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Prima Harp
The Prima 38 harp distinguishes itself from other
harps in its class with a gracious profile and warm,
resonating sound. The slender body of the harp and
the balanced string tension make it a wonderful
instrument to play. The Prima 38 is also a versatile
choice for the harpist who needs an easily
transportable instrument. This instrument is fitted with
full performance levers.
Now $3500 CAN (from $4500)
More Harps Here!
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Some of our favourite Links...
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Greetings!
What is a hand-built guitar? What
makes it
worth the thousands of dollars they cost? Why are
some
hand-built guitars $1500 and others $15,000?
A guitar built by one pair of hands,
usually attached to a person called a luthier, reflects
the level of woodworking competence, artistic ability
and the quality of their ear. Luthiers choose their
design, woods, techniques and patience
based on experience. Generally, the greater the
experience, the better the instrument. It is quite rare for
someone's first guitar to be sellable. Indeed it often
takes four or five instruments for a builder to
understand the impact of certain choices and, as a
hand-built guitar must survive the ravages of time, it
takes time for a builder's choices to reflect that
passing time.
The world of guitar building is a
conservative world. Design changes, wood uses,
special touches, are often frowned upon until they are
proven both useful and solid. New builders who
have
chosen to change the shape, bracing pattern, woods
used or some other tradition, must prove their choices
over the years and often have to retreat to the world of
the proven before they introduce an innovation.
We've had a few builders who have flaunted tradition
and, even though the craftsmanship is acceptable, the
designs aren't. If the builder is adamant about his
innovations, buyers can often pick up an excellent
guitar for relatively little money. If you want to be sure
about your purchase, choose a builder with a good,
time-based reputation.
Each summer, just before the Montreal Jazz Festival,
the city hosts one of the finest guitar shows I've ever
seen. It's an invitational; all the participants have
been chosen by the organizers, and the quality is both
fantastic and overwhelming. Over 100 acoustic
builders show their wares at the Palais des Congres.
It's a wonderful opportunity to see the best builders in
North America.
So how do you choose who will build
your guitar? Sometimes, the choice is made for you. I
have a guitar by Marc Beneteau and one by Oskar
Graf. Both builders insisted I buy one of theirs and
both guitars are as different as an Islay scotch and a
Highland scotch. But, both builders are local and, if I
need some work done under their warranty, I don't
have to ship the guitar to Peoria or North Hobunk.
Currently, we have a fine selection of hand-built
guitars by folks like Sergei de Jonge, George Rizsznyi
and others with custom built guitars available from
Oskar Graf, Grit Laskin and others.
If it's the guitar of your life that you're
looking for, come and let us introduce you!
Arthur
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| Guitar Wizard Frank Vignola Playing the Elmdale Tavern! |
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Frank Vignola is coming to Ottawa!
Frank is one of the most accomplished, multi-
dimensional players walking the planet today. Monster
player, composer and improviser, Frank plays
proficiently in every genre, from jazz to bluegrass, and
works with everyone and their brother. Frank's
pedigree is a mile long, but a quick Google will
illustrate why he is considered one of the best on the
planet. Frank has been featured on Atlantic, Sony and
Warner Brothers Records with the likes of Donald
Fagen, Queen Latifah, Mark O Connor and Wynton
Marsalis. You may also have heard him jamming with
David Grisman, as Les Paul's right hand man or
leading his own groups throughout the years. Frank
has certainly proved himself to be in the elite creating
his own unique sound.
Standing room only.
Thursday, February 25, 2010 - 8:00 p.m.
Elmdale House - 1084 Wellington Street West
NOTE: Elmdale House is AGE 19+
You can get tickets at
www.fingerstyleguitar.com
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More on the Fingerstyle Guitar Society |
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| The Pipeline with Ross "The Tartan Spartan" |
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The winningest piper in history is
coming to
Ottawa!
Come join Alasdair Gillies for a day of
piping on March 27th. The morning kicks off with a
workshop (location TBA). Later that evening Alasdair
will
judge the Glengarry Cup; a premiere piping contest for
upper echelon players. After the contest he will
present a
recital.
Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies served 17
years as piper and Pipe Major with the
Queen's Own Highlanders. He has had an
astounding number of successes
at piping competitions, winning more Highland
bagpiping championships than
anyone in recent history. He won the Inverness
Former Winners MSR eleven
times between 1986 to 2005. In 2002, he won the
Glenfiddich
Championship MSR for the sixth time. Readers of
Piper &
Drummer magazine named Alasdair as the
best piper of the 20th century. Alasdair is also in
demand as a teacher and piping competition judge.
For more than twelve years, he was director of the
piping program at Carnegie Mellon University in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is also a member of the
Spirit of Scotland, an all star Grade 1 pipe band
comprised of the world's top solo players dedicated to
competing at the 2008 World Pipe Band
Championships.
For more information on this world
champion piper, go
tohttp:
//www.alasdairgillies.com/bio.htm
To find out more about the event, visit
www.ppbso-ottawa.com. You won't want to miss
this afternoon of excellence.
Put it on your calendar now!!
Ross "The Tartan Spartan"
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| NEW LINES: Eastman Archtop Guitars and Mandolins & Deering Banjos |
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The Ottawa Folklore Centre is pleased to announce
that
it will be offering two great instrument lines which had
previously been unavailable in Ottawa:
Deering
Banjo players! We've recently received our first full
fledged Deering instrument, the Vega Senator. We're hoping to grow this
area of our store and offer more top of the line banjos
for our valued banjo customers. Come on in and try
the Vega Senator. Let us know what you think of its
quality
and feel. Perhaps we can look up what models are
offered that have all the features you've been
wanting
in an instrument.
Eastman Archtop Guitars and Mandolins
Our first order as a new dealer has been placed and
we now have but to wait for the instruments to start
trickling in. We've been hearing about the amazing
quality and craftsmanship of these instruments for a
few years now and have recently chosen to represent
them here in Ottawa. These all-solid, carved archtop
guitars and mandolins are true professional level
instruments, period. Oh yeah, and the pricing is pretty
good too.
We do have a couple of pieces in stock right now with
more great instruments to come.
Come on in and try them out.
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| Cute Factor "New Arrival" - Hohner Ariette Cajun Accordion |
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A great accordion for the Cajun sound and other folk
styles, Hohner's Ariette has a traditional design with
four treble stops, open key mechanism and Cajun
tuning. The perfect beginner's accordion, the Ariette
includes a shoulder strap and carrying case.
Plus, it's super cute!
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| News and Gossip From the Music School |
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Well, the school is hopping this year
and
I'm really happy to see that the new hand drumming
class is such a hit. It's a very specific style of hand
drums (West Ghanaian) so we weren't sure what
people would think, but a sellout on a first try is
definitely some positive feedback! Congratulations to
Dave Bossmin for bringing this class to the OFC. Also,
Uke fever is still going strong at OFC and beyond with
our own Jesse Greene taking the Uke gospel out to
Greely, On, where she's working with a school group
out there. Chris White (founder of the
Ottawa Folk Festival) has started up a beginner class
here at the store. Go Chris! Go Ukulele.
Congratulations also go out to Kara
Askwith, one of our many student alumni, for her first
cd release. It was produced by former teacher alumni
Victor Nesrallah at his studio here in Ottawa. A great
first effort for Kara. Also, "A Tune for Maddie" the
newest children's book release from Wendy Moore is
available in the store or for purchase online. Wendy is
the main conspirator of the Celtic Rathskallions, a very
popular kids' touring group that includes our own
Arthur McGregor and Paul Mills. She is also a top of
the line
competitive swimmer. Very busy bee
indeed! Congratulations for a truly beautiful book
and a great follow up to the first offering, "Maddie's
Moon".
"A Tune for Maddie is an enchanting
story about hope, perseverance and the power of
music to change the heart. Maddie is my hero. And her
story makes me much more pleasantly disposed
toward snakes, as well. Maddie reminds us that we
are richer not for what we have but for what we give".
Shelagh Rogers, Host, The Next Chapter, CBC Radio
One
Take care everyone.
Alan
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More on Maddie and the Rathskallions |
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| OFC Art Gallery: Audrey and Alan Bain |
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Audrey Bain is a "plein aire"
painter in
acrylics. Her works are varied and reflect her response
to family ties, social concerns, scenes of nature,
images of rural Ontario and the Canadian landscape.
Audrey has garnered a number of awards for her
work; among them:
- HONORABLE MENTION Cornwall Regional Art
- NATIONAL TRUST AWARD, Tom Thomson
Memorial
- PURCHASE AWARD, Exhibition 80, Cornwall Arts
- 2008 Honourable Mention ECOAA Juried
Exhibition
- 2009 Second Place Acrylics OAA Juried
Exhibition
Alan Bain specializes with
paintings of the boreal
forest regions of Canada; the vast silent northern
landscape. His recent paintings are the result of a
series of visits to the Algonquin Park region of Ontario.
During the fall, winter and spring of 2009 - 2010 Alan
visited Algonquin four times, so these paintings catch
the fall colours, the heavy January snowfalls and the
early spring breakup. Alan has also won numerous
awards; among them:
- 2007, 2008, 2009 Honorable Mention Ottawa Art
Association
- 2008, 2009 Honorable Mention ECOAA Juried
Exhibitions
- 1998 and 2010 Best of Show Massena Artists
Guild
- 1998 and 2007 President's Award OWS Juried
Exhibition
The gallery space is open Monday - Friday 2pm to
9pm,
Saturday from 9:30am-5pm and Sundays from noon to
5pm. Downstairs in the school.
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| EASTWOOD AIRLINE '59 2P, CUSTOM MODIFICATIONS, USED |
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This great looking guitar has been improved with
Gibson Burstbucker Pickups and a custom rewiring of
the pickups with pole switches. In its current
configuration, it offers a large palate of really useful
tones. A true player's instrument (Airline guitars have
been popularized by many players such as David
Bowie and the Cure, and most recently by Jack White
of the White Stripes).
Body: Tone Chambered
Mahogany
Neck: Bound Maple, Bolt-on
Fingerboard: Rosewood, Block
Markers
Scale Length: 25 1/2" (648mm)
Width at Nut: 1 11/16"
Pickups: Gibson
BurstBucker Pickups custom
wired with pole switches (not original manufacturer's
specs)
Switching: 3-Way, Vintage Switchplate
Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone, 1 Master
Volume
(plus added pole position switches)
Bridge: Tune-O-Matic,
Custom Chrome Tail
Hardware: Vintage Kluson Style
Nickel/Chrome
Only $650.00 CAN
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| Right Hand Spanish Triplet Video Lesson with James Cohen |
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Traditional Flamenco music has some of
the coolest right hand techniques for guitar players. Join
James for a short demo of the triplet pattern.
He makes it look so simple!
Note: James is now offering online lessons with Skype
through the Ottawa Folklore Centre. If you're interested in
setting some up, please contact Alan at 613-730-2887
ext 819 for scheduling and payment info.
Ole!
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Click here for the Demo Download |
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| Trad Concert of the Month: Finest Kind in Concert: Feb 27th, 8pm |
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Finest Kind is the remarkable folk trio
from Ottawa, Canada whose exquisite harmony
singing and brilliant vocal arrangements are bringing
a fresh sense of excitement and discovery to the
performance of old songs. The trio's glorious sound,
served up with easy-going humour, has won a
devoted following across North America.
Saturday, February 27th, 8:00pm,
First Unitarian Church, 30 Cleary Ave.
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| Funlink for Guitar Monkeys |
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Don't usually do this, but how often do you see 40 wild
birds playing a Gibson Les Paul?!! It's a live art
installation from a contemporary French artist by the
name of
Celeste Boursier-Mougenot. Spend a little time on the
BBC site afterward just to appease the link gods.
Nice Solo!
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Click Here Or On The Pic |
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