Jan Seiden Memory of Time #19

Congratulations Jan!
Some really great news, Jan Seiden’s Memory of Time CD has been ranked #19 globally by New Age Reporter! This deservedly puts her in some great company as you can see from the list of accomplished artists that make the charts at this website. The link to the chart listing is here http://www.newagereporter.com/charts/top100.asp Lets hope that someone has already reviewed the album for the next issue of INAFA’s newsletter Voice of the Wind.

May NAF News

The big news early this month was that Ron Warren, Native American Flute Instructor for this year’s Timber Flute Festival in Elkins, had been requested to perform for the Pope’s visit in Washington, DC. Details of the April 17 performance can be seen on Ron Warren’s website, http://www.ronwarrenmusic.com/calendar.html. Pretty cool I think and a great honor for Ron.

Cedar Mesa Music and Scott August are proud to announce the Scott August Signature Anasazi Flute. These instruments are made by Geoffrey Ellis of Earth Tone Flutes. You can see one at Scott’s website - the link is on your right. His site reports that he is now teaching lessons on the Anasazi Flute, and has had two workshops this year.

Keith Stanford of Cherry Cows Flutes sent me news about a charity FLUTE MAKING PROJECT. Keith says “Basically, several Flute Makers have joined together to work on a flute. A special piece of wood is first selected, then a song will be recorded, by a noted Recording Artist, using that Community Built Flute. The flute and CD will then be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to charity. For this particular Flute Build, a piece of wood that is over 50,000 years old was used to make this flute. Charles Littleleaf is the Recording Artist who will record the special song.” If you are a member of the yahoo groups basic flute making group you can see photo files of this instrument. (The yahoo groups are a pretty good way to network with other flute folks and are recommended in that the flute groups are pretty well moderated.) A flute like this one was detailed in the current issue of Voice of The Wind. This is a great idea and a very worthwhile way to create one of a kind flutes to help folks in a new dimension.

Also do not forget:
Jan Seiden is someone I mentioned last post as being a very talented flute performer you should hear as soon as you get the chance. Her official release party for the new album, Memory of Time will be May 13th.
I was fortunate to purchase a copy at Potomac Flute Festival and it is fantastic, below is a short summary of how you can hear Jan and get a copy of the album yourself.

When: Saturday May 17, 2008
3:00 - 5:00pm (doors open at 3:00pm, concert begins at 3:30pm, CDs available for sale and signing before and after the concert)

Where: 6800 Oakland Mills Road (Christ Episcopal Church) Columbia, MD 21045 www.ChristChurchColumbia.org
RSVP by May 12, 2008 to Jan at: flutejourney@yahoo.com

Spring Flute Events

Spring Flute Events

Spring brings new events of all kinds and here are a few worth mentioning:
Jan Seiden is someone I mentioned last post as being a very talented flute performer you should hear as soon as you get the chance. Her official release party for the new album, Memory of Time will be May 13th.
I was fortunate to purchase a copy at Potomac Flute Festival and it is fantastic, below is a short summary of how you can hear Jan and get a copy of the album yourself.

When: Saturday May 17, 2008
3:00 - 5:00pm
(doors open at 3:00pm, concert begins at 3:30pm, CDs available for sale and signing before and after the concert)

Where: 6800 Oakland Mills Road (Christ Episcopal Church)
Columbia, MD 21045
http://www.christchurchcolumbia.org/

RSVP by May 12, 2008 to Jan at: flutejourney@yahoo.com

The Native American Flute Spring is held each year in New Jersey and is being hosted by Jan Wylie. The dates are April 10-13 and to register you can contact Jan below:
P.O. Box 20573Roanoke, VA 24018 naf4jan@cox.net

The new edition of the INAFA newsletter is here and the ad for Timber Flute Festival looks great. The dates are June 22-27 in Elkins and while that seems far away remember that after June 1st there is a tuition increase for late comers, so register early please and bring a friend (smile). I have spoken with several folks who are interested in camping out during the event to remain rustic and help with costs - this is possible, just ask. To register for the event just click here or on your right. http://www.randolpharts.org/.

There is good news in that another flute festival is being promoted for September 26-28 in Oakhurst, California – just outside Yosemite. Billed as the Yosemite Flute and Art Festival you can visit http://www.yosemiteflutefest.com/ for details, but I’ll warn you it looks like this site just went up and is awaiting details…

More news soon - or visit our next flute circle meeting on Saturday April, 12th from 1-3pm in Elkins.

Potomac Flute Festival 08

Potomac Flute Festival 2008

New artists, new faces, new weather challenges, new West Virginians at the event. There were a lot of good things about a very busy and flute packed weekend at the festival.

This continues to be one of the largest annual gatherings of flute addicts on the east coast and workshops were sold out this year. Additionally the house was full on Saturday night for R.C. Nakai and his concert was a delight. The weekend started off a bit rough, as several folks were turned away in an icy parking lot Friday afternoon when registration was to begin. My fault really for not checking the web site before I rushed to the car to begin my long drive from Elkins and beat the freezing rain, but I was determined to make it to Rockville on time. My friends from WV (Allen, Johnny and John F) drove even farther on Friday but found some fun in town anyway. No ones fault but the snow gods for causing giving Montgomery College cause to close the campus and leave the festival committee scrambling to keep everyone in the loop for “plan B”. They did this quite well and further managed to pull off nearly the entire schedule of events in the remaining two days. The big disappointment was missing Mark Holland, who was stranded by the same weather without a way to even get to the festival. I got to spend a quiet Friday night with family and with above freezing weather on Saturday morning we all got back to what we came to do. Kudos goes to the PFF committee for working so hard to make all necessary adjustments to keep things tracking well in spite of the weather.

Jan Seiden and Jim Morehouse were Saturday afternoon’s concert performers and were great. Jan has a new album Memory of Time and her performance debuted several of the new songs from this album. Watching Jan play is almost as fun as listening to her. The new album is entirely flutes and percussion yet some of these tracks leave your ears wondering “how does she do that?” Her live performance is a treat as you get to see how Jan produces some of these sounds on some very special flutes. Jan has also taken up the Anasazi flute and her original compositions are both haunting and beautiful. Be careful listening to the Anasazi flute in the hands of a skilled musician, it will make you want to learn to play one – as there is no other sound like it. Jim’s playing really is beautiful to listen to and reflects both his personality and passion for the flute very well. His performance featured all of his own instruments, including flutes from the Maryland State tree, the Wye Oak, who was estimated to be nearly 500 years old when it fell.

New Flute makers this year included Jon Kulias from Meadowlark flutes. John creates in ceramic to make some beautiful and rich sounding flutes and he is getting a lot of attention these days for being one of just a few people who work in clay. It seems that attention is well deserved as he is a genuine guy and talented artist. Brent Haines returned this year with his amazing work and several flute makers had new designs to share. Geri Littlejohn is now offering branch flutes that are wonderful. Colyn Petersen’s new sub-bass flutes are awesome and he debuted the new Ron Warren signature flute at the festival. Randy Stenzel has a Johnny Lipford signature flute that is beautiful and plays as you would expect it would. Leonard McGann displayed a flute made from an Armadillo’s tail, and his rated R flute I cannot talk about here. The flutes that went up for raffle were just amazing too as each flute maker had something special in the drawing. Great eye and ear candy for flute addicts.

R.C. Nakai is someone that nearly everyone has heard of and his music as a collaborator and ambassador goes well beyond the flute world. His music definitely is dreamlike and mystical but for me his engagement of the audience and discussions of the instrument were a highlight equal to his playing. Sunday morning he gave a discussion with some history but a great deal of exchange and question and answer time about all things flute and flute related. As one of the Song Keepers for this instrument that may have been the best session of weekend for me even though he didn’t pick up a flute.

Workshop feedback was great from what I heard whether folks were making PVC flutes, learning about the history of the instrument, attending Clint Goss’s playshop sessions or learning about topics from breathing to music theory. All those happy flute people crammed into the music college makes for really good energy. Many familiar faces and some new folks too made for a great weekend socializing. It was tough to head home Sunday afternoon but at least I had a new flute to play on the drive.

To hear more stories and share the learning from Potomac Flute Festival attend our March meeting at RCCAC Saturday March 8th from 1-3pm

Flute Festivals

I updated the link today. The 2008 Timber Flute Festival registeration and web site is up and running! Look at the event schedule and notice a concert or dance every evening. Five types of wooden flutes all sharing traditions and learning from one another. World reknown faculty members including our favorite Ron Warren teaching and performing Native American Flute. You do not want to miss this last week in June, a great time to be in Elkins.

Just a few weeks away (and this link has been busy a long time) Potomac Flute Festival is filling up fast but there are still spots available. Many of the performers at this event are presenting workshops as well and playing. Fifteen flute makers at the event make the legendary flute raffle a memorable experience too. Click to your right for details.

We will meet Saturday, February 9th at RCCAC in Elkins from 1-3pm and I hope to see you there.

A long time gone

A long time gone

The blog has been idle a lot lately as I have been rebuilding the home computer (or rather, I am begging someone else for help) to rejoin the digital world. Now with some things running and a new flute circle meeting coming up it is time to post great news.

Ron Warren
The founder of Potomac Flute Circle and a good friend is also a professional musician and gifted flute player. Last year Ron was a featured presenter at the 1st Annual Timber flute Festival in Elkins. This inaugural event was a week of concerts, performance and instruction primarily for Irish, Keyless and Baroque period flutes in 2007. Ron and Janice Torres performed and Ron taught an introduction to the Native American Flute that was brilliant and received wide acclaim. Our flute circle made many new friends from his presentation and folks have been asking ever since “When is Ron coming back?”

Mark your calendars for June 23-27, 2008 which will be this years date for the 2nd Annual Timber Flute Festival in Elkins. Ron Warren will be one of the 5 faculty members teaching for the week. Ron will teach Native American Flute for all levels and will also perform in concert Thursday evening. Registration for the festival will be open soon at the RCCAC web site.

This year Irish, Baroque, Keyless and Fife flutes along with Native American Flute will be taught during a week of concerts, instruction and sharing about wooden flutes. Last year saw attendees from across the country enjoy a week of cooler June temperatures and local hospitality. Everyone had a great time and this year’s event promises even more excitement and sharing with the addition of both Fife and Native American Flute.

It is great to have another eastern event for Native American Flute the fits between Zion Flute Festival and this years date for the INAFA convention. A busy summer for fluting!

Registration details will be up soon at http://www.randolpharts.org/ and you can call the center from their website too. I have my paperwork completed already and I hope to see many new and familiar faces in Elkins this June.

Kevin Locke

I mentioned on the site that Kevin Locke will be performing in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and a second show has been added to the schedule. The Susquehanna Folk Music Society is sponsoring two shows February 8th and 9th. Call 717.214.2787 for tickets to these shows.

Potomac Flute Festival has a full schedule posted at their website for this year’s event. Many great workshops, fantastic flute makers, hundreds for flute players and top notch featured performers are the focus of three great days. R. Carlos Nakai, Mark Holland and Autumn’s Child, Jan Seiden, and Jim Morehouse will all be performing in concert this year. Visit http://www.potomacflutecircle.net/ to see the whole schedule and register. I’ll see you there.

That is all the news for now – I hope your weather is winter as it should be in January.

Events for Winter Fluting

Leaves are falling fast now and a long, cold rain is working hard to fill the creeks...

My time spent at the annual Flute Fall In event last week was fantastic. Many plans were discussed for the winter and several performances of note are coming to the area and are not to be missed. Get out your calendars…

The Museum of the American Indian is the newest and possibly most fantastic building on the National Mall. They are hosting several musicians next week that are well known to the flute world. R. Carlos Nakai will perform Friday, November 9, 2007, 6 p.m. on Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center. The website states the following “R. Carlos Nakai, flute. Classical and traditional music performed by the leading Native American flute player, R. Carlos Nakai (Navajo/Ute), and friends.” Visit kennedy-center.org for further information.

On Saturday November 10, 2007 there are two performances (1pm and 3pm) in Rasmuson Theater at the Museum of the American Indian.

1pm Music of David Yeagley (Comanche), including Salve Regina for Native flute and women's voices.

3pm Dawn Avery (Mohawk) presents North American Indian Cello Project, including premieres of works by works by Ron Warren (Echota Cherokee), Timothy Archambault, Raven Chacon (Navajo), R. Carlos Nakai, and Dawn Avery, with R. Carlos Nakai, flute, Timothy Long (Muskogee-Creek/Choctaw), piano, Lisa Long, flute, Steven Alvarez, percussion, and the MC World Ensemble.

On Sunday, November 11, 2007 1pm in Rasmuson Theater at the Museum of the American Indian. A Concert for Veterans. In honor of Native veterans, this concert will include performances by R. Carlos Nakai, Dawn Avery and the MC World Ensemble, Tara-Louise Montour (Mohawk), Tim Archambault, Barbara McAlister, Timothy Long, Lisa Long, and Gabriel Ayala.

A big weekend line up with members of Potomac Flute Circle performing too.

A great cultural group has asked for help promoting a performance from Kevin Locke. This is a man who “needs no introduction” but I’ll provide you with a quote anyway. Kevin Locke is one of the featured artists in the documentary Song Keepers and has been an inspiration to many.

“An event of the Susquehanna Folk Music Society-- Program of Native American Music, Dance and Stories with Kevin Locke 2/8/08 Kevin Locke is a visionary hoop dancer, the preeminent player of the indigenous Northern Plains flute and a traditional storyteller. Of the Lakota tribe, he is known throughout the world as an ambassador of Native American culture.”

So the event is Friday Feb 8 at 7:30pm Kevin Locke in concert @ Harrisburg Academy in Wormleysburg, PA advance tickets $18 general admission seating. Call 717.214.2787 for tickets. Call me to arrange a carpool as I really want to attend this event too.

It is never too early to get the word out that the 5^th annual Potomac Native American Flute Festival will be held the weekend of February 22-24, 2008 at the Montgomery College in Rockville, MD Featured performers already confirmed include

Carlos Nakai - - - Friday Night - Mark Holland and Autumn's Child - - Saturday Afternoon Jan Seiden - - - - Jim Morehouse.

Workshops will be held throughout the event, which is scheduled to run from 3:00PM Friday, February 22 to 3:00PM Sunday, February 24. The festival will also include a Saturday afternoon concert featuring Jan Seiden and Jim Moorehouse, as well as over a dozen Native American flute makers and non-NAF vendors. Details and registration:

http://potomacflutecircle.net/