Just so that you know...

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!

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

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

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!

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

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

The immortal, unavoidable Pachelbel

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.