The Countdown is on!

Only 8 days till I fly off to Liverpool Nova Scotia for the giant Ukulele Ceilidh. I'm so very excited. This shot is the World's largest ukulele being installed at the Inn where the players are staying. It was made in 1977 for a visit from the Queen and was recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the largest playable uke ever made. Of course I'll be getting my picture taken with this bad boy when I'm there.

The Ukulele Bluesman songbook is about to become a reality. I have finished the transcriptions and just have the printing and binding to do before the ceilidh. So if you've been waiting for a the book, your wait is almost over.

See you in Liverpool!

and the pulitzer prize for blogging goes to....

Well maybe not the Pulitzer (do they even give a prize for blogging?) but certainly I'm pleased as punch to be a contributor to the new blog Digital Dewdrops. My pal David Newland set up the blog and invited yours truly as well as some other interesting folks along for the ride. So if'n yer havin fun readin about my exploits, you can surf on over and see what the left side of my brain might be saying at the same moment.

Goin up to heaven singing

Recently I've had a couple friends dealing with the death of a loved one. Both are grieving their loss in their own ways. It's got me thinking about loss and being remembered. How do you want to be remembered? I know that I've been wrestling with this question for some time and I've come up with my own answer.

1. I want to be remembered. A part of me wants to know that I have friends and loved ones that will remember my life and that I was here.

2. I want to make a difference. I want to leave the place better than I found it. I'm not talking about world peace difference (although that would be nice) but just any little thing that is shinier than when I arrived.

3. I hope that the music I make will outlive me. It would be a shame if the songs I'm singing would cease to be heard with my passing. I try to make music that is accessible so that this goal will be met.

4. And lastly, I want my friends (and loved ones) to be comforted knowing that I'm going up to heaven singing! That my life is lived without regrets and with passion. I've been lucky enough to achieve many dreams in my time so far and God willing I'll get to do some more before my time comes. So when it does, I'll have no complaints and no regrets.

Okay enough morbidity...

I've been getting ready for the Ukulele Ceilidh Oct 6th in Liverpool, NS. I had the brainstorm that folks there might be interested in the music from my latest ukulele CD (Ukulele Bluesman) so I've been busy charting out the songs and transcribing the playing so that people can learn the songs. It's been a learning experience and I'm pleased with the results so far. I think I'll package the book two ways; first just as a songbook. 2nd as a book and CD combination. I'll see which does better. The book will have selections from the CD and some other exercises for playing the blues on a ukulele. Stay tuned for more on this product!

First day of Fall

Well it's here. The first day of fall arrived today and that means that the winter nap is on its way. I've been wrestling with my cable bill lately and I've been wanting to get rid of the digital cable package that I currently have. Unfortunately with winter coming, I keep thinking that I'd be happier with it. I mean what better way to weather the cold Manitoba nights than numbed to the world by watching "Joey" or "CSI"?

Since life is about the choices we make, I have chosen to spend more time on personal development and less on mindless entertainment. That means that as hard as it might be, I have to get rid of the cable box. In it's place will follow a flood of reading, lots more music practice and hopefully some more gigs.

Blues/Jazz combo anyone?

This is my new ukulele case. My 1955 Martin ukulele has been carried in a cardboard case since 1961 (I have the purchase reciept for the case) and that case will finally be retired in favour of this new tweed covered hardshell case. I have stopped taking the Martin uke out mainly because of the lack of protection for the instrument. Well no more. The first gig it will be used on will be the Ukulele Ceilidh in Nova Scotia in a couple weeks. I can't wait!

Fascination with Dylan

I wonder why it is that some people are so fascinated by Bob Dylan that they cronicle everything he ever did? Now don't get me wrong, I recognise the man's ability as a folk singer and a source of inspiration to many. My question might be more clearly stated if I tell what led to it.

Last night I was continuing the research I've been doing into early American Gospel music. I was looking information on Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior by Fanny Crosby 1868 and came across a link to the song that attributed it to five live performances by Mr Dylan. Of course it had the proper authorship listed but was focused on his performance.

Now I have played many songs over my career and I have heard the Dylan version of this hymn (I would hardly call it earth shaking) and can't help but wonder why someone would even search to find out that Dylan had even played this song. Anyway it is a great hymn so I will post the lyrics here for your edification.

Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior
© Fanny Crosby 1868/Howard Doane 1870

Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Refrain

Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief,
Kneeling there in deep contrition;
Help my unbelief.

Refrain

Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.

Refrain

Thou the Spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Whom in Heav’n but Thee?

The long white nap

Last night I was cold. I had to add an extra blanket to my bed and this morning I sat with a comforter across my lap as I struggled to wake up. I know now that the evil fiend of fall and winter is coming. I'm really okay with fall but I could never see snow again and be quite okay with that too.

As the cold closes in around me I long for the warmth of a fire and the cozy comfort of my friends. To everything a season and a time to everything under heaven, right? Snow has it's place I guess but I could do with a few more months of June.

Beyond August

This is the view of the waterfront at Ear Falls where the Trout Forest Music Festival is held. I have been going to this area for years and recently started programming a music festival there. I love northwestern Ontario, the vistas are so picturesque and postcard like. Here we are overlooking the majestic English River as it winds its way to a hydro dam. The early morning mist (barely visible) is rising from the water and the loons are trumpeting in the background.

Sadly I didn't get as much done this weekend as I had hoped. I did however get to spend some quality time with my guitar. I managed to learn two old gospel numbers that I then performed at my church. The songs were Precious Lord, Take My Hand and The Lighthouse. My irony muscle was giggling away at the thought that both these songs were originally banned by the leaders of the early Baptist church and here we were using them to worship in the Baptist church today. After this summer I have a new appreciation of gospel music. I had the good fortune of hosting three gospel workshops this summer and at each one I learned something special and unique about the music and the practioners of this form.

I have been busy creating a catalogue of gospel tunes that I want to use in a concert sometime this fall/winter. My idea is to gather 5 or 6 voices together and perform gospel tunes and blues in a sanctuary or theatre with minimal accompaniment. Perhaps just a guitar, organ and bass. The program will be put together in partnership with my friend and pastor Greg Glatz and will be a revival show concentrating on music. Of course once we have the show together we will absolutely be recording it. And all of you will be invited to be in the audience so long as you don't mind voicing your joy and enthusiasm throughout the recording process. Keep your eye on this space for details regarding this project.

I will leave this posting with this message...my new credo of life;
"Keep no debt outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another."
Peace. Hal

Getting ready for Winter

I feel like that girl in the commercial who screams at the sight of a leaf on the sidewalk. You know the commercial for Tim Horton's? I'm just not ready for it come here. Fortunately we have some time left for me to finish some jobs around the house.

Anyway I am getting my plans in order for the winter season and I have decided to do a massive cleanout and purge at the Manitoba Hal hacienda. I noticed the other day that I have boxes I moved into this house five years ago that I haven't emptied. Chances are I don't need anything I haven't looked at in five years.

I also have stuff in the yard to finish. I have some exterior painting to do and I want to also get up on a ladder and clean out my eavestroughs. Yikes I hate ladders! I noticed they were full when I saw all this 'alien poop' on my sidewalk. I noticed more of it hangiing off one of my eaves and I took a close look and determined that this wasn't the droppings of some air borne terestrial visitor, but in fact rotted leaves. So it is time to do the eaves! Nuff said.

Have a great weekend wherever you are.

My humble home

This is where I've lived for the past five weeks. Through wind and cold and sun. It was remarkably sunny while I was away. There were only a couple of grey days and they happened when Summerfolk was putting me up in a Travelodge Motel. So I spent a lot of time in the sun or rather hiding from it. I did manage to get a healthy brown tinge which I never get. I think I just got burnt one too many times and the skin just turned brown.

Well I've been home for a day now and I feel much cleaner. It's funny how even with showers interspersed along the road how dirty you can feel after 5 weeks of camping. Anyway the laundry is all done and the sleep is still catching up but I feel pretty good overall.

What's next? The Ukulele Ceildh in Liverpool Nova Scotia in October and then the long white nap till spring and it all starts up again. Sometime in there is a new CD and maybe a tour we'll see.

Well I'm off to the video store to rent a DVD and then back to my couch to sleep some more. Have a nice day! :)

The night sky

Last night I lay on my back looking at the stars in the Ontario sky. Each time I found a bright star to look at I discovered it moving across the sky. Probably a plane I thought and then would focus on a different part of the sky and there again was a moving light in the heavens.

Moving lights in the heavens....that is what I think we performers must be to most people. We descend on a town and entertain them for a weekend and drift off into the fabric of the land only to touch down somewhere else. It is an interesting theory of the life that I lead. Touch down, sing a song, take off and land somewhere else. I can live with that.