Hey Chris: I have to take umbrage with you re: “..playing an
instrument on stage whilst calling is NOT professional” (I love that
“whilst). I am a pro. Been doping this stuff for 67 years. 65
of them playing while calling. Started with piano accordion, then with
fiddle, and now with melodeon. I make a living at it. I have to
admit that the dances I call are more family community oriented than computer
originated contras of the day. But the same attention is given to the
floor no matter. And I am not the only one. Jacqueline plays fiddle
while calling. So does Fred Bruenig in Vermont. Andy Davis does
accordion. What about the Kaynors? And over in Maine? There are at
least 8 fiddlers who call while they play. Not professional? Give me
a break. Never mind that it is the backbone of tradition...when calling
became acceptable, the job fell in the lap of the fiddler. I have a book
that devotes an entire chapter on how to play and call(prompt) at the same
time.
Haven’t seen much action on Trad Callers of late. Maybe the above
will stir up some “activity of age. activity of youth.”
Happy New Year. Dudley
WELCOME HERE AGAIN cd
Canterbury Country Dance Orchestra
Dudley
& Jacqueline Laufman
PO Box 61, 322 Shaker Rd
Canterbury, NH
03224
www.laufman.org
603-783-4719
jdlaufman@comcast.net
Education
book & CD at www.humankinetics.com
Performance Calendar at
www.laufman.org