(audience applauds) (gentle string music) ♪ All you young men I pray draw near now ♪ ♪ Giving ear to the words I am going to say ♪ ♪ Going to tell you the people of Ireland ♪ ♪ Are emigrating to Americay ♪ ♪ Yes indeed, they're emigrating ♪ ♪ This poor country they can't stand ♪ ♪ Put their foot on board of a ship ♪ ♪ Sailing off to the Yankee land ♪ ♪ Night before they were due for leaving ♪ ♪ All the neighbors in their house do throng ♪ ♪ For to take their farewell glass ♪ ♪ And otherwise to sing a song ♪ ♪ They danced all night 'til early morning ♪ ♪ Each man cutting all around the floor ♪ ♪ Mother she comes in and says, weeping ♪ ♪ See our children to the door ♪ ♪ Hurrah for the gallant sons of Erin ♪ ♪ This poor country they can't stand ♪ ♪ Put their foot on board of a ship ♪ ♪ Sailing off to the Yankee land ♪ ♪ Father he looks all around the cabin ♪ ♪ He sees that he is all alone ♪ ♪ Surely his poor heart is breaking ♪ ♪ His salt tears would melt a stone ♪ ♪ The other day as I went a-walking ♪ ♪ Down the road I chanced to go ♪ ♪ Saw a crowd to me approaching ♪ ♪ It surely filled my heart with woe ♪ ♪ I saw the carriage and coaches moving ♪ ♪ Onward forwards to the train ♪ ♪ All their handkerchiefs were waving ♪ ♪ Bidding goodbye to Granuaile ♪ ♪ Hurrah for the gallant sons of Erin ♪ ♪ This poor country they can't stand ♪ ♪ Put their foot on board of a ship ♪ ♪ Sailing off to the Yankee land ♪ ♪ When we get to New York harbor ♪ ♪ Friends will meet us with good cheer ♪ ♪ How is old Ireland, how is she doing ♪ ♪ How is she coming on this year ♪ ♪ She's the most distressed and cursed nation ♪ ♪ In this world that e'er I've seen ♪ ♪ All they're good for is process-serving ♪ ♪ In that little isle of green ♪ ♪ Hurrah for the gallant sons of Erin ♪ ♪ This poor country they can't stand ♪ ♪ Put their foot on board of a ship ♪ ♪ Sailing off to the Yankee land ♪ ♪ Hurrah for the gallant sons of Erin ♪ ♪ This poor country they can't stand ♪ ♪ Put their foot on board of a ship ♪ ♪ Sailing off to the Yankee land ♪ (audience applauds) Thank you!

(bright string music) - [Sheila] Bob Childs was a student of mine in a class in Boston, a fiddle class, and I was talking about the fact that I was looking for an instrument, and there were some murmurings that there's a violin maker in the class.

- [Bob] I had to pay for my own college, so I worked as a carpenter while going to school.

And after I finished, I got a job as a furniture maker up in Maine.

I took my violin to get fixed one day and when I went back to the violin maker to pick it up, he asked me, "When are you coming back?"

And I said, "What do you mean when am I coming back?"

And he pointed to some violin wood and said, "Well, I'd like to teach someone to make violins.

"I'm in my 70s now, and I'd love to pass on what I know.

"I'd love it if you would come to work with me."

(bright string music) (audience cheers and applauds) - [Kevin] My style is a very old style of step dance, very close to the ground rhythms.

And my mother came from County Roscommon, started teaching me at the age of eight.

So, it was always common growing up in Providence, Rhode Island, we'd have kitchen rackets and parlor hooleys going on.

We'd have musicians in the house, and my mother would roll back the rug in the hall and say, "Please don't let that good music go to waste.

"Will someone get up and do a step to it?"

(bright string music) (audience cheers and applauds) (energetic string music) - [Ellen] It started with a group of friends that said, "Let's get our instruments together and form a group, "and by the way, let's call it Childsplay."

- [Bob] I got a phone call one day from a woman in Washington, DC inviting me to come down and play in a concert.

And she said, "By the way, "the name of the band is Childsplay, "because everyone in the band "is gonna be playing one of your instruments."

(energetic string music) - [Keith] The idea of Childsplay was to bring together musicians, all of whom happened to play fiddles made by Bob.

But that comprised a very diverse group of musicians.

Over the years, some of them were Scottish players, or came out of the Irish tradition, or were Scandinavian players, or came from the New England dance tradition.

That's not a group of musicians you would naturally think to put together, but Childsplay became this project of musical sharing.

So sometimes people would really get stretched well beyond their comfort zone.

But the music was always grounded around some player who was deeply steeped in that particular tradition.

(energetic string music) (audience cheers and applauds) You ready?

(audience laughs) (upbeat music) - [Graham] There was a question about whether or not it made sense to invest in a serious instrument.

I got it when I was quite young.

My experience of playing it at the time is very different from what I've come to expect and need from an instrument now.

It's been an inspiration and an opportunity for me to grow as a musician.

(upbeat music) (percussive music) (audience exclaiming) (bright fluting) (audience cheers and applauds) - Whoo!

(giggles) (thoughtful music) ♪ When the dark wood fell before me ♪ ♪ And all the paths were overgrown ♪ ♪ When the priests of pride say there's no other way ♪ ♪ I tilled the sorrows of stone ♪ ♪ I did not believe because I could not see ♪ ♪ When you came to me in the night ♪ ♪ When the dawn seemed forever lost ♪ ♪ You showed me your love in the light of the stars ♪ ♪ Cast your eyes on the ocean ♪ ♪ Cast your soul to the sea ♪ ♪ When the dark night seems endless ♪ ♪ Remember me ♪ ♪ Then the mountains rose before me ♪ ♪ By the deep well of desire ♪ ♪ From the fountains of forgiveness ♪ ♪ Beyond the ice and the fire ♪ ♪ Cast your eyes on the ocean ♪ ♪ Cast your soul to the sea ♪ ♪ When the dark night seems endless ♪ ♪ Remember me ♪ ♪ Though we share this humble path alone ♪ ♪ How fragile is the heart ♪ ♪ Give these clay feet wings to fly ♪ ♪ To touch the face of the stars ♪ ♪ Breathe life into this feeble heart ♪ ♪ Lift this mortal veil of fear ♪ ♪ Take these crumbled hopes, etched with tears ♪ ♪ We'll rise above these earthly cares ♪ ♪ Cast your eyes on the ocean ♪ ♪ Cast your soul to the sea ♪ ♪ When the dark night seems endless ♪ ♪ Remember me ♪ (audience applauds) (frenzied string music) (audience exclaims) - [Elsie] Having joined the group when I was 16 I had so many incredible role models in this group in particular, and to feel the support from everyone as I was finding my own voice and growing up has been just one of the most incredible gifts as a musician and a growing artist.

Whoo!

Whoa!

(audience exclaims) (audience exclaims and cheer) (audience cheers and applauds) (happy, thoughtful music) - [Keith] I got to do musical things in Childsplay that I have not had a chance to do in any other context.

I got to experiment with composing and arranging ideas in a way that was thrilling for me.

It challenged me and in turn made me develop a musical voice that I think became part of the sound of Childsplay.

But it was only a part because, Childsplay had a lot of people doing the same thing bringing their voice to the band through their music and arranging ideas.

(happy, thoughtful music) ♪ Oh, play those tunes 'til dawn ♪ ♪ Sing, dance and carry on ♪ ♪ Let the bows fly to the back of beyond ♪ ♪ Still of one thing I am certain ♪ ♪ If you dream and you can tell ♪ ♪ If they slip away, if they set a spell ♪ ♪ Try to hold them ♪ ♪ You may as well ♪ ♪ Try to race the River Jordan ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ Well, way down yonder on Candy Creek ♪ ♪ I whittled out a fiddle from a wagon seat ♪ ♪ I tune my fiddle and I rub my bow ♪ ♪ And I play a little tune wherever I go ♪ ♪ Sleepy-eyed John, better get your britches on ♪ ♪ Sleepy-eyed John, better tie your shoe ♪ ♪ Sleepy-eyed John, better get your britches on ♪ ♪ Try to get to heaven 'fore the devil gets to you ♪ ♪ Well, Sleepy-eyed John he stole a goose ♪ ♪ The goose she clucked but she couldn't get loose ♪ ♪ Said John to the goose, if you don't keep still ♪ ♪ We'll miss our supper down in Candy ville ♪ ♪ Sleepy-eyed John, better get your britches on ♪ ♪ Sleepy-eyed John, better tie your shoe ♪ ♪ Sleepy-eyed John, better get your britches on ♪ ♪ Try to get to heaven 'fore the devil gets to you ♪ (audience exclaims) (audience applauds) ♪ Well Sleepy-eyed John he had a wooden leg ♪ ♪ And the wooden leg was nothing but a little wooden peg ♪ ♪ With one shoe off and one shoe on ♪ ♪ He could do the double-shuffle 'til the cows come home ♪ ♪ Sleepy-eyed John, better get your britches on ♪ ♪ Sleepy-eyed John, better tie your shoe ♪ ♪ Sleepy-eyed John, better get your britches on ♪ ♪ Try to get to heaven 'fore the devil gets to you ♪ ♪ Well I got $20 for to build a fence ♪ ♪ And I took my money and I ain't worked since ♪ ♪ I sold my donkey, I sold my cow ♪ ♪ And I wouldn't take a dollar for the journey now ♪ ♪ Sleepy-eyed John, better get your britches on ♪ ♪ Sleepy-eyed John, better tie your shoe ♪ ♪ Sleepy-eyed John, better get your britches on ♪ ♪ Try to get to heaven 'fore the devil gets to you ♪ (banjo solo) ♪ Try to get to heaven 'fore the devil gets you ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) (gentle string music) ♪ Where are you tonight ♪ ♪ I wonder ♪ ♪ Where will you be tonight when I cry ♪ ♪ Will sleep for you come easy ♪ ♪ Whilst I alone can't slumber ♪ ♪ Will you welcome the morning ♪ ♪ At another man's side ♪ ♪ How easy for you ♪ ♪ The years have slipped under ♪ ♪ And left me with a shadow ♪ ♪ The sun can't dispel ♪ ♪ For I built for you a tower ♪ ♪ Full of love and admiration ♪ ♪ But I built it so high ♪ ♪ I could not reach it myself ♪ ♪ The view from my window ♪ ♪ Is a world full of sadness ♪ ♪ The face in my mirror ♪ ♪ Is the one face I know ♪ ♪ You have taken all that's in me ♪ ♪ So my heart is in no danger ♪ ♪ My heart is in no danger ♪ ♪ But I'd still like to know ♪ ♪ Where are you tonight ♪ ♪ I wonder ♪ ♪ Where will you be ♪ ♪ Tonight when I cry ♪ ♪ Will sleep for you come easy ♪ ♪ Whilst I alone can't slumber ♪ ♪ Will you welcome the morning ♪ ♪ At another man's side ♪ ♪ There is a silence ♪ ♪ And it can't be broken ♪ ♪ There is a pure heart ♪ ♪ It's there I will go ♪ ♪ Time will work its healing ♪ ♪ And my spirit will grow stronger ♪ ♪ But in the meantime ♪ ♪ I would still like to know ♪ ♪ Where are you tonight ♪ ♪ I wonder ♪ ♪ Where will you be ♪ ♪ Tonight when I cry ♪ ♪ Will sleep for you come easy ♪ ♪ Whilst I alone can't slumber ♪ ♪ Will you welcome the morning ♪ ♪ At another man's side ♪ (audience applauds) (thoughtful music) - [Bob] I had a dream where I was trying to cross into a neutral country, and I was met at the edge of the country, at the customs office by these guards.

They invited me to come into the customs house.

And they kept walking me back, and finally we got into a room.

It was totally black, pitch black, and there was a violin laying on the table.

I went to the table, picked the violin up, and I turned it over and inlaid into the back of the violin was an image of a small boy crying.

In the early years of my life, I was actually in a series of foster homes.

I never understood how those early years affected me or what a gift Childsplay was to me until that moment.

(bright music) (audience cheers and applauds) ♪ When first we met ♪ ♪ Complete awkward strangers ♪ ♪ We did not know ♪ ♪ If we could be friends ♪ ♪ How soon we came ♪ ♪ For to know each other ♪ ♪ And now I know ♪ ♪ We will meet again ♪ ♪ So here's to you ♪ ♪ And our time together ♪ ♪ I will share with you ♪ ♪ A parting glass ♪ ♪ And I'll bid adieu ♪ ♪ With some smiles and laughter ♪ ♪ Our time apart ♪ ♪ Will be short and past ♪ ♪ We talked of dreams ♪ ♪ And of new tomorrows ♪ ♪ Of yesterday ♪ ♪ With its dark despair ♪ ♪ We've shared our joy ♪ ♪ And our love and sorrow ♪ ♪ And now we part ♪ ♪ As friends who care ♪ ♪ So here's to you ♪ ♪ And our time together ♪ ♪ I will share with you ♪ ♪ A parting glass ♪ ♪ And I'll bid adieu ♪ ♪ With some smiles and laughter ♪ ♪ Our time apart ♪ ♪ Will be short and past ♪ - [Ellen] Bob will approach violin making with the attitude of, what is it?

What is your voice?

How can I help you realize the voice that you want to hear in your instrument, which then gets expressed through his instruments and the music.

It creates this beautiful bond between player, violin, and maker, and that's what's sent out.

♪ A long, long road ♪ ♪ Well it lies before me ♪ ♪ And fate will meet ♪ ♪ Me where'er it will ♪ ♪ All through the valleys ♪ ♪ And over mountains ♪ ♪ I will not forget ♪ ♪ But remember you still ♪ ♪ So here's to you ♪ ♪ And our time together ♪ ♪ I will share with you ♪ ♪ A parting glass ♪ ♪ And I'll bid adieu ♪ ♪ With some smiles and laughter ♪ ♪ Our time apart ♪ ♪ Will be short and past ♪ ♪ So here's to you ♪ ♪ And our time together ♪ ♪ I will share with you ♪ ♪ A parting glass ♪ ♪ And I'll bid adieu ♪ ♪ With some smiles and laughter ♪ ♪ Our time apart ♪ ♪ Will be short and past ♪ (lively music) (audience cheers) (audience cheers and applauds) ♪ I will sing for you a lullaby ♪ ♪ A lullaby ♪ ♪ A lullaby ♪ ♪ I will sing it so sweetly ♪ ♪ Go gently lovely Annie ♪ ♪ My lovely Annie ♪ ♪ For you're gone girl ♪ ♪ Gone girl ♪ ♪ Gone girl ♪ ♪ Gone ♪ ♪ From my world my lovely Annie ♪ ♪ My lovely Annie ♪ ♪ For you're gone girl ♪ ♪ Gone girl ♪ ♪ Gone girl ♪ ♪ Gone ♪ ♪ From my world my lovely Annie ♪ ♪ My lovely Annie ♪ ♪ And all is quiet ♪ ♪ There's stillness everywhere ♪ ♪ Everywhere ♪ ♪ And the world keeps on turning ♪ ♪ But you're not standing there ♪ ♪ Standing there ♪ ♪ For you're gone girl ♪ ♪ Gone girl ♪ ♪ Gone girl ♪ ♪ Gone ♪ ♪ From my world my lovely Annie ♪ ♪ My lovely Annie ♪ ♪ For you're gone girl ♪ ♪ Gone girl ♪ ♪ Gone girl ♪ ♪ Gone ♪ ♪ From my world my lovely Annie ♪ ♪ My lovely Annie ♪ (music fades out)