Woodwind section, Oct 2024. Photo by Pat McGrath.

Next Open Band: Wednesday, October 29th

Bob Pasquarello leading
Liz Snowdon and Jenny Beer calling

Join in! Even if you can only play one tune and want to dance the rest. Musicians of all skill levels are invited to participate.

It is also Halloween night. If you're in the mood, come dressed as an English dance! Use your Barnes index for inspiration.

Program

Download these three Not-in-Barnes (NIB) tunes:

All other tunes are in the Blue (1), Red (2), or Green (3) Barnes books. You can buy the Barnes books either for ipad or in old fashioned spiral bound paper.

  1. Nampwich Fair   L • 6/8 D • Red • Video
  2. Childgrove   L • 2/2 Dm • Blue • Video
  3. The Boatman   3 • 6/8 C • Blue • Video
  4. Midwinter Maggot   L • 2/2 Dm • Green • Simplified PDF • Video
  5. Heidenröslein   4M • 3/4 G • Blue • Video
  6. Jack's Health   L • 6/8 Am • Blue • Video
    7. OR King of Poland   L • 6/8 Gm • Blue • Video
  7. Fast Packet   L • 4/4 D • Red • Video

  8. Sweet Potato Pie   L • 6/8 C • Green • Video
  9. Vines Entwined   L • 3/4 D • NIB Vines Entwined PDF • Video
  10. Twelfe Eve   3 • 2/2 Gm • Green (see Trip to Chippenham) • Transposed to AM • Video
  11. Cheshire Rounds   L • 3/2 D • Blue • Video
  12. Dancing Across the Atlantic   L • 6/8 Am/A • Green • Video
  13. La Valse des Pastouriaux   Waltz • Green (Sherry at the Ball) • Video

Please also review dances on the GCD Repertoire List which we ask all GCD musicians to learn.

How Open Band works

Practicing

  • Learn the tunes well enough that you can keep one eye on the Open Band leader for cues, and maybe occasionally watch the dancers.
  • GCD often holds jam practice sessions that will be announced here and on the GCD musicians' page. You can host a jam too (or just invite a few friends to play together).
  • You're welcome to dance for tunes that you'd rather not play.

Setting up

  • Bring your music and a music stand. (No mics for the evening, it's all acoustic)
  • 7:30 -- Arrive and set up in sections - strings, winds, squeezeboxes.
  • 7:45 -- Tuning up, band leader instructions
  • 8:00 -- The evening dance starts promptly!
  • 10:15 -- Please help clean up the area after the dance.

During & after the Dance

  • We are there to provide beautiful and dance-able music for the pleasure of the dancers.
  • Listen to each other. Give those taking a solo, duet, or trio round some quiet space so they can be clearly heard.
  • Keep an eye on the leader for guidance regarding: entrances, endings, dynamics, designation of what instruments are playing
  • 10:15 -- the dance ends. Help with putting everything back in place much appreciated. Open Band is a challenging night for our sound and set-up folks!

Questions? Email the