Voices Journal Volume 2015: 3-4

Edited by Todd DeGarmo

Articles In This Volume

An Inside View of Contra Dancing in Brooklyn, 2015: Swing Your Partner and Do-Si-Do

Brooklyn Contra is the latest addition to a contra dance subculture that for over half a century has been hidden in plain sight among the glittering distractions of New York City. The latest contra dance growth spurt started some 15 years ago at the Manhattan contra dance series, when an influx of younger dancers arrived on the scene and kept coming back every week for more.

Advocating for Sunday Rock: (and all those other “Traditional Cultural Properties”)

Sunday Rock, a large boulder on the roadside of New York State Highway 56, just west of the hamlet of South Colton in St. Lawrence County, is an important landmark for locals and travelers alike.... Many places, however, still deserve national recognition and protection for their long-standing —and continuing— value to their communities, as part of the living heritage of life there. Such recognition may contribute to a sense of place not only for visitors but for local residents as well. To recognize that a place can be more than an example of an architectural style or site of a political or economic event really matters.

A Transitional Interpretation: American Roots Music by Five Photographers

The curator for the exhibition, A Transitional Interpretation" at the Folklife Gallery, Crandall Public Library, 2015, presents stories behind five photos on exhibit of Lyle Lovett, Frank Zappa, Mal Waldron, Dave Van Ronk, and Lucius by their photographers (Lawrence White, Enid Farber, Joe Deuel, Bryan Lasky, and the curator Andrzej “Andre” Pilarczyk.)

Songs to Keep: “Getting the Lore Back to the Folk”

This essay describes the Traditional Arts of Upstate New York (TAUNY) project to share the documentation of traditional folk music of the North Country with recordings made between 1942 and 1967 by Marjorie Lansing Porter (1891–1973), with the production of a 40-page songbook, a 17-song CD, and a PBS documentary.

Upstate: Singing Along

Nothing compares with being in the midst of a group, singing with good courage. From my soprano days in a boys’ choir to leading audiences on choruses, it’s the most fun that I’ve ever had and continues to be so.

Voices of New York: Sara Milonovich: Daisycutter

Sara Milonovich, a brilliant fiddler, singer, songwriter, and bandleader, released her CD Daisycutter in 2009. Described as “rural roots with an urban/world edge,” this album’s songs and music encompass folk, bluegrass, Celtic, zydeco, and American roots-rock music.

Reflections & Vision: A Conversation with the Outgoing and Incoming New York Folklore Society Board Presidents

NYF Presidents Gabrielle M. Hamilton (2010-14) and Tom van Buren (2015-17) share their thoughts about the organization's infrastructure, its history and role in the state and the vision for the NYF.

Good Spirits: Mountain Magic

The author travels to Machu Picchu in Peru to experience adventure and mountain magic.

Good Read: Review of Saratoga Springs: A Centennial History

A book review of Saratoga Springs: A Centennial History, edited by Field Horne.

Artist Spotlight: George A. Olsen, Jr.

George A. Olsen, Jr., practices the art of wood turning to craft tools, including rolling pins, spatulas, and pepper mills.

A Staten Island Education

The author shares a memoir of her days at PS22R in Staten Island, when wearing a peace button was controversial, and how she navigated the political culture in the fifth and sixth grades, learning about civil disobedience.

Book Review: Review of Legends and Lore of Sleepy Hollow and the Hudson Valley

A book review of Legends and Lore of Sleepy Hollow and the Hudson Valley by Jonathan Kruk.

Downstate: The People’s City Report Card 2015

Most New Yorkers recognize ... the heart of New York City is not only found at the Met or Lincoln Center, but in the hustle and bustle, the c acophonous mix of ethnic groups, social classes, folk, pop, and high art....With passionate interest in what’s distinctive and local about New York, we have issued, for the fifth year, the People’s City Report Card 2015.

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