Hi all, I call regularly with the same band and I have noticed that there are a couple of sets that they play in which I consistently mess up. In the middle of an evening of everything going well, I suddenly find that I am lost and have a hard time finding my way back, even with extreme focus. This, needless to say, is not good!
I've been trying to identify these tunes so that I can be prepared to pay really close attention before they start. I have also begun to wonder, though, whether some jigs/reels are just not as good for dancing as others. I have been discussing this with the band, raising the idea that maybe they could save these tunes that challenge me for some of their non-dance gigs (fairs, bandstand, background music, etc). Some of them are receptive, others not. I wonder whether any of you have noticed tunes that are particularly difficult to call to, and how you have handled it. The one I have noticed most recently is Sheepskin and Beeswax. Here's what one of the band members wrote to me about it: "Rhythmically, it's a challenging tune for the band. There's a lot of syncopation going on between instruments and because it's French Canadian to play it properly means lots of upbeat emphasis. It's a challenging tune to play well. Even if we played it very well and fast enough (and that's been a problem for dancers and caller) I think it would still be challenging to call to and dance to because of how the rhythm and notes don't go well together." Thanks, Delia Clark <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<> Delia Clark PO Box 45 Taftsville, VT 05073 802-457-2075 deliacla...@gmail.com
