Merle, I was not originally a fan of old-time string bands, but I've since changed my mind.
What changed? About five years ago I moved to a mid-western area where old-time was the predominant sound. While some of the individual bands sound like the stereotype of things not to like about the style -- whiney tone, too much of the same key, no differentiation between A and B parts, or even between tunes in a medley -- other bands firmly put those stereotypes to rest. Very creative arrangements, a strong sense of fun, strong sense of phrasing. I've met some wonderful musicians who play old time. In addition, I learned that calling with old-time bands called for different skills from me. I also began to appreciate that a tune that might sound too much the same for a contra could really cook up a great square dance. So, I believe it's the combination of music, caller and dancers that make the fun, and given the right circumstances (and a good fit between caller and band), your dance might do well with some old-time music in the mix. My two cents, Jerome Grisanti On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 8:30 AM, Merle Mceldowney < [email protected]> wrote: > Dear chris, > > I have never made it to the Ralph Page dance weekend. There is an issue > that I have been stuck with that their web site provoked. > > We will be discussing this at our semi annual meeting: > > Old time string bands > > To get more people (and young people)at our dances we need to have good > music that drives dances. Old time string bands do not do that. > > So do we continue to hire them, the occasional dissatisfaction of our > dancers (who look foreword to the weekly dance) to preserve that part of > our > history. > > Merle > > On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 7:53 AM, Chris Weiler (SW) > <[email protected]>wrote: > > > Hello all, > > > > Once again, it's time for the annual Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend. > Once > > again, everyone from the SharedWeight lists is invited to join us for > lunch > > on Saturday and Sunday. We push a bunch of tables together and talk about > > whatever we want. Calling, communities, music. There are always people > who > > bring food to share, so feel free to join the potluck. > > > > The RPDL weekend is a special and unique weekend. There you can meet the > > key movers and shakers of the contra dance revival. Network with and > learn > > from people who have made the dance community their passion for decades. > > Plus have a lot of fun with some really excellent dancers. > > > > More info: > > http://www.nhcountrydance.com/music/rpdlw.html > > > > Chris Weiler > > SharedWeight.net > > _______________________________________________ > > Organizers mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/organizers > > > > > > -- > "Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can > change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." > _______________________________________________ > Organizers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/organizers > -- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com For the good are always the merry, Save by an evil chance, And the merry love the fiddle And the merry love to dance. ~ William Butler Yeats
