Jubal's Kin

DeLand-Deltona Beacon, The (FL)

                     March 22, 2007 
Section: News 
     Ad Libbing by Jeff Shepherd 

Jubal's Kin plays traditional music

To play at Outdoor Art Festival

Fiddle player Gailanne, 12, and Roger Amundsen, 18, a mandolin player, make up Jubal's Kin, one of the acts scheduled to perform at this year's DeLand Outdoor Art Festival. The Longwood-based duo is scheduled to play 11:15 a.m.-noon Sunday, March 25, at the festival in DeLand's Earl Brown Park. The name Jubal comes from the Bible; he was an Old Testament stringed-instrument maker and player. Gailanne is a home-schooled seventh-grader; Roger is a freshman at Rollins College, where he is studying music. Rollins doesn't currently have a mandolin teacher, but, in response to Roger's desire, the college is currently considering adding one to the staff.

In an age when "classic" might refer to music from the 1980s, who will preserve the genuinely roots, or traditional, styles?

One pair of young people from Longwood are doing their part by giving life to a new generation of traditional string music. Eighteen-year-old Roger Amundsen and his 12-year-old sister, Gailanne Amundsen, are playing stages at folk festivals, performing and learning new old-time tunes to add to their playlists.

The Amundsens' music is influenced by folk, bluegrass, Irish and Celtic styles. They even play Civil War tunes. However, this doesn't equate to a crusty archaic presentation of outdated material.

"Our arrangements are always new," Roger said.

He and Gailanne find inspiration in contemporary recording artists such as Mark O'Connor and Bela Fleck.

The young duo call themselves Jubal's Kin. Roger explains that in the Book of Genesis, Jubal was the first maker and player of stringed instruments.

Although few tunes in their repertoire would be recognized by mass audiences, their selections appeal to a loyal audience of folk and bluegrass pioneers known to many. Raise your hand if you know the Red Haired Boy. OK, one, maybe two of you. But I'll bet most of you know Bill Monroe.

"Gailanne has played 'Lonesome Midnight Waltz' by Bill Monroe," Roger said.

You will also find perhaps the most popular hymn of all time on the Amundsens' playlist: "Amazing Grace."

Jubal's Kin has yet to show another side of itself to audiences. This facet of Roger and Gailanne's music may pleasantly surprise an audience at some future folk festival.

"You never know when the day might come that we would put a little Bach piece in a set," Roger said.

With much encouragement and support from their parents, Roger and Scarlett Amundsen, the children, Gailanne and Roger, both took piano lessons from the earliest years of their instrumental pursuits. This was a formal study that included classical literature and technique.

"I've played 'Songs Without Words' by Felix Mendelssohn," Roger said, of his piano study.

Most listeners might not detect an ounce of classical training in the songs of Jubal's Kin, but this background is integral from the players' perspective.

There is yet another distinct element influencing the Amundsens' practice, the jazz tradition of improvisation. The pair are prepared to join other performers in impromptu collaborations.

"Gailanne and I will be asked to come up on stage. A lot of times, we might have to work or improvise on the tune," Roger said.

"We pick up new things from festivals; we hear things played from an Irish band, or from recordings too," Roger said. "We've played at the Barberville Fall Festival and Spring Frolic for the past two years. That's when we started playing after I picked up the mandolin."

Roger and Gailanne have also performed at the Lake County Folk Festival, in Eustis, and the Will McLean Festival, in Dade City. Will McLean was known widely as "Florida's troubadour."

"The jams at these various festivals are oftentimes more fun," Roger said.

Jubal's Kin has potential to grow to a trio or even a quartet. Roger and Gailanne have two younger siblings. Eight-year-old Jeffrey Amundsen has already picked up the banjo.

"He had a special (a three-quarter-sized) banjo made by a really good friend of ours," Gailanne said.

That friend is Altamonte Springs luthier Keith Snyder.

Two-year old Mattie Amundsen has not found her instrument yet, but she seems destined to play something.

"We're looking for a bass player. Right now, she could sit inside a bass and have extra room," Gailanne said.

Asked what her musical fantasy might be, Gailanne replied, "It would be really neat to grow up and play with someone great." Someone like Natalie MacMaster, Edgar Meyer or Mark O'Connor.

But this young fiddler believes she is already having a fantastic career.

"I'm happy where I am. I don't think I could get it any better," Gailanne said.

Jubal's Kin will perform 11:15 a.m.-noon Sunday, March 25, at the DeLand Outdoor Art Festival in Earl Brown Park. They will perform several times during the Spring Frolic at the Pioneer Settlement for the Creative Arts in Barberville: 12:30-12:55 p.m. on the Family Stage and 3:30-3:55 p.m. at the church, Saturday, April 14; and 11-11:25 a.m. at the barn and 4-4:25 p.m. on the Family Stage, Sunday, April 15.

- Shepherd is a professional musician and music teacher. Send e-mail for him to shepz@mpinet.net.

DeLand Outdoor Art Festival Entertainment Schedule 2007

Saturday, March 24

Jubal's Kin

12:15 pm - 1:00 pm


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