD DIXIE DOWN to the scrapyard. Even a cat being run over by a WAGON WHEEL would be more musical! And with that... Pixie tossed Kate unceremoniously off the train.

 

"But... but... we're in the middle of nowhere. And it's dark. You can't just leave me here."

 

"I can and I will," sneered Pixie. " But just so's you know... I'm not completely heartless. See them lights over  there? That there's the Big Apple. They got lots of folks like you livin' in the underground and makin' what they call (Pixie makes a most unbecoming face) music. I suggest you skeedaddle over there with your own kind."

 

And with that... Pixie stomped off, mounted the engine and in a belching cloud of soot chugged away laughing uproariously while singing TOOT TOOT TOOTSIE GOO' BYE in (almost) perfect time to the horn blasts. "DON'T SLEEP IN THE SUBWAY darlin'. You never know what might come a-creepycrawlin' late at night." Pixie's mood had brightened considerably.

 

The last thing Kate heard as the old train thundered into the distance was Pixie in full throttle... belting out KING OF THE ROAD at the top of her lungs. Kate, in a moment of absolutely unbiased academic reflection declared "Sheesh! And she said my music was nasty :)"

 

                                                 THE END

                                 (in more ways than one I fear :)

 

 

Happy summer guys & dolls and remember... if you choose to stay away from trains you'll never get the BOXCAR BLUES. Too late for Pixie and Kate I'm afraid. By now ... they're likely wishing they'd chosen a theme with a little less... ammunition :)

 

Xo Margo

 

 

WTF! is an artistic outreach program of the Helen Creighton Folklore Society. We meet every second and fourth Friday of the month at CHEBUCTO COFFEE, 6430 Chebucto Road, corner of Chebucto & Kline in Halifax where Mike's extraordinary culinary fare is approaching legendary status. Come early for a bite and stay for the entertainment
which starts around 6:30 and goes until 9:00ish. As always... admission is by free-will donation towards the Society's work.

 

Usual (or unusual) WTF Hosts: Cindy Campbell Stone and Margo Carruthers