First Irish session at the Tranzac

So I attended my first Irish session at the Tranzac last night!

As I've mentioned in earlier Blatherings, I enjoyed the informal Celtic/Irish session at OVFF at the end of October so much that I resolved to learn more about the tradition as well as how to eventually be a more active participant at future sessions.

So I did some research online, talked to experienced session-types in message boards (and Blatherchat - thanks, Mary & Bill!), got some coaching from Ju Honisch and Dave Clement, started learning tunes. Found some sessions in Toronto.

I was pretty nervous when I arrived at the Tranzac Club last night. I had no idea what to expect and didn't know anyone there. It turns out that the Tranzac is actually a community hall; the bar is only one small room in the building with several function spaces. Snooping around, I heard what definitely sounded like Irish session music from behind closed doors in one of the rooms.

Geez, what do I do now? I had assumed the session would be in a pub, open to the public, and figured I could hide in the corner and just listen without being noticed.

Rather than knock and interrupt the session, I decided to just go in. At first glance, the session looked a LOT like a typical filk circle. There were about 15-20 people in a small room, all seated on chairs in a circle. Unlike a filk circle, however, they ALL had instruments, and there was no singing. I saw fiddles, different types of pipes, whistles, flutes, a guitar, concertinas and accordions.

Everyone looked at me as the door closed behind me (I imagined them all thinking, "Who the HELL is she??"), and I realized there were no more chairs. I asked a woman with an accordion whether it would be ok if I brought in another chair. She gave an uncertain smile and nodded, so I went out and got one from one of the other rooms.

I got settled and started listening to the music, relieved that no one had tried kicking me out. At least not yet.

Once I got over my nervousness about whether I'd be welcome or not, I relaxed and enjoyed the music. Which was WONDERFUL. I think I had a silly smile plastered over my face for most of the time I was there; it was impossible not to be caught up in the atmosphere, the friendly trading of tunes, musical fellowship, support and encouragement of one another.

Reminded me a great deal of a good filk circle, in fact. :-)

They didn't play any of the tunes I've learned so far, but I did recognize one or two others. Occasionally someone would call out a title, and I'd write it down in hopes of eventually learning it myself. Seeing this, a fiddle player sitting beside me passed me a piece of paper on which she had written some other song titles.

"In case you're curious about what we've played so far," she whispered.

Yay, I thought.

Although a new tune began as soon as the previous ended, I noticed that some people got in quick snatches of conversation in the transition periods. In that way, I got to talk a bit with the accordion woman who had told me it was ok to bring in another chair. She was extremely friendly and encouraging; I suspect that at first, people in the room thought I might be someone wandering in from the nearby pub area to just listen. Although the session is obviously welcoming to newcomers, I get the impression it's not open to the general public. Understandable, with the limited space.

Anyway, the accordion woman gave me a flyer about an Irish music weekend at the Tranzac next month. Workshops include instruction on uilleann pipes, fiddle, tin whistle, flute, and accordion as well as song and dance. How very cool; I'm definitely interested in attending.

I also chatted with a very nice fellow who is in charge of the mailing list for the group. He told me about the session schedule (this month the schedule is somewhat different because of the holiday season), and that if I show up an hour earlier before the regular session, there was a slow session for beginners ("slow sessions" are sessions where tunes are played at a slower speed).

"Is there a membership fee?" I asked.

"No," he said but then as an afterthought, he added with a twinkle in his eye, "Just buy me all the beer I want!"

:-D

I think I'm going to really enjoy this, and plan to attend the Tranzac sessions from now on. And eventually, I'm hoping to actually start PLAYING as well. :-)

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