Sept 2010 news

Notes from the flute world
The tri-state flute circle is going strong and meeting monthly.

NEXT FLUTE CIRCLE MEETING:
Date: SEPTEMBER 18, 2010
Time: 12:00 noon- 2:00pm
Location: Marshall University
Huntington, WV 25704
THE ATRIUM BETWEEN SMITH MUSIC HALL AND SMITH HALL.
Refreshments such as fruits and veggies, trail mix, pretzels, or cookies, and water or teas will be free. Bring finger or easy foods if you'd like.
FOR MORE INFO ABOUT MEETINGS, CHECK OUR:
FACEBOOK PAGE: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=113378260242&v=info
NEW BLOG!: http://trristatenativeflutecircle.blogspot.com/
OR SEND US AN EMAIL: tristateflutecircle@yahoo.com

The Northern Virginia Flute Circles have brought back an event that is extraordinary and very fun. Read the details here:

There're a few slots left for the Flute Fall-In at Camp Bethel near Roanoke on Halloween weekend.

Cost for the three-night, four-day stay is $175 per person, which includes lodging and meals (except for the "dinner-out" on Saturday night) and all other associated activities.

Attendees who'll be bringing some flutes include Brad Young and Roger Bennett. Leonard "Lone Crow" McGann is our facilitator. Gary Cope from Indianapolis, whom some of you know as a fine musician, is coming, as well as Sterling Green, whom many of you know from Festival.

The registration form and all details are at our main Web site, www.potomacflutefestival.org

Registration deadline is October 1, so get those forms in now! First-come, first-served for our maximum attendance of 30 people.

Join us in the House of Towers!
Several other events are brewing with eth NVa. circles - stay tuned
Mid-Winter Concert Series (February 2011)
Flute Spring (Spring 2011)
Potomac Flute Festival Vendor Day (June 25, 2011)

I have been a bit out of touch lately as Nursing School continues but we had a great Timber Flute Festival this summer with Ron Warren and Janice Torres playing and teaching. If you have not heard their new album Aura Surey, Many Roads Home you need to check it out. Visit www.ronwarrenmusic.com to order a CD.

Tri-State Flute Circle

NEW West Virginia Flute Circle
Awhile back i reported that a new flute circle has been formed in the Huntington area and we are very pleased that so many flute folks are cropping up in the Mountain State.

Emily reports today "I finally set a date for Tri-State Native American Flute Circle. It will be the third Saturday of every month starting April 18th. We will meet at Smith Music Hall on Marshall University's campus in Room 123 from 12pm-2pm. "

So if you are in the neighborhood please do plan to play flutes with our new circle.
To learn more, float over the title of this blog entry to get their web page on fluteportal.com

Potomac Flute Festival, Winds of Change

Potomac Flute Festival is approaching and this year’s event is shaping up to be something very exciting.

Early Bird Registration ends March 8th for Potomac Flute Festival. This year’s line up and the new festival website can be viewed at potomacflutecircle.net. Register early so you do not miss your spot.

While you're at the Festival, volunteer for a couple of hours (or more!) and get a flute raffle ticket for every hour you work. We need ticket takers for our concerts, support for lunch food set-up, some folks to help with the concert ticket will-call pick up before each concert, and help in a few other locations to give some relief to our Committee staff. To volunteer, contact Stuart Hill. At SJHHILL (at) aol (dot) com

Ron Warren talks about playing for the Pope

Ron Warren Native American Flute faculty for Timber Flute Festival in Elkins talks about playing flute for the Pope

With less than four weeks to go before the Timber Flute Festival in Elkins we are in the final preparations for a great event this year. While there is still space available for this years festival, word has gotten out and the festival continues to grow. We sincerely hope you will choose to join us for the fun and amazing music planned for this year.

Ron Warren’s concert performance during the Timber Flute Festival will be on Thursday evening June 26 and tickets are available through the Randolph County Community Arts Center. Thursday evening’s concert will feature the Native American flute trio with flutist Ron Warren, guitarist Lenny Stevens and vocalist/percussionist Janice Torres. Irish flutist Grey Larsen with guitarist Cindy Kallet will also perform that evening. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for elders/seniors.

Ron Warren had the tremendous opportunity to play Native American Flute for the Pope during the stadium mass in Washington, DC on April 17, 2008. He was kind enough to share some of his insights about the event.
“My colleague, Tracy McDonnell, had invited me to perform with her amazing “Inter-cultural Choir” which encompassed singers from all over the metropolitan area. In truth, I love musical opportunities like this. It challenges me to explore all the capabilities of my flutes and forces me to make music outside my usual habits. Along with everything else, Tracy asked me if I could play a solo introduction for the Gregorian chant, “Veni Creator Spiritus”. Many of the ancient chants sound quite beautiful on our flutes.”

“The highpoint of the Mass is Communion. Just before the people receive communion, the Celebrant of the Mass (Pope Benedict in this case) speaks special words over the bread and the wine that will be shared. For many Catholics, this is the most sacred moment in the Mass.”

“And it was at this point in the proceedings that Great Mystery, or perhaps that trickster Rabbit, made an appearance. The Musical Director needed more music to fill the time while the Pope spoke his special blessing. Tracy asked me to start the “Veni Creator Spiritus” right away. I played the introduction, the Inter-Cultural choir did their lovely setting of the chant with African drums and then - the Pope wasn’t finished. They still needed more music. The Music Director signaled me to continue as a solo. I began to riff on phrases of the ancient chant, carefully watching the conductor while he watched the Pope.”

“For a magical moment in time, the beautiful solo voice of our Native American Flute echoed through the hushed man-made canyon of the baseball stadium, floating out an ancient European hymn to accompany the Pope’s blessing, while tens of thousands from all over the world quietly joined their hearts together. How fitting that at this most sacred moment, the only sound in the stadium was the voice of a Great Spirit that had been here in this land long before the Pope’s Church and is still here. What an amazing gift I had received, to have the opportunity to honor my People in this way.”

Note: For the Papal Mass, Ron played on flutes made by Colyn Petersen and Jim Gilliland.
Learn more about Ron Warren and his music at http://www.ronwarrenmusic.com

The West Virginia Native American Flute Circle is participating in this summer's 2nd Annual Timber Flute Festival which will be June 22-27 in Elkins, WV. This event has grown a great deal in just a sort time and will this year feature five different flute traditions including Native American Flute taught by award winning musician Ron Warren. Dances and concerts every evening allow for sharing and gathering new music. Late June in the Appalachian Highlands is cool and green with bountiful opportunities for outdoor recreation. This will be a memorable week that you do not want to miss. Practice and study in your instrument of choice and learn a new flute this summer too!

Our flute circle will meet this month at RCCAC as usual Saturday, June 14 2008 from 1-3pm - Hope to see you there too.

Sunwatch Flute Festival

Well I now enjoy a better internet connection from living in town. Yet my recent move has encroached upon my time for flute playing and community (pretty apparent from the posting schedule, I think)
This means that I'll likely be missing one of the new and exciting labors of love of the Miami Valley Flute Circle - Sunwatch Flute Festival.

http://sunwatch.boonshoftmuseum.org/Flute%20Circle.html

The site is a museum and includes Miami Indian Archaeological sites. The line up is pretty fantastic and I'd say that organizers have done an impressive job for a first year event.

The trend is a good one that new flute events are popping up all over the country. A new Oklahoma event is coming up this fall as well (news to follow). Reports from Zion are that it was bigger and more wonderful again this year. I wish them well and hope they send pictures for posting on this new DSL connection as it seems to be all I can manage lately. Sigh.

Another Spring Flute Event

I spoke with Stuart Hill about an upcoming annual event this April called Flute Spring.

Jan Kirlew is the host organizer.
Her computer is down for at least another week, and she has been unable
to send out further information on the annual Flute Spring, held in
Lebanon, NJ each year. This year's event will be April 19-22, 2007.
She needs to put in a deposit on the facility, so please send your
checks to her address (Jan Kirlew, PO Box 20573, Roanoke, VA 24018)
The weekend is $170, towel and linens is $10 more. You can send her
email at jkirlew@att.net - which she may receive when she gets her
computer back.

Stuarts comment on the event is "For anyone not aware of this event, it is a very casual and enjoyable event, held in a religious camp facilities, catered and a real blast." Thanks Stuart for the news.

Another highly recommended event in Musical Echoes in ft Walton Beach Florida. Dates for this year are April 27, 28, 29 2007 and you can see the performer line up at:
www.musicalechoes.org/