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What is a barndance band?

A Barndance Band plays folk music for group dancing - Ceilidh / Barn Dance / Traditional Folk Dances {really all the same thing}, under the guidance of a Caller, who guides the dancers through the dances.

A Barndance Band can comprise anything from 2 players up to the old fashioned bands of 15 or more. The modern Barndance Band typically comprises 4 or 5 musicians and a caller, to guide the dancers. There have always been small music groups for small occasions, but prior to modern amplification, bands for large dances tended to be small orchestras, just to get sufficient sound level. Economics, and a dearth of really good musicians, has shrunk these small orchestras to the amplified smaller group that we know today.

What is the difference between a Ceilidh & a Barn Dance?

There are many different interpretations of this, but mine would be that there is really no difference beyond the origin of the word.

The word 'ceilidh' is gaelic for 'come-ye-all'. The term Barn Dance [obvious derivation], is more the English and American description of the same thing.

We can have many sub divisions of this, Irish or Scottish Ceilidh, English or American Barn Dance. The difference would be the origins of the music that would be played, and some of the dances. There is certainly folk music and dance that can clearly be defined as Irish, Scottish, English or American folk, but 75% of folk tunes and dances are claimed by all as theirs. So, sometimes a Ceilidh / Barn Dance can have a very 'ethnic' feel to it, but very often a dance would  include music and dance of all national origins in the one evening.

The common thing theme throughout all Ceilidh / Barn Dances, is that they are both events at which 'live', mostly traditional type, music is provided by musicians, with brief, but very simple instruction given just before and during the actual dance by the caller. The aim is partly to mix people up a bit (dancing with 'strangers' ), to get the blood circulating a bit and for those present to enjoy themselves a lot ! It doesn't matter if the dancers are 8 or 80 years old, they can all enjoy themselves. [beats a disco any day!]

What kind of situations and venues can they play in?

We hold dances in anything from small village halls, and hotels, to large stately homes, ball rooms and marquees - even outdoors sometimes. All you need is a flat area for the dancers, normally surrounded by tables and chairs for them to collapse on between dances, and you are ready to go.

What is it like to have a barndance band playing for you

Great fun!

Thanks for the music at our wedding on the 21st Sept, we thoroughly enjoyed everything that your band played and the dancing got everyone going. We had an amazing day as a result............James and Francesca.

A big thank you to Midsummer Quartet and Ringerike for playing so well at our wedding reception on 6th April. We felt the band added just the right tone to the earlier part of our reception. Although there was a lot of busy organising of photographs and general milling and chatting it was a great pleasure to hear the beautiful music in the background. And the ceilidh later gave everyone a chance to join in and dance. The children were very to the fore in the first set but I understand that the adults really got into it after Alison and I had left, and that the party continued in full swing which is just what we wanted. So, again, many thanks............Pete & Alison

Dear Derek & 3 wonderful others. Thank you for the wonderful performance at our wedding. Everybody commented on the elegant ambience created by the band. We will definitely be recommending you all! Thank you again........Lydia and Halit;

Having recently returned from our honeymoon (& unfortunately back to work!)I just wanted to say 'thank you' for playing at mine & Kevin's Wedding Reception on Saturday 18th May........Many of our guests commented on how wonderful the classical music sounded in the Great Hall - you were right about the acoustics! The Ceilidh band were also fantastic! We all had such a good time, especially once people had got over their shyness & were gallivanting around the dance floor!! We thought it worked so well having a combination of Ceilidh music with the 'traditional DJ' - hopefully we catered for all tastes. Anyway, thanks again for entertaining us............Nicky & Kevin.

Just about to go off on honeymoon for couple of weeks, but we wanted to pass on our thanks before we left to you, Esther & all the String Quartet & Paul Munnery's band & Marilyn for making our wedding day so lovely. Last Saturday was perfect, we had a smashing time & such a memorable day… this backed up by all our friends & family who have been sending us letters of thanks all week........ I think the only regret is that it's all over now!! The band were extremely adaptable & moved inside & outside of the Court's main building as the weather dictated through the day, they were very flexible & it was most appreciated. Likewise the Jazz band moved into the barn as it got a bit cold - and that focused everyone in one place a little more & got the dancing going by the end of the evening ( in fact, people were enjoying themselves so much that there was a small amount of "bribing" of taxi drivers outside to wait another ½ hour!!!). The band were excellent & there have been many comments on how good they were. Again, thanks for all your help & kind regards..............Jo
Just to say thank you for Sunday, it was greatly appreciated by my parents and their guests. Added to that my sister walked down Queens Way to find a group of people standing at the bottom listening to your music. They asked her what was going on and if they could come up to the house to listen! Thank you again, ............Susan

Hope you all had a good time - we certainly did! The band was fantastic
and was the icing on the cake for a really memorable occasion. Thanks again to all the crew..........Martin

Thank you very much indeed for playing with the Ringerike Folk Band at our wedding in October. We had a wonderful time - we would both have liked to spend more time dancing but really enjoyed what we did. All of our guests enjoyed themselves, whether dancing or watching - and we saw some people dance that we would never have imagined might give it a try! So thanks for pitching it at the right level. Many thanks........Shirley & Ian

I just wanted to drop you a quick email to say a big thank you to you and the barndance band. Our wedding day was fabulous and the barndance band were brilliant, they really enhanced the ceremony and everyone commented on how beautiful their playing was. And thank you for all your help in the build up to the big day. I can't believe it's all over. It truly was the best day of our lives so far. I won't hesitate in recommending you to any colleagues or friends for any occasion.........Kinga

I just wanted to thank the Quintet for playing so wonderfully at our wedding at the Sculpture Gallery on Saturday. Their brilliant playing and singing made the day even more special for me.......They really are fantastic performers........Jessica

I am just writing to say thanks for helping us have some of the most wonderful music on our wedding day. The Quartet were excellent and really were the finishing touch to a perfect day. Everyone commented on how good they were and asked where we found them. Plenty of recommendations have been made!

Just a quick note to say a big thank you for the music at our wedding. It helped to make what turned into a perfect day very memorable and we just wish we could do it all again, .............David

.........the band that they were absolutely wonderful? Everyone commented on how good their repertoire was - and how professional their playing was. They were sitting right next to a table with a friend of ours who is a choirmaster in ...........(a UK cathedral) and he was deeply excited about the whole thing! Anyway. Brilliant..........Mike


I would like to express my gratitude to your self and the other three musicians in the Midsummer Quartet for making or Company Christmas Party so successful. The music was wonderful and I especially enjoyed the Christmas selection you played towards the end of your repertoire............Jennifer

 

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