Thought I’d give my impressions of the 2006 NDCF from the perspective of a newcomer. I’m a long time ear player and a fluent jammer on the hammered dulcimer. But I’m not so fluent on the cello although I dearly love it. So it was with great trepidation that I decided to come to the 2006 festival…. My first time. To put things in perspective, assuming there were about 50 cellists there, that is about 10X the number of cellists I have ever met in my life! And with 1.5 exceptions, those that I have met have all been strictly sight readers of classical music. I play folk…. Celtic, old tymey, Scottish, a bit of Chinese, American contra dance music, etc. I had no idea what to expect at a cello only festival.

Imagine my amazement when I went to my first workshop (Barry Phillips teach a tune). WOW! Not only was there no sheet music anywhere, everyone was learning by ear and getting it. And I mean really getting it. That blew me away.

Then there were all the various cello centered workshops from other teach a tune ones to technique to Vic Sazer’s wonderful workshop about movement and injury. What a collection of cello knowledge.

And the concerts….. more surprises. It goes without saying that Alasdair and Natalie’s concert was a major high point for me. But I was surprised how much I liked the less “traditional” performances with amplified and electric cellos. Yoshi was fun, and Jamie and Lindsay were a surprise.... I generally don't care for electric instruments. But I discovered that electrified / electric cello works for me for some reason. And the Quartet San Francisco? I am speechless. I have never heard anything that cool, different, traditionally accurate and musical in my life. Maybe I don’t get out enough? ;) And no, although I am local to them, I have not yet heard the Royal Garden Trio although a friend of mine has been raving about them for years.

For me, I have to say that Barry and Shelly Phillips were my big discovery. I brought both of Barry’s CDs back with me and have been listening to them constantly (as I type this, in fact). I’m a big fan of Scandanavian music even though I can’t make it sound Swedish / Norwegian when I play it. I hope they will be back in coming years.

Another high point for me was the Saturday night jam in the dorm with Natalie and Brittany. It was so refreshing to find a jam like that at a cello festival. I cut my teeth on old tymey music and fondly remember the all night sessions in the woods at the Wheatland festival (Michigan) in the dark where the tunes just flowed and no one asked what key it was in or what book it was from. Didn’t matter if you knew it or not, you just figured it out. Those skills and that kind of session are becoming a lost art in the dulcimer community. But there I was in just that kind of a session at a cello festival! Knock me over with a bow hair…. It was SOOOOO COOOOOL!!

I also enjoyed meeting the various folks I made contact with. I am a shy person by nature and it was a bit overwhelming being a total newcomer at the festival. It didn’t help that I was among some really stunningly good players and me toting an instrument I couldn't always make what I considered "music" on. But after I told myself to knock it off, I had a great time meeting people and absorbing all things cello. And things not cello. It was fun finding and talking with other folks like me who have a musical side as well as a techie side.

Other than moving the festival within driving distance so I can bring MY cello (why didn’t I discover it when it was in Wisconsin?), the only thing I would change is I would like to see a couple fewer workshops and an accompanying increase in time for jamming. But I’m aware of the need for workshops, so I am not sure how to change it to suit everyone. Just my preference, for what it’s worth.

Bottom line….. WELL DONE, CHRIS AND EVERYONE.

Edit..... here's a link to my NDCF 2006 photo album:

http://www.pgoelz.com/ndcf2006/index.html

Paul
www.pgoelz.com