Xmas at Barnbuskers sees family members converging on West Somerset with their instruments. As happens so often at these family gatherings, discussion soon turns to traditional ceilidh music and barn dancing. Yesterday, there was a lot of discussion about the Levi Jackson Rag, which is a nice jazzy ragtime tune that, as it happens, I like to play on my clarinet. Grandpa (to band leader Judy’s very grown-up children and who for many years was also a country dance band musician), pointed out that there is a special dance that goes with the Levi Jackson Rag tune.
I’ve always liked the tune and it goes quite well on my clarinet at a nice moderate speed (unlike the frenetic speeds you often hear ragtime being played on the piano). As a country dance tune, the timing would have to be what was right for the dancers and that means a much more moderate dance-friendly speed, which is ideal for me.
Not being familiar with the dance, I decided to check it out and was surprised to see that it was generally classified as a top level difficulty dance. Of course, it is for the dance caller to choose dances that are appropriate for the dancers present. We do many special birthday ceilidhs and barndances where there are lots of people who are new to the do-si-do, right hand star and galloping between the lines which are the staple dance moves in country dancing and so the dance caller will naturally focus on dances that are nice and straightforward that the dancers will enjoy.
Therefore, it seems that the Levi Jackson Rag tune might not often be used by the Barnbuskers ceilidh and barn dance band for dancing. On the other hand, I expect we could always play it between dances when the dancers are taking a rest so I expect it will make an appearance in the new 2025 year just as a tune. I’ll look forward to that!
If you are thinking about holding a barn dance or ceilidh in 2025 to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or other special event or even planning an Xmas barn dance or ceilidh, hopefully you’ll get a chance to hear us play the excellent Levi Jackson Rag! To check our availability for ceilidhs and barn dances in 2025 or for more information about Barnbuskers, visit the Barnbuskers contact page. We look forward to hearing from you.
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