ONLINE EVENT

Happy Friday! Mark Rawson, the primary composer of Black Velvet Collective will join us in introducing some recent contemporary folk music created here in Hong Kong and from around the world. The emphasis in this first session is on Celtic/English/N. American cross fertilisations of styles and instrumentation.

Designed specifically for our members and the public in quarantine, Social Soul Sessions (SSS) is an online programming about connection for those in isolation through the arts. The topics range from literature and films to music and other entertainment.The music segment of SSS will feature a monthly playlist recommended by our industry leaders. Every month join us to talk about the songs and its curation in a book club-esque conversation with other aficionados and fans.

Listen to these tracks before our social session!

Session 2: Black Velvet Collective Picks of the Month

Playlist: A specialist curated playlist from Mark Rawson, primary composer of Black Velvet Collective

Black Velvet Collective Picks of the Month 

From Mark: 1. Black Velvet Collective-Take a Moment

The band use a variety of 'traditional' Celtic instruments but can anyone pick out and identify the stringed "Mediterranean' used in this song for ornamentation that has over recent years been adopted by many 'Celtic' musicians?

2. Gaelic Storm-Tell Me Ma

A song that demonstrates the difficulty of defining folk music of a certain place/type. This song is a standard at many an Irish gathering but there are numerous versions referencing towns other than Belfast, can you name a few?

3. Anna Wheeler-Both sides now

Who was the original singer/writer of this stunning tune that was at the forefront of the 60's contemporary folk revival?

4. Frankie Gavin and Alec Finn-Drowsy Maggi/Star of Munster

A typical Irish reel played at many a session. The main instrument is a fiddle, do you know the difference between a fiddle and a violin?

5. Alison Krauss and Union Station-Cluck Old Hen

An example of an Appalachian reel from North America, can you 'feel' the difference? Alison famously worked with a giant of the rock world a few years back to bring 'roots' music back to thefore, who was that?

6. Steve Earle-The Galway Girl

Galway Girls are obviously very popular as another famous artist who is currently straddling the pop/folk world has written a song about one, who wasthat?

7. The Young Bucks-Rookies

The core of the band hail from a part of Canada famous for its Celtic roots that reflect in the music from the region, can you name it?

8. The Pogues-Dirty old Town

A song worth two questions:
The main melody line in this song is played on 'pipes', can you name the type AND its sisters in the 'pipe' family?
What city was this song originally written about?

9. Todd Warner Moore - When the Sky Falls (again)

Traditionally folk music doesn't deviate from a central theme musically, the 50/60's revivalists introduced a'standard' structure from popular music which appears in this song at 2 minutes, what is it?

10. New found land-The Foggy Dew

Another two question song:
This interpretation of the classic tune Foggy Dew uses 'accelerando' to bring variety to the song, what does this mean?
Not a music question but what does the term 'Labrador' refer to in the Province name New found land and Labrador?

11. Black Velvet Collective-The Old Man's 'ere

The Dulcimer instrument used in the dual with a banjo on this song is one with Central European origins which is now prevalent in Appalachian music but there are two main types - what are they?

The views and opinions expressed are those of the speakers and participants and, unless expressly stated to the contrary, do not reflect the opinion, position or official policy of Asia Society Hong Kong, its members, or its committees. Asia Society Hong Kong does not endorse or approve, and assumes no responsibility for the content of the information presented.