I've always loved a waltz: fiddled or whistled, sung or squeezed; the dreamy swaying rhythm of the waltz envelops and soothes. I now find myself besotted by the more-complex mazurka; I heard Frank Maher play one, and my Ukranian-Polish side responded - as she should! The mazurka originated in Poland in the sixteenth century. If you think of it as a slow waltz you will get some idea of the rhythm needed; it is played in 3/4 or 3/8 time with the accent usually on the second or third beat of the measure. I relate to the very nature of the dance: "The real dancer of the mazurka not only varies his steps, but more frequently invents them, creating new ones that belong only to himself…" Something to do on a snowy evening: search the web for information on mazurkas: one site lists 13 Irish mazurkas, in-depth histories are available, and a few sites even have musical notation and MP3 files.

I also love a good lyric. On festival weekend, my poetic aspect was nourished by the injection of the fresh sounds and cadences bestowed on us by guests from the mainland, while my hunger for familiar-and-cherished lyrics and rhythms was sated by the talented performers from our own province who participated in The Common Ground program. In this issue, we present experiences and perspectives, some previously published elsewhere. They will be preserved in the Folk Arts Council archives through their inclusion in The Broadside.

In the next issue, Sally Goddard is covering council-sponsored workshops with photos, instructor perspectives and comments from participants. Also, look for Part I of an article by Greg Walsh about The Arthur R. Scammell Collection at the Provincial Archives.

Thanks to all who have contributed to the newsletter in 2002. Support local artists and support the work of the St. John's Folk Arts Council through membership.

And, of course, write for The Broadside.