New Hampshire Fiddle Madness returns to Bass Hall this year with a bird theme: most of the concert repertoire will be tunes which contain bird names: Lark in the Morn, The Wild Goose Chase, for example. But rest assured, the band won’t be winging it! They’ve been rehearsing with revitalized energy, and are also looking forward to this concert which follows the recently released 4 CD set from Skip Gorman, Celtic Fiddle Rambles, on which Jane, Randy and Gordon also appear. The band will be delighted to see familiar faces, and also to welcome new friends.
Skip Gorman’s natural affinity for Celtic music has been reinforced by his many trips to Ireland, Scotland and Shetland. He masterfully captures the intricacies of each genre with his fiddling. Skip’s breadth as a musician includes also being a master mandolin player (in the tradition of Bill Monroe) and a cowboy singer.
Jane Orzechowski has been a mainstay at contra dances for several decades. She is the 2019 recipient of the Governor’s Arts Awards for Folk Heritage. Her original interest was in Swedish fiddling, but her repertoire quickly grew to include all the influences, including Celtic, that form the basis for New England contra dance music.
Sarah Bauhan stared playing flute and penny whistle as a teenager, and while her music encompasses the broader New England styles, she has a special affinity for Scotland, where she visits as often as possible.
Randy Miller co-authored (with Jack Perron) and published the New England Fiddler’s Repertoire, Irish Traditional Fiddle Music, and William Marshall’s Scottish Melodies. He has played for dances and concerts throughout the US, Canada, and Europe.
Nat Backes learned to accompany fiddle tunes by playing guitar at the Nelson contra dance. They played in the dance bands Trip to Nelson, and the Harlow's All Stars, and then developed their fiddle style as a street performer in Denver, Colorado. Nat now lives in Nelson, New Hampshire, and plays a variety of instruments.
Gordon Peery has played piano for contra dances for over four decades. He moves seamlessly from high-energy accompaniment for driving reels (one fan called his style “barrelhouse Irish”) to subtle accompaniment for delicate airs.
While these musicians have played in various configurations with each other for many years, this is a rare opportunity to hear them all performing together.
Note: masks will be required for attendance at this concert.