Victoria English Country Dance Society

Callers and . . . Dance Calling

 

The Invitation

 

For any local dancer -- a dance calling Feedback Book has been placed in the hall. Please feel free to enter requests or timely feedback of any kind (a dance or figure really enjoyed, a presentation or teaching approach enjoyed, or one that left one confused or uncomfortable, it's all fodder). One may also write the webmaster or any caller to submit this

VECDS callers may suggest/request posting of material thought useful for this page. Send to the webmaster 

VicECDS Caller schedule Winter/Spring 2013 - public 

Music for VECDS callers

Dance info

Local Resources

Sound advice

Music: When considering inclusion of a dance in one's program it is nice to ensure that our lovely musicians have the music available,  to support the dance and for their practise prior to the event

Please advise the band leader of your program by at least the Saturday prior to the week you're calling, earlier is better. The other callers also appreciate word of your program choices

There is no standardised format however some examples:

Indian Queen                   L2    2/2    D                108    AABB    B1.57 / PB53
Hambleton's Round O    L3    3/2    [Am]Cm    116    AB          B1.47 / PB43            TDPCD2-Am

They're longways sets, duple & triple minor, time signature, musical key [local key], tempo, music parts pattern, music for both is in Barnes I & The Playford Ball. HRO is on the second CD of The Dancehall Players, in Am. Below is a Whole Set dance for 3 couples, longways, 2s improper

Mrs. Pomeroy's Pavane    3L(2i)    2/2    Gm    95    AAB    B1.82 / CDSS Ch. Bolton coll.

At Dan's VECDS holds copies of Peter Barnes books of music for ECD Vol. I & II, also The Playford Ball - 103 Early English Country Dances. There is also a list of local copies of music notation held by our musicians for dances we often do, and a list of those tunes in a different key from that in Barnes

Is the music in Barnes? Some entries for country dance music show NIB, Not In Barnes, showing how the use of Peter's publications has become quite widespread. Take a look at the table of contents listed at Elderly Instruments for book I or II to see if the tune you need to tell our musicians about is or is NIB

If you are calling a new-to-us dance/piece of music please provide the music (hard or soft copy) to the band leader. It is often a kindness to discuss what that piece may be first, and earlier than might be the case with familiar program material

Music for the Charles Bolton Collection, along with the dance directions are hosted at CDSS.org

Some music decoding tools:

The amazing Dolmetsch - Music Theory Online pages, much by Dr. Brian Blood may prove useful. It is likely overkill for many callers, however there is a good coverage of musical keys (circle of fifths), time signatures, etc.

I use this Circle Of Fifths diagram quite a bit (found in a discussion about changing key signature at musescore.org)

Dance info:

Table of 500 dances with name, set format, key and tempo from Scott & Jenny's English Country Dance list. A local copy of this file annotated with our band's musical key annotations in square brackets

CDSS has books, you may wish to check out the ECD offerings. They also have several on-line libraries of folk and country dance direction & music, many hosted at the Univ. of New Hampshire. One ECD oriented one is the The Dancing Master, 1651-1728: An Illustrated Compendium, by Robert M. Keller. It has dance direction entries with interesting coded figures. Another is the Charles Bolton Collection, hosted at the CDSS site

Our collection of dance calling/teaching resources

VECDS holds copies of the following. Please submit any suggestions for inclusion in a future purchase, or information or material we hold that has been overlooked:

Dance sheet music:

The Barnes Book of English Country Dance Tunes ("Vol 1", "Blue Barnes")
Barnes Book of English Country Dance Tunes, Vol 2 ("Red Barnes")
The Playford Ball - 103 Early English Country Dances (uniquely contains historical context & directions, interpreted directions and music notation)

Dance directions: (new material)

A Finite Set of Calculated Figures, Vol. 6 : A Set of Fifteen English and American dances, by Gary Roodman (x2)
A Number of Calculated Figures: Dances from Gary Roodman
The Apted Book of Country Dances
Dance and Danceability : A Programme of Dances Published in Jane Austen's Time
Dances from Barnes Two
Fast Friends: Gary Roodman Dances for Vol. 15 of the CDS Boston Collection
Multiple Calculated Figures: Dances from Gary Roodman
New Friends: A Second Selection of Dances from Gary Roodman
Old Friends: A Selection of Dances from Gary Roodman
Pat Shaw Collection, Book 3
Binder & an interesting collection of material donated by David Gallop

Calling notes:

Dances for a Crowded Hall : Self-Contained English Dances
Notes on Teaching Country Dance, by Bruce Hamilton

Dance music recordings:

Compact Cassette tapes:
A large collection donated by David Gallop - index, now searchable

CD format: (new material)

The Apted and Other Country Dances : EFDSS Archive Series #1 (set of 2)
The CDS Boston English Dance Collection, Vol. 1: Favorites (aka Bare Necessities, Boston Centre Dance Series)
The CDS Boston English Dance Collection, Vol. 2: More Favorites
The CDS Boston English Dance Collection, Vol. 3: Simple Pleasures
The CDS Boston English Dance Collection, Vol. 4: Modern Treasures
The CDS Boston English Dance Collection, Vol. 5: At Home
The CDS Boston English Dance Collection, Vol. 7: By Request
The CDS Boston English Dance Collection, Vol. 9: Strong Roots
The CDS Boston English Dance Collection, Vol. 10: New Shoots
The CDS Boston English Dance Collection, Vol. 12: The Playford Ball
Impropriety: Vol 1: English Country dances of Brooke Friendly and Chris Sackett 
Persons Of Quality: Farnickle Huggy, & Next of Kynaston (for Andrew Shaw dance reconstructions)

Caller shared resources:

A few local callers are quite willing to loan publications or recordings that someone may learn to call a dance or build a dance program. Look for a possible listing here this year, or ask/post on the caller mailing list

Sound:

Stuck doing sound, along with calling? Why do it? Get some help!

Wondering how to respond to crys for change or soto voce suggestions that "something is wrong", "we can't hear you", or the classic, "turn it up"? It's less likely an issue with volume, more likely frequency adjustment or more appropriate microphone handling or alignment is required, by you. Speak closely and clearly into it, speak along it's long axis, aka "Don't hold it like an ice cream cone."

See Bob Mills' book All Mixed Up for some more ideas. Text for the revised ed. is freely available on-line, or for purchase from CDSS

Looking for some more technical info? Check out the Contra Sound (Contra SF) list/Group on Yahoo! (once a member one may search the useful material in the archives.)

Local dance  community "sound reinforcement types" include Trevor I., David C., Jeff M., David K., Alan L., JD and others. Several have gear for rent or use

To be placed on our Caller e-mail list please contact the webmaster