Strategies to find support

[Terechu]

I'm gonna stay out of this, I guess, but I couldn't help noticing that none of you even thought of asking funds from non-political sponsors. How about CajAstur or Banco de Sabadell, owners of the Banco de Asturias and Banco Herrero? Or Hidroeléctrica...just a thought...

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Me voy a mantener al margen en este tema, pero he notado que ninguno de vosotros ha pensado en pedir ayuda monetaria a patrocinadores no políticos. ¿Qué tal CajAstur o el Banco de Sabadell, propietario del Banco de Asturias y del Banco Herrero, o Hidroeléctrica...sería una idea...

[Art]

Terechu's just raised a good point. What do you all think?


If we invite Asturian officials, we should coordinate that with the film's sponsores (WV Labor History Association). Hmm. That makes me wonder if someone in the government would be able and interested in addressing labor history?

[Trabanco]

Yes, great observation Terechu. We are trying to find support from private institutions right now. Andres is going to try CajaAstur and Fundación Principe de Asturias, but we will try the others that you mention.

Regarding how and who invites Asturian officials to Argeo's debut in the US... it's hard for me; I won't be here. Also if we invite them to come, we should put more on the table, not just the film, that they might already have seen . Other Asturian related activities would be nice, but with a May 12th deadline it all seems too close to organize something big enough to atract their attention.

I am optimistic about finding support. I don't expect to get the 20 gaites and so on right now, but little by little we might get something. The private support might be just as good as the Principau's one

[Bob]

It might be good to understand what kind of financial goal we are working toward, as an aid in determining how much to ask for from private or government sponsors. Approximately what would 20 gaites and 20 traxes cost? What about each of Bras' journeys to the EEUU. What kind of publicity can be offer our sponsors?

By the way, Terechu's idea of seeking private support from the corporate world in Spain is an excellent one. Evelyn had the same idea earlier today, but was thinking primarily in terms of American companies with ties to Spain (La Tienda and other food importers, Spanish restaurants, etc.). Unfortunately, she was unable to log on and post her idea because of a password problem.

On the issue of the practice flautas, can we really make them ourselves, or would it take someone with experience and a trained ear to guarantee that they all play together harmoniously?

[Art]

(Bob, I'll answer your recorder question in that thread.)

I'm guessing that a good traje costs at least $500-600. Is that accurate? Maybe Alberto will know.

A montera on Asturshop is about $80. (I didn't realize the exchange rate was so high.)

A good single-roncón gaita in grenadilla (a black wood that will probably do better in our climate) is over $1300.

That could mean $1800-2000 per piper, plus maybe $800-1000 each for a few drummers. If we had 20 pipers and 5 drummers, we'd need around $45,000. That's stunning, and it doesn't include what we'd need to pay to get lessons.

When we become successful, it would be great to have dancers. But that's in the future.

Alberto, do you have any idea of how bandas de gaites deal with ownership of their trajes and instruments? Does the banda retain ownership and just lend them to members? Or do members own their gear?

[is]

A montera on Asturshop is about $80. (I didn't realize the exchange rate was so high.)

A good single-roncón gaita in grenadilla (a black wood that will probably do better in our climate) is over $1300.

That could mean $1800-2000 per piper, plus maybe $800-1000 each for a few drummers. If we had 20 pipers and 5 drummers, we'd need around $45,000.

Hi people, Keep in mind the exchange rate will keep favoring the euro for a while. So those $45,000 Art has estimated for traxes, gaitas and percussion pieces could edge upward of $50,000 soon.

Right now, the euro is hovering at $1.33. The US current account deficit, although it has improved, is still at $856.7 billion, or 5.9% of GDP. Compare that to the Eurozone's 0% of GDP (in this week's back page of the Economist; 'Trade, exchange rates, budget balances and interest rates'). The Eurozone had a CA deficit of $20.2 billion back in February 2007, or 0.1% of GDP. It has since improved...

With the indicators showing a narrowing of the Eurozone's CA, the US$ is going to keep losing ground, it's one of those factors that affects the psychology of currency markets. I'll try to post the estimate for the rest of 2007 as soon as I find one, but be ready for that sombreiru picon to go up to $90...

For quick, updated currency conversions use www.xe.com. I use it to convert all sorts of strange currencies, which the site also converts for you if you click on 'other currencies'.

[Art]

Yeah, and buy into European funds!

[Bob]

I am still looking for the good European equivalent of a mutual fund that denominates investments in euros. Preferably on that is especially interested in Spain or - better yet - Asturias.

[brasrodrigo]

Hola Collacios espero que teis toos mui bien. Ye la primer vez qu´entro nesti foru de la Banda de Gaites d´Usa y que dé una migayina ablucáu por temes que lleo que n´Asturies yá se superaron hai 20 años y precisamente los saca a colación un asturianu cismontanu y non un trasmontanu o emigrante que ye precisamente de los que más enteraos tan del tema. Espero que nun seya cola mala intención de confundir a la xente. namái que voi plantegar unes entrugues:
¿Les gaites d´un roncón que s´usen agora son tradicionales?
¿Los punterros de Do que s´usen agora son tradicionales o son los de do sosteníu que s´emplegaben anantes?
¿El Sib ye una tonalidá tradicional asturiana?
¿Les Bandes de Gaites son tradicionales n´Asturies?
¿Les Bandes de gaites son tradicionales n´Escocia?
¿Les Bandes de gaites cuando apaecieron?
¿El traxe que lleva la Banda d´Uviéu na semeya ye tradicional? ¿Y les gaites?
¿LOs payones de plásticu qu´usen tolos artesanos y repito tolos artesanos son tradicionales?
¿Los fuelles de gore tex qu´usen tolos artesanos y repito tolos artesanos son tradicionales?
¿Quie´n s´atreve a asegurar que la gaita escocesa tradicional tien tres roncones y l´asturiana unu namaí? ¿Tien pruebes?
Podría seguir con cientos de miles de preguntes pero resumo en:
Les Bandes de gaites nun son tradicionales n´Asturies y n´Escocia son un gran espectáculu modernu basáu nuna tradición milenaria d´un pueblu milenariu con un pasáu, una música y unes costumes milenaries que s´asitien nel Arcu Atlánticu Célticu Européu mayoritariamente y elli onde tolos sos descendientes emigraron.
Un abrazu pa toos hai que tirar p´alante y el 17 de marzu del 08 tamos desfilando pola 5º avenida con una Banda de 150 gaiteros asturianos. Puxa Asturies, Puxa Celtia, Puxa Usa.

[Trabanco]

Queridos paisanos y amigos:

I just came back from my second trip to Asturies this Summer. I had the opportunity to have long conversations with several people regarding our project. With the advise of Bras Rodrigo, I wrote a 5 pages proposal in order to fund our project; in the proposal I included gaites, percusion, traxes, estandarte and some guidance in order to learn how to play (including teacher visits). The number that I used was 15 players, including percusion. I sent the proposal to Cajastur (Obra social), Agencia asturiana de emigración, Consejería de Cultura y Consejo de Comunidades asturianas. These are the main organizations that can support a project like this. I'll keep you posted as soon as I hear anything.

I am relatively optimistic here; the proposal took me a month to write and it is well articulated. It was also reviewed by several people who have been involved in similar processes. In any case, if we don't get anything now, we should still plan to move ahead with what we have.

If I remember correctly, Natalia, paul, and Art have some type of gaites (please tell me if there are any more around). According to Bras, all gaites can be "modified" or adjusted to ply in the same tone. Besides, even if we are not perfect, we will have 50 other good gaiteros around us that will mask our deficiencies.

Bras already shared the repertory that they'll play in St. Pats. and also provided me with a program that reads "partituras" so we can have the right version. I'll share that info with you in the next message. Even if we all have the right asturian traxes, Bras and I suggested that he could borrow us some capes or/and monteras so we can walk side to side with the rest.

Of course, if we do get the grant then it will be a different story. I'll send the songs and more info about learning how to ply these tunes in a diffrent post

[Art]

Thanks for the update, Alberto. I was wondering how it was going.

I think we're waiting for Bob to copy the Dayures método so we can set a total price and get them mailed to our members. The audio portion (CDs and DVD) and the practice punteros are essentially ready, although I'll have to make more copies once we're ready to mail.

[Trabanco]

The basic songs to be played at the St. Pat's Parade are:

Xuanin de Mieres
God Bless America
Danny Boy
Asturies Patria Querida

Bras recommended a program called "Encore 4.5.3" that reads partituras (music scores). Apparently you can download it online--I tried it with no success yet . He is going to send these 4 songs with the specific tempo that they use.

regarding the learning process: his recommendations are:

1) learn how to read a score
2) learn how to move the fingers using whatever practice tool we have

Once we do this, we should start playing the pipe. He is planning to come to the US around mid/late Nov. I am planning to invite him to Rollins and other surronding areas (Tampa, St. Agust. Miami) to play. At that time he will give some practical lessons.

Please let me know if you can find some gig for him and Eva (Nua) up North, so he can go there too. Obviously, they need some type of support. I am lucky that Rollins will cover housing and also a stipend. I am asking to have their airfare covered too, but that might be more difficult . I asked Bras to send us a dossier of Nua, so we can circulate it around and hopefully find some venue who is interested (a university, a cultural/musical society...)


hasta pronto,

Alberto

[Art]

Those tunes are pretty simple, I think, so this sounds doable.

It would be very helpful if we had music files of Bras playing each of those tunes so that we can learn the rhythm and phrasing correctly. It's possible, too, that some of us may find it easier to learn the tunes by ear, rather than from the sheet music.

I'd recommend that we have one version played relatively slowly, and one at speed.


By the way, I only have a gaita gallega, which is very different in fingering and its ornamentation. Worse, it's in the key of B natural (La natural), so I won't be able to play with the band until I get an asturiana in Si bemol (Bb - B flat), which is what Bras' band uses.


I like Bras' idea of having additional punteros and possibly roncones made for use with Si bemol.

Another option, which I've seen on a roncon used on a gaita gallega, had separate punteros but only one roncon (drone). You can't use the same puntero for different keys. Even the reeds are different. That's normally true for roncones, too, I think, but this one sounded fine. The roncon was made with a ring at the top of the roncon that you turn to open (or close) a hole. That hole allows the roncon to play in either C (Do) or D (Re). I don't know if anyone has done this with the gaita asturiana, but if they can, it would be possible to have our gaitas constructed with a base key of Bb (Si bemol), but with a separate puntero in C (Do) and just one roncon that can play in either key: Bb (Si bemol) or C (Do). If we got multiple drones (roncones), that trick could become expensive. Of course, we could just have separate roncones, one in each key.

[Trabanco]

I think the Encore program does play the music. I am waiting for Bras' confirmation here. Regarding the pipes, Bras mentioned that they could be adjusted somehow. Even though it will be a temporary parchment it will allow us to participate in the parade. I am already practising these four songs in their standard version, so at least I get to learn them know. I am aware that there might be some small changes to them: pace, rhythm... I think Bras said that they played them in a faster pace than usual. Anyway, all these issues can be solved when he comes here in Nov. Now it is practicing time

[Art]

I've found Encore here:
http://www.gvox.com/encore.php
I think I've heard music teachers rave about this software, but it's a $400 program. There is a demo of the program, but it's probably limited to a month or two of use and may disable some of the features, like printing or saving work.

Google lists a lot of "warez" websites (they offer illegal downloads and serial number keys), but that would present serious ethical, legal and virus risks.

Do you know what Bras wants us to do with the program? If we're just printing out the sheet music and listening to the tunes, there are less expensive options.