The Ultralight Dance Orchestra is me and my laptop playing contra dance tunes.
From the callers point of view working with the Ultralight Dance Orchestra is easy. When the caller says “with the music” we play four potatoes and start the tune. When the caller says “two more times”, we play two more times and stop.
What I think is special is being able to ‘write’ out parts for each instrument, and build how I imagine the song should sound inside the conventional way bands and callers work together at a contra dance.
I credit (or maybe it should be blame) the pandemic for providing the time to sort out all of the technical issues and creating the energy to work through each tune to create something unique and fun to play with.
Below are some examples the Ultrlight Dance Orchestra’s music. These are rehearsal recordings, meaning that they are once through, without editing. While there may be a few notes I’d like to have back, it should provide you with an accurate idea what the band sounds like.
Finn Jennta is a traditional Norwegian Waltz often heard played on the hardanger fiddle in G minor. The tune has something of an ancient sound which appeals to me.
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