Why do we have eight inroductory bars?

C W

March 5, 2006, 4:37 p.m. (Message 44485)

Hi all

After reading Doug Schneider's post, I was wondering why we have the 
musicians play the first eight bars to begin with. I often thought of these 
eight bars as a call to the dance floor, kind of like church bells call you 
to service. Also I thought of the music as a little taste for what's to 
come. If I hear a tune I like, I can look forward to hearing the whole piece 
until I am actually dancing the dance. Kind of like a stolen finger of icing 
before having a piece of the cake! :)  Neither one of these two ways of 
looking at it make sense though in Doug Schneiders prefered location. So I 
wonder: What is the original purpose of asking the musicians to play eight 
bars of the upcoming dance music?




>Doug Schneider wrote:

My preference, when emceeing, is:

    1. Dancers form sets
    2. Emcee briefs dance
    3. Band plays 8 bars
    4. Emcee recaps dance
    5. Everyone dances

I have the band play 8 bars after the sets are formed because I want the
dancers to get in the right mood for the dance, and because I want the 
dancers
to focus on the music and appreciate the band.

DOUG SCHNEIDER
Highland Mist Scottish Country Dancers
St. Louis, Missouri/Illinois<

C W

March 5, 2006, 5:13 p.m. (Message 44486, in reply to message 44485)

Sorry. This message was from me. I forgot to sign it.


Carla Wiedemann
Windsor, ON   Canada