Episode 28 - Sylvia Miskoe

Contra Pulse

The intro and interstitial tracks from today’s episode are Cotillion des baies-des-rochers from the album Canterbury Dance Orchestra’s album Welcome Here Again, Rock Valley Jig from the album Fiddle Tunes with Omar Marcoux, album and a track from The Strasthspeay and Reel Society of New Hampshire: Stirling Fiddlers Welcome To The Strathspey And Reel Society Of New Hampshire.

See the Contra Pulse website for transcripts and more.

And the Country Dance and Song Society for information about Contra and English country dance across the continent.

See and hear Sylvia Miskoe in action:

• In the interview Sylvia speaks about her longtime involvement with the Canterbury Country Dance Orchestra. Watch a short clip from the documentary "Welcome Here Again, A Recording Session with the Canterbury Country Dance Orchestra" and hear the story of when the Orchestra performed at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.
• Sylvia has been recognized by the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts for her deep and long-lasting influence on New Hampshire’s traditional music and dance. In 2011 she was presented with the Governor's Arts Award for Folk Heritage.
• See her play at the Scottish Gala for the Strathspey & Reel Society of New Hampshire that same year!
• Here she plays for a Scottish country dance at Springstep in Medford, MA with longtime collaborator Vince O’Donnell

Some other people and topics mentioned in this interview:

• Sylvia mentions Dudley Laufman, who was interviewed for the very first episode of Contra Pulse!
• She is one of the founders of the Strathspey & Reel Society of New Hampshire, a group devoted to learning about and playing Scottish music, open to all ages and abilities and was their music director for 7 years.
• Julie and Sylvia both teach accordion at Maine Fiddle Camp in the summers!