http://thebandofbrothers.net/news.html The Band of Brothers: News Jannis' PHPRss class - http://www.jannis.to/ Tue, 07 Sep 2010 01:25:03 -0700 http://thebandofbrothers.net/news.html#117 Down in Angelica, NY they play Roque - a variation of Croquet that is played on a hard-packed dirt field with curbed walls.

(In "The Shining" that's a Roque mallet Jack is swinging as he wends his maniacal way through the halls of the Overlook Hotel. But, I digress....)

So, back to Angelica, where they play Roque. Roque was once an Olympic sport! Yes sir: in 1904. Roque was once called the "game of the century!" Yet now Roque is limited to one last beautiful dirt court in Angelica, NY. Yep. That's right, folks. "The Last Bastion of Roque" is smack dab in the middle of a little town called Angelica.

Those of you who read my recent blog on the subject will be aware that I was then blissfully unaware of the difference between Croquet and Roque. Of course, blissful unawareness sort of comes with the territory of banjo playing, as you may well know.

Heck, I had never HEARD of Roque until Sean Herbert of ESPN alerted me to the sport. There I was, at the Angelica Heritage Festival, minding my own business, playing my banjo. (I know, some of you are thinking - "How can he POSSIBLY be minding his own business and playing a banjo at the same time?" You're right, I can't. And up comes Sean with the Smallest Microphone the World Has Ever Seen and asks me "Can I record your banjo?" Well, what am I to do? I can't refuse. Heck, I can't do anything and play my banjo at the same time!

So, I nodded my head in a sort-of-limited-way, and Sean stuck that tiny microphone near my banjo, and although I had no idea who Sean was or why he was waving that little microphone at me, I played him a tune of my own devise. Meaning, I kept on playing something I had made up on the spot. It wasn't much. (I know, some of you are thinking - "It's a banjo tune, how could it possibly be much?)

Anyway, I played for about a minute and a half, which is about all the average person can stand, and Sean thanked me and he went on his way. And, I would have forgotten all about it and never have learned the first or last thing about Roque.

But that was not to be, for later that very afternoon, following a brilliant performance by The Band of Brothers, Sean re-introduced himself, and told me of his desire to use my little banjo tune in an ESPN feature on the almost extinct sport of Roque.

So, there you have it. The whole kit and kaboodle, complete and unedited, the Director's Cut. I'll be sure to let you know when ESPN airs the feature. You'll get your chance to see Roque in action; and if there's some banjo picking in the background, yours truly is the culprit.

Peace & Harmony,
Michael Scott Smith]]> http://thebandofbrothers.net/news.html#117 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Original & Traditional American Folk Music - The Band of Brothers - News http://thebandofbrothers.net/news.html#116 http://thebandofbrothers.net/news.html#116 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Original & Traditional American Folk Music - The Band of Brothers - News http://thebandofbrothers.net/news.html#115
The film is a documentary about the "Castle On The Hill" in Dansville, NY. The home of the first commercial cold cereal, and the site of pioneering an understanding of the importance of fitness in maintaining health. Clara Barton's visit there to rest culminated in the formation of the American Red Cross.

The producers intent is to put the finishing touches on the film and gain an airing on PBS.

The Band of Brothers were commissioned to write a song for the film and "Castle On the Hill" was the song we delivered, in addition to some incidental music. Also, my son Sean was commissioned to compose the theme music for the film's beginning. A mighty exciting moment for the Smith Family, no doubt.

We performed four songs for this GREAT audience before the movie began: "Ain't Nobody's Doggone Business", "Car Radio," "This Land Is Your Land" and, of course, "Castle On The Hill."

Thanks to everyone who made this possible, especially the producers Al Jamison and Richard Derwald ("Mr. Fitness" himself). We had a great time.

Peace & Harmony,

Michael]]> http://thebandofbrothers.net/news.html#115 Thu, 13 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Original & Traditional American Folk Music - The Band of Brothers - News http://thebandofbrothers.net/news.html#114
Peace & Harmony,

Michael]]> http://thebandofbrothers.net/news.html#114 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Original & Traditional American Folk Music - The Band of Brothers - News http://thebandofbrothers.net/news.html#113 http://thebandofbrothers.net/news.html#113 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Original & Traditional American Folk Music - The Band of Brothers - News http://thebandofbrothers.net/news.html#111
Peace & Harmony, Michael.

Dear Sean,

Mom tells me you have a devotional to do at college, and that my help might be welcomed. I guess by “devotional” they also mean prayer. And I’m also guessing it is the kind of devotional that is spoken out loud in a group. You know, Jamie and Alan do this sort of thing frequently at our band rehearsals - if one of us is having some sort of concern, we usually finish our discussion of it with a devotional. It really does seem to put a “seal” on the discussion, sort of a way of saying: “God, this is something that is important to us, and however we work on this, give us a hand. And whatever is Yours to do, well, we’ll try to stay out of Your way, with gratitude, as best we can.”

I got to thinking about you - and how well you have gone about living your life. And I settled rather easily on the verses in the Gospel of John 15:12; “Love one another as I have loved you.” (I could have gone elsewhere, the New Testament is riddled with variations of the Golden Rule.)

Also in John, 13:31 through 16:33 include two discourses from Jesus - in the first Jesus has a conversation with some of his disciples about what is going on right there and then for Him and for the disciples. Jesus is telling them that he will soon leave where they cannot follow - at least for now. And at the very beginning of the discourse, Jesus says: “I give you a new commandment; love one another; as I have loved you, so are you to love one another. If there is this love between you, then everyone will know that you are my disciples.”

And, in the second discourse, Jesus tells the allegory of the vine (“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” “I am the vine; you are the branches. Anyone who dwells in me, as I dwell in him, bears much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” And so on. Jesus concludes this allegory with a retelling of how he began the first discourse: “This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you. There is no greater love then this, that someone should lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you.” And then, a few sentences later, Jesus breaks it down to essentials: “This is my commandment to you: love one another.”

I guess Jesus thought this important. It must have been - it is stressed over and over again in the New Testament. I believe it is certain that he truly spoke on this, no matter how his words were represented after the fact.

So, I offer those verses as a springboard for your devotional. I think they echo your beliefs of how people should treat people. And how you have lived your life.

If you’d like to continue this discussion, write me back with your thoughts.

Love,

Dad]]> http://thebandofbrothers.net/news.html#111 Sat, 03 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Original & Traditional American Folk Music - The Band of Brothers - News http://thebandofbrothers.net/news.html#112
Peace & Harmony,

Michael]]> http://thebandofbrothers.net/news.html#112 Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Original & Traditional American Folk Music - The Band of Brothers - News http://thebandofbrothers.net/news.html#106 We opened with "Glendale Train" and never took our foot off the pedal. Alan's "Silent Ocean" took on a new pulsing rhythmn and Bruce's "Bluegrass Star" is getting funkier every time we slice into it. Jamie's "The Cat Song" continues to be a crowd favorite and Henry's "Hand To The Plow" cut a deep groove. Michael's nostalgic songs "We Used To Ride The Railroads," "Car Radio" and his latest, "That's The Way I Remember It" were highlights.
Peace & Harmony indeed.]]> http://thebandofbrothers.net/news.html#106 Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Original & Traditional American Folk Music - The Band of Brothers - News http://thebandofbrothers.net/news.html#107 http://thebandofbrothers.net/news.html#107 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Original & Traditional American Folk Music - The Band of Brothers - News http://thebandofbrothers.net/news.html#108 http://thebandofbrothers.net/news.html#108 Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0800 Original & Traditional American Folk Music - The Band of Brothers - News