Posted by Jerry on July 5th, 2004 — Posted in Journal, Music
More recording
Yes I have neglected my blog over the past two nights! But it’s all in a good cause – honest!
We have been recording more tracks – this time of some Scottish tunes:
- Athol Highlanders’ March
- Stirling Castle – a lovely strathspey
- Redhaired Boy, Merry Blacksmith, Mason’s Apron (reels)
- Gay Gordons, 79ths Farewell to Gibraltar (marches)
- Dashing White Sergeant, Scarter Glen, Staten Island (polkas/reels)
So it’s been a bit busy lately – still need to add guitars and bass on most of them and do some post production. But I’d have to say that the Tracktion software i’m using is great – very easy to use and intuitive for the amount of information it displays. I highly recommend it. The software works great on my four-year-old iMac dv – even though it does sometimes push the CPU limits a bit in the post-production phase.
Anyhow I’m learning heaps and enjoying it thoroughly!
cheers
Jerry
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Posted by Jerry on July 2nd, 2004 — Posted in Journal, Recipes
Has someone thrown you a challenge by saying they love scones, but are gluten intolerant? This recipe will be no good if you are sensitive to eggs and milk, but will produce lovely gluten free scones. And here’s how to make them:
Gluten Free Scones
Ingredients
1 x cup rice flour
1 x cup cornflour (ensure it is 100 percent maize and certified gluten free)
1 x teaspoon gluten free baking soda
1/2 x teaspoon guar gum
2 x generous table spoons margarine
4 x tablespoons castor sugar (or three of castor sugar and one of brown sugar)
2 x eggs
1 x tablespoons milk
tools
1 x oven
1 x baking tray
1 x bowl with electric mixer (with beaters and dough hooks)
1 x sheet baking paper
1 x flour sifter
1 x round pastry cutter
Method
Prepare a baking tray with baking paper, and pre heat the oven to 180 degrees Centigrade
Sift the flours, baking soda, and guar gum into a bowl using a sifter that is scrupulously clean or that has not seen wheat flour.
Add the margarine and beat with the beaters until the mix resembles bread crumbs
Add the sugar and mix well. Remove the beaters and insert dough hooks into the mixer.
Add the two eggs and the milk and mix with the dough hooks until the mix has a satin sheen and is elastic. Add more cornflour if the mix is too sticky, or more milk if the mix is too dry.
Turn the mix out onto a bench top or clean board floured with cornflour. Knead lightly and pat down to a about one and a half inches and cut rounds with a pastry cutter dipped in cornflour and place onto the baking sheet.
Lightly brush a little milk on the tops of each of the scones, then place the tray in the top shelf of the oven and bake for about 15 minutes.
By the time I took this photo there were only two left!
Fresh Scones
Cheers
Jerry
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Posted by Jerry on June 30th, 2004 — Posted in Journal, Music
Monday 28 June 2004: Canberra Australia – It was an amazing concert, full of rhythm, dance and Cuban barrio atmosphere (cigars and all!) I had not intended to go, but a friend who was keen to seen them after seeing the video of the Buena Vista Social Club, then caught the flu, and asked if I would like to take her place at the concert. I agreed immediately – I too had seen the documentary of their return to fame. This is about a group of musicians from the 30s/40s whose ambition was one day to play at Carnegie Hall in the US. Cuban jazz musician Ry Cooder heard about them and set about making their dream come true – and these guys, aged between 70 and 90 finally had their big night – but that was just the start of a huge revival – and they are still touring!
Yes there are a mix of younger musicians and dancers, but there is real charm and style in the original performers – still so full of life – playing and salsa-ing the night away. It was truly spectacular – and well worth seeing if they are in your area 🙂
Cheers
Jerry
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Posted by Jerry on June 26th, 2004 — Posted in Journal, Music, Technology
Making a firestaff and fire poi – fire dance equipment
I promised some time ago that I’d show you how to make a fire staff – and here it is.
http://www.lostbiro.com/firestaff/firestaffi-04.html
Making a Firestaff
This method works for fire staffs and poi used for fire twirling/ fire dancing – please use fire responsibly and safely!
Cheers
Jerry
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Posted by Jerry on June 23rd, 2004 — Posted in Journal, Music
Now here is a bolt from the blue! We get offers of gigs in sometimes unusual situations and unusual places, but this one takes the cake. The email said in part: “here’s the situation: the Beijing Caledonian Society is holding their Annual Highland Ball…” The Beijing What??
Well it seems that there is indeed a dedicated group of Scottish highland dancers in China’s capital – and they need a live band. Who better than Full Circle? So it would seem we are destined to go away on tour to the land of the Red Dragon – in a few months. In the meantime this er… Irish/Celtic band will be learning some new Scottish repertoire. Yes we do play some Scottish numbers, but some of the dances will have specific tunes. Anyhow we have already been requested to play one song in particular… The Devil Went Down to a Small Country South of Russia… Now this sounds like fun!
Cheers
Jerry
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