Re: [Callers] Caller's opinions on non-contra music at dances

I have enjoyed occasional forays to contra with non-contra music - but always where the caller carefully stayed with the calling, and the tapes had been very carefully pieced to make it possible to keep on the dance. I have also enjoyed occasional pieces where a live band plays with a rock standard - but if not well done and not well supported by the caller, it is a nightmare. No matter the music, the caller needs to be ready to step back in to rescue the situation - at least IMHO. All best, especially to Parker and Marian way up north in "Canadia"!!! Dorcas Hand Houston -----Original Message----- From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Marian and Parker Mann Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 9:54 PM To: callers(a)sharedweight.net Subject: [Callers] Caller's opinions on non-contra music at dances I'm looking for comments on a trend I've noticed in contra music, specifically, bands playing music far removed from pieces traditionally associated with the form. The catalyst was a mid-December dance in the northwest where "as a special treat" the band shifted to rock music during the next-to-last contra. The caller had stopped and we were left to our own devices. The A/B parts and the beat were hard to pick out, and the dance began breaking down as people had to guess when one move ended and another began. I was there with a group of experienced dancers and our opinions were uniformly negative. This was not the only time the band's selection of tunes was hard to follow, just the most excessive. Over the last few years I've seen bands play "unusual" music in several locations across the country and at both regular dance series and dance weekends. There are some good examples in Youtube (links provided offline.) IMHO, contra music is an integral part of the dance, cuing on a nearly subconscious level the changes between figures. Having to concentrate excessively on the timing takes emphasis off both the flow of the dance and the interaction with fellow dancers. Part of me can sympathize with the bands. It must be incredibly boring for talented musicians to play, say, Jefferson Reel over and over. On the other hand, they are hired to play for dancers, not each other, and some of the extreme examples smack of self-indulgence. I assume that essentially all of the members of this list are dancers and that a number of you are also musicians. I wondered what the group's feeling was on this and whether anyone felt it was a positive development. _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers