Kat,
I played the recording you linked to (the version on Google Drive), and
measured the tempo as averaging 110 beats per minute, with not much variation
over the length of the recording (except for the ritard at the very end, which
I didn't include in my timing). If my computer is playing the recording at the
same speed it was recorded and if the band plays athe tunes at the same speed
at actual dances, it would be, as Jeff said, near the low end of the danceable
range. Or at least it would be near the low end in some communities; I don't
know what range of tempos your dancers are accustomed to in Halifax. In any
case, I doubt there are many (if any) places where 110 BPM would be considered
"fast"--even for very inexperienced contra dancers, as long as they were
able-bodied.
I went looking for YouTube videos of either tune in the set being played at a
contra dance, and I found a couple.
The first tune in this video from the Concord (Massachusetts) Scout House in
2009 is "Aimee Gagnon", played at a tempo of about 118 BPM:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6F_eNA8v4Q
The tune in this video of large band playing at the 2011 Northwest Folklife
Festival in Seattle is "The Telephone Tune", played at about 113 to 114 BPM:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCTKRMyp0GI
Unfortunately, the NW Folklife video doesn't show the dancers at all. However,
I can hear some clapping that suggests that the dance sequence includes
so-called Petronella spins in the A1 part.
Except for the tempo, the tune set on the Google Drive recording strikes me as
fine for any of the general run of contra dances, excluding those for which
you'd want a special tune for some reason.
Bottom line: You might try encouraging the band to play the Gagnon/Telephone
set somewhat faster than the version on the Google Drive recording--maybe at
about the tempo of the Scout House video, or at least at the tempo of the NWFF
video, depending on what you think will work for your local dancers. This is
subject to the proviso that they can maintain that tempo for the length of a
contra dance (as part of an evening of similar dances) without getting worn
out, without tending to drop back to their accustomed slower tempo, and
without, on the other hand, losing control and speeding up even more to a point
where it's uncomfortable for your local dancers. It's also subject to the
proviso that you feel you can make the suggestion in a way that the musicians
will find tactful.
--Jim
Santa Clara, CA
> On May 14, 2023, at 7:47 AM, Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> On tempo, I think you could play that Sat at the speed on the recording, but
> it's at the low end of danceable. If, with the tunes having so many notes,
> your band is actually playing more like 105 instead of 110, I could see it
> being hard to dance to?
>
> Jeff
>
> On Sat, May 13, 2023, 1:41 PM Ben Werner via Contra Callers
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> Here is a dance with lots of balance through A and smoother B that I wrote a
> while ago that I think could work well.
>
> Leftovers, Becket
> Ben Werner
> A1: (16) Rh to neighbor, Balance Square through 2
> A2: (16) Petronella x 2
> B1: (16) Balance & Swing Partner
> B2: (8) Promenade & fishhook (can think of it like promenade across then
> slide right, but flows better to make a nice wide loop over left shoulders)
> (8) Star left 1 time around w new neighbors
>
> Inspired by Carol Ormand’s Contra Connection set @ Stellar Days and
> Nights 2014 in Buena Vista
> Entire dance can be done without ever losing left hand connection with
> your partner for 1 of 2 couples if you’re creative. (either 1s or 2s, just
> not both)
>
> Cheers,
> Ben
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On May 13, 2023, at 11:20 AM, Jim Thaxter via Contra Callers
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>
>> I think the tunes would be easy to dance to. Some moves would go better with
>> some phrases, as some others have pointed out, but a good band would be able
>> to adapt a tune to the dance itself, doing things to emphasize balances,
>> smooth out places with lots of walking (lines fwd and back, circles). The
>> tunes sound like they should be speedy enough, as many notey Irish-y tunes
>> do, but they’re only playing at 110 bpm. Even with all the notes, they’ll
>> still feel to the dancers like they’re just plodding along.
>>
>> On Fri, May 12, 2023 at 7:47 PM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Hi friends!
>>
>> You may remember I asked a while ago about what sort of dance I could call
>> to a specific quebecois tune that one of our bands always played and I hate
>> to call to.
>>
>> In the end that conversation shifted into one regarding how to communicate
>> with bands generally, and what sort of expectations I could have of a band
>> that doesn't get into the business of choosing tunes to match dances
>> themselves.
>>
>> It was all very helpful and I am pleased to report that my relationship with
>> the band I was previously having some friction with has improved!
>>
>> And- at our upcoming dance they're doing a wonderful thing - they've invited
>> any interested and aspiring musicians to come and play along unmic'd behind
>> them - and they've set up a google drive folder with the tunes, containing
>> both recordings and sheet music,.
>>
>> This is great for me because finally I can preview all the tunes and be
>> ready with the desired order they will be played in!
>>
>> But listening to the Aime-Gagnon-Telephone tune set, I realized this is the
>> other set this band plays that really bums me out.
>>
>> I just can't get a dance of mine to feel good to it.
>> Could you folks have a listen and let me know your thoughts?
>>
>> I can't really put my finger on it other than ... it kinda feels plodding to
>> dance to at this speed, and yet it feels like the musicians are playing
>> really fast already?
>>
>> and....it has a bit of a stressful and on edge feel- rather than a "sit back
>> and enjoy" feel of other tunes?
>>
>> I will close by saying this band also plays LOTS of great tunes, which I
>> love, and they are fabulous musicians :)
>>
>> here is the tune in the google drive....
>> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qsoLthlIYvBNRqD2Kvd0JyYzSjwj4KS4/view?usp=drivesdk
>>
>>
>> or if you prefer, on spotify!
>> https://open.spotify.com/track/7fAJSwoKsQQC1cqlAmouLJ?si=nijl2dibR6Ktupc-w08IbA
>>
>>
>> thank you for thoughts and/or dance suggestions :)
>> Kat in Halifax
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