If You Feed Us, We Play Twice As Loud

Just so that you know...

2011-09-04T19:50:00.003-04:00

The band has gone into dormancy. Not gone forever, just overrun with life issues, work, and the myriad of other things that happen to any group of people striving to work together. We hope to be back and running before too long.

Spring is coming!

2009-02-28T17:47:00.004-05:00

It's time to shake the dust and snow off those instruments! Unearth the sheet music from the piles of mittens and hats! It's time to play! The equinox is fast approaching, and there are signs of spring everywhere. This musician's got the itch to play and to drag everyone else along to the practices and the upcoming demos and events.

If you're in the southern Maine area and wish to check out in person what we're about, feel free to contact us at: info (at) dissonatas (dot) org - we meet roughly twice a month for the ensemble practices, and twice a month for the choral practices.

Go forth, and make music!

I'm Henry VIII, I am, I am

2008-11-13T06:11:00.003-05:00

The DisSonatas will be performing Saturday, Nov. 15 between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. at Henry VIII's in the Cabela's plaza in Scarborough. What is Henry VIII's, I hear you ask? Apparently they serve really good roast beef sandwiches. I am looking forward to finding out for myself.

Rest in peace, Lord Artos

2008-08-25T23:11:00.004-04:00

It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the DisSonatas harpist Barry Wilson, whose influence as a musician and as a human being was part of our world for more than 10 years. His passion was folk music in the finest sense of the word -- he wanted sincerely to bring the power of music to everyone from small children to little old ladies to big burly fighters.

Here's his obituary:

SOUTH PORTLAND--Barry Wilson, dearly loved husband of Naomi, unexpectedly passed to the next world on Friday, August 22nd at his home. The only child of Gordon L. Wilson and Madalyn (Loveitt) Wilson, Barry was proud of his heritage which stretched back over many generations of South Portland's history. His home on Preble Street has been in his family since it was built, just after the Revolutionary War. He attended South Portland High School where he ran track. He received his A.B. in French at Bowdoin College where he was a brother in the Delta Sigma Fraternity. While there he played music with a jug band--Ben Steele with His Bare Hands.

Barry declared his belief in Baha'u'llah and became a member of the Baha'i Faith in 1971.

In 1974 Barry married Naomi Grotton and they lived in the Rockland area. While there, Barry became involved with traditional British Morris Dancing, both as a dancer and musician. In later years he would continue this interest as a member of Fiddler's Reach Morris Team. In 1980 Barry and Naomi loaded up the Pinto wagon and went to live on the Navajo Reservation in Northeastern Arizona. Barry earned his M.A. Ed. from Northern Arizona University and helped to build the Native American Baha'i Institute. Barry and Naomi moved to Texas where he taught in the Learning Assistance Center of Texas Central College. In 1991 they returned to his family home on Preble Street. Barry taught remedial reading and writing at UNE, MECA and was an Adjunct Professor of English at Southern Maine Community College. Barry became involved in Willard Neighborhood Association and was President of WNA at the time of his death.

Barry taught himself to play the Celtic harp and was an integral member of Dissonatas, a medieval renaissance dance band. As Lord Artos in the Society of Creative Anachronism, he was awarded the Order of the Troubadour for performance on the harp and his willingness to teach. In addition, Barry was involved with Celtic heritage groups and the South Portland Historical Society. He loved animals, especially Skye and Saffron.

He shared his talents freely from teaching English to refugees to teaching everyone how to play "Twinkle, Twinkle" on the harp. He was always teaching. Barry was a curious, engaging, intellectual and caring man. He was blessed with many talents, the greatest of which was his ability and desire to teach.

He is survived by his wife, Naomi, his brothers and sisters-in-law and a large array of nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews who loved their "Uncle Barry" as well as a multitude of friends form every facet of his life. We ask that friends honor Barry by performing acts of service in his name.

A graveside service will be held Tuesday, August 26th at 3:00 PM at the Highland Memorial Cemetery, Highland Avenue, South Portland.

A celebration of Barry's life is being planned for Sunday, September 7th at the Hobbs Hospitality Center, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland.

Arrangements by Hobbs Funeral Home, South Portland.

At practice tonight we shared memories of Barry. I remember the time we were performing at a wedding with a Renaissance theme, as we often do, but the bride happened to mention that her mom was a big fan of the '60s singer Donovan, and was there any way we could play one of Donovan's songs for Mom? Barry took this as a challenge and arranged what I can confidently call the world's only Donovan medley for Renaissance dance band.

I hope anyone reading this page will feel free to add a memory of Barry in the comments.

Come dance with us!

2007-10-11T14:05:00.001-04:00

The DisSonatas are providing entertainment for the following worthwhile event:

RENAISSANCE REVELRY, 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, USM Glickman Library, 314 Forest Ave., 7th Floor. Hearty appetizers, cash bar, authentic Renaissance dance music with instruction in doing the dances yourself! Tickets $25. All proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity Interfaith Build in South Portland.

Longevity of music groups

2007-10-03T10:11:00.000-04:00

I just realized this: The DisSonatas have been around since 1996. That makes us longer-lived than the Beatles!

The immortal, unavoidable Pachelbel

2007-09-20T12:23:00.000-04:00

While the Canon in D is not precisely in period for us, we have been known to play it, particularly when our harpist, Barry, is in evidence among us. And speaking only for myself, I actually enjoy it. But I still think this guy Rob Paravonian's rant is funny. Contains a few words not quite safe for work or kids.

See you in August

2007-07-16T10:46:00.000-04:00

Lee says practices are on hold for the rest of July. And after all the work she put into the New Moon Balle, she's certainly entitled to a break!

2007-07-15T12:46:00.000-04:00

The New Moon Balle went quite well, despite a few glitches, mostly my fault! Lee/Mickel did a beautiful job directing the action and keeping everything going. Mike brought his harp, Tracy/Claire lent much-needed recorder support, Audrey and Mark were fabulous as always, and Andrea went so far as to bring us a drummer, a young man named Sky (or maybe Skye). Also joining us were Ingeborg from Bridge on recorder, Jocelyn from Stonemarche on violin and hurdy-gurdy (wow! never played with a hurdy-gurdy before, and they're loud!), and Grant on guitar.

We had a BIG bunch of dancers, almost too many for the hall! What really impressed me was that everyone seemed to be having a terrific time. The energy in the room was amazing.

If you're an SCA member who loves to dance (or play for dancers), I heartily encourage you to come to next year's Great Northeastern War! And if you're a fan of Renaissance dance who lacks an outlet, see what your local SCA chapter has to offer. If they don't have a music group and/or dance practices, start some!

Chamber? Horrors!

2007-06-24T07:02:00.000-04:00

This article in the New York Times (which requires free registration to read its stuff) suggests that audiences are fleeing traditional "chamber music," forcing ensembles to seek innovative venues and presentations for their music. By that standard, the DisSonatas are ahead of the trend! We've played at nursing homes, church services, parades, the Maine Mall, and Barry's back yard. And relatively few people have run away in terror. That we know of.

Playlist for New Moon Balle

2007-06-13T05:05:00.000-04:00

Links are to dance cribs posted in the DisSonatas Yahoo group -- I believe you have to be a member to see them. We'll work on getting some posted publicly here.

Set #1:
Lorayne Almayn (4x)
Pinagay Bransle (6x)
Rufty Tufty (3x)
Bransle Officiale (4x)
Anello (2x)
Black Nag (3x)
Horses' Bransle (?x)
Jenny Pluck Pears (6x)
Amoroso (2x)
Belle Qui Pavan & Galliard (4x pavan, 2x galliard)

Intermission

Set #2:
Black Almayn (4x)
Charlotte Bransle (4x)
Heart's Ease (3x)
Scottish Bransle (4x)
Petit Vriens (4x)
Montarde Bransle (?x)
Upon a Summer's Day (3x)
Maltese Bransle (?x)
Gathering Peascods (3x)
Gelosia (3x)
Sellenger's Round (4x)

Gearing Up for Great Northeastern War

2007-06-11T22:35:00.001-04:00

The DisSonatas' major gig of the summer is the New Moon Balle, a dance held as part of a major Society for Creative Anachronism gathering in Hebron, Maine.

The gathering is called Great Northeastern War, and is in its twenty-first year. The host group is the Province of Malagentia, which is the SCA's name for southern Maine, where the DisSonatas live and perform.

Normally, there's a declaration of "war" between Malagentia and some other province or barony, usually Stonemarche (New Hampshire). The two have long been in mock contention over a few towns on the border, which are called "Giggleswick." This year it's not quite clear who's fighting whom yet, but I'm sure Malagentia will battle somebody.

Anyway, most of the DisSonatas are fans of other challenging sports, such as Renaissance dance. Our repertoire includes a great deal of dance music and we hold monthly dance practices when anyone can come and learn period dances. At the New Moon Balle, we do not teach the dances, but just play them, as musicians did when these dances were part of the world "everyone" knew -- just as "everyone" today knows who Tony Soprano is, or the words to "Oops! I Did It Again." (No, that's not Britney Spears' version, it's a wonderful recording by Richard Thompson, who called the song almost "medieval" in its structure and went on to prove it.)

We'd love to see you at War -- and if you haven't danced with us before, there's a class before the Balle to get you started! If this is your first SCA event, read the Web site thoroughly and be prepared to make some attempt at pre-17th-century garb. I also suggest not wearing anything too heavy, as Hebron in July can be HOT!

This next part is legend -- if anyone knows of a scholarly source for it, I'll be happy to cite it. Malagentia's name allegedly comes from the French explorer Samuel de Champlain who, writing in Latin, described the natives of what is now Maine as mala gentes ("bad people"). Apparently, they greeted his exploration party by going down to the beaches and mooning him.

In recognition of this semi-historical event, the provincial flag depicts a full moon on a purple background. (Or, to give its proper heraldic description: "Purpure, a moon in her complement within a laurel wreath argent.")

Mark and Audrey

2007-05-20T21:26:00.000-04:00

Mark and Audrey, known in the SCA as Einar and Serena, were married April 14. They are both longtime members of the DisSonatas, and while their move to Topsham (not to mention planning a wedding) has made it more difficult for them to participate, their influence lingers and they are always welcome. I know very few couples who have seemed so right for one another from the beginning. They've weathered a lot (including Mark's deployment to Iraq with the National Guard) and I wish them calm sailing, prosperity and every kind of joy together. That's Lee, our Fearless Leader, just to the left of Audrey, laughing uproariously. (Photo shamelessly stolen from Lee and John's photo page from the wedding.)

Come join us!

2007-05-20T20:57:00.001-04:00

A small selection of DisSonatas joined members of the SCA and a local young people's recorder group for a demonstration today at the Casco Library. Though rain threatened to cancel the fighting, it held off and the fighters were able to demonstrate their skills to a crowd of respectable size. Also on display were period arts and sciences, a small selection of refreshments (lemonade, wheat bread, honey butter and handmade mustard), and of course, music.

An enthusiastic young lady named Keziah even coerced some friends into doing a little dancing, and we were able to perform the dreaded Maltese Bransle Contest, in which the music gets just a little faster every time through the dance until the dancers or the musicians fall apart.

Andrea AskenDunn did a marvelous job, coordinating the refreshments, co-managing the event and performing with the musicians as well. Mike Mowlesworth brought his beautiful Celtic Harp, and Andrea's mom Beatrice performed beautifully on the viola da gamba. Also assisting us were Keziah, her sister Mariah, and Andrea's daughter Sorrel. The Bridgton News had a reporter/photographer in attendance, and I expect you'll see some of these faces on its pages in the near future.

If you're in the Harrison/Raymond area of Maine (loosely speaking) and want to play early music, I encourage you to get in touch with Andrea, who is trying to get more medieval and Renaissance music going near her hometown. She's at askendunn at gmail dot com.

If you're in the Portland area or York County, you'll probably find it easier to come to our regular practices, which are the second and third Monday of every month at Trinity Episcopal Church in Saco at 7 p.m. The fourth Monday of the month at 7 (and the fifth, if there happen to be five Mondays in a month) is Dance Night, where you can learn to do Renaissance dances -- no partner needed! -- and/or play dance music for dancers. If you play a recorder or other period instrument (or if you own a tambourine or small hand drum and can keep a beat), we'd love to have you! E-mail Lee for more information.

A brief history of the DisSonatas

2007-05-01T20:42:00.000-04:00

Once upon a time there were a few recorder players in southern Maine who wanted to play medieval and Renaissance music, but also to have fun. Some of them had tried playing in university and conservatory ensembles, but found the whole scene rather stuffy and anxiety-making and expensive. In 1996, they started playing together once a week, on Monday nights.

I believe it was Carol who came up with the name DisSonatas. Officially, it's a reference to the dissonance that is often present in Renaissance music. Unofficially, it may have had something to do with the fact that we didn't always sound absolutely perfect.

At first they met in people's houses. One of the members, Lee, was involved with the Society for Creative Anachronism, and the local chapter was conveniently lacking a music group to perform in period style. So the DisSonatas and the Musicians' Guild of the Province of Malagentia, while officially unrelated, grew to include many of the same people.

Over the years the DisSonatas have grown and shrunk and grown again, have established regular Renaissance dance teaching nights (last Monday of the month, 7 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church in Saco), spun off a singing group, and best of all, have kept on going. We've played at weddings and parties, at the Maine Mall, at demonstrations for kids, at nursing homes and church services.

We've amassed a large library of music, some of it arranged by Barry, harp player and Lone Deranger. Lee is our official conductor and dance mistress, Peter is our librarian and I am the slacker webmistress. Here we plan to offer notices of upcoming events, random musings related to period music and dance, and photos of our group in action.

You're invited! If you're in southern Maine and play any period instrument (recorder, harp, doumbek, bodhran, violin, viola da gamba, bassoon, lute, mandolin, and many others), or if you'd like to play, or if you'd like to learn Renaissance dances, or if you'd like to sing with us, e-mail info@dissonatas.com and we'll get you set up!