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Author Topic: Appropriate or most popular tunes for ceilidhs, barn dances, etc..  (Read 8701 times)

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DoninOhio

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Hello:

I am getting into English Traditional Folk music. I prefer actually learning the most popular tunes that cause you in England to want to get up and dance (Line dancing, circle dance, clogs, etc.). I am familar with the Irish repertoire. What do you folks in England like to dance to? Only about 20 or so tunes by name will get me off to a fine start. ;-)
I can play some tunes from the Dave Mallison books, but they sound a little basic. Is that the best source? I am familiar with and enjoy listening to Katie Howson, Jeannie Harris, some Oscar Woods and John Kirkpatrick. Thanks in advance.

Don
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Ollie

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Re: Appropriate or most popular tunes for ceilidhs, barn dances, etc..
« Reply #1 on: June 22, 2010, 02:37:07 PM »

Hi Don

I would thoroughly recommend both Nick Barber's and John Kirkpatrick's English Choice books, both published by Mally. I have one of Dave Mallison's books and the NB and JK books are, IMO, far superior. If you are familiar with Irish stuff, some of the English things will sound a bit basic, as English music is much less... diddly diddly.

Another good source of English dance music is Morris tunes. Back in 1970s, a book commonly known as the Black Book (it's a book and it was black, surprisingly enough :D) was published, containing many of the Cotswold Morris dance tunes. These are all available in abc here - http://www.themorrisring.org/more/Tunes/index.html Simply copy one of the tunes...

X: 1
T:Princess Royal, Abingdon (MDT)
M:4/4
L:1/8
Q:150
A:Abingdon
P:A(A2B2)3A
K:G
P:A
dc|B2A2 G2dc|BcBA G2g2|e3d  c2e2|d3c  B2d2|
c2B2 A2G2|FGAF D2dc|BABG A2D2|G6z2     ||
P:B
e3e  e2f2|g2f2 g4  |g2f2 e2d2|BcBA G3A |
G2G2 A4  |B2G2 g3f |g2d2 e4  |d2B2 c4  |
c2B2 A2G2|FGAF D2dc|BABG A2D2|G6z2     ||

into here - http://music.gordfisch.net/oregans/miscellaneous/editor.php and they will magically turn into dots. You can also adjust the keys to fit your box.

Hope that helps, and happy playing!
Ollie  :M
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Anahata

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Re: Appropriate or most popular tunes for ceilidhs, barn dances, etc..
« Reply #2 on: June 22, 2010, 03:19:36 PM »

Listen to some good dance bands and their CD's.
The New Victory Band's "One more Dance and Then", re-released on CD a few years ago - and old recording but still good stuff.
Anything by the Old Swan Band, most recently "Swan Upmanship" on Wild Goose
Flowers and Frolics
If Nick Barber's choice takes your fancy, English Rebellion have a nice album  with good tunes, (though I say so myself :|bl )
Hard Core English book and CD from EFDSS
Katie's Quartet, Posh Band...
(and loads more, but the above are very trad and solid English...)
Google for them....
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Lester

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Re: Appropriate or most popular tunes for ceilidhs, barn dances, etc..
« Reply #3 on: June 22, 2010, 03:25:18 PM »

You could do worse than look at the Lewes Favourites Tune Book

folkman

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Re: Appropriate or most popular tunes for ceilidhs, barn dances, etc..
« Reply #4 on: June 22, 2010, 07:35:31 PM »

[
If Nick Barber's choice takes your fancy, English Rebellion have a nice album  with good tunes, (though I say so myself :|bl )


[/quote]
I've got the English Rebellion CD...didn't realise it was you Anahata. Nice music that!
For the follow up album, might I submit a request for The Valentine? :||:
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folkman

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Re: Appropriate or most popular tunes for ceilidhs, barn dances, etc..
« Reply #5 on: June 22, 2010, 08:36:37 PM »


  English Line Dancing ???
Perish the thought! Has there ever been a dance as dire as line dancing? :-\
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Re: Appropriate or most popular tunes for ceilidhs, barn dances, etc..
« Reply #6 on: June 22, 2010, 09:20:48 PM »


  English Line Dancing ???
Perish the thought! Has there ever been a dance as dire as line dancing? :-\

Tis the Devil's Dance  >:E Only invented to give us Morris dancers something to laugh at.
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folkman

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Re: Appropriate or most popular tunes for ceilidhs, barn dances, etc..
« Reply #7 on: June 22, 2010, 09:25:52 PM »


Tis the Devil's Dance  >:E Only invented to give us Morris dancers something to laugh at.
[/quote]
I think it's the thumbs in the belt or pockets that really annoys me...apart from the awful music! :(
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ganderbox

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Re: Appropriate or most popular tunes for ceilidhs, barn dances, etc..
« Reply #8 on: June 22, 2010, 09:43:23 PM »


  English Line Dancing ???
Perish the thought! Has there ever been a dance as dire as line dancing? :-\

Line dancing always seems a very unrewarding sort of pastime, but I'm sure those that do it enjoy it (contrary to appearances), and it's probably better than no dancing at all, especially if you don't have a partner and don't really want one, but don't want the commitment of morris dancing.
However, it really shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as morris, clog, ceilidh or any sort of traditional ritual or social dancing...and I wouldn't expect to find any links to line dancing tunes on this site!

 
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folkman

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Re: Appropriate or most popular tunes for ceilidhs, barn dances, etc..
« Reply #9 on: June 22, 2010, 09:51:29 PM »

We had some good friends who loved line dancing (one now sadly deceased) and they were heavily into American Country music so I would agree that there is no real mutual thread here but I don't think you can say it's not a social dance.
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DoninOhio

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Re: Appropriate or most popular tunes for ceilidhs, barn dances, etc..
« Reply #10 on: June 23, 2010, 04:49:33 AM »

Thanks to all for the tips. Regarding my use of the term "line dancing", I can assure you all that I was not referring to that dreadful Country Western fad. I was trying to describe when there is a very large circle of dancers to marches, jigs and such.

Cheers,

Don
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Chris Ryall

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Re: Appropriate or most popular tunes for ceilidhs, barn dances, etc..
« Reply #11 on: June 23, 2010, 07:03:52 AM »

is in lines)!  

This Anglo-French stuff is far from mainstream and I'd say most Brits don't venture beyond Polka and Waltz.  But there are some nice tunes associated - a few of which have become session fodder.  The main influences have been legendary groups such as Blowsabella and Rosbif- though easy ferries and cheap French booze have had some effect :|glug
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Theo

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Re: Appropriate or most popular tunes for ceilidhs, barn dances, etc..
« Reply #12 on: June 23, 2010, 10:18:26 AM »

most Brits don't venture beyond Polka and Waltz.  

I'd hazard a guess that "most Brits" have no idea at all what a Polka might be, but may have vaguely heard of a waltz.  I'm talking mainstream here, Chris, I thing you were thinking of the folky sub-culture?
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Re: Appropriate or most popular tunes for ceilidhs, barn dances, etc..
« Reply #13 on: June 23, 2010, 10:24:09 AM »

This is the thing about what the English like to dance to....even in the "folky" culture, there is a huge variety, and it's actually quite hard to pin down what is "English". Most of what you will find, though, is dances done in sets, or couple dances, rather than dances done in lines or circles. Circle dancing  groups do exist, and they may do some dances from places such as Israel and eastern Europe, but some will just skip around to new-age music!
 
In England you will find barn dance/ceilidh bands playing in their own styles, ranging from heavy stomping e-ceilidh bands often favoured at festivals and big organised ceilidhs, to lighter,more traditional bands favoured by many dance clubs and generally found at smaller local events.
You will find the music they play includes tunes from all over Britain and beyond, and most bands will have a range of Scottish, Irish and American tunes in their repertoire, as well as English.
Other types of dancing that are popular are Irish Set and, as Chris says, French and Breton.
Morris and step dances all have their own tunes, which again are different, or at least played differently, according to the dance they are used for.

To find 20 tunes which summarise what the English like to dance to would be quite difficult! If you're approaching English music from a dance point of view, you probably need to start by targetting a particular dance style, and take it from there.
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Theo

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Re: Appropriate or most popular tunes for ceilidhs, barn dances, etc..
« Reply #14 on: June 23, 2010, 10:37:45 AM »

To find 20 tunes which summarise what the English like to dance to would be quite difficult! If you're approaching English music from a dance point of view, you probably need to start by targetting a particular dance style, and take it from there.

There are also quite strong regional differences within England.  The Northeast where I'm based is very distinctive, so is East Anglia, Sussex, Devon to name just a few.   The favourites also change over time. 

I would suggest that you get along to the festivals and sessions in your part of England and let the tunes soak into you.

My 20 would be:

Jamie Allen
Salmon Tails
Holmes's fancy
Winhams Reel
Morpeth Rant
Dinnington Rant
Jane's Fancy
Alistair J Sim
Elsey's Waltz
The Steamboat
The Wonder
Lands of North Tyne (aka Boys of Bluehill)
Farewell to the Dene
Lemonville jig
Little Burnt Potato
Quarrymen
Warksburn Waltz
The Pearl Wedding
Titches Reel
Shirleys Reel

All these could be heard from the playing of many Northumbrian dance bands and in sessions in the northeast.   Some are well known nationally, others not.
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Re: Appropriate or most popular tunes for ceilidhs, barn dances, etc..
« Reply #15 on: June 23, 2010, 11:31:59 AM »

There are also quite strong regional differences within England.  The Northeast where I'm based is very distinctive, so is East Anglia, Sussex, Devon to name just a few.   The favourites also change over time. 

I would suggest that you get along to the festivals and sessions in your part of England and let the tunes soak into you.

My 20 would be:

Jamie Allen
Salmon Tails
<snip for brevity>
Titches Reel
Shirleys Reel

All these could be heard from the playing of many Northumbrian dance bands and in sessions in the northeast.   Some are well known nationally, others not.


As a softy southerner I am intrigued that I only know ~5 in your list. But it gives me some leads to good tunes, thanks.

george garside

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Re: Appropriate or most popular tunes for ceilidhs, barn dances, etc..
« Reply #16 on: June 23, 2010, 11:36:46 AM »

I try to play tunes that the punters can identify with asa this increases the enjoyment factor, bearing in mind that a lot of 'barn dances' ceilidhs or whatevr else they are called  are not aimed at 'hard core folkies' (whatever they are) but at aa much wider audience eg at weddings, fund raising events, parent/teacher events, church events etc etc etc.

Rhythm is king but a well known simple tune (often  that the purists wouild say isn't folk) always seems to go down well rather than arty farty tunes that may be challenging & rewarding to play.  I find it more rewarding to see lots of happy smiling faces on the floor.Most dancers don't use precise steps as in eg Scottish country dancing, and proceed at something that varies between a -jaunty walk- and a mad scramble! so its a question of making a tune fit the ethos of the evening so to speak.

tunes we use regularly include blaydon races, geordy hinny, mairies wedding, loch lomond, scotland the brave,waltzing ;matilda & click go the shears as a polkaa set, lilly the pink along with cock of the north & 100 pipers for the gay gordons,  leaving of liverpool & maggy may,waltz sets include  blaack velvet band, daisy daisy & oh dear what can the matter be,  endearing young charms, wild colonial boy & irish eyes, westering home , banks & brays ;& loch lomonnd.  etc etc. The swedish masqerade goes down well perhaps because its a sturmy archer (3 speed) tune.  We also chuck in some of the 'standaard' tunes as mentioned by Theo & others provided they lend themselves to very rhythmic playing - rattling bog seems to  fit the bill very well  & if aa fast set is required  something like  a combination of athol highlandsers, pet of the pipers,smash the windows & muckin of geordies byre works wel

something on the above lines may not appeal to the purists but it does appeal to the punters who we are there to entertain!


george
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Re: Appropriate or most popular tunes for ceilidhs, barn dances, etc..
« Reply #17 on: June 23, 2010, 11:39:56 AM »

and proceed at something that varies between a -jaunty walk- and a mad scramble!
Mad scramble after I realise I'm going in the wrong direction....that's me. As soon as music starts I forget which is left/right.

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Re: Appropriate or most popular tunes for ceilidhs, barn dances, etc..
« Reply #18 on: June 23, 2010, 12:37:17 PM »

Re Theo's list - I can only play 3 of them, although I might be able to struggle through a couple more with some help. Some I've never heard of, but I recognise many of the names from the Northumbrian Piper's Tunebook!
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DoninOhio

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Re: Appropriate or most popular tunes for ceilidhs, barn dances, etc..
« Reply #19 on: June 23, 2010, 02:14:46 PM »

George's response regarding tunes and styles is the closest to what I am referring to. I am not a "technical" player as such, and do not play to try to impress as some players of the fast or complex Irish reels do in sessions. I personally do not see the point of playing reels as fast as a person can. It loses all rhythm or thought.  I like to play tunes that get people up off their feet and dance without requiring them to hold a "Phd in Dance Mastering Snobbery" to be able to participate to have fun. Bouncy jigs, reels nice waltzes, some polkas etc. are great. I would love to go to some locaal Barndances in England, but unfortunately I reside in The States. Sigh....

Don
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