carolanstatue2

Carolan Festival Worcester, VT

Our festival is a gathering of people who play, listen, sing, or dance to
the music of Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738), Irish harper and composer.

 

 

Saturday June 24, 2023 Schedule

 

(click for 2023 Chart version of Schedule)

  *Outdoors for COVID safety*

 

(by Venue) 

 9:30 AM  Festival Opens

MEALS -

 

Noon- 12:45 PM Lunch Break

6:00-7:00 PM   Supper Break

Water (free)

MAIN TENT:    

9:45-10:45 AM  Open Session: with John Mallery & Bob Paul- Carolan Tunes 

10:45 AM-Noon  English Country Dancing- with Val Medve to LIVE music played by Aaron Marcus and Festival musicians.  (Many modern English Country Dances have been written to Carolan tunes.) Experienced dancers available and happy to help!

 

~~~LUNCH  Noon - 12:45 PM  (Bring Your Own)~~~

 

12:45-1:45 PM Tune Workshop: with Andrea Mori (Irish flute, whistles, classical flute)- Tune(s)  transposed to a friendly key for traditional instruments. Sheet music provided at the workshop, including ABC notation. (All Melody instruments welcome.)

1:45-2:45 PM Open Sessionwith Festival Musicians- Carolan Tunes 

BARNYARD TENT:

11:00-Noon "Carolan Standards" (easier tunes, slower tempo): Sheebeg & Sheemore, Fanny Power, Blind Mary, Col. John Irwin (59), Captain O'Kane, Eleanor Plunkett  (click for "Standards" sheet music)  & "Carolan Favorites" Session (moderately difficult): Carolan's Draught, Carolan's Concerto, Geo. Brabazon 2nd Air, Bridget Cruise 3rd Air, Lord Inchiquin, Morgan Magan, Mrs. Maxwell 1st Air  (click for "Favorites" sheet music)- with Bob Paul

 

~~~LUNCH  Noon - 12:45 PM  (Bring Your Own)~~~

12:45-1:15 PM  Upper Valley Music Center (UVMC) ECD Ensemble rehearsal before Afternoon ECD

1:15-2:45 PM   English Country Dancing (on the lawn): Martha Kent will teach English Country Dances (Many modern English Country Dances have been written to Carolan tunes)- to LIVE music by Aaron Marcus and Open Upper Valley Music Center ECD Ensemble led by Amy Cann including TBD Katy Botsford, Martha McDaniel, Dana Wright, Dave Beaufait, and YOU (Festival musicians welcome to sit in) 

 

HARPERS'  HAVEN (ongoing)- Leader/Facilitator: Mary Paul

 

ANYWHERE (ongoing)- impromptu ensembles and partners gather!

 

~2:45-3:00 PM PROCESSION down the hill to open the Afternoon Performances! 

 

MAIN TENT (3:00-6:00 PM for all activities):

3:00-4:00 PM   Dance Performances & Demonstrations with Festival Musicians- Style of your choice, or be creative! Request a tune, or dance to whatever is being played.

Participatory Irish Ceili Dancing; Sean Nós (old style) Irish dance performance by Yasi Zeichner; English Country Dance demonstrations; Waltzing; Morris dancing by members of Midnight Capers plus TBD.

 

Concert-  

4:00-4:30 PM  Young Tradition Vermont/Vermont Folklife "Fiddleheads" & Harp students with Dominique Dodge

~4:35-6:00 PM   "Open Stage" Concert-  Spontaneous ensembles welcome. Sign up in advance, or during the day. Limit of 1 tune or medley of tunes **5 minutes total** per performer.

 

~~~SUPPER  6:00-7:00 PM (by advance reservation)~~~

 

6:00-7:00 PM   Open Session during Supper– all welcome to play and listen.

 

MAIN TENT

7:00-8:30 PM  Carolan Tune Session 

 

Dusk   Bonfire


ANYTIME  Swimming in the river