Is "Levi Jackson Rag" an English Dance? That is an interesting question.


Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP
Manager of Software Engineering, Oxford College
Schedule an appointment: oxford.emory.edu/SethBooking
770-784-8487
Pronouns: he, him, his

From: Jacob or Nancy Bloom <jandnbloom@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2022 4:46 PM
To: Laur <lcpgr@yahoo.com>
Cc: Tepfer, Seth <labst@emory.edu>; Contra Callers <contracallers@sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Re: [External] Fw: Need help fitting to a tune
 
Balance The Star was written to go to Beaumont Rag.  It's a simple dance, usually done as a Sicilian Circle, so it may not be what you want for your crowd.

I've never heard of an English dance written for Beaumont Rag.  What dance is that?

Jacob Bloom


On Wed, Apr 27, 2022 at 4:31 PM Laur via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Seth, thats an idea..As I recall they may not play it to fit but I will give that some more thought. 


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On Wednesday, April 27, 2022, 4:27 PM, Tepfer, Seth <labst@emory.edu> wrote:

Hey Laur (and Bill)
I've danced "Levi Jackson Rag" many times to the tune Beaumont Rag, and it works fine. I would be surprised if it didn't work for a contra dance.

HOWEVER, it could well be the way this band plays the tune just isn't supportive of contra dancing.


Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP
Manager of Software Engineering, Oxford College
Schedule an appointment: oxford.emory.edu/SethBooking
770-784-8487
Pronouns: he, him, his

From: Laur via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2022 4:21 PM
To: Contra Callers <contracallers@sharedweight.net>
Subject: [External] [Callers] Fw: Need help fitting to a tune
 



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Begin forwarded message:

On Wednesday, April 27, 2022, 4:20 PM, Laur <lcpgr@yahoo.com> wrote:

Yes Bill I agree. 

I plan on asking the band not to include that tune, but thought I would give it a good sport try and ask here first.

They play it for show, as a jazzy tune. It just doesn't work. 

And no the band isnt suggesting anything -  the band always plays the tune during a dance. the caller does what they do, walks the dancers through the dance and the band picks a tune. But the band will play that tune at some point during the night. 


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On Wednesday, April 27, 2022, 4:08 PM, Bill Olson <callbill@hotmail.com> wrote:

Laur, where are you? Not quite sure I understand here.. The BAND is suggesting the dance that you should call to a tune they want to play?? uhhhh...

That ain't how it works. Make it easy on yourself.. You are in control here.. Just tell the band NOT to play the tune..

That all said, there are SO many ways Beaumont Rag is played. Not all of them are 32 bars long. and it is often played as a "show off' tune at Bluegrass festivals, i.e. REALLY FAST!!! the tune is pretty much fun if played AABB at a reasonable tempo.. Not sure what your local band does with it in a contra dance setting, but I'd just politely say 'we're not gonna use that one'..

my $.02  - bill
From: Laur via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2022 7:50 PM
To: Contra Callers <contracallers@sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Need help fitting to a tune
 
A local band here plays Beaumont Rag As a part of their routine dance set. It’s a popular band. 
I’ve never experienced  a contra dance The  band has  chosen to play for a dance work. It doesn’t work for the dancers and it’s agonizing for the caller. 

Can anyone suggest a dance that could fit? At this point I’m planning to request they don’t include the tune. 

I know there’s an English dance written to match but not interested in that for this set. 

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