Memories from Moaning Caverns with Mary Youngblood

Wow, what a wonderful day we had on Saturday with Mary Youngblood and the Northern California Flute Circle. The event took place at Moaning Caverns in central California, near Angels Camp. The NCFC members who were playing with Mary that night, arrived early in the afternoon, to practice, eat and have some fun before the event.

Here's a picture of Mary practicing and warming up on her guitar before the event:

During the flute circle before hand several foks jammed and warmed up. Here's a picture of (RtoL) Alex, Dan and Francesca.

The trip down into the cavern was pretty treacherous for the first 90 steps, especially when you were carrying an armful of instruments. Here's some NCFC members entering the cavern.

It was an amazing event (from my perspective). We started the show by turning out all of the lights and playing in the pitch black at the bottom of the cavern. Folks were sitting on the floor of the cavern, on the stairs and at the landing at the top of the cavern. For the first song (in the pitch black), David Blonski started with the didj (wow!), then the rest of the NCFC member came in with percussion, followed by the flutes. I've played my flute in the dark many times but this was the first time that I have played and improvized with other folks in the dark. It was a spiritual experience for me to listen and play without my vision. The experience is still difficult to describe. But we all sensed the end of the song intuitively and ended beautifully. The rest of the concert featured Mary on flute and guitar. We backed her up on percussion and a few folks played either with Mary or on their own.

At the end, Mary played a happy birthday rendition for folks celebrating their birthdays that night. Here's a photo of Mary serenading the birthday folks:

I am posting all of the pictures on the NCFC website here: http://www.naflute.com/moaning2007.html

Check the website and blog often this week as I'll post more pictures as I receive them. If you have some pictures to be featured, please send them my way: mike DOT oitzman AT gmail DOT com

Moaning Caverns: TODAY!

I am looking forward to seeing many of you today at Mary Youngbloods concert at Moaning Caverns. We're meeting at 3 PM in the parking lot of Moaning Caverns for a pre-flute circle and practice. Bring your A and G flutes plus shakers.
NOTE: don't bring your drum unless it has a synthetic skin head - it won't survive the humidity of the cavern and will be unplayable underground...

NCFC Weekend Calendar: Oct 26 -28

You can alway check out the Northern California Flute Circle Calendar to see what's happening further out, but I encourage you to login every week to review what's coming up for the weekend events!

NOTE: If I missed an event for the weekend, please add a comment with event info so that other can know!

Saturday, October 21

• Mary Youngblood and NCFC at Moaning Caverns, 6 - 7:30 PM. Call for ticket availability. (NCFC Members meet at 3 PM for pre-flute circle and practice, bring your dinner)
• NoNahme Clan Flute Circle, 2-3, Marshall Grange, Garden Valley

Sunday, October 21

• Joaquin Clan Flute Circle, 2-4 PM, Modesto.

SkinSongs: Women on the Drum

Here's an interesting drumming event happening next weekend in San Francisco.

What: SkinSongs: Women on the Drum

When: Sat., Oct. 27 8pm and Sun., Oct 28 at 2 and 6 pm

Where: Dance Mission Theater 3316 24th Street, San Francisco CA 94110

Ticket prices: $18 in advance, $20 at the door

For reservations: 415-273-4633 or to buy on line www.brownpapertickets.com

Who: Carolyn Brandy & OJALÁ, Dance Brigade, Afia Walking Tree and Spirit Drumz, Ong Dance Company, Grrrl Brigade, Susu Pampanin, Dawn RichardsonDance Brigade presents 3 shows with women drummers representing different musical cultures of the world. The number of women redefining percussion traditions and drumming for art, spirituality and healing grows every year, especially in the Bay Area, as more women are rediscover their ancient birthright that traces women as the earliest known shamans whose religions revolved around the beating of the drum. This showcase of local talent will inspire, delight and invigorate. There will be a Healing Circle with Vicki Noble after Sunday evening show. For complete program information please see http://www.dancemission.com/

Mary Youngblood Performance for Save Ourselves

Mary Youngblood will perform at the 3rd annual Breast Cancer Awareness Dinner and Auction at the Croatian Cultural Center in Sacramento. There will be dinner, a silent and live auction, and Mary will perform a set of her music. All in for the purpose of raising awareness and money for breast cancer.

What: 3rd annual Breast Cancer Awareness Dinner and Auction

When: Wednesday, Oct 24, 5:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Where: 3730 Auburn Blvd., Sacramento

For more details click here.

Fall NCFC Voice of the Circle Newsletter Online

The Fall 2007 NCFC Voice of the Circle newsletter was published and mailed to all NCFC members this morning. It's also available online if you can wait for the paper copy: http://www.naflute.com/newsletter_archives/VOCfall07.pdf

Note: Your membership number and membership expiration date is printed on the label for your mailing, this will help you know when your membership is set to expire.

If you are a new member and waiting for your membership card, your membership card was printed, laminated and included with your newsletter. If you are still waiting for your membership card (and don't receive it with the Fall Newsletter) please contact me at: ncfc AT naflute dot com

Reminder: Moaning Caverns with Mary Youngblood

Just a reminder that the trip to Moaning Caverns is coming up in little over a week (Oct 27), and tickets are going fast!!! If you want to attend the event as a spectator, you need to buy your tickets now.

Here's the link for tickets: http://www.suttergold.com/concert/Mary_Youngblood.html

Also, Mary has invited a limited number of NCFC members to play with her during the concert. You must be a current NCFC member and RSVP (and space is limited) for this event.
To RSVP send an email to Dan Dicicco: flutecircle AT lopingwolf DOT com

NCFC Weekend Calendar: Oct 19 - 21

You can alway check out the Northern California Flute Circle Calendar to see what's happening further out, but I encourage you to login every week to review what's coming up for the weekend events!

NOTE: If I missed an event for the weekend, please add a comment with event info so that other can know!


Saturday, October 20

• NoNahme Clan Flute Circle, 1 PM, Golden Gecko, Garden Valley

Sunday, October 21

• Loping Wolf Flute Circle, Lake of the Pines Clubhouse


• Bay Clan Flute Circle, 1:30 - 3:30, San Jose


• Caves Concert, 9:15 PM, Marin Headlands (tickets must be purchased ahead of time)

Memories from a weekend with Xavier

Figure 1 - Xavier Quijas Yxayotl

Story by Antonio Silva, October 10, 2007

First let me start by telling you how I came to knowing about Xavier Quijas Yxayotl. I started playing the NAF (self taught) over a year ago and I was searching the internet for different ways on playing the NAF.

I came across the link to Robert "Tree" Cody and follow another link to his video performance of "Cross Roads". In this performance he was doing a duet with Xavier Quijas Yxayotl.

I took a look at Xavier flutes and said WOW! I got to have one of those. So I inquired with my internet friend "Google" searched and found Xavier's web page.

I did some more inquiring and got some information on the Clay Flute Making Workshop and registered for the workshop.

Now the day came for the workshop and being a “wood carver” I went into that day thinking I could make a triple flute right off the bat. Slow down..... I found out I had a hard time making my first ocarina.

So after my 5th ocarina, which making them became easier, I start my first flute. Rolling out the clay and placing it around the "template" was simple enough but when it came to making the mouth piece and tuning the flute, Xavier is a Master and was there to help everyone in class.

There were a few things that impressed me about Xavier during the workshop. First, he always started his workshop with a ceremony thanking everyone for being there and wishing everyone a great day. (see figure 2 below)

Figure 2 - Xavier during the opening ceremony.

When making our flutes and ocarina's Xavier was always going back to his roots and recalling the history and tradition of Mayan/Aztecan Flute Making.

Last but not least, we all hear news stories about these professional singers or band members and the bad ways they treat their fans. Well Xavier is NOT like them. Xavier is gracias, knowledgeable and overall a very nice man.

All in all, I made 5 ocarinas and 3 flutes. And yes, one of the flutes was a triple flute. (See figure 3 for a picture of all of the flutes made during the weekend workshop).

I'm looking forward to taking his next workshop.

Figure 3 - Xavier with all of the students creations from the weekend.

Xavier thank you for your time and patience.

I also want to give thanks to David Loo for organizing the workshop and for Nancy P. for allowing us to use her home for the workshop.

-Antonio S.

NOTE FROM MIKE: As Antonio wrote in his story, Xavier truly is a unique and wonderful spirit. We always welcome him with open arms when he visits Northern California. I hope that many of you will enroll in his flute making workshop the next time that we're able bring Xavier up for a visit. Thanks to Antonio for submitting this story about his experience at the recent clay flute making workshop with Xavier Quijax Xyxototl.

To read some past blog entries about Xavier, click here:

• http://naflute.blogspot.com/2007/07/examples-of-xavier-quijas-yxayotls.html
• http://naflute.blogspot.com/2006/08/xaviers-clay-flutes.html

Women's Drumming Class - Palo Alto

MONDAY NIGHT WOMAN'S CLASS

WHEN: October 8-29, November 5,19, 26 December 10-17

TIME: Beginning class: 6:30-7:50 PM

Intermediate class 8:00- 9:30 PM--(if not yet entered into
this class, please speak to me.)

WHERE: St Andrew's Methodist Church, 4111 Alma St, Palo Alto, CA
COST: $135 for each series***Drop-in $20 per class No drop in for
intermediate.

THURSDAY NIGHT DRUM CLASS:

WHEN: October 11-25,November 1,15,29 December 6-20

TIME: Beginning class: 6:30-7:50 PM

Intermediate class 8:00- 9:30 PM--(if not yet entered into
this class, please speak to me.)

WHERE: Unity of Palo Alto, 3391 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto.

Cost: $135 for each series***Drop-in $20 per class. No drop in for
intermediate.

Extra drums are available.

For more info contact: zorina AT villageheartbeat DOT com

NCFC Weekend Calendar: Oct 12-14

You can alway check out the Northern California Flute Circle Calendar to see what's happening further out, but I encourage you to login every week to review what's coming up for the weekend events!

NOTE: If I missed an event for the weekend, please add a comment with event info so that other can know!


Saturday, October 13

• Loping Wolf Flute Circle, Bear River Campground
• NoNahme Clan Flute Circle, 1 PM, Golden Gecko, Garden Valley
• Caves Concert, 9:15 PM, Marin Headlands (tickets must be purchased ahead of time)

Historical Northern California Flute music?

I wanted to open up a question to all of the blog readers out there. I've been engaged in an email conversation with some friends to try and determine if there is any historical evidence for a flute or flageolet style instrument in the tribes of Northern California. Alternatively, does anyone know of any recording artist from a Northern California tribe, who has recorded either flute music or other traditional music (singing, drumming or other)?

To my limited knowledge, I have not heard of the existence of any flute music tradition in the tribes of Northern California. But someone out there may know more about the musical traditions of the Northern California tribes, so I am asking you...

You can respond in the comments, or send me an email and I'll post your comments (anonymously if you choose) in a future blog entry. Thanks!

email: ncfc AT naflute DOT com