Squeezer's Green | ||
Oh I don't want a harp nor a halo, not me Just give me a breeze and a good rollin sea And I'll play me auld squeezebox as we sail along With the wind in the riggin to sing me this song |
(chorus): Dress me up in me oilskins and jumper No more on the docks I'll be seen Just tell me old shipmates I'm takin a trip mates I'll see you someday in Fiddler's Green |
|
This page is a memorial to those attendees who brought life to the 25+ years of the Squeeze-In, but are no longer with us. They were so vividly alive, shining & glowing with the light of life; it's hard to believe that they are gone. |
||
Golly, how to begin to speak of David? To say he was a kind, gracious, generous gentleman, the possessor of a legendary hoard of rare concertinas and a professional opera bass who mastered the (exceedingly difficult) McCann Duet and brought the traditional Brit Music Hall performance at an incomparable level to Bucksteep...that only begins to remember him. Every year at Bucksteep the premiere event was David's latest treasure, some pub or patter song, some witty wonder of double entendre (some self-composed)....always a glittering Faberge Egg of raconteur performance, music richly arranged and flawlessly performed, accompanied with wicked (or deadpan earnest) faces and his rich full bass inviting you to share in his delight and roll with laughter. For all his excellence, he listened to all, was generously involved with everyone and lent himself to last minute group efforts...and remained encouraging even when the group's lesser musicians might have foundered on the Saturday night stage. Alas, he stopped coming to NESI after 2007; when the initial inroad of Parkinson's made his music less than perfect, he bowed out at the top of his game. Unfortunately, the recordings of that glorious voice and his fingers dancing on the McCann are all but non-existant. There is one YouTube video of him on a folkie show, Horses Sing None of It. Also this recording of him performing Barker & Galipeau's Arnold the Armadillo. Some of his arrangements are online here. He is missed. |
Bob McQuillen - 2/6/2014On the left is Bob knocking out For Ireland, I'd Tell Not Her Name with Deanna Stiles at the Saturday Night concert in 2008 (photo: Bob Beimers, Whistle at the end, Doug Creighton).How do you roundup the life of the grand old man of New England contra dance music? Ex Marine, ex-high school shop teacher, eagle-eyed Bob Mc Quillen,who touched, listened and gave to everyone he met. Who came to folk festivals in an old bread van with an upright acoustic piano in the back (and a fold down bunk above it)....then opened the doors and began to play backup to any and all...'Whatcha got to play, sonny?'. Bob memorably described playing music for contra dance "Like being paid to eat ice cream". You can Google any number of tributes...here's one: New Hampshire Public Radio, "Remembering Bob McQuillen, An "Old-Fashioned Contra Dance Piano Player" and any number of videos. The National Endowment for the Arts: Bob McQuillen, pianist and accordion player, was born near Boston, but his family moved to southwestern New Hampshire when he was a child. Although his grandfather played accordion and his father played the piano, McQuillen did not turn seriously to music until he returned from service as a Marine during World War II. Some friends took him to a local dance, and he became interested in playing the accordion. He continued his day job teaching industrial arts at the local high school in Peterborough, New Hampshire, but also began playing accordion and piano for dances throughout the region, working with the legendary contra dance caller and historian, Ralph Page. In 1973, McQuillen wrote his first tune, Scotty O'Neil, named for a student who died tragically. Since then, he has written more than 1,100 dance tunes. |
Howie was a man of immense kindess and gentleness. He was a real listener, too, a rare thing. We miss him. On left, he is in 2010 (our last year at Bucksteep), singing his signature song, The Wreck of the Nancy Lee , at a late night pub sing....with a raucuous....and even occasionally in tune....accompaninment. Good fellowship all. You'll smile. Thanks to Bob Beimers for digging out this wonderful, if a bit cacophonous, recording. More booze! Who's singing the next song? In Tony's words, we are all hoping fondly for a heaven in which Howie can delight the angels with his droll humor and self effacing presence. |
Rich Morse - 3/2/2009 |