Blog

  • Waltzing for the Grange CD’s Available

    Waltzing for the Grange was conceived and produced by John Howard, a Friends of Greenfield Dance member. It is a collection of previously released recordings from a sampling of the musicians who have graced the grange hall with their presence. We, the board of the Friends and the dance community at-large, graciously thank these artists for their kind donations. We ask you to support them by buying their CDs.

    The ‘Waltzing for the Grange’ CD can be purchased by sending check or money order for $17.50 U.S. Dollars ($15 plus $2.50 s/h) to:

    Friends of Greenfield Dance (FGD)
    401 Chapman St.
    Greenfield, Ma 01301

    Waltzing for the Grange includes:

    1. “The Skye Boat Song” (trad.) 4:23 from the CD “From the Floor Up” by Wild Asparagus (David Cantieni, Becky Tracy, Stuart Kenney, Ann Percival, George Marshal, & Sam Bartlett), © I997, Box 602, Belchertown, MA 01007, (413) 323-9604 or 105 Hawks Road, Deerfield, MA 01342 (413) 772-6840.

    2. “Emily’s Waltz” (Susan Conger) 4:14 from the CD “Montague Processional” © 1995 by Three Good Reasons (Susie Seco, David Kaynor and Susan Conger), P.O. Box D-l4, Montague, MA 01351,

    3. “Don and Kelley’s Waltz” (Daniel Steinberg) 3:07 from the CD “Hillbillies from Mars” by the Hillbillies from Mars (Kevin Carr, Paul Kotapish, Ray Bierl, Daniel Steinberg), © 1993, 301 Monroe Drive, MountainView CA 94040, (415) 941-7529.

    4. “The Lovers’Waltz” (Jay Ungar and Molly Mason) 3:36 by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, © 1992, Swinging Door Music-BMI, 987 Route 28A,W.Hurley, NY 12491, also heard on “The Lover’s Waltz” CD on Angel Records, www.jayandmolly.com, 1-800-292-0905.

    5. “Waltz of the Little Girls”(trad.) 2:26 from the CD “Twelve-Gated City” by Childsplay Music © 1994, Childsplay Music, 120 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138.

    6. “Bethena” (Scott Joplin) 4:47 from the CD “Gypsy Wine” by Mary Lea and Friends (Mary Lea, Bill Tomczak, Peter Barnes & Ralph Gordon), © 1998, 12 Cherry St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. (802) 257-1571, marylea@sovernet.

    7. “The New Land” (Otis Tomas) 3:10 from the CD “After the Dance” by Swallowtail (Ron Grosslein, David Cantieni, George Marshall, Tim Van Egmond, & Timm Triplett), © 1999, Swallowtail, 259 Wadleigh Falls Rd., Newmarket, NH, 03857, (603) 659-7038, www.Swallowtail.com.

    8. “Charlotte’s Waltz” (Pam Weeks) 7:25 from the CD “Waiting for the Perseids” by Pam Weeks (Pam Weeks, Tom Rowe, Susan Janssen & Doreen Conboy), © 1998, Outer Green Records, P.O. Box 416, South Paris, ME 04281, (888) 647-6783, , www.maine.com/outergreen

    9. “Franconia Waltz” (Andy Davis) 4:12 from the CD “Listen to the Mockingbird” (David Kaynor, and Mary Lea, fiddles; Andy Davis, accordion; Mary Cay Brass, piano; Stuart Kenney, bass; produced by Peter Amidon), © 1997 New England Dancing Masters, 41 West Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301, (802) 257-1819, , http//www. sover.net/~ nedm/

    10. “Frannie’s Waltz” (Cathie Whitesides) 2:31 from the CD “Home Town Café” by Cathie Whitesides (Cathie Whitesides, Hank Bradley, Frannie Leopold, & James Jacobs), © 1993, Avocet Records, 8033 14th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98115.

    11. “Chopin Waltz Op. 69#2” (Chopin) 3:29 from the CD “Cascade of Tears” by Mary Lea and Friends (Peter Barnes, Mary Lea & Bill Tomczak), © 1993, Caballo Rojo Productions, information: Mary Lea, 12 Cherry St., Bratteboro, VT 05301.

    12. “Nancy’s Waltz/Dayk Island” (Chris Romaine/trad. arr. Rodney Miller/Happy Valley Music BMI) 4.41 from the CD “Rodney Miller Airplang: American Instrumental and Fiddle Tunes” (album #-Rounder 0193) by Rodney Miller, Russ Barenberg, Peter Barnes, Molly Mason & Tim Jackson, © 1997, Rounder Records, One Camp Street, Cambridge, MA 02140. Booking – Rodney Miller, c/o Airplang, 111 Brimstone Corner Road, Antrim, NH 03440, (603) 588-2655.

    13. “Star of the County Down/Planxty Fanny Power” (trad. Irish/Turlough O’Carolan) 4:36 from the CD “The Sweetheart Tree” by Laurie Fisher, © 1996 Time Being Productions, P.O. Box 727, Swannanoa, NC 28778.

    14. “Fremont Waltz” (Joel Bernstein) 4:00 from the CD “Ways of the World” by Ruthie Dornfeld, Joel Bernstein & Keith Murphy, © 1998, Foxglove Records, P.O. Box 30083, Seattle, WA 98103, (206) 706-3255, , www.teleport.com/~fg/index.html, copies available from Joel Bernstein, 3635 Burke Ave. N., Seattle WA 98103 (cost $15.00 & $1.50 postage).

    15. “Prima Donna Waltz” (Louis Antoine Jullien) 2:45 from the CD “The Civil War Ballroom” by Spare Parts (Liz Stell, Bill Matthiesen, Amy Cahn, Susan Conger, Peter Ecklund, Carol Hamm &Frank Orsini), © 1997, Bill Matthiesen, 33 Stormview Rd., Lanesboro, MA 01237, (413) 442-9172,

    16. “The Forlorn Queen” (trad.) 2:53 from the CD “Celtic Groove” by The Sevens (Mark Roberts, Sarah Blair, Stuart Kenney, Liza Constable, & Mark Hellenberg), © 1999, Stuart Kenney, 24 Homestead Ave., Greenfield, MA 01301, (413) 773-1671,

    17. “Wedding at Cleary Lake” (Larry Unger) 2:55, BMI, from the CD “WaltzTime” © 1998 by Larry Unger, Ginny Snowe & Elke Baker, Black Socks Press, P.O. Box 400269, Cambridge, MA 02140, (781) 259-4484,

  • Dance Organizers’ Gathering

    By Julie Bermant

    On September 24, 2015 the first meeting of Guiding Star Grange (GSG) dance organizers met with the Friends of Greenfield Dance (FGD). The goal of the meeting was to enhance collaboration between the various groups who organize dances throughout the month at the Grange. Organizers from four dances were represented at the meeting, with the other four organizers interested but unable to attend.

    To provide some historical perspective, the predecessor of FGD, Friends of the Guiding Star Grange, had focused on fundraising for the renovation of the Grange building. With the transition to the new organization, Friends of Greenfield Dance, the focus widened to include ways to support traditional music and dance in the Greenfield area.Last March, two of the board members and two of the Greenfield dance organizers travelled to Ottawa to attend Puttin’ On the Dance 2, a meeting sponsored by CDSS to promote cooperation and communication among dance organizers on the east coast. That experience inspired this meeting to promote connection between the rich resources present at the Grange.

    At the meeting, after a delicious potluck dinner provided by the Friends, the group used a process called the Four Hats to determine a topic on which to focus, and then used that process to aid discussion. The topic chosen was how to make the community more welcoming, and a lively and engaged discourse resulted. Minutes from that meeting are available. The group looked at ways to make newcomers feel more welcome, and ways to encourage positive communication between dance organizers and among dancers.

    Those in attendance felt the meeting was a success. The suggestions raised will be followed up by the FGD, and a plan implemented to address some of the issues discussed. The organizers and the FGD made a commitment to meet on a regular basis, about every six months. Hopefully, the other organizers will be able to attend.