Come dance with us!

The DisSonatas are providing entertainment for the following worthwhile event:

RENAISSANCE REVELRY, 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, USM Glickman Library, 314 Forest Ave., 7th Floor. Hearty appetizers, cash bar, authentic Renaissance dance music with instruction in doing the dances yourself! Tickets $25. All proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity Interfaith Build in South Portland.

Longevity of music groups

I just realized this: The DisSonatas have been around since 1996. That makes us longer-lived than the Beatles!

The immortal, unavoidable Pachelbel

While the Canon in D is not precisely in period for us, we have been known to play it, particularly when our harpist, Barry, is in evidence among us. And speaking only for myself, I actually enjoy it. But I still think this guy Rob Paravonian's rant is funny. Contains a few words not quite safe for work or kids.

See you in August

Lee says practices are on hold for the rest of July. And after all the work she put into the New Moon Balle, she's certainly entitled to a break!

The New Moon Balle went quite well, despite a few glitches, mostly my fault! Lee/Mickel did a beautiful job directing the action and keeping everything going. Mike brought his harp, Tracy/Claire lent much-needed recorder support, Audrey and Mark were fabulous as always, and Andrea went so far as to bring us a drummer, a young man named Sky (or maybe Skye). Also joining us were Ingeborg from Bridge on recorder, Jocelyn from Stonemarche on violin and hurdy-gurdy (wow! never played with a hurdy-gurdy before, and they're loud!), and Grant on guitar.

We had a BIG bunch of dancers, almost too many for the hall! What really impressed me was that everyone seemed to be having a terrific time. The energy in the room was amazing.

If you're an SCA member who loves to dance (or play for dancers), I heartily encourage you to come to next year's Great Northeastern War! And if you're a fan of Renaissance dance who lacks an outlet, see what your local SCA chapter has to offer. If they don't have a music group and/or dance practices, start some!

Chamber? Horrors!

This article in the New York Times (which requires free registration to read its stuff) suggests that audiences are fleeing traditional "chamber music," forcing ensembles to seek innovative venues and presentations for their music. By that standard, the DisSonatas are ahead of the trend! We've played at nursing homes, church services, parades, the Maine Mall, and Barry's back yard. And relatively few people have run away in terror. That we know of.

Playlist for New Moon Balle

Links are to dance cribs posted in the DisSonatas Yahoo group -- I believe you have to be a member to see them. We'll work on getting some posted publicly here.

Set #1:
Lorayne Almayn (4x)
Pinagay Bransle (6x)
Rufty Tufty (3x)
Bransle Officiale (4x)
Anello (2x)
Black Nag (3x)
Horses' Bransle (?x)
Jenny Pluck Pears (6x)
Amoroso (2x)
Belle Qui Pavan & Galliard (4x pavan, 2x galliard)

Intermission

Set #2:
Black Almayn (4x)
Charlotte Bransle (4x)
Heart's Ease (3x)
Scottish Bransle (4x)
Petit Vriens (4x)
Montarde Bransle (?x)
Upon a Summer's Day (3x)
Maltese Bransle (?x)
Gathering Peascods (3x)
Gelosia (3x)
Sellenger's Round (4x)