Cd Review of Windy Gyle Music From the Heart of Northumberland
Review – Baz Parkes with The Old Bridge Specials, 18 January 2020
Is it a barn dance, an English language Country Trip the light fantastic toe, a ceilidh, a square dance, or is it a host of other names? The expletive of dancing dances from the rich and varied catechism of English language dance to English tunes is that it does not have a unique and descriptive moniker. None of the to a higher place draw the energetic enjoyment of dancing relatively simple figures to bouncy, hummable tunes many of which have been played for centuries.
A couple of groups of new dancers came along to the Ryburn 3 Pace Barn Dance at Waring Light-green on Saturday and discovered for themselves how much fun yous tin accept on a Sabbatum dark with your apparel on.
This was non serendipity. The Sometime Bridge Specials are a convivial bunch of enthusiastic and talented musicians who meet weekly on Monday evenings at the Quondam Span Inn in Ripponden, (cheers to Tim and Lindsay for their support and indulgence) and, between putting the world to rights, play a range of mainly Northern English tunes. Sat's repertoire was drawn from the about popular of these and included sets such equally the Seneca Reel and John Brown's March, the Curlew and Kirkgate Hornpipe, Jamie Allen and Because he was a Attractive Lad, Stan Treacey's Waltz and the Swedish Waltz.
The Quondam Bridge Specials were:
Johnny Adams – keyboards and fiddle;
Chris Partington – dabble;
Andy Day – Concertina;
Trevor Whittam – Harmonica;
Alan Taylor – Guitar
Particular thanks to Johnny Adams and Chris Partington who were responsible not only for mixing the excellent sound just also for their work on the Village Music Project which has unearthed many fine trip the light fantastic toe tunes from old and sometimes forgotten manuscripts, some of which were played on Saturday.
Every bit for the dances themselves, these were called with humor and wit by one of our favourite callers. Baz Parkes is simply a summit caller and on Sabbatum he steered both novices and experts through a varied repertoire of English Dances. These included the Holmfirth Square, La Russe, 4 Jolly Sheepskins, Cumberland Square 8, the Norfolk Lomg Dance, the St Bernards Flit, the Cornish 6 Hand Reel, la Bastringue, Eddie Upton's Chancellor'southward Adieu and Heartbreaker (written by Pete Coe.) Some of these are not piece of cake dances only a willing crowd threw themselves into information technology and eventually mastered them. Yet another great nighttime.
Steve Jones
Review – The Grand New year's day's Eve Dance with Pete Coe and the Black Box Big Band, 31 December 2019
The Grand New Years Eve Dance for 2020, on 31 December 2019 at the Waring Dark-green Community Centre in Brighouse attracted a full house of enthusiastic dancers. Information technology was especially good to meet so many family groups enjoying a warm and friendly party with dancing and enough of hygge (!) on New Years Eve.
Music was provided past the Black Box Big Ring, which comprised Johnny Adams and Chris Partington on fiddles, Chris Coe on hammer dulcimer, Alice Jones on keyboard, Michael Beeke on tuba and English bagpipes, and Andy Mean solar day on concertina. El maestro Pete Coe compéred the evening and chosen the dances, occasionally adding a melodeon into the mix. Altogether a powerful sound was created to bulldoze a range of English country dances including some created by schools (Zetland Circle Dance, Athelstan'due south Crown) some written past Pete (Heartbreaker) and many other old favourites from around the country (Cumberland Long Eight, Westfield Iv Star and Nottingham Swing to name but a few).
Michael Beeke played in the New year on English language Bagpipes with Auld Lang Syne. (And did y'all know that the Great Pipes do not accept the range necessary to play the Scottish melody to the song simply that Michael'southward English pipes do?)
Many cheers to all the dancers who came and supported Ryburn 3 Step in a fantastic dark to offset the New year, and peculiarly those who stayed at the end of the night to help clear up. And cheers to the Ryburn iii Step musicians, commission and supporters whose efforts culminate in terrific evenings similar this. Happy New year's day everybody!!
Steve Jones
Review – Ryburn Family Barn Dance with Rosie Bryce and the Barley Cote Band, fourteen December 2019
The Village Trip the light fantastic toe in the Victoria Hall, Ripponden on Sabbatum 14 Dec gave u.s.a. a great evening of dancing to the Barley Cote Band, with a lovely set of dances called by Rosie Bryce. An enthusiastic and beholden group of dancers young and old braved the elements and enjoyed the wonderful music and dances.
The Barley Cote Ring comprises:
Chris Partington on fiddle;
Anahata on melodeon;
Mary Humphreys on keyboard.
Rosie Bryce chosen the dances and she is unusual amid the local callers in that her calling is non-gender specific. Many of the dances she called were were tried and trusted favourites, many of which required some skill to negotiate. (eastward.grand., Dashing White Sergeant) and none the worse for that. Some of the dances were incomparably ambitious (east.g. Wringing out the Washing) and these required several runs before dancers were able to follow them. For well-nigh every dance the floor was full and the seats were empty!
With three such vastly experienced musicians, the music was e'er going to be good. It is well known in ceilidh circles that dancers don't register the tunes they are dancing to (unless they are atrocious.) Well, the Barley Cote Band were and so good, I can recall but i set of tunes, Bill Hall'south One and 2 which were played for the Holmfirth Foursquare. Their selection of tunes and the stride were perfect and they kept us dancing right to the end at ten:30.
At the Ripponden Hamlet dances nosotros provide refreshments which are available for a donation. Thanks to the members of Ryburn Longsword who baked the delicious cakes, served out the teas and coffees, and decorated the hall with festive strings of party lights.
Rosie'due south Dances included:
Whitby Square
An Orcadian Strip the Willow
Boston Tea Party
OXO
Snowball
Wringing out the Dishrag
Dashing White Sergeant
La Russe
Holmfirth Square
Steve Jones
REVIEW – Dance with Sue Coe and Morgan Rattler 16 November 2019
The November 2019 Barn Dance at Waring Green Community Center was refreshingly well-attended with many of our regular dancers plus a contingent from Brighouse who were new to ceilidh dancing. It was a lovely evening for all.
Caller for the evening was Ryburn 3 Step stalwart Sue Coe. Sue has bags of experience of calling dances for dancers of varying power and confidence.
The evening's dancers needed no encouragement. Sue chose to call dances that the children and the less experienced adults were readily able to learn (the list is below) and which were also interesting to trip the light fantastic toe..
Music was provided by two thirds of Morgan Rattler which comprised Gordon Tyrrall on guitar and flute and Robin Shepherd on melodeon and dabble (only non at the same time). Withal, in that location was a note of consternation when Gordon looped his guitar and started to play the flute as at that place then appeared to be more than instruments in the mix that there were ring members! Interesting.
Many of the tunes were onetime favourites from the English language tune repertoire (including the eponymous "Morgan Rattler") and some were from other parts of the U.k., all played with precision and plenty of elevator which was great for the dancers.
So, another practiced night with well-chosen dances and terrific musicianship brought to you lot by Ryburn 3 Step. Next month's Barn Trip the light fantastic toe is a Village Dance in Ripponden at the Victoria Hall on December 14th starting at seven:30. More item on our website Here
Included in the dances Sue chosen were:
Circassian Circle
Cumberland Long Eight
Grapevine Twist
Buttered Peas
Holmfirth Square
The Circle Waltz
Nottingham Swing
Barley Break
Soldiers Joy
QuorndonHill
Cumberland Square Eight
Steve Jones
Trip the light fantastic toe with Pauline Jones and the Alice Band, on 19 October 2019.
What a nifty style to kickoff the new Ryburn 3 Step dance season at Waring Green Community Centre in Brighouse!
Caller Pauline Jones interspersed well-known and relatively simple country dances with a couple of French dances (a ii-fourth dimension bourree and a four-person schottische). The Alice Band, with Alice Jones on keyboard, clarinet and tenor guitar and Michael Beeke on bagpipes played an entertaining mix of English and French tunes with imagination, precision and style.
Pauline's dances included the following:
Galopede
Farmers Jig
Mr Foxton'southward Fancy
Witches Reel
Cloverleaf Jig
Goathland Foursquare eight
Quorndon Colina
Chapeloise
Muffin Mans Jig
Circle Waltz
Steve Jones
Dance with Sid Calderbank and "Our Northern Branch" on twenty April 2019.
There were effectually l happy bunnies (!) hopping around at Ryburn 3 Footstep's Easter Saturday dance, enjoying Sid Calderbank'due south option of great dances, and the music of "Our Northern Branch" on twenty April at Waring Green Customs Centre.
Sid Calderbank is a cracking caller and gave united states some Lancashire dialect monologues (which were nearly comprehensible to the states Yorkshire folk …). "Our Northern Branch ("Chris Partington, Johnny Adams, Paul Roberts, Dee de Witt, and invitee fiddler Claire all the manner from Thaxted) created a lovely string band audio. Quite a few of the dancers come along regularly, then there was enough of guidance available for those who were less well practised.
And then thanks to all who have supported our Barn Dances over the last 12 months. That'south it for the 2018-xix Ryburn 3 Step Dance programme, the adjacent trip the light fantastic toe is on 19 October. Take a adept dancing summer, run across you in October.
Dance with Michelle Holding and the "Monkey Box" Band on 16 March 2019.
If anyone tells you that English Ceilidh Dancing is in decline, the Ryburn Barn Dance on Saturday 16th March was proof that they are wrong; information technology is alive and rocking – at least it is in Brighouse. A skillful crowd of dancers braved the flooded roads and were treated to a brilliant nighttime of music and trip the light fantastic.
Tom Kitching is a phenomenal dabble player and he brought with him Peter Crowther on bass guitar and the eccentric talent that is Edwin Beasant, playing melodeon and harmonica; collectively they are known every bit Monkey Box .
The audio they produced was glorious (Credit to Heather on the audio desk) mixing old favourites with self-penned tunes, highlights existence Peters lyrical bass, Tom's waltz for a dance chosen "Follow on Marianne" and some slick harmonica licks from Edwin.
Michelle Holding is acquiring a reputation in ceilidh circles for her intelligent, sympathetic calling and her gear up humour. On Saturday she showed that she also has an extensive repertoire of dances which she calls with precision and confidence.
Mixed in with old favourites like the "Circassian Circumvolve", "Steamboat", and the "Old Swan Gallop" were dances new to me; "Helly Owens" by Jane Bird, "Uptown" from the Dartmoor Pixies and "Offa's Dyke" (among others).
So, another hugely enjoyable evening, courtesy of a sprung dance floor, a talented trio of musicians and a smashing caller; y'all should have been there!
Steve Jones
Waring Green Dance with Sue Coe and the Four Manus Ring on 17 February 2019
A expert crowd of almost 50 dancers turned upward at Waring Dark-green Community Heart on a surprisingly mild Sat nighttime for the monthly Ryburn iii Footstep Befouled Trip the light fantastic, which featured the Four Hand Band and caller Sue Coe on xvi February.
The Four Hand Band is a duo consisting of Mary Humphreys on keyboard and Anahata on melodeon. Both are talented musicians who excel in a range of traditional musical skills and their performance on Saturday combined a solid trip the light fantastic-able rhythm with inventive lines around a range of well-chosen ceilidh tunes.
Sue Coe is familiar to Ryburn 3 Step ceilidh goers equally the caller for the Black Box band and other local ceilidh bands. She called a mix of well-known dances such Bridge of Athlone, Buttered Peas and Nottingham Swing, dances made up by some of the schools in which Sue has taught (Westfield Four Star, Zetland Circle Dance) and some less well-known dances. The evening concluded with everyone on the dance flooring for Soldiers Joy.
Steve Jones
Waring Green Barn Trip the light fantastic with Pauline Jones and The Old Bridge Specials 19 January 2019
On a chilly, damp evening in the middle of January, a hardy group of dancers gathered at the Waring Dark-green Community Centre and enjoyed an evening of music and dancing courtesy of Ryburn 3 Stride stalwarts Pauline Jones and the "Sometime Bridge Specials", musicians who regularly meet to play at the melody session at the Old Span Inn, Ripponden on Mon evenings. The band consisted of:
Trevor Whittall – Tremolo Harmonica
Alan Taylor – Guitar
Pete Coe – Melodeon
Andy 24-hour interval – English Concertina
Johnny Adams – Piano and Dabble
Chris Partington – Fiddle
who together (with the help of the splendid sound engineers Johnny and Chris) produced a wonderful, full audio that filled the hall.
Pauline called a variety of dances that were intended to appeal to experienced dancers as well as being accessible to those who were new to English ceilidhs:
Farmers Jig; 4 Couple Longways
Mrs Foxton's Fancy; Double Circle
The Oak Tree; iii Couple Longways
Borrowdale Exchange; 3 Couple Circle
Steamboat; Longways for equally many equally..
Chapeloise; Double Circle
Witches Reel; 4 Couple Longways
Sweets of May; Sicilian Circle
Double Gloucester; six Couple Longways
Lucky 7; Circle Trip the light fantastic
Muffin Mans Jig; Double Circle
Circle Waltz; Circle Trip the light fantastic toe
Thanks to all who came along, dancers and performers, for a friendly and enjoyable evening.
Steve Jones
Grand New year's Eve Dance 2018
All tickets for the New Year'southward Eve were sold some fourth dimension agone and, come the night, the hall was packed with enthusiastic dancers. Some were Ryburn Barn Dance regulars and some were at a barn trip the light fantastic for the showtime time.
Equally usual, the band for the dance was The Black Box Big Band fabricated up of Ryburn iii Stride stalwarts and comprised Alice Jones on piano, Chris Partington and Johnny Adams on fiddles, Chris Coe on hammer dulcimer and Michael Beek on tuba. Most of the tunes were quondam favourites (Lemonville, Quarryman, Four Seasons, Morpeth Rants (one-time and new) Bill Halls (1 and 2), Paddy Carey's etc.) and beautifully played at spot-on dancing speed.
Once once again, Pete Coe was our caller. Pete has a broad repertoire of dances and selected a program that alternated easier and more than complicated dances. The dance floor was full for every dance and even the ceilidh novices soon picked up the figures (with a lilliputian assistance from the regulars).
Midnight was greeted with the traditional rendition of Auld Lang Syne, sung to the absolutely English bagpipes (shut your eyes and you could imagine they were Great Pipes) followed past the last trip the light fantastic, Soldiers Joy.
Thanks to dancers who stayed backside to assist clear up the hall and thanks again to Ryburn 3 Footstep for neat night.
The dances which Pete called included:
Boston Ii Step
Lancashire Reel
Flying Scotsman
Cumberland Long viii
Quornden Hill
Westfield 4 Star
Torriburn Lassies
Morpeth Rant
Zetland Circle Dance
Holmfirth Foursquare
Willow Tree
Buttered Peas
Nottingham Swing
Willow Tree
Holmfirth Square
Iii Meet
Soldiers Joy
Steve Jones.
Granny'southward Attic with Barry Goodman 8 December 2018
What a night we had in the Victoria Hall, Ripponden, last night! A large oversupply of dancers; regulars and novices, local and from many miles away, came to enjoy themselves and get into the festive mood as nosotros approach Christmas time.
Granny's Cranium, comprising Lewis on fiddle, George on guitar and Cohen on melodeon, are ascent stars of the folk club and festival scene. Barry Goodman is the perfect caller for these occasions; he chosen a lovely range of dances which were slightly out-of-the-ordinary simply easy to practise with his guidance. With his spot-on calling and lightly humorous encouragement he had the dancers in the palm of his paw.
Granny's Attic are the platonic Folk Dance band. With huge musical talent and ability, they play sets of tunes for the dances which range from the unusual to the well-known. Their sound is full and their way is total of excitement and enthusiasm – great to dance to, and slap-up to heed to besides.
The Victoria Hall was seasonally decked out with pretty lights, bunting, and a fabled Christmas tree. Hot drinks, mince pies and cakes fabricated by the Ryburn Longsword dancers were available (for a small donation!), and to crown information technology all Granny's Cranium played out with a prepare of Christmas carols similar what you've never heard before…….
Thanks to the R3S organisers and to Johnny Adams and Chris Partington for providing the PA. It was a perfect evening.
Andy Twenty-four hour period.
Posthumous Drape with John Brown 17 November 2018
The second Ryburn 3 Step barn dance of the 2018 -nineteen flavor took identify in the Waring Dark-green Community Centre on November 17th. Our caller was John Brown from Sheffield who has called for us on a number of occasions and never disappointed.
Music was provided by Posthumous Curtain, which comprises Alice Jones and James Tween. James plays melodeon and has a fine repertoire of tunes gleaned from the playing of many classic bands and arranged by him in well thought out pairings. Allied with Alice'southward percussive and inventive piano accessory the outcome was both danceable and listenable music.
A sizeable dancing audience including a number of newcomers to the dance series (some of them beginners) were guided through a very interesting programme of dances past John Brown, whose easy and humorous style of calling put everybody at ease. The dances included a couple of classics – the traditional Cornish Six Hand Reel and Hugh Rippon'south Willow Tree, and:
Boston tea political party – five couple longways
Fairfield Fancy – Sicilian circle
Land bumpkin – 5 couple longways
Dearest John (Mary Panton Strip) – four couple longways
Waves of Tory – five couple longways
Chapeloise– circle trip the light fantastic toe
Strip the willow square – 4 couple square
Sicilian swirl – Sicilian circle
A good dark!
Johnny Adams and Steve Jones
Johnny Adams
Swift Nick with Pauline Jones 21 Apr 2018 
The last Ryburn three Step Family Barn Dance of the 2017 – xviii season took identify on April 21st in its usual venue, the Waring Light-green Community Center. Despite a modest turnout of dancers, dancers were treated to a neat evening of music and dance.
Pauline Jones is a regular at Waring Green and put together a programme of dances that have rarely had an ambulation from other callers. These included all of the listing below. And Pauline'south option of dances was conspicuously pop equally near dances involved all or near all the audience. Equally usual, she quickly established a rapport with both band and dancers and the whole evening was good-humoured, energetic and entertaining.
Chanctonbury Ring Circle
Farmers Jig 4 Couple longwise
The Oak Tree 3 Couple Longwise
Borrowdale Commutation three Couple circumvolve
Mrs Foxtons Double circle
Witches Reel iv Couple Longwise
Lucky Vii Circle
Steamboat Longwise Couple
Rebeccas Roundabout Lines of three
Chapeloise Couple circle
Weavers Jig Sicilian Circumvolve
Muffin Mans Jig Couple Circle
Steve Jones
Our Northern Branch with Benny Graham 17 February 2018
The Family Barn Trip the light fantastic at the Waring Green Customs Centre on Saturday February 17th was well-attended and dancers were rewarded with a roster of familiar dances, some fine fiddle playing and a hefty dose of Tyneside wit.
Johnny Adams and Chris Partington, doyens of the Hamlet Music Project, were ably accompanied past Dee Dewitt on cello to reproduce an authentic Hamlet Cord Band sound using some of the Village Music Project tunes. In addition, there were renditions of tunes rarely heard at these dances including "Blaydon Races", for the dance of the same name, and for authenticity in dancing the Gay Gordons, "Scotland the Brave".
Benny Graham is well-known for his excellent singing and his role as singer and songwriter in the Pitman Poets. Every bit a caller he brought a touch of self-deprecating geordie humor to proceedings and was happy to rely by and large on tried and trusted dances. This was helpful to the many Barn Trip the light fantastic novices on the floor. An boosted treat was an acapella rendition of "The Snowfall that Melts the Soonest". All in all, another swell night of dancing and music enjoyed by all.
Benny chosen the following dances:
Blaydon Races – Circumvolve dance couples
Bridge of Athlone – 5 couple longwise
Holmfirth Square – four couple square
St Bernard'south Waltz – Couple dance
Siege of Carrick – Sicilian Circle couples
Stoke Golding Land Dance- 4 couple longwise
Gay Gordons – Couple dance
Dashing White Sergeant – Sicilan Circle triples
Circle Waltz – Circle trip the light fantastic
Westmorland Cottages – Sicilian Circle couples
Canadian Befouled Dance – Circumvolve dance for couples
Steve Jones
New year's Eve Dance – The Black Box Big Band with Pete Coe 31 Dec 2017
Ryburn iii Step danced away the terminal few hours of 2017 with a thoroughly enjoyable befouled trip the light fantastic at the Waring Light-green Community Centre in Brighouse.
As usual, the band was the Black Box Large Band which featured Black Box regulars Chris Partington (fiddle), Alice Jones (piano) and Steve Harrison (melodeon) ably supported past Johnny Adams (fiddle), Chris Coe (hammer dulcimer) and Michael Beeke (tuba and bagpipes).
A sell-out oversupply was treated to a host of familiar tunes played with verve and imagination including terrific versions of the Curlew and the Kirkgate Hornpipe (for the dance Clopton Bridge), Tommy Beadles and Earl Grayness (for the Westfield Four Star) and Trip to Knaresborough and The Ball (for the Zetland Circumvolve Dance).
The New Year was heralded by the singing of the Wassail Vocal and greeted with everyone on the dance flooring, joining hands and singing Auld Lang Syne led past Michael Beeke on bagpipes.
At the end of the nighttime there was universal approval of the venue and rousing thanks for the band and loud applause for the caller. It will be another twelve months before the next New year's Eve trip the light fantastic but for those who cannot wait that long, at that place are Ryburn 3 Pace Befouled Dances every third Saturday virtually months of the yr.
Steve Jones
Ripponden Village Christmas Dance ix Dec 2017
The Ripponden Village Christmas Dance at the Victoria Hall, Ripponden on Saturday 9 December was a swell mode to start the run up to the Festive Season.
Thank you to all those who braved the icy common cold to come along, the band "Offcuts", John Brown the caller, Ryburn Longsword who brought cakes and provided hot drinks and festive decorations and did 2 brandish dances during the interval, and Steve and Pauline who organised it.
Andy Day
The Phoenix Trip the light fantastic toe Band with Baz Parkes 21 October 2017
The second Family Befouled Trip the light fantastic of the new Ryburn three Step season took place at the usual location, Waring Green Community Centre, on Saturday October 21st. Multi-instrumentalist and Ryburn iii Step Chair, Steve Harrison was celebrating a significant birthday and the Waring Greenish regulars were joined not only by a some new dancers but likewise by friends and family of the birthday boy.
We were treated to some fabulous music from the highly achieved Phoenix (I recommend you cheque out their new CD "All Fired Up", which provided some of the tune sets we enjoyed on Sat) and a range of great dances dished upward with a liberal blanket of Baz Parkes' wit and wisdom.
Baz called a variety of dances which included the following
Holmfirth Foursquare – Square sets
Atlantic Hornpipe – 3 couple longwise
Iii Hand Star (Nibs Matthews) 3 facing 3 around the room
Ripples on the Teign (BobCann) v couple longwise
Clopton Span – four couple longwise
Staffordshire Knot (Dave Hunt) 3 couple longwise
Four Jolly Sheepskins – iv couple longwise
La Bastringue – 3 couple longwise
The Phoenix Dance Band are:
Kevin Brownish – pianoforte
Steve Harrison – harmonicas
Mike Pinder – Fiddle
Rod Stradling – Melodeons
Fran Wade – Fiddle
The side by side Family unit Barn Dance at Waring Dark-green is on Saturday November 18th when the band will be Tenterhooks and the caller is Sarah Clough. More information HERE .
Steve Jones
Posthumous Curtain with Pauline Jones 29 September 2017
The Ryburn 3 Step dance programme got under mode on Friday September 29th with a Village Trip the light fantastic at the Victoria Hall in Ripponden. Some years ago, Ryburn iii Pace ran monthly dances in the Central Hall which were well-attended and fondly remembered by many in the village. A trip the light fantastic toe at the Ripponden Victoria Hall in March this year, organised by Ryburn Longsword, was successful and justified setting up a couple more dances; this one on 20 September and another on December 9th. We hope yous volition come along and bring together us there.
The ring was a trio of young musicians sporting the proper noun "Posthumous Curtain" which comprised James Tween on melodeon, Michael Beeke on English bagpipes, recorder and tuba, and Alice Jones on pianoforte and whistle. The caller was Pauline Jones who helped to organise the consequence. Pauline chosen a variety of dances with dissimilar configurations (lines, squares, circles) and varying levels of difficulty. I or two dances seemed to cause collective bug of numeracy and orientation; for instance in Lucky Seven the education to concatenation past half dozen dancers and swing the 7th was interpreted in a variety of ways and mild anarchy ensued. Notwithstanding, on the whole, the good people of Ripponden displayed sufficient dancing prowess to consummate most of the dances as chosen and all credit to them for that.
The organisers had hoped that the dance would appeal to a range of ages and abilities and, to their delight, there were family unit groups with immature children, groups of friends, couples and people who came on their own. Pauline stressed that the English Land Dance etiquette was relaxed and that it was OK for would-be dancers without a partner to ask whatever of those sitting out to trip the light fantastic toe. Equally, if, after being asked, the request is declined, that is OK too and should not be taken as personal rejection.
A full dance flooring and brilliant smiles of enjoyment indicated that a good fourth dimension was being had past 1 and all and the most common reaction of those leaving was to say how much they had enjoyed themselves and to ask when will the side by side dance be held.
Steve Jones
Tenterhooks with Sue Coe 15 April 2017
The Ryburn iii Step Barn Dances always take place on the 3rd Saturday in the month from Oct through to April which was Easter Saturday this year. Although some of our regular dancers were away on holiday, we had a good number of dancers and an enjoyable evening's dancing.
Caller Sue Coe recently received a gold honour from the English Folk Dance and Song Guild, in part for her work in promoting traditional English dance in schools up and down the state. Sue encourages the children to create their ain dances and nosotros were treated to iii of these; 'Westfield Four Star', 'Railtrack' and the 'Zetland Circle Trip the light fantastic toe' (the latter with its distinctive clapping pattern which is harder than it looks). Many of the other dances were favourites such as 'Span of Athlone' and 'Clopton Bridge', and the evening was rounded off with everyone on the dance floor for 'Soldiers Joy'.
Tenterhooks provided a varied range of tunes which were well-matched to the dances. Specially enjoyable was the pair of Lakeland jigs selected for the Circassian Circumvolve called 'Liberty for the Sailors' and 'Kendall Ghyll'. 'Barley Break' was pushed along in fine style past the jigs 'Trip to the Lakes' and 'Whip her and Gird her' and the diverse combinations of instruments gave a pleasing diverseness to the music.
This dance was Ryburn 3 Pace's final barn dance of the 2016-7 flavor and the 2017-eight flavor begins on Oct 21st with Baz Parkes and Phoenix. However, in that location will exist dances at Waring Green on May 20th and September 16th courtesy of Dave Webster.
The Tenterhooks Band line-upward was:
Chris Partington – fiddle
Paul Roberts – fiddle and border pipes
Johnny Adams – pianoforte and dabble
Sue's dances included:
Circassian Circle – single circle
Buttered Peas – Sicilian circle
Bridge of Athlone – iv couple longwise
Holmfirth Foursquare – 4 couple square
Zetland Circumvolve Dance – double circle
Cumberland Long Viii – four couple longwise
Cumberland Foursquare Eight – 4 couple foursquare
Westfield Four Star – Sicilian circle
Barley Break – 4 couple longwise
Circle Waltz – single circumvolve
Grapevine Twist – 4 couple square
Railtrack – 4 couple longwise
Clopton Bridge – iv couple longwise
Steve Jones.
The Black Box Band with Pete Coe xviii March 2017
Concluding nighttime's befouled trip the light fantastic at Waring Green featured the stalwarts of Ryburn 3 Pace the Black Box Band with caller Pete Coe, and highlighted the organisation'southward delivery to keeping English language Land Dance alive in W Yorkshire. Declining numbers attending (and consequently revenue from) the Waring Greenish dances have meant that we are now focussing on booking local bands (and on occasions local callers) to reduce travelling costs. Since W Yorkshire has several excellent bands we have been able to maintain the quality of the dances.
The oversupply who came to the trip the light fantastic final nighttime certainly did not leave disappointed. Pete Coe has decades of feel playing and calling for befouled dances and he used that expertise to construct an interesting and varied plan. The evening was topped and tailed with old favourites the Boston Ii Step and Soldiers Joy. In betwixt we had dances from Scotland (Foulla Reel), Lancashire (Lancashire Reel) and, closer to home, Jack the Lad, which was collected in Barkisland and (uniquely, I call up) has a curious "window wiping" clapping sequence. Interspersed were some of Pete's ain dances (Black Hole, 200 Not Out – extemporised at a birthday dance for iv fifty year former friends and Athelstan's Crown -which was devised with the help of pupils from Athelstan'due south Inferior School).
The Black Box Band provided a solid musical platform for Pete's dances and while many of the tunes were old favourites (e.thou. Bielbie's and the Kirkgate Hornpipes, the Hesleyside and Roxburgh Castle reels, Helm White's and Four Seasons jigs), they were perfectly matched to the dances in terms of lift and speed. The musical highlight of the evening was the set played for 200 Non Out which comprised the Sadler's Wells and Butcher's Hornpipes. These lovely erstwhile tunes cascade lyrically over two octaves and were ideally suited to what is a rather stately trip the light fantastic.
Then, some other not bad evening of music and trip the light fantastic for which we should be very grateful to the skill and generosity of the Blackness Box Band and Pete Coe.
The last trip the light fantastic of the Ryburn 3 Pace series earlier the summer break takes place on Saturday April 15th and features caller Sue Coe together with the Tenterhooks Ring More INFO…
The Black Box Ring consisted of:
Steve Harrison on melodeon and harmonicas
Chris Partington on fiddle
Alice Jones on pianoforte
Pete's Dances included:
The Boston 2 Step – couple dance
The Lancashire Reel – couples in a big circle, progressive
Black Hole (Pete Coe) – 4 couple longwise
Jack the Lad – couples longwise for as many as will
Heartbreaker – couples square sets
Aethelstan's Crown – multiple couples in a circle
200 Not Out -Sicilian Circle couples (Pete Coe)
Flowers of Edinburgh – longwise for every bit many as will
Quarndon – Sicilian Circle couples (Roger Watson)
The Stone and the Wee Pickle Tow – 4 couple longwise
Foula Reel – 4 couple longwise
Three See – Sicilian Circle triples
Soldiers Joy – couples in a big circle
Steve Jones March 19th 2017
Ripponden Village Trip the light fantastic xi March 2017
The Victoria Hall in Ripponden thundered to the sound of dancing feet on Sat 11 March equally Ryburn 3 Pace staged two dances organised past the Ryburn Longsword Team.
Early in the evening, a family barn dance was well attended by over 50 local children and their parents. For 2 hours the children (and their parents) enjoyed some energetic dancing, singing, and refreshments (provided by Ripponden J&I School PTFA). Proceeds from ticket sales and refreshments exceeded £200 and this all went to the Ripponden J&I School PTFA who helped organise the consequence.
Live music was provided by the ring ' Offcuts ' (who are some of the musicians for Ryburn Longsword), and the dances were called by Pauline Jones and Sue Coe, both Ryburn Longsword dancers. English state dances like Buttered Peas were interspersed with dances from further afield such as a Farandole (a French chain dance from Provence) and Pas de Loup played and chosen by bagpiper Michael Beeke. During the interval, local folk singer, Chris Coe lead a couple of songs accompanied past signing in Makaton (a visual linguistic communication that uses signs and symbols to aid communication).
Later that evening, 'Grown-up' dancers enjoyed a range of English dances once again called by Sue and Pauline. Music for the dances, played by the ring 'Offcuts', included a diversity of traditional popular tunes including 'Parson'due south Goodbye' from Playford, 'Because he was a Bonny Lad' from the Northumbrian piping tradition and polkas from France and Kingdom of belgium.
Ryburn Longsword dancers gave a display of Longsword dancing during the interval.
If you lot would like to notice out more about Longsword Dancing in Ripponden (children and adults) expect Here….
Heartfelt thanks were expressed to the Bourgeois Club for the generous hall hire terms and excellent bar staff, to the Ripponden Co-op for raffle prizes, and of grade to the members of Ryburn Longsword and their partners who set up, cleared abroad, and generally did the ass piece of work.
' Offcuts ' consisted of:
Michael Beeke on bagpipes and recorder
Alice Jones on keyboard
Ruth Eccles on whistle
Andy Mean solar day on English concertina
Steve Jones on octave mandolin
Steve Jones
The Black Box Band with Dave Hunt 21 Jan 2017
A good crowd turned out for the January Barn Trip the light fantastic at Waring Green and they were treated to a fine evening of music and dancing.
Caller Dave Hunt has many years of dance calling experience and is a regular visitor to Calderdale. We were treated to some dances written past Dave, including Shifting Sands (named afterwards his wife) and his popular Waterloo Trip the light fantastic toe to the tune of the same name. Dave too introduced dances with unusual figures such equally the double-backed chain in Bob Cann's Sicilian Circumvolve Dance and the North State Ladies Chain in the Rifleman. As we take come to wait from Dave, he encouraged a certain element of mayhem in dances such as Three around Three and the Garland Square and if you lot are ever in a set and he claims that the Boston Tea Political party can exist danced past more than vi couples, be prepared for an energetic workout.
The music for the dance was provided past local musicians and Ryburn 3 Step stalwarts, the Blackness Box Ring.
With at least seventeen dances over the course of evening and a final polka to the melody of Astley'southward Ride, Ryburn 3 Step provided yet another neat evening of dancing.
The Blackness Box Band line-upwards was (for this occasion):
Steve Harrison Melodeon and harmonica
Chris Partington Fiddle
Chris Coe Hammer Dulcimer
Johnny Adams Piano and fiddle
A selection of the dances Dave Chase called included:
Scatter Promenade 2 couple circle dance
Shifting Sands Sicilian Circle
Chancellor's Adieu Sicilian Circle
Waterloo Trip the light fantastic toe Square sets
Soldiers Joy Longwise
Dear Jim 4 couple longwise
Fairfield Fancy Sicilian Circle
Carousel Sicilian Circle
Steve Jones
New Year's Eve Trip the light fantastic toe with the Black Box Big Ring and Sue Coe 31 Dec 2016
Last nighttime effectually 140 people danced the Old Twelvemonth out and the New year's day in at our New Year's Eve Ceildh at its regular venue, Greenhead College, in Huddersfield. Structural edifice work has resulted in a reduction in the floor space available for dancing but this did not deter an enthusiastic audience from having a thoroughly good fourth dimension.
The Black Box Big Band comprised Steve Harrison (melodeon and harmonicas), Chris Partington (fiddle), Alice Jones (piano), Chris Coe (hammer dulcimer) and Johnny Adams (dabble). Together they played a steady stream of highly danceable (generally northern) tunes. while Caller Sue Coe led dancers through sets of familiar dances including favourites such as "Buttered Peas," "Clopton Span" and "the Willow Tree". Sue also called some dances she has brought dorsum from teaching at junior schools, which included the "Westfield Four Star" and the "Zetland Circle Dance" with a bewildering clapping routine.
Budding dance caller Ivy called a couple of quirky dances, one of which included a effigy she called ATM which included a dissimilar but every bit puzzling clapping sequence. The evening concluded with the singing of the Wassail Song and, on the stroke of midnight, a rousing rendition of "Auld Lang Syne" with a traditional circle of crossed-arms. 1 concluding dance of "Muffin Man's Jig," followed by a set of polkas and another New year's day had been welcomed in.
Cheers to the Black Box Big Band for the music, Sue Coe for calling, and all those who did the arranging and organising.
Steve Jones.
Peeping Tom with Baz Parkes 17 December 2016
December's barn dance at Waring Light-green Community Centre was an irreverent and energetic romp through the English Country Dance tradition. Caller Baz Parkes is well known to ceilidh aficionados every bit ane of the best callers on the circuit with his extensive repertoire of dances and his ironic calling style. Interspersed between dance standards such every bit the Holmfirth Foursquare, Clopton Span and the Cornish Half-dozen Paw Reel, were dances new to me such as the Atlantic Hornpipe, Four Jolly Sheepskins and (Mary Panton's) Dear Jim.
Peeping Tom is one of the nigh popular ceilidh bands effectually and demonstrated why, with cracking tunes played at a bully stride that raised spirits and center rates in equal measure out. I lost count of the number of tunes that they included in their sets which, like Baz's dances, mixed old favourites (Marmalade Polka, Bonnie Kate) with less well-known but equally danceable tunes. During the dance Ripple of Teign (written past Dartmoor's Bob Cann) we were treated to solos on the cittern and guitar and a full run-through of the tune on the electrical bass of John Macintosh. The pace was fast, the dancers flushed and fifty-fifty the Christmas tree in the corner was rocking.
Cheers Baz and Peeping Tom for a great night!
Baz'due south Dances included:
- Atlantic Hornpipe; 3 couple longwise sets
- Holmfirth Foursquare; 4 couple foursquare sets
- Balance the Star; Sicilian circle for couples
- La Russe; 4 couple square sets
- Clopton Bridge; 4 couple longwise sets
- Ripple of the Teign; half dozen couple longwise sets
- Beloved Jim; 4 couple longwise sets
- Iii Handed Star; Sicilian circle for triples
- St Bernards Flit; couples in a circle
- Iv Jolly Sheepskins; 4 couple longwise sets
- Chancellor'south Farewell; Sicilian circumvolve for couples
- Le Bastringue; three couple longwise sets
- Cornish Six Hand Reel; 3 couples in line
Peeping Tom are:
Ben Woodward – melodeon;
Ian Wilson – keyboards and cittern;
Pete Smale -guitar;
John McIntosh – bass guitar and tambourine;
Barry Malin – drums and percussion.
Steve Jones
"Easily Across the Pennines" – Tenterhooks with Sid Calderbank 19 Nov 2016
Caller Sid Calderbank announced that he had christened this month'south befouled trip the light fantastic as "Hands Beyond the Pennines." As he explained, a Lancashire caller with a Yorkshire band, calling Lancashire dances for Yorkshire dancers.
As it turned out, Sid chosen dances from Republic of ireland ("Siege of Ennis") and Scotland ("Foulla Reel", "Dashing White Sergeant"), as well as Yorkshire ("Goathland Square Eight") forth with Lancashire dances (eastward.g. "White Coppice" named afterwards a Lancashire hamlet which boasts the "well-nigh beautiful cricket basis in England").
Sid'southward calling style is articulate, forthright and seasoned with a hefty compression of Lancashire irony. Punctuating the dances were anecdotes of how he acquired some of them plus poems in broad Lancashire dialect written past Sid's idols such every bit Edwin Waugh and Benjamin Forest. (Sid'southward rendition of Wood' "Bobby Grundy: A Village Shop" was a veritable bout de force.)
Providing the music was the local ring, Tenterhooks, with Johnny Adams deputising for Alison Roberts. The combination of three fiddles worked brilliantly and old favourite tunes such as the "Morpeth Rant", "Earl Grey" and "Four Seasons" were given new life with intricate harmonies and raunchy drones. Earlier in the gear up we were treated to a couple of Scottish tunes ("Rock and Wee Pickle Tow" and "the Noble Lord Dacre") which introduced Paul'south border pipes to the mix but it was the tune "Will the Barber" for the Foulla Reel that really showcased the bagpipes' wonderful audio and Paul'southward excellent playing.
Sid's Dances included:
1 Big Set, a simple warm-up circumvolve dance for couples which turned progressive;
2 Sicilian Circumvolve; another warm-up of bones ceilidh figures;
3 Siege of Ennis; lines of four facing iv;
4 The 3 Handed Star; Sicilian Circle for triples;
v White Coppice; square sets;
6 Waves of Tory; 5 couple longwise sets;
Interval;
7 Goathland Square Eight; four couple foursquare sets;
8 Foulla Reel; 4 couple longwise sets;
9 Dashing White Sergeant; Sicilian Circumvolve for triples;
10 Virginia Reel; v couple longwise sets;
11 Willow Tree; eight couples longwise sets
12 Simple progressive trip the light fantastic toe for couples;
13 Circassian Circle; couples in a circle.
Tenterhooks are:
Paul Roberts: Fiddle and Border Pipes
Chris Partington: Dabble
Johnny Adams: Fiddle and Piano
Steve Jones.
Trinculo with John Brown 15 Oct 2016
"Joyous. Wonderful music …..fabled dances" Fiona Miller, regular dancer at Ryburn 3 Footstep Befouled Dances.
Oct's barn dance brought Sheffield caller John Dark-brown with 1 of his regular bands, Trinculo (also from Sheffield) to Waring Green Community Center for a bully evening of rousing music and excellent English language ceilidh dances. Despite missing a number of Waring Green regulars, the dancing was enthusiastic and new dancers were readily incorporated to the sets by the more experienced.
A list of John'southward choice of dances is beneath. Highlights included an opening dance with three couple triangular sets called the "Mysterious Triangle"; the square set "The New Mrs. Arrowsmith" danced to a wonderful Swedish hornpipe translated every bit "Judgement"; a contra way dance written by Martin Harvey called "Aw Shucks" which was danced to two fine reels (one of unknown name but "collected" from the playing of Last Night'due south Fun and a Quebecois reel chosen "Le Quatre Ser en l'Air"; and a final gallop in the Beckett germination (long sets with partners side-by-side) in the "Yarmouth Long Dance".
Trinculo's line-up of bass, guitar, piano squeeze box, fiddle, whistles and soprano saxophone generated depth and stride with an eclectic choice of tunes and original arrangements. John's dances covered a range of styles and degrees of difficulty which were attainable to new dancers and challenging enough for the Waring Green regulars.
All in all, the evening was a terrific start to the new season of Ryburn iii Pace Barn Dances which continues on Sat November 19th with music from local band Tenterhooks and caller from the other side of the hill, Sid Calderbank.
John Brownish'south Dances (some of which are published on his web site) were:
1 Mysterious Triangle; Triangular sets of 3 couples;
2 Land Bumpkin; five Couple Longwise sets;
3 Fairfield Fancy; Circassian Circle;
4 The New Mrs Arrowsmith; 4 Couple Square sets;
five Rosa; Couple Waltz;
6 Waves of Tory; 5 Couple Longwise sets;
Interval;
7 Strip the Willow Square; 4 Couple Square sets;
8 Unknown (yes that is the title); five Couple Longwise sets;
9 Aw Shucks; Long sets, improper;
ten Stoke Golding State Trip the light fantastic toe; 5 Couple Longwise sets;
11 Twelve Meet; four Triple Square Sets;
12 TAG; iv Couple Longwise sets;
13 Yarmouth Long Trip the light fantastic; Long sets Beckett formation;
Trinculo are:
Simon Dumpleton – Squeeze box;
Nigel Holmes – Acoustic Guitar;
Aisling Holmes – Fiddle;
Lee O'Donnell – Electric Bass Guitar;
Jemma Gurney – Whistles and Soprano Saxophone.
Steve Jones.
Windy Gyle with Pete and Sue Coe 26 March 2016
Northumbrian music ruled OK at the R3S dance at Waring Light-green Community Centre on 26 March! The five – slice band from the eye of Northumberland delighted us with sequences of the almost heady tunes from the tradition while Pete and Sue called a range of Northern English language dances including a Northumbrian version of the 'Flowers of Edinburgh' to the great enjoyment of the dancers. During a well-earned break from the dancing, we were treated to an exceptional display of Northumbrian piping in a duet from Paul Knox and Alice Burn and then an unbelievably precise (and fast) solo set with variations from Alice. A fabled evening!
Andy 24-hour interval.
Source: https://www.ryburn3step.org.uk/?page_id=889