Richard;
Here are a couple from me that work well for mixed crowds;
Pearls of Wisdom Improper, 12/7/02
A1. Neighbor allemande R 1 1/2, gents allemande L 1 1/2
A2. Partner balance, swing
B1. Circle L 3/4, neighbor swing
B2. Balance, Petronella, balance, Petronella 1 1/2
The Cure for the Claps Improper, 8/17/03
A1. Balance, Petronella, partner swing
A2. Balance, Petronella, neighbor swing
B1. Down hall in line/4 - turn alone, up hall and bend line
B2. Circle L, Balance, California twirl
This is one of those rare contras with no fractions. Because of this
dance many think I am anti-clap. I actually like the claps, but only
when going from ring to ring. When going into a swing, star, or an
allemande like the one above the claps gum up the works. Petronellas
are best when they are more than a positioning device, but use the
momentum to flow into the next move.
Bob
_______________________________________________________________
From: "Richard Green" <richard.a.green(a)hotmail.com>
Reply-To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
To: <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Petronella spins
Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2007 16:36:22 -0400
>I would like to find a couple of fairly easy but interesting
contradances
>with petronella spins in them somewhere. I am going to call for an
unknown
>mixed dance this weekend and would like to use this figure
somewhere in the
>program. I have used "Maliza's Magical Mystery Motion" before but
it seems
>like it might be a little bit challenging if there are a lot of
beginners.
>
>
>
>Your suggestions would be appreciated. If you can include or point
me to
>the transcription, that would also greatly help.
>
>
>
>Thanks,
>
>Richard
>
>_______________________________________________
>Callers mailing list
>Callers(a)sharedweight.net
>http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
__________________________________________________________________
[1]Kick back and relax with hot games and cool activities at the
Messenger Café.
References
1. http://g.msn.com/8HMBENUS/2740??PS=47575
--- You wrote:
I would like to find a couple of fairly easy but interesting contradances with
petronella spins in them somewhere. ... I have used "Maliza's Magical Mystery
Motion" before but it seems like it might be a little bit challenging if there
are a lot of beginners.
--- end of quote ---
How about introducing those dancers to Petronella?
David Millstone
I think there might be a typo in the tune/dance name, which should be "Sadie _at_ the Back Door." It's a great tune - I'll have to try the dance.
Suzanne
-----Original Message-----
>From: Walter Daves <walterdaves(a)alltel.net>
>Sent: Sep 18, 2007 6:29 AM
>To: Callers(a)sharedweight.net
>Subject: [Callers] New dances
>
>I've composed three dances that I'd like to put out to the list for
>feedback. I'd appreciate any comments you might have.
>Walter
>
>Sadie and theBack door
>Duple, Improper
>Walter Daves
>
>A1: Neighbor gypsy and swing
>A2: Gents allemande left 1.5 to partner; partner swing
>B1: Gents start hey for 4, passing left shoulders in the center
>B2: Circle left 3 places; balance the ring; partner California twirl to
>face next
>
>This dance was inspired by Jere Canote's tune of the same name about his
>cat, Sadie, who would meow at the front door to get out, then
>immediately go around to the back door and meow to get back in. It
>works pretty well with that tune.
>
>Nail That Catfish to the Tree
>Duple, Improper
>Walter Daves and Bob Dalsemer
>
>A1: In ring of 4, balance the ring; circle left 2 places; balance the
>ring; circle left two places, back to starting point.
>A2: Couple # 1 balance and swing
>B1: Neighbor do-si-do and swing; end facing down the hall with #2
>couple in the middle
>B2: Down the hall 4 in line, turn single, return, #2s arch and #1s duck
>thru to next.
>
>To avoid the rush from B2 to the next A1, encourage the dancers to turn
>around after only 4 steps down the hall.
>I wrote this dance 3 years ago at the John C. Campbell Folk School Dance
>Caller's workshop. Bob Dalsemer made a couple of improvements.
>
>It was inspired by Steve Rosen's tune of the same name, and works well
>with that tune. We play it in a medley with Squirrel Heads and Gravy,
>which also works well.
>
>Little Nell
>Duple, impoper
>Walter Daves
>
>Line up in a wavy line of 4, with ladies in the center
>A1: Balance the line; allemande right .5 to wavy line with gents in
>center; balance the line;
> Gents allemande left to partner
>A2: Partner balance and swing
>B1: Ladies allemande right 1.5 to neighbor; neighbor swing
>B2: Circle left; balance the circle; ladies roll away to change places
>with partner; pass thru to next
>
>Inspired by Tony Mates' tune of the same name.
>
>*/ / *
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Callers mailing list
>Callers(a)sharedweight.net
>http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
Walter,
One or two notes about KItchen Stomp. If you have new dancers or the like, this dance can be unflowing in the B2. If a dancer turns over the correct shoulder enough times and then steps into the center for the star, then it can flow very nice. When done properly the star has a sling shot effect to the next neighbor. I have seen people turn in the most interesting ways and that would make the star rushed. The timing on B1 balance can be affected by the star in B2. Please keep in mind the level of dancers that are looking to you guide them in fun. It is all about the dancers and the band for me. Thanks
See ya from the floor,
Dan Black
----- Original Message ----
From: Joy Greenwolfe <joy2the(a)mindspring.com>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2007 5:58:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Callers] Calls for Kitchen Stomp and Salmonella Evening
> On Sep 17, 2007, at 5:56 PM, Walter Daves wrote:
> Can someone write out the calls for Kitchen Stomp and Salmonella
> Evening?
> Thanks
> Walter
Coincidentally, I have Kitchen Stomp right in front of me.
Kitchen Stomp by Becky Hill
Improper
A1 N Balance & swing (16)
A2 Gents allemande L 1+/2 (8)
P Swing (8)
B1 Ladies chain to N (8)
(form a ring)
Balance the Ring, Petronella twirl (8)
B2 Balance the Ring, Petronella twirl (8)
Star L (8)
look for your new N
Suggested music notes: strong jigs or reels. Bs need punctuated 4-
beat phrases
Joy Greenwolfe
Durham, NC
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____________________________________________________________________________________
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http://autos.yahoo.com/index.html
I would like to find a couple of fairly easy but interesting contradances
with petronella spins in them somewhere. I am going to call for an unknown
mixed dance this weekend and would like to use this figure somewhere in the
program. I have used "Maliza's Magical Mystery Motion" before but it seems
like it might be a little bit challenging if there are a lot of beginners.
Your suggestions would be appreciated. If you can include or point me to
the transcription, that would also greatly help.
Thanks,
Richard
Thanks for the suggestions Clark
I had not considered Lake Shore Farm , that's close to my home ....
Though the floor is a little rough :-)
I will get in touch with them and Mill-Around
Thanks again
Gale
Attn: Callers/ Southern NH
Does anyone know of a hall that can be rented for small dollars
Every other month (or so) . For a Sunday afternoon .
or weekday evening???
(my experience is: halls are hard to come by and expensive
in seacoast NH)
A smaller venue than a normal dance hall will do.
A central location would be great (Concord Area?)
What I am thinking about is doing a callers workshop/open stage
all callers would be welcome!
to try out new (to us) dances and dance moves.
Invite musicians so they can work on new tunes/ jam
Invite local dancers (guinea pigs) to try out dances
I have been to kitchen junckets and those work with a limited
number of dancers.
If all participants chip in a couple of bucks for hall rent it could be
An enjoyable way to work out the kinks in dances and gain some
feed back/experiance.
Something to hash around
Thanks Gale
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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To follow Amy Cann's long post recently about choosing dances where the music
fits the phrase...
On the trad-dance-callers list, there recently was a list about Shadrach's
Delight, that classic composition by Tony Parkes. Folks inquired about a good
tune to fit the dance, and someone pointed out that Duke Miller thought that
Aunt May's Canadian Jig was a great fit.
Here is an edited version Tony's comments, oh so relevant to the discussion
we've just been having on this list:
"Incidentally, "Aunt May's Canadian Jig" is a fine tune, but I would not
recommend it for Shad -- at least, not unless the band was willing to play the
low part first. I've always heard it with the high part first, unlike most
fiddle tunes. The problem is that the high part has long, relatively smooth
phrases and the low part has shorter, choppier phrases, while Shadrack has
shorter, choppier moves in the A parts and longer, more flowing moves in the B
parts. ... Another classic Northeastern tune is "The Kitchen Reel." It has a
choppy A and a long, smooth B, and I'd enjoy using it for Shad."
David Millstone
Lebanon, NH
Thank you for a great and timely discussion of how inter-related the calls, the tunes, and the dancers really are... As a new caller, a young-and-gaining-experience dance fiddler, and an I've-been-dancing-for-years dancer who wasn't why some dances were FUN and some were pretty fun and some were okay, I've been trying my darndest to figure out how to match tunes with dances, to create a WOW experience for the dancers... A new way to look at the music, and to play the phrases with a dance card in front of me!
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When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of Callers digest..."
Today's Topics:
1. Re: Callers Digest, Vol 37, Issue 6 (Martha Wild)
2. The balance thing. (Amy Cann)
3. Re: The balance thing. (Cynthia Phinney)
4. Re: The balance thing. (Chris Weiler)
5. Re: The balance thing. (David Millstone)
6. Re: The balance thing. (Dan Black)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2007 20:27:48 -0700
From: Martha Wild
Subject: Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 37, Issue 6
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Message-ID:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
I'd do a nice set of polkas - like the Ballydesmond Polkas. For the
more Old Timey minded, Rock the Cradle Joe or perhaps Grub Springs
could work.
Martha
On Sep 9, 2007, at 9:00 AM, callers-request(a)sharedweight.net wrote:
> Send Callers mailing list submissions to
> callers(a)sharedweight.net
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> callers-request(a)sharedweight.net
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> callers-owner(a)sharedweight.net
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of Callers digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Re: Can you name these dances? (Jerome Grisanti)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2007 09:46:50 -0500
> From: "Jerome Grisanti"
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Can you name these dances?
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Message-ID:
> <78dbc7c60709090746k177d339bpb0d025b15748e934(a)mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Richard,
>
> I have called the dance below (St. Louis dance) but I don't have
> the title
> and author. I danced it in Cincinnati with Kathy Anderson calling. I
> describe the pull-bys in B2 as "square thru two." (Partner balance,
> pull by,
> Neighbor pull by to face next)
>
> Because there are balances both at the top and the bottom of the
> A1, it
> helps to have an appropriate tune. I wish I could recommend one.
> Musicians?
>
> --Jerome
>
>
> On 9/6/07, callers-request(a)sharedweight.net <
> callers-request(a)sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>> Date: Wed, 5 Sep 2007 13:16:30 -0400
>> From: "Richard Green"
>> Subject: [Callers] Can you name these dances?
>> To:
>> Message-ID:
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>>
>>
>> St Louis Contradance
>>
>> Duple Improper
>>
>> Start wave across, Neighbor by RH, Ladies in center by LH
>>
>> A1 Balance Wave(4), Allemande R 1/2 way(4)
>>
>> Gents Almde L 3/4 to long wave(4), balance wave(4)
>>
>> A2 Gents Almde L 3/4(4), Swing Ptnr(12)
>>
>> ------
>>
>> B1 Ladies Allemande R 1.5(8)
>>
>> Swing Neighbor
>>
>> B2 R to Ptnr, balance(4), pull by Neighbor L(4)
>>
>> Do Si Do New Neighbor, form wave across
>>
>> --
>> Jerome Grisanti
>> 660-528-0858
>> 660-528-0714
>> http://www.jeromegrisanti.com
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 37, Issue 6
> **************************************
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 01:38:48 -0400
From: "Amy Cann"
Subject: [Callers] The balance thing.
To: "Caller's discussion list"
Message-ID:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Dead silence for weeks and then a four page rant?
OK, I'm going to stop lurking and finally jump in. Brace yourself.
>> Because there are balances both at the top and the bottom of the A1, it
>> helps to have an appropriate tune. I wish I could recommend one.
>> Musicians?
I have never quite understood why *other* musicians want to know where the
balances are.
Sure, it's good to "spike" the balances in my playing, but I can do that
ANYwhere in a tune - and if I can't, I ain't no fiddler.
And sure it's good to know where the balances ARE, but I can get that by
watching the dance - and if I'm not watching the dance, then I ain't no
fiddler.
Let me posit something: what we're really talking about here is LENGTH OF
PHRASE.
The one thing I want to know from a caller: how long are the phrases that
you care about?
The balances often mark the starts or ends of a phrase, but they're not
always the actual issue.
HUH?
OK:
As both a caller and fiddler/pianist, I find with many callers (I'll get
to the exceptions later) that the fastest way to match the tune to the
dance is to say - "hey, can I see that card a sec?"
First, I get to check out everyone else's heiroglyphics, and second, I can
see what's going on faster than anyone could ever explain it to me.
And here's what I'm looking for: where do things stop?
Well, not stop, more like.."gather."
It takes 16 beats to get through an A. This is NOT the same thing as 16
steps. When you step, your weight is passing from one foot to the other.
We take LOTS of steps in contradancing, but what we also get are lots of
GATHERING moments, when we suck our weight together under us.
Circle left = /step step step step /step step step step/ -- IF the next
move is slide-left-along-the-lines.
It also can = /step step step step /step step step GATHER / -- IF the
next thing is going to be balance-the-circle.
Think about it.
Sometimes we gather ourselves, alone; sometimes in pairs, sometimes as a
four person circle or line-of-four, wavy or not, and sometimes as a
whole-room line.
(We usually do this for one of two reasons: because we're about to go the
OTHER way, or because we ARE going to go on, in a moment, in the same
direction, but we're setting up some sort of delayed-gratification thing.)
And often, without that clear gathering moment, the next thing won't work
well.
Think lines-forward-and-back: in some dances the line MUST suck itself
together, snap into formation, BEFORE moving forward, or it won't have
that satisfying clarity.
NOW, tunes have places where they continue and places where they
stop/gather too:
Sometimes they go: deedle-deedle-noodle-noodle-deedle-noodle-doodle-needle
for the whole time.
Sometimes they go: deedle noodle CHUCK, deedle noodle CHUCK, chucka
noodle chucka noodle YA CHA CHA! (hear the stops?)
Another way to think of it: 16 beats could be 123stop 123stop 12345678 or
it could be 1stop12345678910111213 stop or it could be.... you get it.
NOW, the whole reason contradancing stays fresh (this my theory, and just
my theory, but *I* believe it) is because even though the same people come
every week, and the dances have a certain number of moves, and the band
plays a limited number of tunes, the COMBINATION is never the same.
Different partner, different neighbor. Different tune/dance pairing.
Different 4+4 +8 tune layered over 8+2+2+4 dance.
Imagine doing an allemande/balance/allemande/balance sequence to a tune
that stops and starts right along WITH you. It can feel very satisfying,
neatly packaged.
Doing that same sequence while the tune keeps driving onwards? Now there's
a delicious sense of urgency, gotta-catch-up.
The better the dancers/caller/band, the more you can stretch the limits of
that kind of interplay.
HOWEVER, there are places where the dance stops/gathers, and the tune
REALLY needs to do the same.
In a group with lots of beginners, at the beginning of the night, at the
beginning of a medley:
Long-lines-forward -and-back really should have a tune that goes
1-2-3-stop, 1-2-3-stop.
Any place where it's important that couples stop swinging and get on to
the next thing.
Any place where shapes need to quickly coelesce out of thin air, do
something, and then morph quickly into a new clear shape:
Pass thru to ocean wave, Bal line , outside alle R 1/2, Bal line.
Plus specialty moves like bucksaws and zigzags, where everybody needs to
"get THERE, now STAY there, now get THERE" all at the same time or they
get in each other's way.
And there are some tunes with such good built in stops (Joys of Quebec,
the B part) that it's a crying shame to waste them on something sinuous
and connected.
I personally see it graphically. Here's a mythical dance (don't worry who
does what with whom, ok?):
A1: Bal, pull by,
alle L 1ce, alle R next 1ce
A2 Long Lines fwd & back
Swing in center
B1 Down hall lines-of-4
Back, cast off
B2 Chain
R&L back
And here's inside my head:
A // , // , - - - -
- - - -, - - - /
- - - /, - - - /
- - - - - - / /
B - - - - - - / /
- - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - -,
- - - - - - - -
The A parts definitely need a tune that comes in groups of 4, or the lines
won't form and the swings will dribble into the down-the hall.
The B part could use a 16-er, if it weren't for the cast off:
since they have to come UP the hall AND cast off in one phrase, they
better do their turning around at the END of the previous 8 bars, and the
band better help them :
Down 2 3 4 TURN as a couple,
UP 2 3 4 cast off get ready to chain.
Time for a French Canadian, or maybe a march. Saut de Lapin would be
perfect.
***
Give me the card, I will pair up the tunes.
Tell me how long the phrases are -- "short and choppy in the A, long and
connected in the B," and I will pair up the tunes.
Give me a description that makes sense to YOU - "I need something that
goes UH uh uh, UH uh uh, digga digga digga digga UH uh uh" and I will grin
and match up the tunes.
Or show me with your hands, or use really good adjectives - sprightly,
brisk, sly -
- or make tune comparisons, " something a lot like La Bastringue, but not."
But tell me where all the balances are? "Beginning of A1, last 2 beats of
A2, third beat of B1 but only for the ones.." and I will smile politely
and say "can I see your card a sec?"
And, God forbid, if you call a dance like my mythical one in a community
hall full of Old-Home-Days beginners, and ask me to play the relentlessly
driving old-time tune you heard Wild Asparagus play at the
advanced-dancers night in the big city? I am gonna LIE to you, tell you I
never heard of that tune, and say, "can I see your card a sec?"
'course, with certain callers, I do EXACTLY what you tell me, 'cause you
already thought all of this out yourself, bless you, and you know who you
are.
I'll be really interested in feedback from all four people who actually
read this whole thing.
Cheers,
Amy Cann
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 07:45:19 -0400
From: "Cynthia Phinney"
Subject: Re: [Callers] The balance thing.
To: "'Caller's discussion list'"
Message-ID: <001901c7f3a0$1067bf20$326412c6@Fiddlewoods2>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Thanks for jumping in Amy. As both a caller and a musician myself (Oh - and
also a dancer, FIRST a dancer, did I mention that) I love your description
of this concept. The GATHER part is not quite the way I'd ever thought about
it before but I can feel it as I read your descriptions. I also like the
length of phrase concept - I've described that concept less accurately in
the past with words like "flowing" (I'm thinking those would be long
phrases) or I've simply described where there is some punctuation or asked
for something "bouncy" (those would be lots of changes, short phrases).
These are the kinds of things we talked about at the "caller musician
connection" workshop that Chrissy Fowler organised with CDSS here in Maine
last year and it was a great day and I hope for more opportunities like that
in the future and also recommend taking advantage of anything like that that
might happen wherever any of you are.
-cynthia
-----Original Message-----
From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net
[mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Amy Cann
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2007 1:39 AM
To: Caller's discussion list
Subject: [Callers] The balance thing.
Dead silence for weeks and then a four page rant?
OK, I'm going to stop lurking and finally jump in. Brace yourself.
>> Because there are balances both at the top and the bottom of the A1, it
>> helps to have an appropriate tune. I wish I could recommend one.
>> Musicians?
I have never quite understood why *other* musicians want to know where the
balances are.
Sure, it's good to "spike" the balances in my playing, but I can do that
ANYwhere in a tune - and if I can't, I ain't no fiddler.
And sure it's good to know where the balances ARE, but I can get that by
watching the dance - and if I'm not watching the dance, then I ain't no
fiddler.
Let me posit something: what we're really talking about here is LENGTH OF
PHRASE.
The one thing I want to know from a caller: how long are the phrases that
you care about?
The balances often mark the starts or ends of a phrase, but they're not
always the actual issue.
HUH?
OK:
As both a caller and fiddler/pianist, I find with many callers (I'll get
to the exceptions later) that the fastest way to match the tune to the
dance is to say - "hey, can I see that card a sec?"
First, I get to check out everyone else's heiroglyphics, and second, I can
see what's going on faster than anyone could ever explain it to me.
And here's what I'm looking for: where do things stop?
Well, not stop, more like.."gather."
It takes 16 beats to get through an A. This is NOT the same thing as 16
steps. When you step, your weight is passing from one foot to the other.
We take LOTS of steps in contradancing, but what we also get are lots of
GATHERING moments, when we suck our weight together under us.
Circle left = /step step step step /step step step step/ -- IF the next
move is slide-left-along-the-lines.
It also can = /step step step step /step step step GATHER / -- IF the
next thing is going to be balance-the-circle.
Think about it.
Sometimes we gather ourselves, alone; sometimes in pairs, sometimes as a
four person circle or line-of-four, wavy or not, and sometimes as a
whole-room line.
(We usually do this for one of two reasons: because we're about to go the
OTHER way, or because we ARE going to go on, in a moment, in the same
direction, but we're setting up some sort of delayed-gratification thing.)
And often, without that clear gathering moment, the next thing won't work
well.
Think lines-forward-and-back: in some dances the line MUST suck itself
together, snap into formation, BEFORE moving forward, or it won't have
that satisfying clarity.
NOW, tunes have places where they continue and places where they
stop/gather too:
Sometimes they go: deedle-deedle-noodle-noodle-deedle-noodle-doodle-needle
for the whole time.
Sometimes they go: deedle noodle CHUCK, deedle noodle CHUCK, chucka
noodle chucka noodle YA CHA CHA! (hear the stops?)
Another way to think of it: 16 beats could be 123stop 123stop 12345678 or
it could be 1stop12345678910111213 stop or it could be.... you get it.
NOW, the whole reason contradancing stays fresh (this my theory, and just
my theory, but *I* believe it) is because even though the same people come
every week, and the dances have a certain number of moves, and the band
plays a limited number of tunes, the COMBINATION is never the same.
Different partner, different neighbor. Different tune/dance pairing.
Different 4+4 +8 tune layered over 8+2+2+4 dance.
Imagine doing an allemande/balance/allemande/balance sequence to a tune
that stops and starts right along WITH you. It can feel very satisfying,
neatly packaged.
Doing that same sequence while the tune keeps driving onwards? Now there's
a delicious sense of urgency, gotta-catch-up.
The better the dancers/caller/band, the more you can stretch the limits of
that kind of interplay.
HOWEVER, there are places where the dance stops/gathers, and the tune
REALLY needs to do the same.
In a group with lots of beginners, at the beginning of the night, at the
beginning of a medley:
Long-lines-forward -and-back really should have a tune that goes
1-2-3-stop, 1-2-3-stop.
Any place where it's important that couples stop swinging and get on to
the next thing.
Any place where shapes need to quickly coelesce out of thin air, do
something, and then morph quickly into a new clear shape:
Pass thru to ocean wave, Bal line , outside alle R 1/2, Bal line.
Plus specialty moves like bucksaws and zigzags, where everybody needs to
"get THERE, now STAY there, now get THERE" all at the same time or they
get in each other's way.
And there are some tunes with such good built in stops (Joys of Quebec,
the B part) that it's a crying shame to waste them on something sinuous
and connected.
I personally see it graphically. Here's a mythical dance (don't worry who
does what with whom, ok?):
A1: Bal, pull by,
alle L 1ce, alle R next 1ce
A2 Long Lines fwd & back
Swing in center
B1 Down hall lines-of-4
Back, cast off
B2 Chain
R&L back
And here's inside my head:
A // , // , - - - -
- - - -, - - - /
- - - /, - - - /
- - - - - - / /
B - - - - - - / /
- - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - -,
- - - - - - - -
The A parts definitely need a tune that comes in groups of 4, or the lines
won't form and the swings will dribble into the down-the hall.
The B part could use a 16-er, if it weren't for the cast off:
since they have to come UP the hall AND cast off in one phrase, they
better do their turning around at the END of the previous 8 bars, and the
band better help them :
Down 2 3 4 TURN as a couple,
UP 2 3 4 cast off get ready to chain.
Time for a French Canadian, or maybe a march. Saut de Lapin would be
perfect.
***
Give me the card, I will pair up the tunes.
Tell me how long the phrases are -- "short and choppy in the A, long and
connected in the B," and I will pair up the tunes.
Give me a description that makes sense to YOU - "I need something that
goes UH uh uh, UH uh uh, digga digga digga digga UH uh uh" and I will grin
and match up the tunes.
Or show me with your hands, or use really good adjectives - sprightly,
brisk, sly -
- or make tune comparisons, " something a lot like La Bastringue, but not."
But tell me where all the balances are? "Beginning of A1, last 2 beats of
A2, third beat of B1 but only for the ones.." and I will smile politely
and say "can I see your card a sec?"
And, God forbid, if you call a dance like my mythical one in a community
hall full of Old-Home-Days beginners, and ask me to play the relentlessly
driving old-time tune you heard Wild Asparagus play at the
advanced-dancers night in the big city? I am gonna LIE to you, tell you I
never heard of that tune, and say, "can I see your card a sec?"
'course, with certain callers, I do EXACTLY what you tell me, 'cause you
already thought all of this out yourself, bless you, and you know who you
are.
I'll be really interested in feedback from all four people who actually
read this whole thing.
Cheers,
Amy Cann
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------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 08:42:50 -0400
From: Chris Weiler
Subject: Re: [Callers] The balance thing.
To: Caller's discussion list
Message-ID: <46E53BCA.7020900(a)weirdtable.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Amy Cann wrote:
> I'll be really interested in feedback from all four people who actually
> read this whole thing.
>
For those of you who didn't read all the way 'til the end, you may want
=== message truncated ===
---------------------------------
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