Re: [Callers] sing-along contras?

Chrissy wrote: have lyrics. The vast majority of modern contra dances don't have particular tunes associated with them, although certainly some of the tunes which get used for contra have lyrics. There are a ton of English country dances written to tunes which have lyrics. (Dances got written to "broadsheet ballads" fairly often in the late 1600s, early 1700s.) Just off the top of my head: Jamaica Juice of Barley / Stingo (1790s) Trip to Tunbridge goes to "Green Grow the Rashes O" Nymph Divine (actually an aria from the first Italian opera performed in London) and modern dances to old tunes I Care Not for these Ladies Seven Joys of Mary Trip to the Cellar ("Came ye o'er fra France?") When Laura Smiles Faithless Nancy Dawson ("A-rovin'") to the extent that Shira Kammen did a fabulous album ("Ragged, Rent and Torn") entirely of songs that go with historic and modern country dances - many of which are proper contra formation, if that helps. Is your friend just curious, or does he or she have something in mind? -- Alan -- =============================================================================== Alan Winston --- WINSTON(a)SSRL.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU Disclaimer: I speak only for myself, not SLAC or SSRL Phone: 650/926-3056 Paper mail to: SSRL -- SLAC BIN 99, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park CA 94025 ===============================================================================