Customer Reviews

New England Chestnuts

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When I read the advertising about this CD, I was skeptical that it would be something I could hear more than once. I overcame my doubts because I wanted to learn to play the version of Kildare Fancy heard in track 6. I'm glad I bought it. It's perfect for what it is, namely, a collection of songs played at the rate needed for contra dancing, about 4 minutes per track consisting of one or two songs performed at that wonderful bouncy rhythm that gets any ordinary human's toes to tapping. Clearly, the Millers know exactly what to do and how to do it. If you can listen to any of their 4-minute songs without wanting to do something rhythmic with your appendages, then this CD isn't for you. I am making progress with learning Kildare's Fancy on my five string banjo by listening to the CD on my car disc player. Never mind those people in passing cars who see me clocking the rhythm with my fingers on my steering wheel, they probably don't know how to dance anyway.

This CD is the kind you can listen to over and over again and never tire of it. It Presents the old time favorite New England Contra dance tunes that we all grew up loving - Hulls Victory, Petronella, Steamboat Quickstep, Rory O'More, Road to Boston, White Cockade and others. These are all played with the kind of zest that Rodney Miller is famous for.