Touring Group Winter Update
Rehearsals Continued in January
The Touring Group resumed rehearsals in January, welcoming Artist Leaders Pascal Gemme and Véronique Plasse from Quebec for a weekend of music learning and workshops!
This month's rehearsals began, as is the custom this season, with feet and turlutte, and then moved on to learning and arranging this season's repertoire. Véronique Plasse shared Korolenko, as a jig with vocal harmonies and as reel, and her own mesmerizing tune, Brise-glaces. Come to a performance to hear about the inspiration for this tune, particularly appropriate to this time of year! Pascal shared a set of tunes he's calling From Quebec to NH, starting with La rencontre des dames, then La Gambadeuse by Claude Méthé, and finally the finger-twister Wilson Langlois en Bb that Pascal got from New Hampshire fiddler, Wilson Langlois. To hear a bit from this rehearsal, go to the Touring Group's YouTube playlist and check out the January Rehearsal video.
The Touring Group returned to tune and song sets that were introduced in the fall, as the focus is now shifting to arrangements and staging, as well as finetuning tempo, dynamics, and ornaments ahead of the spring performances! The fun continued at Young Tradition Vermont Director Ian Drury's home, for a potluck and jam soirée Saturday night. Sunday morning found the Touring Group gathered again, for a bit more rehearsing as well as workshops to explore ethnomusicology with Vermont Folklife Executive Director Kate Haughey and Education Director Mary Wesley and an introduction to sound equipment and audio recording with YTV alum and former Artist Leader Oliver Scanlon. What an amazing weekend of music, learning, and community!
There will be several opportunities to see the Touring Group perform in Vermont ahead of the tour to Quebec:
Fundraising
Seat on the Bus
Fundraising for the Quebec tour continues as well. Folks can still hop on the [virtual] bus, traveling "with" the Touring Group, receiving exclusive content in your inbox twice monthly, including video links, tunes via audio files, sheet music, interviews, and lots of photos!
Feedback from last year's Seat on the Bus emails:
“These updates are so great! I'm sure they take a lot of time, but this is one grandmother who appreciates it very much. Thank you so much. The excitement and sense of fun are infectious!”
“I absolutely LOVED this video!!!! Thanks for sharing the journey with us :)”
“Great to see and hear young and enthusiastic musicians.”
Touring Group Raffle
The Touring Group Raffle has just begun: 1/$10; 3/$25; or 10/$70!
This year’s Touring Group raffle has something for everyone, all from beloved Vermont organizations and available to be shipped anywhere in the United States or Canada! The Ben & Jerry’s Swag Basket will delight ice cream lovers… there’s two different ski passes for folks who want to head outdoors for some adventure… a day of fun in Shelburne with a family day pass to the museum and a gift certificate to O Bread (celebrated as having “the BEST bread” according to at least one Touring Group member)... and a Story & Song basket packed full of music and books featuring Vermont stories and music from Pete Sutherland and Pete’s Posse.
Beyond the chance to win these terrific prizes, people who support the Touring Group through the raffle are supporting hard-working, dedicated young musicians who rehearse and perform as an ensemble, sharing their love of traditional music in Vermont communities and beyond! Everyone wins!
Quebec Tour
Plans are well underway for a cultural tour scheduled for June 22-29th in and around Waterville, Quebec City, and Montreal where Touring Group members will participate in St-Jean-Baptiste Day celebrations, attend and play for performances and dances, go to jam sessions, and spend time connecting with local youth. We are excited to begin sharing specifics in our next update!
We hope this finds you warm & cozy, enjoying music and friendship this winter season!
