Contra Callers

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4416 discussions

by richgoss＠comcast.net

Here are a few: Balance to my Lou - Becky Hill Ellen's Yarns - Rick Mohr Maliza's Magical Mystery Motion - Cary Ravitz Salmonella Evening - Steve Zakon-Anderson Tica Tica Timing - Dean Snipes (one of my favorites to call and dance) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Weiler (home)" <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org> To: "Shared Weight" <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 12:24:45 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [Callers] B1 Petronellas Hey SW crew, I'm playing a gig this weekend with Notorious and one of my favorite Larry tunes is "The Judge". I know that they like to save that tune for a dance with Petronella balance and spin to the right at the top of the B1. I'm hoping that you will share with me your favorite dances that have Petronella moves in the B1. Thanks! Chris Weiler Goffstown, NH _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

16 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 55, Issue 11

by Linda Leslie

In large halls, another approach is to divide the hall in half (longways). The dancers will need to remember to keep the lines separate, but it does make for much shorter lines, and the chance to be the active couple sooner. To keep things separate, I have used "safety cones", which actually work pretty well! The dance does need to be called longer than usual. This is mostly because the active couples that come to the top may need the additional reminders about what they need to do; as a new #1 couple starts at the top, it is very helpful to call the dance at least once. Unlike duple minor dances, we may not be able to drop out entirely with some dance communities. Worth the efforts! warmly, Linda > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: contra chestnuts & Money Musk (Will Loving) > 2. Re: contra chestnuts & Money Musk (David Millstone) > 3. Re: contra chestnuts & Money Musk (Delia Clark) > 4. Re: contra chestnuts & Money Musk (Delia Clark) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:24:28 -0400 > From: Will Loving <will(a)dedicationtechnologies.com> > Subject: Re: [Callers] contra chestnuts & Money Musk > To: "Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>" > <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Message-ID: <C5E7CDDC.31554%will(a)dedicationtechnologies.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" > > I don't know the head count at Greenfield last Saturday, but it was > a very > full night. Those who got a chance to be 1s enjoyed the dance, but > I heard > unhappiness from several people who started as 2s or 3s near the > end of the > set who never made it to the top. I think Money Musk will be more > popular > with dancers and responded to more enthusiastically if it's done as > triplets, 6X through rather than longways sets - unless the sets > are shorter > than they usually are at Greenfield. > > Will > > >> Delia Clark wrote: >>> I haven't seen it posted so just want to be sure that you know, for >>> the tally, that Nils Fredland called Money Musk just after the break >>> at the Greenfield dance Saturday night too, with Tidal Wave >>> providing >>> the music. Not sure how many people, but there were 4 lines, for >>> those of you who know the hall (most of you, I'm guessing). > > > -- > > Will Loving > 7 Coach Lane > Amherst, MA 01002-3304 USA > will(a)dedicationtechnologies.com > Tel: +1 413 253-7223 (GMT ?5) > Fax: +1 206 202-0476 > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: 19 Mar 2009 10:33:42 -0400 > From: David.Millstone(a)valley.net (David Millstone) > Subject: Re: [Callers] contra chestnuts & Money Musk > To: callers(a)sharedweight.net > Message-ID: <116133988(a)retriever.VALLEY.NET> > Content-Type: text/plain > > --- You wrote: > I think Money Musk will be more popular with dancers and responded > to more > enthusiastically if it's done as triplets, 6X through rather than > longways sets > - unless the sets are shorter > than they usually are at Greenfield. > --- end of quote --- > > Good points, Will. In Norwich, we had folks form sets of 7 or 8 > couples, so > everyone was able to be an active couple for at least a few rounds > of the dance. > (Greenfield dancers, as you know, are generally less willing to > heed such > requests from the caller.) > > I've also called it (and other triple minors) in four-couple > longways sets, in > the manner of many Scottish country dances. Do it twice and then > the 1s drop to > the bottom of the set. Eight times through and everyone has has two > chances to > play each role, plus the couple at the top waits out only once > rather than > twice. > > David Millstone > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:34:59 -0400 > From: Delia Clark <delia_clark(a)comcast.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] contra chestnuts & Money Musk > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Message-ID: <582F5977-76AB-432C-B28A-324743A30DC5(a)comcast.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=WINDOWS-1252; delsp=yes; > format=flowed > > It was an interesting situation and I have been reflecting on it off > and on since. The line I was in fell apart after a bit, on the end > away from where I was so I couldn't figure out how to help fix it, > and several couple just started swinging, once the line had mostly > stopped dancing. Someone started shouting "Call the dance!!" which I > assumed meant to call if off, call it quits, which is what Nils did, > but I have since been wondering, especially after reading Chrissy's > post about calling Money Musk in her sleep, whether they just wanted > him to keep on calling longer, since they were unfamiliar with the > dance. Much to ponder.... > > > > On Mar 19, 2009, at 10:24 AM, Will Loving wrote: > >> I don't know the head count at Greenfield last Saturday, but it was >> a very >> full night. Those who got a chance to be 1s enjoyed the dance, but >> I heard >> unhappiness from several people who started as 2s or 3s near the >> end of the >> set who never made it to the top. I think Money Musk will be more >> popular >> with dancers and responded to more enthusiastically if it's done as >> triplets, 6X through rather than longways sets - unless the sets >> are shorter >> than they usually are at Greenfield. >> >> Will >> >> >>> Delia Clark wrote: >>>> I haven't seen it posted so just want to be sure that you know, for >>>> the tally, that Nils Fredland called Money Musk just after the >>>> break >>>> at the Greenfield dance Saturday night too, with Tidal Wave >>>> providing >>>> the music. Not sure how many people, but there were 4 lines, for >>>> those of you who know the hall (most of you, I'm guessing). >> >> >> -- >> >> Will Loving >> 7 Coach Lane >> Amherst, MA 01002-3304 USA >> will(a)dedicationtechnologies.com >> Tel: +1 413 253-7223 (GMT ?5) >> Fax: +1 206 202-0476 >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers(a)sharedweight.net >> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<> > > Delia Clark > PO Box 45 > Taftsville, VT 05073 > 802-457-2075 > delia_clark(a)comcast.net > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:35:53 -0400 > From: Delia Clark <deliaclark8(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [Callers] contra chestnuts & Money Musk > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Message-ID: <8649B5E7-2FDB-4090-B741-C3707EC196BC(a)gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=WINDOWS-1252; delsp=yes; > format=flowed > > It was an interesting situation and I have been reflecting on it off > and on since. The line I was in fell apart after a bit, on the end > away from where I was so I couldn't figure out how to help fix it, > and several couple just started swinging, once the line had mostly > stopped dancing. Someone started shouting "Call the dance!!" which I > assumed meant to call if off, call it quits, which is what Nils did, > but I have since been wondering, especially after reading Chrissy's > post about calling Money Musk in her sleep, whether they just wanted > him to keep on calling longer, since they were unfamiliar with the > dance. Much to ponder.... > > On Mar 19, 2009, at 10:24 AM, Will Loving wrote: > >> I don't know the head count at Greenfield last Saturday, but it was >> a very >> full night. Those who got a chance to be 1s enjoyed the dance, but >> I heard >> unhappiness from several people who started as 2s or 3s near the >> end of the >> set who never made it to the top. I think Money Musk will be more >> popular >> with dancers and responded to more enthusiastically if it's done as >> triplets, 6X through rather than longways sets - unless the sets >> are shorter >> than they usually are at Greenfield. >> >> Will >> >> >>> Delia Clark wrote: >>>> I haven't seen it posted so just want to be sure that you know, for >>>> the tally, that Nils Fredland called Money Musk just after the >>>> break >>>> at the Greenfield dance Saturday night too, with Tidal Wave >>>> providing >>>> the music. Not sure how many people, but there were 4 lines, for >>>> those of you who know the hall (most of you, I'm guessing). >> >> >> -- >> >> Will Loving >> 7 Coach Lane >> Amherst, MA 01002-3304 USA >> will(a)dedicationtechnologies.com >> Tel: +1 413 253-7223 (GMT ?5) >> Fax: +1 206 202-0476 >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers(a)sharedweight.net >> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<> > > Delia Clark > PO Box 45 > Taftsville, VT 05073 > 802-457-2075 > deliaclark8(a)gmail.com > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > End of Callers Digest, Vol 55, Issue 11 > ***************************************

16 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] contra chestnuts & Money Musk

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

--- You wrote: I think Money Musk will be more popular with dancers and responded to more enthusiastically if it's done as triplets, 6X through rather than longways sets - unless the sets are shorter than they usually are at Greenfield. --- end of quote --- Good points, Will. In Norwich, we had folks form sets of 7 or 8 couples, so everyone was able to be an active couple for at least a few rounds of the dance. (Greenfield dancers, as you know, are generally less willing to heed such requests from the caller.) I've also called it (and other triple minors) in four-couple longways sets, in the manner of many Scottish country dances. Do it twice and then the 1s drop to the bottom of the set. Eight times through and everyone has has two chances to play each role, plus the couple at the top waits out only once rather than twice. David Millstone

16 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] contra chestnuts & Money Musk

by Jerome Grisanti

Jill Allen called Money Musk on March 14 in Kansas City Kansas. She wrote to me: "We did Money Musk last night. I taught a little session on it at the break and when we danced it, it went well. People seemed to get into it. Only problem, the band couldn't play it fast enough because it's a really hard tune... But, we did it! Thanks for the reminder." -- 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

16 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] Chestnuts and Money Musk

by Chrissy Fowler

Money Musk called and danced at the Wescustogo Grange Hall, North Yarmouth, Maine. First dance after the break - about 10:30pm. Dancers: Five sets of 6 ccouples - 60 dancers Band: Perpetual eMotion (Ed Howe & John Cote) Caller: Chrissy Fowler Did a workshop before the dance, with about 30 dancers. All were enthusiastic and pleased to be part of the big event. Much hooting and hollering. Loping pace for the tune (plenty of recovery time for the Money Musk newbies, well-timed elegant styling for the old hands.) Some people apparently showed up specifically because Money Musk was on the program, thanks to some some advance publicity. Two sets merged, so a few people didn't get the chance to be active, because I didn't want to run it too long. (Though I could have... after all I was at that Ralph Page Legacy Weekend when we danced it 43x!) I had practiced so much that I prompted the dance all night long in my sleep. ("Once and a half around, once and a half and you go below one...") Wheee! :-) Chrissy _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail® is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_70faster_032009

16 years, 8 months

Chestnuts and Money Musk

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

Country Dance and Song Society has published "Cracking Chestnuts," a collection that celebrates the living tradition of classic contra dances. David Smukler is the primary author and I also contributed some pieces. You'll find detailed articles about seventeen dances, with suggested tunes typeset by Randy Miller, an appendix with an additional 20 dances, an introduction to triple minor contras, and some suggestions for how to introduce and teach chestnuts at your local series. The book (can be ordered from CDSS (it's $20 plus shipping), and David and I have copies that we're selling at our gigs. I'm also filling mail orders, so contact me off-list if you're interested. As it happens, David and I are each holding book release parties on March 14, he in Syracuse, NY (with George Wilson and Tom Hodgson) and I in Norwich, VT (with Northern Spy) at which we'll each present a full evening program of chestnuts. At the recent Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend, talking about these simultaneous similar events, we came up with the idea of each of us calling Money Musk as the first dance after the break, sometime around 9:45 or 10 PM. "Hey," we thought, "let's invite others to join us!" So, if you have a dance scheduled for Saturday, March 14 and if you have musicians who can do justice to the tune and if the dance would be appropriate for your dancers that night, we invite you to join us in bringing back Money Musk. [If you're of a Dudley frame of mind, you may refer to it as "The Money Musk."] And let me know if you did, and who was playing the music and calling, and where this took place, and about how many dancers were in the hall at that time, and we'll tally the results. (Callers in other time zones, you could call it at about 9:45 or 10 PM your local time and we'll count that, too.) Note: If you're thinking of doing this, please check with musicians ahead of time. Many musicians will be happy to work up the tune if given some advance warning, but it's not something to spring on them on just before you announce the dance! David Millstone Lebanon, NH

16 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] Chestnuts and Money Musk

by David.Millstone＠VALLEY.NET

When it's done, it's usually a 24-bar version. That said, the 32-bar version is, indeed, what was standard for much of the 19th century and on into the 20th in numerous sources, so by doing that version, it is indeed more historic and fits the chestnuts theme perhaps even more! To do that one, though, you'll need music that is AABB rather than what is now more common, ABC. If you want to do the dance as a triplet, you might instead do 4-couple sets, in the Scottish style. The first couple would do the dance the first time with the 2nd and 3rd couples, then the second time through with the 3s and 4s. After that, they'd drop to the bottom of the set and the new top couple would start in. A note on timing: The version you're calling #1 (where you reference the video showing Nils Fredland calling Money Musk) is actually a little different than you have it noted. Here's how you timed it: A1 Actives allemand right 1 1/2 (8), Go outside, below one couple (4), Balance six (4) A2 Actives allemand right 3/4 to lines of 3 across the hall (4), Balance six (4), Actives allemand right 3/4 (4), fall back to place (4) B1 Top two couples (1s and 2s) right and left through (across and back) (16) It's actually a little different in the middle part: A Actives allemand right 1 1/2 (8), Go outside, below one couple (4), Balance six (4) B Actives allemand right 3/4 to lines of 3 across the hall (8), Balance six (4), Actives allemand right 3/4 (4) C Top two couples (1s and 2s) right and left through (across and back) (16) And, historical note, most callers didn't call it a balance. It was "forward six," not not forward and back for eight counts. Anyhow, that's the way we like to do it, although there are many other ways of timing the dance. This way, though, there's a nice contrast between the leisurely hand turns at the start of the phrase, and the rapid hand turns leading into the right and left. > Right and lefts thrus (with same sex couples) and New England style may be hard for some Nothing like a careful walkthrough to help with this. Have those two couples walk across the set (two men working together and two women), each passing right shoulder with partner. When they reach the other side of the set, still facing out, put their closer arm around their neighbor's waist. They pivot around their joined arms, with the person on the left side backing up and the person on the right going forward. Repeat all that and they're back on the original side, still in their progressed place. If by "New England style" you're referring to folks crossing the set without touching each other, well, that can be taught but there are plenty of places where folks do arm around turns and that extra connection is helpful. In the video, at 1:27 you can see that those two dancers (caller Ralph Sweet in the checked shirt) had their arms around each other. If folks understand which way they're moving, then instead of putting aroms around each other, they just look at each other and turn as a linked pair. Given your situation, though, that may be more teaching than you want to do. Just a reminder, everyone. March 14 is the International (thanks, Bill!) Money Musk Moment. A bunch of us are calling the dance the first dance after the break that evening, as was the custom in some locations. (And if you want to join us but don't have a dance that night, well, do it as close to then as you can-- the folks outside Zurich won't have their regular dance until later in the money, but they're going to join in.) David Millstone Lebanon, NH

16 years, 8 months

Temps for Levi Jackson Rag

by Rickey

Hi all, We are thinking of doing Levi Jackson Rag (Pat Shaw) at our next dance and were wondering what tempo you played it at? If you have numbers (i.e. 100, or 110 or 120 beats per min), great. If you have time check out this link on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxd8Rp3eAuI . Seems slow to me, especially judging from the way the dancers are moving. Thanks, Rickey Holt, Fremont, NH

16 years, 9 months

Re: [Callers] [trad-dance-callers] Re: Tempo for Levi Jackson Rag

by Michael Barraclough

Sylvia suggests that "We should follow the tempo in the Assembly Players CD Levi Jackson. Nic Broadbridge is the leader of that group and worked closely with Pat Shaw who wrote the dance." I am not sure that I agree. This might be the preferred speed in Scotland, or the UK, or now. It says nothing, however, about the speed that Pat wanted or expected it to be played back in 1974. My first experience of dancing Levi Jackson Rag was to the calling of Pat Shaw, in London, and although this was over 30 years ago, I am certain that it was slower than generally done today. As well as working with the Assembly Players, Pat also worked closely and regularly with the Kenton Ramblers, a London-based 3 piece band led by the late Sheila Mason. As well as being the mother of one of the dancers in our university dance group, Sheila lived just around the corner from me and was a regular baby sitter. We had many musical and dance-based conversations, including about Levi Jackson Rag. If I recollect correctly, Sheila was the 1st person to play the tune for Pat, if not in the world, at least in the UK. She always complained that people played it much too fast and that it should be slower and 'swing'. That is certainly how the Kenton Ramblers played it for me. Of course, when you play it more slowly it becomes more obvious whether the musician has actually hit all the notes correctly! I am thinking about 112-114bpm. Michael Barraclough http://www.michaelbarraclough.com From: sentto-10754689-14055-1236621858-michael=michaelbarraclough.com(a)returns.grou ps.yahoo.com [mailto:sentto-10754689-14055-1236621858-michael=michaelbarraclough.com@retu rns.groups.yahoo.com] On Behalf Of smiskoe(a)aol.com Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 2:04 PM To: trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [trad-dance-callers] Re: Tempo for Levi Jackson Rag We should follow the tempo in the Assembly Players CD "Levi Jackson". Nic Broadbridge is the leader of that group and worked closely with Pat Shaw who wrote the dance. Pat has passed away but what better reference could we get than by listening to Nic's recording. It is faster than the you tube selection first cited, 29 seconds for one rendition. Sylvia Miskoe, Concord, NH [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] . <http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=10754689/grpspId=1705123886/msgI d=14055/stime=1236621874/nc1=5170419/nc2=5191954/nc3=5349276> __,_._,___

16 years, 9 months

Money Musk Rights & Lefts

by Jerome Grisanti

I've heard fiddler/caller Steve Hickman describe the pivot at the end of the pass through as "turning as a yoke of oxen." That is, use your nearest shoulders as the pivot point and make a 180-degree left turn. I've never taught using that phrase, so I can't offer first-person feedback, but dancers might not take kindly to bovine comparisons. -- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com

16 years, 9 months

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