Re: [Callers] 1820s-1830s Dances

[James Saxe]

Rich,

Two books come to mind that might have material somewhat relevant
to your request, though not exactly on target: _Heritage Dances of
Early America_ by Ralph Page (abbreviated HDoEA below) and _Colonial
Social Dancing for Children: Social Dancing of Washington’s Time
arranged for Today’s Young People_ by Charles Cyril ("Chip")
Hendrickson [CSDfC below].  Here's a little more information about
them, with the caveat that I don't have my copy of either book at
hand  and my memory may be faulty on some of the details.

 * * * * * * * * * *

HDoEA was published in or about 1976 by the Lloyd Shaw Foundation.
It appears to be out of print.  It's indexed in  Michael Dyck's
contra dance index, and many of the dances in it (or versions of
them) appear in other sources.  You can find them by going to

 http://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/index/by_title.html

and searching for the string "HDoEA".  (The page

 http://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/index/sources.html

is a key to the source abbreviations.)

IIRC, the dances in HDoEA are from sources dating from the 1790s
through the first decade or two of the 1800's, so a little earlier
the period you asked about, though some may have remained popular
for some time after.  All or almost all are longways triple minors,
though some might be of the sort that are readily adapted to duple
minor form.  For each dance, Page give both the description as it
appeared in the original source and an interpretation in modern
terminology.

The part about being "easy enough for children" could be
problematical to say the least, for reasons that will be evident
to anyone who has tried teaching relatively "easy" contras to
groups (whether children or adults) where almost all are unfamiliar
with how progression works, dancing to the phrase, etc.  Even
experienced contemporary contra dancers could have difficulties
with things like triple-minor progression, right-and-left four
from proper position (in communities where older dances like
"Petronella" and "Hull's Victory" have disappeared from repertoire),
crossover heys for three, or choreography that asks you to turn a
four-person star just halfway around in eight beats.

 * * * * * * * * * *

CSDfC and a companion CD appear to be currently available from the
Colonial Music Institute

 http://www.colonialmusic.org/CSD-bkcd.htm

As the title implies, the book is specifically oriented to
presenting the material to children.  But (without having the
book at hand to refresh my memory) I'm pretty sure it's mainly
about situations where the material can be presented over multiple
sessions and not just a single afternoon or evening.

I have essentially no experience teaching/leading dance for
children (except for occasions when a small number of children
show up among a mostly-adult group), and no experience using the
material in CSDfC with dancers of any age.  And, while I'm a
dabbler in dance history, I don't know enough about the early
American era to have a clear idea of the similarities and
differences in the dancing of the era covered CSDfC vs. that of
small town New England in 1820-1840.

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who does have experience
using CDSfC, or from anyone who can offer knowledgeable comments
about how either the choreography or the general teaching methods
it offers would transfer to 1820-1840 era.

--Jim

On Mar 17, 2014, at 8:11 PM, rich sbardella wrote:

I am looking for some period dances that might have been danced in  
small New England towns in 1820-1830.  Should be easy enough for  
children.

Any suggestions?

Also, does any know the steps to "Barrel of Sugar"?  Recommended  
music?


Rich Sbardella
Stafford, CT



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Re: [Callers] 1820s-1830s Dances

[Jim McKinney]

Here it is.
Jim


Barrel of Sugar.pdf
Description: Adobe PDF document

On Mar 18, 2014, at 2:17 PM, Dave Casserly  wrote:

> Hi Rich,
> 
> I'm not sure what part you need explained, but to me, the dance appears to
> be 64 steps, normal contra length.  Unfortunately, I can't read ABC
> notation, and the tune Jim sent is coming up garbled when I put it through
> a converter, so I don't know how the tune works.  I'll try to explain all
> of the dance moves, since I'm not sure which part wasn't clear:
> 
> The dance is proper, and starts with the number one couples crossing to the
> other side of the set to do a hey for 3 with those on that side (so number
> 1 gent with numbers 2 and 3 ladies, number 1 lady with numbers 2 and 3
> gents).  At the end of that hey, the 1s cross over again and cast into
> second place, with the 2s moving up to accommodate them.
> 
> Next, the 1s and 2s do a full right and left through (over and back again).
> That part is a little bit unclear to me as well but I'm guessing it's a
> right and left through and not four changes of rights and lefts.
> 
> Then, the number 1 couples (who are in second place) set to their contra
> corners-- number 1 gent will set to lady 3 first, then lady 2 (in first
> place), number 1 lady will set to gent 2 (in first place) first, then to
> gent 3.
> 
> The dance finishes with the number one couples turning their backs on their
> partners and leading out (and presumably falling back in).  Since the
> notation says just the 1s lead out, perhaps that means they don't take the
> line of three with them, but I'm not sure about that part.  The dance
> should then end, with the 1s having switched places with the 2s, and thus
> it's progressed like a triple minor (with new 2s at the bottom of the set).
> 
> Hope this helps!  And if somebody who knows abc notation well can send a
> pdf of the tune, that would be interesting to those of us who aren't
> abc-literate.
> 
> -Dave
> 
> 
> On Tue, Mar 18, 2014 at 1:53 PM, rich sbardella wrote:
> 
>> 
>> 
>> Can someone explain the dance below?  Also, is this dance 128 steps and 64
>> bars?
>> Rich
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> From: Jonathan Sivier 
>> To: Caller's discussion list 
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 12:10 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Callers] 1820s-1830s Dances
>> 
>> 
>> On 3/17/2014 10:11 PM, rich sbardella wrote:
>>> I am looking for some period dances that might have been danced in small
>> New England towns in 1820-1830.  Should be easy enough for children.
>>> Any suggestions?
>> 
>>   Authentic dances of the period and ones easy enough for children may be
>> two different things.  In a small New England town they might have been
>> doing contra dances.  Check Cracking Chestnuts by David Smukler and David
>> Millstone.  The popular dances of that period would have been quadrilles.
>> The waltz was also being done as a couple dance, but was consider
>> scandalous until the polka became popular in the mid-1840's. The Gallop
>> came into popularity around 1829 so I suppose Galopede (or other similar
>> dances) might be considered authentic for this period.
>> 
>>> Also, does any know the steps to "Barrel of Sugar"?  Recommended music?
>> 
>>   It's in A Choice Selection of American Country Dances of the
>> Revolutionary Era 1775-1795 by Kate Van Winkle Keller and Ralph Sweet.
>> 
>> Barrel of Sugar
>> triple proper
>> 
>> AA 1's hey on opposite sides, 1's cross back and cast to 2nd place at the
>> end of the hey
>> BB 1's and 2's rights and lefts
>> AA 1's set to contrary corners
>> BB 1's lead out at the sides
>> 
>> Jonathan
>> -
>> Jonathan Sivier
>> Caller of Contra, English and Early American Dances
>> jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
>> Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html
>> -
>> Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
>> A: It depends on what dance you call!
>> 
>> ___
>> Callers mailing list
>> call...@sharedweight.net
>> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>> ___
>> Callers mailing list
>> call...@sharedweight.net
>> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> David Casserly
> (cell) 781 258-2761
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Re: [Callers] 1820s-1830s Dances

[Jonathan Sivier]

On 3/18/2014 12:53 PM, rich sbardella wrote:


Can someone explain the dance below?  Also, is this dance 128 steps and 64 bars?


   Here are my notes on the dance.  The phrases have 4 bars and so the 
dance is 32 bars, even though the music is played AABBAABB.  When doing 
dances from the 1700's I tend to use 4 changes of rights and lefts 
rather than right and left through with a courtesy turn.  The result is 
the same, but I think it gives the dance a more old-timey flavor.  Also 
with a proper dance you don't have the issue of who backs up for the 
turn in the same-gender couples.


Jonathan

Barrel of Sugar
Clement Week’s commonplace book, ca. 1783
triple proper longways

AA  1’s hey on opposite sides, crossing back to own side and
casting into 2nd place
BB  1st and 2nd couples 4 changes of rights and lefts
AA  1st couple set to contrary corners
BB  1st couple lead out at the sides

Notes

Hey on opposite sides: 1’s cross over and do a mirror hey.  Passing 
between the 2nd and 3rd person on the opposite side to start.  At the 
end of the hey the 1’s are heading into the set and can pass their 
partners to cross and cast down into 2nd place.


Set to contrary corners: 1’s in 2nd place set forward to 1st contrary 
corners on the right diagonal (4 beats) and fall back to place (4 
beats).  Repeat to 2nd contrary corner on left diagonal.  Inactive 
dancers should join in setting when active dancers set towards them.


Lead out at the sides: 1’s in 2nd place take inside hands and dance out 
between the 2nd and 3rd women, separate, dance around them, meet again 
in the center, take hands and dance out between the 2nd and 3rd men, 
separate, dance around them and return to place.  Inactive dancers move 
to allow the 1st couple to pass through and around them.

Re: [Callers] 1820s-1830s Dances

[Dave Casserly]

Hi Rich,

I'm not sure what part you need explained, but to me, the dance appears to
be 64 steps, normal contra length.  Unfortunately, I can't read ABC
notation, and the tune Jim sent is coming up garbled when I put it through
a converter, so I don't know how the tune works.  I'll try to explain all
of the dance moves, since I'm not sure which part wasn't clear:

The dance is proper, and starts with the number one couples crossing to the
other side of the set to do a hey for 3 with those on that side (so number
1 gent with numbers 2 and 3 ladies, number 1 lady with numbers 2 and 3
gents).  At the end of that hey, the 1s cross over again and cast into
second place, with the 2s moving up to accommodate them.

Next, the 1s and 2s do a full right and left through (over and back again).
 That part is a little bit unclear to me as well but I'm guessing it's a
right and left through and not four changes of rights and lefts.

Then, the number 1 couples (who are in second place) set to their contra
corners-- number 1 gent will set to lady 3 first, then lady 2 (in first
place), number 1 lady will set to gent 2 (in first place) first, then to
gent 3.

The dance finishes with the number one couples turning their backs on their
partners and leading out (and presumably falling back in).  Since the
notation says just the 1s lead out, perhaps that means they don't take the
line of three with them, but I'm not sure about that part.  The dance
should then end, with the 1s having switched places with the 2s, and thus
it's progressed like a triple minor (with new 2s at the bottom of the set).

Hope this helps!  And if somebody who knows abc notation well can send a
pdf of the tune, that would be interesting to those of us who aren't
abc-literate.

-Dave


On Tue, Mar 18, 2014 at 1:53 PM, rich sbardella wrote:

>
>
> Can someone explain the dance below?  Also, is this dance 128 steps and 64
> bars?
> Rich
>
>
> 
>  From: Jonathan Sivier 
> To: Caller's discussion list 
> Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 12:10 PM
> Subject: Re: [Callers] 1820s-1830s Dances
>
>
> On 3/17/2014 10:11 PM, rich sbardella wrote:
> > I am looking for some period dances that might have been danced in small
> New England towns in 1820-1830.  Should be easy enough for children.
> > Any suggestions?
>
>Authentic dances of the period and ones easy enough for children may be
> two different things.  In a small New England town they might have been
> doing contra dances.  Check Cracking Chestnuts by David Smukler and David
> Millstone.  The popular dances of that period would have been quadrilles.
> The waltz was also being done as a couple dance, but was consider
> scandalous until the polka became popular in the mid-1840's. The Gallop
> came into popularity around 1829 so I suppose Galopede (or other similar
> dances) might be considered authentic for this period.
>
> > Also, does any know the steps to "Barrel of Sugar"?  Recommended music?
>
>It's in A Choice Selection of American Country Dances of the
> Revolutionary Era 1775-1795 by Kate Van Winkle Keller and Ralph Sweet.
>
> Barrel of Sugar
> triple proper
>
> AA 1's hey on opposite sides, 1's cross back and cast to 2nd place at the
> end of the hey
> BB 1's and 2's rights and lefts
> AA 1's set to contrary corners
> BB 1's lead out at the sides
>
> Jonathan
> -
> Jonathan Sivier
> Caller of Contra, English and Early American Dances
> jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
> Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html
> -
> Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
> A: It depends on what dance you call!
>
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> call...@sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> call...@sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>



-- 
David Casserly
(cell) 781 258-2761

Re: [Callers] 1820s-1830s Dances

[rich sbardella]

Can someone explain the dance below?  Also, is this dance 128 steps and 64 bars?
Rich
 


 From: Jonathan Sivier 
To: Caller's discussion list  
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 12:10 PM
Subject: Re: [Callers] 1820s-1830s Dances
  

On 3/17/2014 10:11 PM, rich sbardella wrote:
> I am looking for some period dances that might have been danced in small New 
> England towns in 1820-1830.  Should be easy enough for children.
> Any suggestions?

   Authentic dances of the period and ones easy enough for children may be two 
different things.  In a small New England town they might have been doing 
contra dances.  Check Cracking Chestnuts by David Smukler and David Millstone.  
The popular dances of that period would have been quadrilles.  The waltz was 
also being done as a couple dance, but was consider scandalous until the polka 
became popular in the mid-1840's. The Gallop came into popularity around 1829 
so I suppose Galopede (or other similar dances) might be considered authentic 
for this period.

> Also, does any know the steps to "Barrel of Sugar"?  Recommended music?

   It's in A Choice Selection of American Country Dances of the Revolutionary 
Era 1775-1795 by Kate Van Winkle Keller and Ralph Sweet.

Barrel of Sugar
triple proper

AA 1's hey on opposite sides, 1's cross back and cast to 2nd place at the end 
of the hey
BB 1's and 2's rights and lefts
AA 1's set to contrary corners
BB 1's lead out at the sides

Jonathan
-
Jonathan Sivier
Caller of Contra, English and Early American Dances
jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html
-
Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
A: It depends on what dance you call!

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Re: [Callers] 1820s-1830s Dances

[Jonathan Sivier]

On 3/17/2014 10:11 PM, rich sbardella wrote:

I am looking for some period dances that might have been danced in small New 
England towns in 1820-1830.  Should be easy enough for children.
Any suggestions?


   Authentic dances of the period and ones easy enough for children may 
be two different things.  In a small New England town they might have 
been doing contra dances.  Check Cracking Chestnuts by David Smukler and 
David Millstone.  The popular dances of that period would have been 
quadrilles.  The waltz was also being done as a couple dance, but was 
consider scandalous until the polka became popular in the mid-1840's. 
The Gallop came into popularity around 1829 so I suppose Galopede (or 
other similar dances) might be considered authentic for this period.



Also, does any know the steps to "Barrel of Sugar"?  Recommended music?


   It's in A Choice Selection of American Country Dances of the 
Revolutionary Era 1775-1795 by Kate Van Winkle Keller and Ralph Sweet.


Barrel of Sugar
triple proper

AA 1's hey on opposite sides, 1's cross back and cast to 2nd place at 
the end of the hey

BB 1's and 2's rights and lefts
AA 1's set to contrary corners
BB 1's lead out at the sides

Jonathan
-
Jonathan Sivier
Caller of Contra, English and Early American Dances
jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html
-
Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
A: It depends on what dance you call!

Re: [Callers] 1820s-1830s Dances

[Paul Wilde]

Rich,

Hi!  First thing that comes to mind is "Cracking Chestnuts" by David
Millstone & David Smuckler.  This is an excellent collection of dances
w/ fine historical (and ed) notes.

Paul Wilde

Re: [Callers] 1820s-1830s Dances

[Joseph Kwiatkowski]

Not sure if this helps or not.  From
http://hne-rs.s3.amazonaws.com/filestore/1/2/9/3/8_d2d018d2535cce5/12938_b5fbbebda6771cd.pdf

Barrel of Sugar. Haze on opposite Sides,
[4] Cross over I Cou. Right & left with
the upper Cou. [7] set Corners, [4] &
lead out at the Sides. [ 71]

Joe Kwiatkowski


On Tue, Mar 18, 2014 at 10:19 AM, Jim McKinney wrote:

> I don't know the dance but I know a tune called "Barrel of Sugar".  I
> learned it from Bob Hubbach.  I think he learned it from Dudley a long time
> ago.
> Jim
>
> T:Barrel of Sugar
> M:C|
> L:1/8
> K:G
> D>G|"G"B2 B2 "D"A2 A2|"G"B2 B>c "D"d2 g2|
> "G"G2 B>G "Am"A>B c>A|1 "G"B>G "D"A>F "G"G2:|2 "G"B>G "D"A>F "G"G2 B>d||!
> "G"g2 f2 "D"(3efe d2|"G"g>g f>g "D"e2 d2|"C"c2 B2 "Am"A>B c>A|"G"B>G
> "D"A>F "G"G2 B>d|!
> "G"g2 f2 "D"(3efe d2|"G"g>g f>g "D"a2 d2|"C"c2 B2 "Am"A>B c>A|"G"B>G
> "D"A>F "G"G2||!
>
> On Mar 17, 2014, at 11:11 PM, rich sbardella 
> wrote:
>
> > I am looking for some period dances that might have been danced in small
> New England towns in 1820-1830.  Should be easy enough for children.
> > Any suggestions?
> >
> > Also, does any know the steps to "Barrel of Sugar"?  Recommended music?
> >
> > Rich Sbardella
> > Stafford, CT
> >
> >
> > 
> > ___
> > Callers mailing list
> > call...@sharedweight.net
> > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> call...@sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>

Re: [Callers] 1820s-1830s Dances

[Jim McKinney]

I don’t know the dance but I know a tune called “Barrel of Sugar”.  I learned 
it from Bob Hubbach.  I think he learned it from Dudley a long time ago.
Jim

T:Barrel of Sugar
M:C|
L:1/8
K:G
D>G|"G"B2 B2 "D"A2 A2|"G"B2 B>c "D"d2 g2|
"G"G2 B>G "Am"A>B c>A|1 "G"B>G "D"A>F "G"G2:|2 "G"B>G "D"A>F "G"G2 B>d||!
"G"g2 f2 "D"(3efe d2|"G"g>g f>g "D"e2 d2|"C"c2 B2 "Am"A>B c>A|"G"B>G "D"A>F 
"G"G2 B>d|!
"G"g2 f2 "D"(3efe d2|"G"g>g f>g "D"a2 d2|"C"c2 B2 "Am"A>B c>A|"G"B>G "D"A>F 
"G"G2||!

On Mar 17, 2014, at 11:11 PM, rich sbardella  wrote:

> I am looking for some period dances that might have been danced in small New 
> England towns in 1820-1830.  Should be easy enough for children.
> Any suggestions?
> 
> Also, does any know the steps to "Barrel of Sugar"?  Recommended music?
> 
> Rich Sbardella
> Stafford, CT
> 
> 
> 
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> call...@sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

[Callers] Good ending dances

[joda_rogers]

I have a couple of things I look for.
One is that the dance should not involve any new figures.  A no-walk-through 
dance is ideal but not required.  Maybe some small part of it needs some 
instruction.  But the dancers are mentally tired and this is not the time to 
teach anything. 
Another is that it should have both partner and neighbor interaction. 
A third is that - depending on the band - the Band is likely to want to play 
their hottest set for the last dance.  And for me that means 2 things:
A) I generally do NOT call a medley for the last dance, because I want to let 
the music roll (see Alan's note below), and 
B) Anticipating that the music might be faster than usual, I try to avoid 
figures that are problematic when the music is fast.  That includes full heys 
and things like DSD once and a half.

On Mar 15, 2014, at 9:00 AM, callers-requ...@sharedweight.net wrote:

> Send Callers mailing list submissions to
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> 
> Today's Topics:
> 
>   1. Good ending dances (Kalia Kliban)
>   2. Re: Good ending dances (barb kirchner)
>   3. Re: Good ending dances (Linda Mrosko)
>   4. Re: Good ending dances (Alan Winston)
>   5. Re: Good ending dances (Jeff Kaufman)
>   6. Re: Good ending dances (Bree Kalb)
>   7. Re: Good ending dances (Rich Goss)
>   8. Re: Good ending dances (barbara...@aol.com)
> 
> 
> --
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 17:30:07 -0700
> From: Kalia Kliban 
> To: Caller's discussion list 
> Subject: [Callers] Good ending dances
> Message-ID: <53239f0f.3060...@sbcglobal.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
> 
> Time and again, I find myself wondering what makes a dance a good one 
> for ending an evening.  Looking at lists like Seth Tepfer's "Groovin' 
> Dances to End an Evening" 
> (http://www.dancerhapsody.com/handouts/DanceEndEvening3.pdf), it's hard 
> to see what the dances he singles out have in common with each other. 
> Some are balancey, some oozy, some have lots of swings, some only one, 
> levels of complexity vary widely, some end with a partner swing and some 
> don't...  Is it just a total crapshoot, a conjunction of a good tune and 
> happy dancers, or something actually inherent in the dance pattern?
> 
> Speak, o hive mind, upon this subject.
> 
> Kalia
> 
> 
> --
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 00:33:59 +
> From: barb kirchner 
> To: Caller's discussion list 
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Good ending dances
> Message-ID: 
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> 
> the perfect last dance is the one where dancers go away happy.
> 
> i tell the band to save their very best piece for last, and i call a really 
> easy dance.
> 
> that goes double for the end of the first half - EASY dance means beginners 
> go away feeling good, HOT music makes the regulars happy.  
> 
> barb  :-)
> 
> 
>> Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 17:30:07 -0700
>> From: ka...@sbcglobal.net
>> To: call...@sharedweight.net
>> Subject: [Callers] Good ending dances
>> 
>> Time and again, I find myself wondering what makes a dance a good one 
>> for ending an evening.  Looking at lists like Seth Tepfer's "Groovin' 
>> Dances to End an Evening" 
>> (http://www.dancerhapsody.com/handouts/DanceEndEvening3.pdf), it's hard 
>> to see what the dances he singles out have in common with each other. 
>> Some are balancey, some oozy, some have lots of swings, some only one, 
>> levels of complexity vary widely, some end with a partner swing and some 
>> don't...  Is it just a total crapshoot, a conjunction of a good tune and 
>> happy dancers, or something actually inherent in the dance pattern?
>> 
>> Speak, o hive mind, upon this subject.
>> 
>> Kalia
>> ___
>> Callers mailing list
>> call...@sharedweight.net
>> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
> 
> 
> --
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 20:26:47 -0500
> From: Linda Mrosko 
> To: "Caller's discussion list" 
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Good ending dances
> Message-ID:
>   

[Callers] 1820s-1830s Dances

[rich sbardella]

I am looking for some period dances that might have been danced in small New 
England towns in 1820-1830.  Should be easy enough for children.
Any suggestions?

Also, does any know the steps to "Barrel of Sugar"?  Recommended music?

Rich Sbardella
Stafford, CT