It’s not just the tie turning green, Cricket. All of me is turning green. What is it my alien friend, Kevin always tells me via a little song he sings, “It’s not easy being green.”
Good greif… OK, taking the mic back. Ladies and gentlemen, just in case of his mental absence, our esteemed moderator Great Scott requested several days ago that I present the Moderator’s Award in his behalf. Please allow me to read his prepared remarks:
“As most of you already know, the Moderator’s award is presented each year to the person who the moderator(s) feel has shown consistent improvement in their fiddle playing throughout the year. 2020 saw one particular member demonstrate a vast improvement in their string crossings, their use of the bow, and general fiddle playing; as well as providing us with a number of laid-back videos and an assortment of wonderful tunes.
But before I announce the recipient of this award, I would like to thank all the members who posted their fantastic videos in the Lion’s Den in 2020. All your videos were excellent, and were a treat to watch. Thank you all so much for being a very talented part of the BGD family.
And now to the award. (opening the envelop. leaning forward to the microphone) The winner of the 2020 Golden Lion Moderator’s award goes to (drum roll please) . . . Edmo. Thank you Ed for sharing your fiddle journey with us. It has been a real pleasure hearing you play your beloved Celtic tunes and watching your fiddle playing improve with each one. We are all very proud of you and we’re looking forward to watching more of your videos this year. Congratulations, Ed. (big handshake. Ed leaves the stage with his award). Thanks everyone. Enjoy the rest of the evening. (GS gives a big wave to the audience as he exits stage right).”
Here are the tunes:
In the Bleak Mid-Winter
O Tannenbaum
My Gallant Hero
Little Brown Island in the Sea
The Tom Bigbee Waltz
The Parting Glass
Varso Vienne
The Ookpik Waltz
The Eagle’s Whistle
The Log Driver’s waltz
Flat Water Fran
Star of the County Down
Wayfaring Stranger
Lorena
Club Ceili
The Music of Spey
Coilsfold House
Fear a Bhata (The Lonesome Boatman)
The Aaran Boat Song
Over the Sea to Sky
Going Home
Giving Up the Fiddle
Slainte’
Farewell to Whiskey
For Ireland, I’ll Not tell her Name
Ae Fond kiss
The Green Hills of Islay
Now a big thank you to Great Scott for providing this award, and congratulations
EDMO
for winning our Moderator’s Award! Your certificate is in the mail.
I really didn’t need to hear that, Cricket. Throat, stomach, rear, all on fire at the same time. And now my tie. But thanks for the heads up anyway. WHERE IS THAT SNOW?
This year’s Youth Award goes to a very deserving young lady who has worked very hard on her fiddling and continues to improve, day by day and week by week! Below are a list of her entries to the Lion’s Den and Composer’s Forum. Between writing, performing, singing and branching out into other instruments and genres, this Golden Lion certainly deserves recognition.
ORIGINALS:
7 o’clock Waltz
Waiting to Waltz
My newest
Un-named Waltz
PERFORMANCES:
Mo Bhuach Ilian Donn
Calliope House (with piano)
Sally Gardens
Some tunes
Caravan girl (duet)
The Ookpik Waltz (duet)
Tabhair Dom Do Laimh
Waiting For a train
Loch Lomond
Waiting For the Federals
Another twin – fiddle tune
McGuire’s March
You Are My Sunshine (not Fiddle)
Planxty Irwin
Messing around with Audacity
McArthur Road Reel
Bill Mailly’s Barn Dance
Empty Saddles (piano)
500 Miles (on harmonica)
Mrs O’Sullivan’s Jig
The Morning Dew
Lieutenant McGuire’s jig / Gloucestershire Wassall
Yay! Congrats to you, Kaeleigh! Thanks for all the wonderful music you’ve shared with us during this past year! (But you din’t bring us the snow like you said…lol). Congrats again…you’ve made it a great year around here!