The intro and interstitial tracks from today’s episode are The Black Cat Jig/Asher (George Penk, fiddle; Clyde Curley, mandolin; Sue Songer, piano) from A Portland Selection 1, Riding on a Load of Hay/The Golden Stud © Paul Roche and recorded virtually by The Portland Megaband, Pretty Peggy (George Penk, fiddle; Clyde Curley, octave mandolin; Sue Songer, piano) from A Portland Selection 1, and Du Petit Sarny (Betsy Branch, fiddle; Clyde Curley, mandolin; Sue Songer, piano) from A Portland Play Along Selection.

See the Contra Pulse website for transcripts and more. Or download the transcript directly.

And the Country Dance and Song Society for information about Contra and English country dance across the continent.

See and hear Sue Songer in action:

• Playing piano with her longtime band Joyride (Sue Songer, Erik Weberg, George Penk, and Jeff Kerssen-Griepat) the Portland Roadhouse during the Cascade Promenade in March, 2018.
  • Another Joyride video with Sue playing fiddle during the Northwest Folklife Festival in 2017
  • Here is the Joyride website
• You can’t say Sue Songer without immediately thinking of The Portland Megaband.
  • Watch her conduct the band at a Portland dance in 2013, filmed by Doug Plummer
  • You don’t want to miss the epic pandemic era Megaband video that Sue helped organize in March, 2021 (Sue is of course in her signature tux ;)
• Sometimes she also helps organize and conduct other community bands!
  • The Pittsfield Open Band in Ann Arbor, MI in 2018
  • Here’s the South Coast Dance Orchestra (OR) in 2017, a project of the South Coast Folk Society
    

A Lifetime of Achievements!

• In 2019 CDSS awarded Sue the Lifetime Contribution Award for her contributions to the world of contra dance music!
  • Doug Plummer captured some highlights from the celebratory gathering in Portland, OR on 3/30/19 during which Sue’s award was presented.
  • Rob Hoffman also created a longer video of the full ceremony, which you can view here.

Publications

• Along with her co-editor, Clyde Curley, Sue helped to compile the three volumes of The Portland Collection: Contra Dance Music in the Pacific Northwest.
  • In the podcast you heard selections from some of the accompanying CDs.
• Sue’s most recent publication, David A. Kaynor: Living Music and Dance encompasses and celebrates the many contributions David has made to the world of contra dance. Order your copy here!
  • Here’s the screen shot showing Kaynor’s calligraphy mentioned in the interview