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.

Laurie

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