"Gents Bow, Ladies Know How" 1750-2015 Traditional Dance Music of the Monadnock Region of NH

This 43-minute video is an introduction to the traditional music played for dances in the Monadnock region. Beginning with English Country Dance music of the 18th century and ending with Scotch, Irish, and French-Canadian tunes of more modern times, this annotated soundtrack traces the history of the music played for square and contra dances. Included are recordings dating from the 1920s to the present day.

Videographer and fiddler Randy Miller plays for dances, teaches, and leads workshops. He has been designated a Master Teacher of Contra Dance Music by the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts.

Randy collects and publishes fiddle tunes under the imprint Fiddlecase Books (www.fiddlecasebooks.com). His music books include the New England Fiddler's Repertoire, written with Jack Perron, considered the standard New England tune book for contra dance musicians.

This movie was created for the exhibit "Gents Bow, Ladies Know How: Traditional Dance and Music in the Monadnock Region 1750-2015," held at the Monadnock Center for History and Culture in Peterborough, NH.

Video Copyright 2014 Monadnock Folklore Society