Red Maria

There have been two fiddles aboard the Mary Rose (Henry VII's flagship) that had sitting at the bottom of the Thames for hundreds of years. For all that damp they were in IMO remarkable condition. Archeologists were even able to recontruct them. A fiddle case was also found but it was to damaged to recontruct. The drawing I have seen show an almost Celtic design on the case.

These weren't violins but still bowed stringed insruments. It's radical changes in temputure and humidity that really affects bowed stringed instruments like the violin. Like air travel. That's one of the reasons Eugene Druker had a copy of his Strad made. Air travel to concerts toke its toll on the instrument. That why it's good to have a hydrometer in your violin case. Sea travel in the late 17th to early 18th century may not have the radical impact to temputure and humidity that modern travel does.

From some accounts of Scottish fiddlers of the 18th century I've seen fiddles were kept in bags (material unknown yet) and hung around the neck. The fiddle I was given a few months ago was in its case for 50 years and was in a silk velvet bag inside the case and was in remarkable condition considering it had been kept in a farmhouse in the Midwest all that time!

My fiddle (okay, violin, it has a curved bridge) is gathering dust in a corner.  Salty sea air would ruin it, but for some of the drier events, it might be fun to bring along - now what sort of music to play?  I doubt pirates would be too impressed with my squeaky renditions of Vivaldi concertos . . .

Ideas?  Pointers-in-the-right-direction-ers?

Thanks!

Any period dance tune would due. Look for John Playford's English Dancing Master. There have been editions since mid-17th century. There is one my fiddle teacher has that covers GAoP period. From about 165? to 172?. Sorry I can't remember the exact dates but I recall going "hmmm this would work well". Also look for traditional music from Scotland And Ireland.

A thing to note musicians were often commandeered aboard pirates vessel for their musical skill. Pirate like to part and you can't party withoutmusci! I haven't verified it yet but there is a report of a man accused of piracy who was let off because his crewmate veridief he was only a fiddler and didn 't commit acts of piracy.

Fiddles were a staple aborad ships and in the British navy fiddle music was used instead of shanties. I've seen wonderful illustrations of fiddlers standing on a capstans playing while men turn the capstan. So I don't think the sea air will harm your fiddle.

I didn't think this forum was limited to GAoP

I find it kinda interesting that almost every modern book on Pyracy tells All about female Pyrates....

Grace O'Mally, Anne Bonny, Mary Reed and Cheng I Sao, historacly "lumping" them all together.....

Patrick could you please be more specific? Which books?

Thank you

And the Chinese government could do nothing because her fleet was larger than theirs!

And, unlike most of the male pirates, she retired from piracy rather then get captured and killed.  Ran a brothel, if memory serves.

Well you know they say when you retire you should take-up something you know to keep busy. Considering she began as a prostitute....

OK... it is Pyracy.... and it if a Female.... but a little after the Golden Age don't you think ? >>

I didn't think this forum was limited to GAoP

. That maybe the predominated topic but not the sole topic.

While Chang Pao led the men into battle, Cheng I Sao focused her attention on business, military strategy, and the enormous task of governing a growing body of ruffians.

What this article fails to mention is that Chang Pao was her husband's lover and their adopted son. Also she did lead men into battle notably in Vietnam. I need to double check but I think it was on the Mekong River.

Cheng I Sao could also kick serious butt!

Bess wore her new rig Saturday on sTage for our CD release party and she looked mighty fine in it. Kudos to you Bess!

It's a beauty Bess. You'll look great on stage in it with your coat,

There's my grandmother's recipe. It's very simple.

1 potato per person then add one more at the end

1 egg for every 2 potato

1 medium onion for every 3 potatoes (fraction for less)

salt & pepper to tatse.

Grate the the onion and potatoes together. add eaggs and salt & pepper and mix with hands. Heat about 1/2 of oil (I use canola) in an iron skillet. When it sizzles when put a drop of water in the pan it's ready. If you wish you can test for seasoning by taking a small amount of your potatoe mixture and frying it up in the pand.

When it just right add spoonful with slotted spoon to the mixture. Flatten slightly with the back of the spoon. When one is golden bron flip over. Fry that side till golden brown. Draimn on paper or paper grocery bas and sprikle on extra salt if desired.

taken from Wiki

The issue of Marque and Reprisal was raised before Congress by Rep. Ron Paul of Texas after the September 11, 2001 attacks[2], and again on July 21, 2007. Paul, defining the attacks as an act of "air piracy," introduced the Marque and Reprisal Act of 2001, which would have granted the president the authority to use Letters of Marque and Reprisal against the specific terrorists, instead of warring against a foreign state. Paul compared the terrorists to pirates in that they are difficult to fight by traditional military means.[3]

If such an act passed it would have to be delared unconstutional

Article 1 Section 8 states:

Congress shall have the power to...

To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water

Congress also has the power to

To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offenses against the law of nations;

Rep Paul seems ready to capitulate hia own power!

Well guys only congress, according to the Constitution can issues letters of marque. But this wouldn't be the first time Bush has igorned the Constituion! It can only be a joke!

http://www.hbo.com/biglove/quiz/quiz.html

I'm Barb!

You're a Barb!

Sensible and loving to a fault, you sometimes don't realize that your high expectaions can feel like judgement to some people. But you're willing to handle any situation, you're sensitive to other people's feelings and your decisions are respected.

bought two of these CD's last week and already have gotten them in the mail!

A first rate job and they be a joy to listen to.

I be buyin two, because we will be awardin one as one of the prizes at the Pirate Raid/party event (vic Temecula, CA) on Oct 6, 2007.

>>

Thanks Greydog! Let us know who the lucky person is.

A friend at work says her husband loves to sing along with it because he knows most of the songs. They both due Revolutionary War re-enactment (British)

I love this show. I loved the second season but for one thing. Because they decided to end it with only one more season they telescoped 10 years of history into that final season. As a conseqence the story lines are jumbled. You could where they would have had not HBO plulled the plug because of costs.

Personally I'm ticked off by that. HBO knew going in that Rome was going to be expensive. They should have kept to their original 5 year planned run instead of degrading the storyline to fit the bottom line. That being said the acting and directing were supurb and the man who plays the adult Octavian is wonderful. Cold as ice and cunning as a fox.

Just ignore the confused stoylines and you'll enjot it.

Seem odd to pay for something I get paid to do already.

Alas, I went down Sunday (not in garb). The only pirates we saw were workin' in a few merchant booths.

Wish I had been able t' go Saturday.

Jacky, Oh yes much more a Pirate Theme on Saturday. I think Sunday was supposed to be more Surf.

Next year it will be an all pirate weekend. It was DEAD on Sunday I hear.

I was there Alyx bouncing between the pier and the encampment. I always seem to miss you. The belly dancer with the long hair is a member of PRP. She is a very fine dancer indeed as is her teacher who was her dance partner.

I guess you asked the wrong guy about the Pyracy Pub. Can you described what the man looked like so I can inform him what the Pub is and who is on it so the next time he can let you know who's around? Did you get a chance to hear the Doxy Chicks? They were performing on the pier near the restrooms. They're great!

I had a great time as well despite getting terribly sunburned.

The constant ringing in my ears.

Thank you Thighbiter. I always open practice with a set of scales going from G (2 octives)to Em to Am (2 octaves) to A (2 octaves). several times through. Then a tunes for each key to reenforce the scale . Then onto D (octave and a 1/3 to excersise the 4th finger) with tunes for D and so on. On days with time I get out of bed, pull out my fiddle and work through out the day on and off so I don't get frustrated.

I 'm trying to learn as many tunes as I can that the band plays. Also tunes that I just love like Old Grey Cat, Short-coated Mary and Checkered Stockimgs. I love the Scottish fiddling style.

Thanks for your encoragement.

.

Fiddles - are HARD to learn to play especially if n ye dont play something already; hard but not impossible. Just be prepared to loose all yer friends and family as you practice!  I know, i been playing for 30 years and I still remember being lonely for those first few years!

But fiddles are cheap !

Good Luck!

Thighbiter

I know what you must of went through. I have beeen playing almost 2 1/2 years. Unfortunately the band I'm in doesn't understand that learning fiddle take a looong time and I get ridiculed a lot.

But I press on despite the jibes. A friend in PRP just gave me her mother's fiddle (50 years in its case and in remarkably good shape) because she and her finacee want to hear me play in camp. At least some people like my playing!

As one who has played banjo for some 20 years now, unless you already know how to play a fretted banjo, a fretless gourd banjo is not the place to start learning. There is no way to know where a cord or a note begins or ends on a fretless so you may end up sounding like crap.

-- Sir Henry

That's why it hard to learn the fiddle. No frets. It has been taking me awhile to learn but I'm getting there. I'm no Bonney Rideout but the cat dosen't run under the bed.

oh and the Ritchie book about Kidd

That's a good one.

Republic of Pirates By Colin Woodward

http://www.amazon.com/Republic-Pirates-Sur...82555314&sr=1-1

Before that was : Stradivari's genius : five violins, one cello, and three centuries of enduring perfection / Toby Faber.

and before that: The Violin Maker: Finding a Centuries-Old Tradition in a Brooklyn Workshop / John Marchese

I'll be there too with PRP.

My problem with this is according to the trial testimony of Dorothy Thomas Bonney & Read were wearing: Mens's shirts, trousers, headscarves and jackets. This is illustration is a feminaztion of what they would have worn. Ruffles? Really.