Dear chris, I have never made it to the Ralph Page dance weekend. There is an issue that I have been stuck with that their web site provoked. We will be discussing this at our semi annual meeting: Old time string bands To get more people (and young people)at our dances we need to have good music that drives dances. Old time string bands do not do that. So do we continue to hire them, the occasional dissatisfaction of our dancers (who look foreword to the weekly dance) to preserve that part of our history. Merle On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 7:53 AM, Chris Weiler (SW) <chris(a)sharedweight.net>wrote;wrote: -- "Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Merle, I was not originally a fan of old-time string bands, but I've since changed my mind. What changed? About five years ago I moved to a mid-western area where old-time was the predominant sound. While some of the individual bands sound like the stereotype of things not to like about the style -- whiney tone, too much of the same key, no differentiation between A and B parts, or even between tunes in a medley -- other bands firmly put those stereotypes to rest. Very creative arrangements, a strong sense of fun, strong sense of phrasing. I've met some wonderful musicians who play old time. In addition, I learned that calling with old-time bands called for different skills from me. I also began to appreciate that a tune that might sound too much the same for a contra could really cook up a great square dance. So, I believe it's the combination of music, caller and dancers that make the fun, and given the right circumstances (and a good fit between caller and band), your dance might do well with some old-time music in the mix. My two cents, Jerome Grisanti On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 8:30 AM, Merle Mceldowney < merle.mceldowney(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote: -- 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