Dear callers, I've just uploaded nine square dance videos to YouTube. Unlike the ones I mentioned earlier from the Montpelier Square Ball, these are complete dances. The shortest is just over 4 minutes; the longest is nearly twice that length. You'll find both patter squares and singing squares. Enjoy!
These were all recorded at the release party for Ralph Sweet's "On the Beat with Ralph Sweet," which was edited by Nils Fredland and published by Country Dance and Song Society. CDSS organized the afternoon dance party at the Greenfield, MA, Grange Hall as a way to celebrate Ralph in particular and square dancing in general; indeed, Nils Fredland now has a part-time position with CDSS in which he'll be looking to expand that organization's publications and recordings of traditional American dance. The band playing is Elixir (also recently featured on the NPR contra dance piece), joined by three other talented New England musicians. (Full personnel listings are given in the notes for each piece of footage.) Technical note: Viewers of some of my other videos will note that the audio here isn't as crisp as usual. Unfortunately, that afternoon when I attempted to patch into the hall's PA system, I kept picking up a signal from a nearby radio station, so the audio here comes solely from an onboard shotgun microphone. So it goes... David Millstone Lebanon, NH Here's the list of the new videos: The Auctioneer Ralph Sweet, caller http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBCElrznG9M Bachelor Mill Nils Fredland, caller http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79t2LHhmIsY Do-si-do and Face the Sides Tony Parkes, caller http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZa59b-FWIk Little Red Wagon Nils Fredland, caller http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWlHdVavwk0 Marianne Tony Parkes, caller http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quu7SyfavZc Sally Goodin Ralph Sweet, caller http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldsl2mJRH28 Shindig in the Barn Ralph Sweet, caller http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOfPY85ttc4 Trail of the Lonesome Pine Tony Parkes, caller http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmcVQ08hdjs Wagon Wheel Ralph Sweet, caller http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AiqS0EQT88
