The "Pioneer machine" at the C.C. Stern Type Foundry. (Named after the job shop where this Linotype Model 31 originated) It's a workhorse, and makes some mighty fine slugs. You can tell that it is a workhorse by all of that paper attached to it. Oh, also there's a reminder that the thermometer is still in the pot, so don't go pulling the clutch just yet.
011 Fiddle Tunes of the Day
Ernie's "Elk Rive Blues" because it is a contemplative melancholy number, and well, after discovering this tonight (photo) I've been in some deep contemplation. There's always something, eh?
010 Fiddle Tunes of the Day
Melvin's "All Young" 'cause I'm all done. With the day. And it's late, so a couple times through that tune is going to be it for today. And, that's fine. And, it's getting brisk outside. But not quite freezing yet.
2024 25th annual Portland Old Time Music Gathering Graphics
The 25th annual Portland Old Time Music Gathering is here. It has been 25 years, folks. It's amazing that what started as a small, scrappy, DIY grass-roots volunteer-run mini-festival, has grown to become a much bigger scrappy, DIY grass-roots volunteer-run-festival. I say this with all the love of course. There's a lot of heart and a lot of community around this event.
Stumptown Printers handled the graphic work during the early days of the gathering. Since this current year marks a big anniversary for POTMG, Bubbaville Board President Kate Sheie asked me to do the graphics again. It was a fun project to revisit. I thought that we should list as many musicians, bands, volunteers, sponsors, venues as possible that have helped to build this Portland Old Time Music community over the years. We managed to compile 781 names. (The small type that makes up the "flame" shapes is the list of names) 781 names! That's amazing. I know we've missed names, so big apologies if you or your band name is not on the list. We didn't establish a consistent way to archive year to year info, but after this exercise, we're a little closer to having a complete archive within the Bubbaville collection of info.
Graphic notes:
Print Method: Offset litho in 2 spot colors (Warm Red and K)
Finish Size: 14" x 20"
Paper: Royal Sundance 80# Felt Text Warm White
Source types are arranged from a combination of Repo Proofs from cast Linotype typography and decorative border (cast on Pioneer Press Model 31 Linotype Machine at the C.C. Stern Type Foundry) and Linotype digital type (6pt Excelsior and some Franklin Gothic). I made a rule for myself in creating the fiddle graphic - all the figures are proportionally true to their original form in relationship to surrounding figures - meaning I did not scale the individual figures. This includes the wave border matrix slide rule that forms the fiddle strings. I did increase the scale of the overall fiddle once it was complete and digitized. The repo proof components were all digitized and combined with the digital type faces. Film was generated from the digital file, metal litho plates were made and then printed offset on a M.A.N. Roland 200 by Richard Gwinner.
There will be a limited number of these posters for sale at the Gathering. Proceeds go to Bubbaville to be used for continued community music programming. So pick one up while you're at the Gathering!
009 Fiddle Tunes of the Day
Bull of the wagon. Rough, but I managed to put the three parts together, so that's something. As I type this, there are fat snowflakes slowly floating from the sky. An unexpected weather event.
008 Fiddle Tunes of the Day
The tune is...... Eighth of January! Of course. Kate Sheie reminded me to play that one today. Thanks Kate. Seems like today oughta be a fiddle playing holiday.
007 Fiddle Tunes of the Day
Moon and Sixpence session. Bass Fiddle. It was a good session, though buddy Kevin was out of town. Patrick Lind filled in. Carter Bancroft also sat in. Gabrielle and Carter made a good fiddle team, it was fun to hear them throw down. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to play those sessions. Such good players and good music, nice hang.
006 Fiddle Tunes of the Day
Bull of the Wagon. On the learning process: If this tune was a perfectly operational precision mechanical watch, I have now disassembled it so I can see what is inside of the watch case. Now there are tiny watch parts spread all over the workbench. I've gained an appreciation of how the mechanics work to make the tune tick. But it's time to put the thing back together. If I can get the tune to tick, then I'll call it a success.
005 Fiddle Tunes of the Day
Still working on Jon Bekoff's version of "Bull at the Wagon." But it's starting to be fun instead of just problem solving. A couple more days and I think maybe I will arrive at some kind of flow for this tune, which is a big deal for me. Speaking of, it currently raining cats and dogs. The gutters to the shop are overflowing. Note to self. Gotta clean those. Took care of the Printers' Residence a couple of months ago. Those gutters are quiet and smooth and aren't crying out for attention. One day this tune that I’m working on will become like a well functioning gutter.
004 Fiddle Tunes of the Day
Started the day off with Melvin Wine's The Logger. Closed the day with another slow moving session of learning Jon Bekoff's "Bull at the Wagon." Getting there....
003 Fiddle Tunes of the Day
Jon Bekoff's "Bull at the Wagon." Making a little headway on the "B" part. The photo is a fiddle through the lens of a mostly empty shot glass.
002 Fiddle Tunes of the Day
Back on "Bull at the Wagon." But this time I leaned on the Lewis Brother's 1929 recording, and also Jon Bekoff's version which is pretty true to the Lewis Brother's. Both these recordings are great, and are worth checking out. Try Slippery Hill: Lewis Brothers and Jon Beckoff
001 Fiddle Tunes of the Day
Continuing to get sand kicked in my face by "Bull at the Wagon." It's a tough one. For me. Also played "Boating up Sandy" in the key of A out of standard tuning. That one is fun and loosey goosey groovy.
#365 Fiddle Tunes of the Day
Melvin Wine's "All Young." This tune has been an "anchor" tune for me this past year. I love it. And many more Melvin A modal tunes. Great stuff.
#364 Fiddle Tunes of the Day
Bull at the wagon. Also "highlander's farewell"
#363 Fiddle Tunes of the Day
Boatin' up Sandy, Peggin' Awl
#362 Fiddle Tune of the Day
Melvin's "All Young."
The Point. Volume 4. December, 2023 in the mail...
The Point, Volume 4. Miscellaneous Missives From the C.C. Stern Type Foundry. Heading out this week to foundry volunteers, supporters, as well as fellow members of the Amalgamated Printers' Association and friends of the C.C. Stern Type Foundry. Read about what we've been up to, and count how many times I name-drop type casting and printing wizards who are doing the good honest work. Cast in Monotype Baskerville 353 and 8pt Linotype Spartan heavy. A companion blog to printed newsletter with reference photos, videos and links can be found at the C.C. Stern Type Foundry site here.
#361 Fiddle Tunes of the Day
Continuing to chip away at "Bull at the Wagon" boy, that's notey one. Above my fiddling pay grade. But still working on it. Also played "Boating up Sandy" The modalish one out of standard tuning. From Wilson Douglas' fiddling. I used to play this out of cross G, 'cause Wilson also recorded it in the key of G on another recording - but I think he was actually tuned GDad.
#360 Fiddle Tune of the Day
Ernie Carpenter's "Dan Friend's Piece." I squeezed this tune in at the (literal) 11th hour, with 9 minutes to spare.