"Contra dance music takes its sound from a whole bunch of different influences," says contra dance musician Jeffrey Spero during our conversation on Zeitgeist Radio. "which is why it's very difficult to describe what contra dance music sounds like...Because it sounds like a whole bunch of different genres combined together to create its own genre."
So here it is: my attempt (in conjunction with Jeffrey, of course) to define contra dance... not through the moves or the dance itself, but through the music.
What makes a contra dance, musically?
Irish and Scottish
Irish and Scottish tunes are what a lot of people who dance would say the music is built upon. Check out this recording of Shetland Reels, which you could absolutely play at a dance and have a great evening.
On the Scottish side, Swiss Lassie is a tune you might hear. You can also listen to Jeffrey's phenomenal band The Syncopaths do a medley of The Hut on Staffin Island/Johnny Wilmot's Fiddle/Frank's Reel.
I had some Irish folk musicians on the podcast a while back, so if you want to hear more about this kind of music, check out our episode!
Quebecois and Cape Breton
Quebecois music, Jeffrey says, "is exceedingly happy... except when it isn't." One example on the happy side is a tune called Reel Ti Me. Jeffrey also called out the Reel de Saint Antoine.
On the less "happy" side, check out Evite Gabriele. This is one where as soon as it started playing I knew I'd danced to it many times!
For Cape Breton, Jeffrey recommends listening to the fiddler Natalie McMaster. She shares her own breakdown of what the Cape Breton style of music sounds like here, tying the music to the rugged coastline and faces of the people there.
Jeff also shared Andrea Beaton King Arthur's as an example of Cape Breton music. Personally I am obsessed - something about this tune sound absolutely lifts my spirits!
Northern and Southern US
Before our episode, Jeffrey was sharing examples of Northern and Southern US styles. When it came to the Northern style, I laughed "This sounds like NPR!" Sure enough, NPR uses a lot of this style in their interludes and stings... in fact, they've even used the Syncopath's music!
Dancing Bear is one we talked about in the episode (I just love this fiddler's presence in the video!). Hull's Victory is another.
" Southern tunes are gonna be much more based on fiddle and banjo," Jeffrey says. They are often recognizable by their names alone, which can lean into the delightfully absurd. Nail That Catfish to a Tree is case in point!
Rags and Pop and... digeridoo?
The genres above lay the foundation for contra dance, and are the vast majority of what you would hear at any dance. But as Jeffrey and I discussed, bands can get creative with other styles! They might throw in a version of the East Tennessee Blues or an arrangement of a pop song.
The Great Bear Trio is a contra dance band that likes to vary things up style-wise. I went looking for a version of their Beatles throwback that I had shared in my Zeitgeist Moment, but instead I found this ridiculous digeridoo piece. Yes, you could contra dance to that and it would be hilarious.
Here's the interesting part: while each of these styles have their own rich history, contra dance isn't that. Contra dance is an American dance, and even in the music "we Americanize everything," Jeffrey says. He elaborates:
There is a dance week that I played, and I played with a [brilliant Quebecois] fiddler from Montreal. And the way that I played was very different... as an accompanist you try to match what the lead instrument is doing. And so my style of playing was completely different.
And then for a contra dance, I could play the exact same tune with my contra dance musicians, and I would play it very differently because the other musicians in the band aren't Quebecois fiddlers. They are contra dance musicians.
Since each dance will use a medley of tunes, bands will pick and choose from each genre. In the interview Jeffrey goes into detail on how that process works, but my point here is the fluidity of genre-shifting is part of the creative process.
Contra dance is the ultimate American folk dance - a melting pot of styles that make your toes tap... and swing your neighbor on the side. So bust out your headphones and listen to some of the links in this email. If you're anything like me, your toes will be tapping in no time!
Happy listening!
Did you enjoy this topic?
Follow Jeffrey:
www.jeffreyspero.com
www.syncopaths.com
You can listen to my episode on Contra Dance Calling with Lindsey Dono here.
P.S. Jeffrey called out the Portland Collection as a resource for folks who play, or are interested in playing, this kind of music. Check it out here.
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