Mary Ann Shirk (Hribar)

Mary Ann Shirk (Hribar)

The picture just doesn't want to post. 

Mike Young

Mary Ann, my first impression when I saw the picture - I thought is was you.  Upon reflection, the lovely lady in question could well be Collette, she had hair like that and she is taller than most of the ladies.  Terry Lopucki and Janet Meininger seem to be there, too.  How are you doing?  (Get a puppy yet?)  Will we be graced with your presence this August at our Reunion/Golf Gathering?  Please check one of the following -  Definitely, Yes, Wild horses couldn't keep me away.

Lucia Lenhard (Johnson)

What a fun picture! Do I see Sue Biscoff in mid-giggle in profile to the right? 

Mary Ann Shirk (Hribar)

Ellen Beauchamp and I have kept in touch through the years. She lives in Seattle and has become friends with my daughter. When my daughter told her about Bob being in hospice she called me every day even for several weeks after he passed. When I sent her the picture, she said she is the one behind Joyce's shoulder. I don't see it but I guess she would know herself. She only went to Shrine High for one year, so that had to be freshman year. 

Janet Flick (Stickel)

Mary Ann, that girl looks like you... but you would know yourself.  Anyway, I love her glasses!

Please say hi to Ellen Beauchamp.  She lived down the street from me.

Judy Schoen (Grewe)

What a great picture! What a great event , no face masks and everybody's close and no fighting!  Before the world was in color,  too, as my kids say! 

Janet Flick (Stickel)

Welcome to the website, Bob Radofsky!!!!

I see by your profile that you moved from Santa Cruz, CA to Ennis, Clare County, Ireland in 2013.  What a wonderful place to live.

Classmates can view Bob's information on "Classmate Profiles."

Robert Radofski (Sullivan)

Hello Janet and Lucia. Nice to hear from some Shrine alumni. This is my first social media, so it will take a bit of time to get up to speed.

Janet Flick (Stickel)

Love your photo.  Is that an Irish guitar? 

Mike Young

Bob, welcome, so good to hear from you and glad that you've found such a wonderful pursuit on the "Auld Sod".  When I first saw your picture I thought you hand a banjo of some sort, but it must be some form of Irish lute?  Are you making your own lutes to match historical Irish instruments?

Robert Radofski (Sullivan)

Hello Janet and Mike,  The instrument I'm playing is an Irish Bouzouki made in Dublin by master luthier Joe Foley. It's now seven years old and my main instrument. It's relatively new in Irish music, paterned a bit from the original bouzouki from Greece which has 6 strings and a round back. There are still a few Greek bouzoukis being played, but it was redesigned in 1969 to a flat back and eight strings, tuned in four sets. It is tuned like a mandolin, only an octave lower. Traditional Irish music has long been written on fiddle, so all stringed intruments are tuned the same. I also play mandolin, a tenor four string banjo and a four string tenor guitar.

Here is a session with both instruments. My friend George is playing a Greek bouzouki, and I'm on the Irish one. Jerry is playing a tenor banjo. There are also a silver and Irish wooden flute, and two button accordions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4paH9eU-fx0 

Robert Radofski (Sullivan)

Hello Patricia Trainer

Mike Young

Bob, I guess that I've misunderstood tuning instruments.  I have seen someone tune a piano and also a guitar, so I presumed that tuning was the same for all stringed instruments.  What is the difference?  As long as I'm exhibiting my ignorance - what difference does a flat backed make from a round back.  Does the sound go up or down on the scale, or is it "richer" or what?  My initial thought was that a round backed instrument would be more difficult for a "round front" person to play.

Meanwhile, Happy Valentine's Day to one and all.  Remind those that you love that you do love them.  We can all use that message.  Love to all of you. 

Robert Radofski (Sullivan)

Mike, Yes, all stringed instruments are tuned the same way by tightening a tuning gear to raise the pitch, loosening it to lower the pitch. We often refer to the key that an instrument is in as it's tuneing which is a bit misleading. The lowest note on a guitar is E so is considered an "E" instrument. The lowest note on a fiddle, tenor banjo or bouzouki is G (the third fret on a guitar) so they are all "G" instruments. The Button accordions, Irish flutes and Uilleann pipes are "D" instruments because the lowest note is D. Stringed instruments can be tuned lower or capoed higher to play in a different key, but accordions and flutes must be made in a different key by the maker. So if a very good musician brings an "Eb" or "C"instrument, everyone else has to bring in the odd one from the closet.

Round backed instruments are awkward to hold so take energy to keep correct and more difficult to play. Flat backs allow for much easier freedom, especially if held with a strap. I had my bouzouki made 2" larger diameter than standard, and 2" thicker for a warmer, louder sound. I needed it because I play melody rather than chords and couldn't hear myself. It really helps in large sessions, from 25 to 65 people. I was at one that had 406 and broke the Guinness Book of World Records.

Only a few hours left here, so happy Valentines wish to everyone, and stay safe!

Rob

Lucia Lenhard (Johnson)

Bob, 

Welcome - and you surely make a very interesting and musically rich and educational addition. Thanks also for facilitating getting in touch with Tom Hughes. The more the merrier. 

Mike, you asked some interesting questions, all Greek to me with the exception of the Bouzouki which I have enjoyed in Greektown on many an ouzo enhanced evening. Those were the days, my friend,  we thought they’d never end... 🎶 

Lucia Lenhard (Johnson)

p.s. Mike - good one re: round back, round front. Haha.🤣

Mike Young

Happy Birthday, Jayne - I shall forever be grateful for you saving me from the wrath of Sister Elizabeth Louise (A close, personal friend of John F. Kennedy, thank you very much!!).  I hope you are well and surrounded by those you love.  A Merry Unbirthday to the rest of us.

Tom O'Brien

Happy Birthday to Jayne, may your day be filled with the ones you love and looking forward to many more.

Stay safe and enjoy your cake and ice cream .

Rick Fournier

Interesting instrument Bob.  My wife Valerie and I both play the Mountian Dulcimer which has its origins in Ireland.  So yes we use the same tuning on a 3 stringed instrument.  Our dulcimer group has about 25 members and plays everything from dulcimer, guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukelele, marimbula, tin whistle, violin, and tin whistle and we sing too.  Until Covid hit we do about 15 performances a year.  You can catch us on YouTube as Riverstrings from Michigan.

Robert Radofski (Sullivan)

Rick, What fun. There is nothing like a group of friends communicating through music. And the young lad playing his little guitar. You now must record more and post them on YouTube. 

I didn't know the mountain dulcimer had Irish roots. We did have one in a session here once. A friend of mine in Santa Cruz plays trad music on a hammer dulcimer and it's heavenly. Sounds very much like the harps I play with.

Here is a YouTube video with Sharon Shannon and Mundy on Shop Street in Galway playing the "Galway Girl" by Steve Earl, accompanied by 15,000 friends. This is what we do to keep from getting bored. I'm in this video somewhere, but haven't seen myself yet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNs0vKDvs0g

Rob

Mike Young

Rob, you speak in the language of musicians, and while the words are English, I'm lagging behind more than a bit.  I have looked up "capo" and "Uilleann Pipes" and your explanations are spot on.  I don't know the difference between melody and chords, though.  I think it's great that you have been able to make a career out of something you love so much, and to pursue expanding your knowledge and experiences in Ireland has got to be terrific.  We are all so pleased for you.  Rick, I was fortunate enough to have a hammer dulcimer available to me to fiddle with.  (Probably shouldn't use "fiddle" for a dulcimer.)  I enjoyed making some musical sounds, though it wasn't anywhere close to music.

Janet Flick (Stickel)

Welcome, Tom Hughes!  So glad you have joined the Class of '63 website.  
 

where is Grass Valley, CA?  Anywhere near Santa Cruz?

Mike Young

Yes indeed, welcome, Tom!!  What have you been up to?  Or, more significantly - what are you up to now?  Is your wicked sense of humor still intact?  Wasn't Grass Valley one of the big Gold Rush sites back in the mid 1800's?  Or has it been named after a cash crop?  It's got to be awfully pretty there.

Thomas Hughes (Hughes)

I think the book jacket will have a Harley and who knows what is in that pipe.  I will try to come to the party as I like to Party. Plus I have a daughter, 3 grandkids and 9 great-grandkids in the UP which i haven't seen since July 2018
Never got into golf but social festivities I am pretty good at.  One spring I had 4 bears grazing in the meadow off my back porch.  Once the saw me they just turned and slowly walked back into the woods I would add a picture but can't figure how I did it before.