Contra Dance Musican’s Collaborative
This page contains information pertinent to the Contra Dance Musicians’ Collaborative.
The Collaborative is a support effort for musicians wishing to play for local contra dances. The Collaborative will offer information about dances in the greater southern Berkshire County area as well as opportunities to learn the craft of providing music for these venues.
We began with a workshop in April, 2023. Subsequent gatherings for musicians to practice playing tunes up to speed and in medleys happened in the following months. The Callers’ Club is a training ground for new dance callers and they have established a monthly dance to give those callers coaching and experience. Now musicians are invited to join them in learning to play for this dynamic art. Musicians will receive coaching and have opportunities to play.
Callers’ Club Dance invites
The Contra Musicians’ Collaborative
Second Sundays at UCC Church in Housatonic, MA
2pm - 5pm
The next dance is on March 10th.
Each month, an experienced coach will guide the instrumentalists through the 3 hour dance session. As a “student musician” in the band, you will learn how to:
match tunes to dances with specific elements in them
vary the presentation of instruments (not everyone plays the whole time)
create arrangements on the fly (hearing someone do a catchy rhythm then doing it yourself, and harmonizing the melody)
orchestrate the band into all rhythm or all melody for sections of the tune, and “minimizing” the melody to create drama, interest and variation
Aldo Lavaggi and the Musicians’ Collaborative at the October 8th Dance
Musicians can use these medleys to practice. Dance tempos range from 105 - 120 bpm (beats per minute). Set your metronomes and develop the feeling for a constant tempo. Build your stamina by playing tunes for increasing lengths of time; dances can last up to 12 minutes depending on the number of dancers! Imagine the movement around you, the rhythmic feet sounds, the articulations of the caller and the interactions of your band mates as you practice.
Sheet Music Packs
Contents of Packet #1:
Galopede/Curly Headed Ploughboy
The Gobbio/Coleraine
Going to Boston/Road to Boston
Highland Laddies in 3 Keys
McLenon’s Reel/Johnny Cope
Reigh of Love/The Wren
Contents of Packet #2:
Gigue des Sucres/Top of Cork Road
La Guenille/Catharsis
March of St. Timothy/Doon the Brae (Em)/Doon the Brae (Am)
The Moravian Star/SörensVals