Ken Backer

Location:

Location: Cowichan Bay Vancouver Island BC
Country: CA

My Latest Followers:

Dan Charles Thomas charlene carrie roberts Monica Anne Bowman Oliver Ogden Lexie R Oakley Cynthia Wigington Richard Wojtulewicz Stephen Addison Don Kemper Maxspop John W. McKinstry Greg Patterson Christine Shoemaker Will Tumbleweed Mr. Phil Mcdaniel Lynn austin Karel Votanek Stewart McCormick Steve Battarbee James Phillips Robert Worth Gail Webber Cindy Stammich Gordon Hardy Helen Seiler Kevin Messenger Karen Keane Patty from Virginia robert schuler Ben Barr Jr Jan Potts Rob N Lackey John Keane Deborah Hinz Marion Seaman Dusty Turtle Janene Millen Jim Yates Ken Longfield Guy Babusek John Henry Jim Fawcett Strumelia

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Ken Backer

Our Trip Through Appalachia


GreetingsIn July and August my wife, Lin, and I will be taking a trip...
@Ken Backer 8 years ago - Comments: 12
Ken Backer

Tips on Singing


GreetingsAfter my last blog posting I figured joining this group would...
@Ken Backer 10 years ago - Comments: 4
Ken Backer

The Old Days


GreetingsAnyone else remember the old "Folk Lore Centre" music store in...
@Ken Backer 10 years ago - Comments: 11
Ken Backer

Just Sayin' Hello


Greetings I was bouncing around the FMD site and came across the North...
@Ken Backer 10 years ago - Comments: 14

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Springridge Farms.jpg
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Civil War 2015.jpg
Jam at Capo's Music Store.jpg
Old Dulcimers.jpg
Dulcimers and Banjos.jpg
May Dulcimers.jpg
May Shop.jpg
Georgetow2.jpg
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Clicking straight to the newest post on...

Posted: Wednesday August 2 2017, 11:56 PM
By: @Dusty Turtle

Add a video will not accept Youtube Link?

Posted: Thursday August 20 2015, 12:58 PM
By: @Strumelia

Comments

Karel Votanek
11/04/15 02:59:02AM @karel-votanek:

Hi Ken.
thank you very much for your nice comment.
I've seen your video on YouTube, you play beautifully.
Karel


Gordon Hardy
09/23/15 10:06:49PM @gordon-hardy:

Hello Ken, about The Leaving of Liverpool (thanks for listening, by the way) here's what wikipedia says:

" (The) Leaving of Liverpool ", ( Roud 9435), also known as " Fare Thee Well, My Own True Love ", is a folksong . Folklorists classify it as a lyric lament, and it was also used as a sea shanty , especially at the capstan. It is very well known in Britain, Ireland, and America, despite the fact that it was collected only twice, from the Americans Richard Maitland and Captain Patrick Tayluer. It was collected from both singers by William Main Doerflinger, an American folksong collector particularly associated with sea songs, in New York. [1]

The song's narrator laments his long sailing trip to California and the thought of leaving his loved ones (especially his "own true love"). He pledges to return to her one day.

The Leaving of Liverpool has been recorded by many popular folk singers and groups since the 1950s. The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem had a top 10 hit with the song in Ireland in 1964. [2] [3] The song has also been adapted by several artists, most notably Bob Dylan .

I like the version done by the Clancy brothers. On another note, my mother in law's family name is Backer. Her grandparents were ethnic Germans living in Poland and they emigrated to Chicago where her father was born. He (Jacob Backer) in turn homesteaded in Southern Saskatchewan near Swift Current, was "dusted out" in the 1930's and resettled here in the Peace River country of Northern Alberta. Folks did a lot of traveling even in those days. Regards, Gordon.

 


Gordon Hardy
09/08/15 06:28:14PM @gordon-hardy:

Hello Ken, re Old Joe Clark, thanks for listening. Not one of my best, tough one to sing to, but I have a heck of a time just playing without singing. Just me I guess. Singing's my first love and the dulcimer is the beautifully simple accompaniment.

 


Helen Seiler
08/30/15 11:31:04PM @helen-seiler:

Hi Ken, your trip sounds wonderful, i am so glad you had a great time and got to play lots. Meeting fotmd folk must have been great too. Re banjo.. i had planned on claw hammer but a tendon in my hand played up, even tho i was taking it very slow. To my surprise i seem to be able to put basic picking patterns into muscle memory and have no hand problems. So i do a gentle folky pick. I've got an open back and i dont use finger picks so its not too loud. A case of making do with what the body can manage. At very early stages with it but love it. Hang in there over winter my friend. Helen x

 


Helen Seiler
08/29/15 05:43:46PM @helen-seiler:

P.s.   How was your Appalachia trip..?


Helen Seiler
08/29/15 05:42:19PM @helen-seiler:

Hello there Ken my friend. I'm back. Got a bit lost in the non musical world for a while (eek!). How have you been?  I hope you have had a good summer and have had plenty of gigs. I am so pleased to be back on here and (after a cpl of mistakes) have finally figured out how to post a video on here...Youtube and i werent getting along so i changed to Vimeo. As you head into Fall we head into Spring. I have still been playing here and there at home  but lost my bravado there for a while re busking. Winter knocks me around too. I have managed to get to a few local Folk Group sessions and have nearly got my first banjo picking song good enuf to post. I do love my banjo but dulcimer will always be my first instrument. Lost my way with singing but hope to get going on that front again soon. Helen x

 

 


Dusty Turtle
08/27/15 05:24:16PM @dusty:

I like your new avatar photo, Ken. Cool hats rule!


Tumbleweed
07/02/15 02:11:14AM @tumbleweed:

Hi Ken:

I just got here and boy is it different. 


Jim Fawcett
06/15/15 05:55:13PM @jim-fawcett:

Good to see that made it here, Ken. Hope yoiu like our new home.


Karel Votanek
05/18/15 02:48:24PM @karel-votanek:

Hello Ken,

thank You very much for Your nice comment.

Karel Smile.gif


Anne Bowman
04/09/15 06:15:13AM @anne-bowman:

Hey Ken,

This is one of our many types of possum, although this is an endangered one. White Australia has been particularly at wiping out our wildlife and has the highest extinction rate in any developed country. This is a baby Leadbeater's Possum, and an illustration that I did for a book on endangered species that I also wrote. I'll admit it's more aesthetically pleasing than its American cousins.... 86_members.jpg?width=530


Anne Bowman
04/07/15 07:04:09PM @anne-bowman:

Well, if you google Australian ringtail possums and brushtail possums, you'll see the sort I mean ... maybe ours are more polite. Their pouches are certainly more advanced ...


Jim Fawcett
04/01/15 10:47:57AM @jim-fawcett:

Always glad to help out, Ken...Hope I wasn't too pushy...lol


Jim Fawcett
04/01/15 09:33:59AM @jim-fawcett:

I can help ya out, Ken. Hope you can read this alright. 85_members.jpg?width=530


John W. McKinstry
03/18/15 06:51:27AM @john-w-mckinstry:

Hi Ken, Thanks for your comments. Your singing with the dulcimer is enjoyable and it

always gets me to want to do the same. My wife and I both enjoyed "Beneath the Willows"

Smile.gif John McKinstry


Karel Votanek
02/02/15 03:49:19PM @karel-votanek:

Hello Ken,

thank you very much for your nice comment.

Karel Smile.gif


Helen Seiler
11/18/14 04:03:39PM @helen-seiler:
Yes, lucky indeed we dont have moose. Your elephant comment gave me a much needed laugh so thank u for that Ken. To commemorate the life of my recently departed dog Jess (and to cheer me up a bit) I have ordered a new didg. This one has genuine indigenous art work by a didg maker in the Northern Territory. The company I buy from is a Fair Trade one so they buy direct from the indigenous artist. Jess was Ochre red in colour and this didg features a lot of ochre red in the artwork. It is a little shorter than my beginner didg but I got to listen to sound files and due to her bell like bottom she puts out a lot of sound and has good back pressure. I will make sure, if needed, I adjust her mouthpiece to the size you suggested. Side playing is not working that well for me as I have a front dental plate that sits in the wrong place. My whole jaw is crooked from an accident years ago. Of course the new didg will be called Jess. So still lots of practice to do. Yep, I have found some very helpful stuff on internet. All the best. Helen.
Helen Seiler
11/18/14 02:48:35AM @helen-seiler:
G'day Kenjust an update on didg circ breathing....I have it happenning semi regularly now but the gap joins sound a bit like a wounded moose. It still goes on me sometimes but if I relax and focus I seem to get it back. Only problem is I am getting too much air in a sniff but I guess as I add back my variations to the drone I will use more air. I joined website Didgeridoodojo and they have some good beginner rhythms and say to go at the breathing speed that suits me. I am very excited to be making some real progress now, its taken a lot of practise and still plenty more to improve the wounded moose joins.
Cindy Stammich
10/27/14 10:28:05PM @cindy-stammich:
Ken - that's great that you do get to Virginia and a trip thru KY and WV would be awesome! I hope you are able to take time to explore and find some music in those hills!!!! Sounds like an awesome trip!
Cindy Stammich
10/26/14 10:18:13PM @cindy-stammich:

Ken, well, it would be nice if you could get something going in your part of the world...

You just never know.....

And your trip next summer sounds WONDERFUL!!!

That would certainly be a great experience!!! I hope it all works out for youSmile.gif

I will be looking for updates in the future!