Found in the archive of shelved mater recordings was the music for Grand Square Quadrille with Frank Mesina's a accordion lead, in stereo. Yours to download, crank up and enjoy this music as never before. It is reproduced here without the usual compression needed for vinyl recordings. Don Ward
This is another example of hashing a visiting couple dance from a live music dance in 1949. Bud Udick takes a dozen basic moves and transformes them into non stop fun.
Also take notice of the music; Its in your face. It has a melody that gives the caller great backing he can sing with or use as patter. The use of 1/4 notes for a quick paced tempo. One of the advantages is dancers take smaller steps with this tempo. In Buds choreography dancers have to keep it tight with quick steps. Theres no time to linger! If you have some "hot" dancers play this for a challenge and see how well they do. Don Ward
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Jigs and Reels were once considered the norm for any kind of "Barn Dance". Today you will mostly find them played at the Traditional Square and Contra dances. However, I find it interesting the intensity and tempo that was recorded prior to the rebirth of Square Dancing in the late 1940's.
This 1938 Victor recording is a typical example of "barn Dance" music from that period. Don Ward
Here is a great look at a typical open dance recorded at the Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
From the timing of the calls, the "do si do" Bud calls seems more in line with the renamed "Do Paso" as Western Square dancing called it. Don Ward
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For all to enjoy here is Dick Leger's music, "Marianne", from the Folkraft recording directed by Frank Kaltman (#1282 78rpm).
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Portland Fancy can be used with almost any expertise of dancer. Its a great couple mixer in that there is no confusion when loosing a partner over and over.
I am posting 4 different musical versions. The first is a historical 1917-18 recording by the Victor Military Band, heard here. It is idntified as a "community Dance".
I thought you might like to hear the original version of Bye Bye My Baby, played by the composer Frankie Yankovic, the Polka King.
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Bye Bye My Baby (Grand Square Quadrile) is such great music played by Jack Barbour, piano and Frank Mesinna, accordion Im sure many of my music room guests would enjoy just the music, so here it is.
The original tune was written by the Polka King, Frankie Yankovic. Ill post his version also.
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From New England Chestnuts 2, Alcazar recording, O'Donal Abhu for the Buffalo Quadrille.
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Buffalo Quadrille is another of the early MWSD dances. Written by Ed Gilmore in the early 50's it has mostly been forgotten. The dance became popular to the tune "Knights Bridge March", with music played by Jack Barbour. Duke Miller from New Hampshire prompted the dance to the music "O'Donal Abhu. Which I will also post by Rodney and Randy Miller. You can decide which tune your dancers would enjoy most.
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