The CD is available to order directly from the band; email aschau@shaw.ca to order.
The music is also available digitally through Bandcamp.
Out Of The Silence Vol. 2 | 2022
Over the several years of the pandemic, we have been reminded once again of the importance of our connections - the sharing of music and dance and fellowship. And we have discovered that sometimes these hard times can actually stimulate our creativity, help us to go deeper, to widen our circle of love and appreciation. This led to the second volume in our pandemic original music writing project Out Of The Silence, started in March 2020. Some of these tunes are serene, some contemplative, some joyful in anticipation of lifted restrictions, and some provide an escape. All are designed for listening, dancing, enjoying, and sharing!
The Tracks:
Gum Wrappers Drifting In The Wind (Dan Page), Budding Fig Tree (Keith Malcolm), Waltz For Jen (Lael Whitehead), Noonday Serenade (Keith Malcolm), Waiting For Spring (Ann Schau), Autumn Prayer (Lael Whitehead), Sweet Lily (Gregory Brown), Snowdrops (Lael Whitehead), Smoky Skies (Ann Schau), Wakin’ Up With The Birds (Keith Malcolm), The Sawyer’s Delight (Gregory Brown), I Must Be Away (Gregory Brown), Lotus Land Rambles (Keith Malcolm), Farewell Jig (Lael Whitehead), Quiet Days (Ann Schau), The Day Will Come, Moss Rocks Lullaby / Prayer For Gaia (Karen McIvor/Ann Schau)
The Players:
Gregory Brown flute, guitar, mandolin
Susan Larkin violin, recorders, vocals
Ann Schau piano, vocals
Barrie Webster cello, banjo
Lael Whitehead recorders, melodion, percussion, vocals, guitar
with
Adam Iredale-Gray violin
The CD is available from the band, from CDSS, AADS and Folksales UK, and also digitally through Bandcamp.
Out Of The Silence | 2020
Out Of The Silence, new music by The Dancehall Players was released in digital format late in December 2020, then came out as a CD early in 2021. This recording is Part 1 of the band’s ongoing tune-writing project, and was started in March 2020 to keep us in touch, to help mitigate our collective personal and musical isolation during the long months of the pandemic lockdown. Part 2 of the project is in progress!
The Tracks:
A Dream Of Dancing (Lael Whitehead), The Stay At Home Blues (Ann Schau), Flattening The Curve (Lael Whitehead), Green Leaves Of Spring (Ann Schau), Another Windswept Day (Keith Malcolm), From A Distance (Lael Whitehead), It’s Positive To Be Negative (Keith Malcolm), Here’s To Dr. Bonnie (Keith Malcolm), Dunsmuir Road Hornpipe (Gregory Brown), Toward A New World (Ann Schau), Red-Tailed Hawk (Lael Whitehead), Clearing Skies Ahead (Ann Schau).
Original tunes by the band are titled in bold
The Players:
Gregory Brown flute, guitar, mandolin
Aaron Ellingsen mandolin, violin
Susan Larkin recorders, violin
Ann Schau piano
Barrie Webster banjo, cello
Lael Whitehead guitar, melodica, percussion, recorders
with
Caleigh Aalders cello
Adam Iredale-Gray violin
“You've all done it again! It's beautiful in every way. The compositions are well-crafted and engaging, with tremendous variety. I think it works equally well for focused listening, "background music", and/or for dances yet to be written. The playing, as usual, is first-rate… solid rhythms, steady tempos, and elegant harmonies.”
-Gene Murrow (New York)
The CD is available from the band, from CDBaby, CDSS, AADS and Folksales UK, and is available digitally via CDBaby’s digital partners and through Bandcamp.
Unexpected Dances | 2020
Unexpected Dances, A Collaboration With Trevor Monson, released in February 2020, is the result of a visit to Victoria from UK caller and choreographer Trev Monson in the fall of 2018. He chose the dances and The Dancehall Players recorded the tunes - a ‘hands across the ocean’ project!
The Tracks:
The Star of Kintra, The Bold Robber, Colin’s BMX, A Promise Kept, An Opportunity Lost, Hide and Seek, Valley of the Moonlight, The Whistling Paperboy, Meillionen, Lover’s Luck, Abbey Reflection, Catherine’s Other Quilt (Ann Schau), Rich Delights, Parson Upon Dorothy, The Unexpected Waltz (Ann Schau), Gambols, Trip to Province.
Original tunes by the band are titled in bold
The Players:
Gregory Brown flute, guitar
Aaron Ellingsen mandolin, violin
Susan Larkin recorders, violin, vocals
Ann Schau piano
Barrie Webster banjo, cello
Lael Whitehead guitar, melodica, percussion, recorders, vocals
“I liked it the first time I played it, and liked it even more the second time. It's fun - which is what I remember about working with you and the band. I know that recording in a studio is an exhausting business, much more so than playing at a dance, but you've still managed to capture the fun and energy.”
- Colin Hume (UK)
The CD is available from the band, from CDBaby, CDSS, AADS and Folksales UK, and is available digitally via CDBaby’s digital partners and through Bandcamp.
An Evening at Dan’s Hall | 2018
An Evening At Dan’s Hall, our next album of English Dance tunes, was released in December 2018 and is available from band members and at Thursday evening dances. The lovely illustration of Dan’s Hall on the cover of this album is by Richard Iredale.
The Tracks:
Danse Joyeuse (Gregory Brown), The Accomplished Maid / Leslie’s Valentine, Blackheath, St. Margaret’s Hill, A Minor Slip Jig (Highway Seven) (Lael Whitehead), Waltz for Rosemary (Serenity) (Dan Page), Jordan’s Shore (Dolphins in the Sound), Walton Abbey (Waltham Abbey), Anyone’s Waltz (Keith Malcolm) / Fresh Aire (Karen McIvor), Pell Mell (The Dancing Wife), Love For Three Generations (Atossa’s Gift), Banish Misfortune, Unrequited Love, Sally In Our Alley, Highland Lilt (The Haymakers), Whileaway Waltz (Dan Page) / A Summer’s Day (Ann Schau), Tom Kruskal’s (Sapphire Sea).
Original tunes by the band are titled in bold
The Players:
Gregory Brown flute, guitar
Aaron Ellingsen violin, mandolin
Susan Larkin violin, recorders, vocals
Ann Schau piano
Lael Whitehead recorders, percussion, guitar, vocals
with
Barrie Webster cello, banjo
Patricia Schott clarinet
“I really like it - a mix of slow and boisterous, and lots of variety in solo instruments. "Unrequited Love" is simply beautiful. I wasn't expecting the voices the third time through, but I realize you're not a typical ECD band - and it really works well!”
- Colin Hume (UK)
The CD is available from the band, from CDBaby, CDSS, AADS and Folksales UK, and is available digitally via CDBaby’s digital partners and through Bandcamp.
Fresh From Dan’s Hall | 2016
Fresh From Dan's Hall, original tunes by The Dancehall Players came out April 2016. Only some of these jigs, reels, waltzes and airs are recorded at dance speed. The rest are arranged to suit how we felt at the time! Despite this, Colin Wallace, UK, has written dances for every track on this album! There are also dance patterns written by other choreographers associated with some of the tunes. Many thanks for the eye-catching cover, Infinity Tulips, by Victoria artist Joanne Thomson.
The Tracks:
Rushin’ For The Ferry (Dan Page), Sweet Sounds of Evening (Keith Malcolm), Apple Butter Pot (Dan Page), Bright Shining Sea / Rosemary’s Off to Prince George Town (Dan Page), Fair Winds and Following Seas (Karen McIvor), Two Slow Airs (Ann Schau), Faeries and Fools (Lael Whitehead), Midsummer Night Waltz (Karen McIvor), Recollections (Ann Schau), Ian’s Rambles (Dan Page) / Adam Is Here (Ann Schau), Tendresse (Gregory Brown), Waltz For Richard (Lael Whitehead), Trip to Mayne (Karen McIvor) / Oscar The Flying Poodle (Keith Malcolm), Phyllis (Gregory Brown), Little Plaid Riding Hood (Keith Malcolm), For Musical Friends (Karen McIvor).
Original tunes by the band are titled in bold
The Players:
Gregory Brown composer, flute, guitar, mandolin
Susan Larkin violin, recorders, vocals
Keith Malcolm composer
Karen McIvor composer
Dan Page composer
Ann Schau composer, piano, vocals
Lael Whitehead composer, recorders, cuatro, percussion, vocals
with
Barrie Webster cello, banjo
Victor Smith cajon
“I've had this CD just two weeks but already finding the tunes very useful and enjoyable. In particular I was pleased with Dan Page's Rushin' for the Ferry.”
- Barrie Bullimore (UK)
The CD is available from the band, from CDBaby, CDSS, AADS and Folksales UK, and is available digitally via CDBaby’s digital partners and through Bandcamp.
More From Dan’s Hall | 2012
More From Dan’s Hall, The Dancehall Players’ second album of danceable English Country music! An album notes booklet, much larger than that included with the CD, is available to view online here. It includes 44 pages of music, dance and historical notes as well as many photographs by S. Kirkvold. The beautiful photograph of Dan's Hall that is the cover of More From Dan's Hall was taken by Louise Hawksford in 2001. We love it so much that it has appeared on our first two albums.
The Tracks:
April’s March (Ann Schau), Hunt The Squirrel (Geud Man of Ballangigh), St. Catherine, Quem Pastores (Shepherds’ Delight), La Gavre, Tango in Toronto, Trip to Paris, Twelfth Night at the Fireside (Karen McIvor) / The Lass She Danced Alone (Dan Page), As Luck Will Have It (Halsway Sicilian), Hambleton’s Round-O, Red and All Red, Frank Palmer, Elegant Dancer (Keith Malcolm), Branle des Chevaux (Horseplay), Delia (or The Amorous Goddess), Annika’s Waltz (Ann Schau).
Original tunes by the band are titled in bold
The Players:
Gregory Brown flute, guitar,
Susan Larkin recorder, violin
Keith Malcolm violin
Karen McIvor cello
Dan Page mandolin
Ann Schau keyboards (piano, harpsichord)
with
Lael Whitehead percussion, recorder
“It’s wonderful… there’s an innocent, sweet quality to it that evokes the pastoral beauty that I and many of us first loved about ECD. A wide variety of instruments, all expertly played, lend a great variety and richness to the disc. There are some familiar favourites as well as some tunes that, to my knowledge, have not been recorded before.
This one struck a “lost chord” - straightforward, unpretentious, unencumbered - just simply beautiful.”
Gene Murrow (New York)
The CD is available from the band, from CDBaby, CDSS, AADS and Folksales UK, and is available digitally via CDBaby’s digital partners and through Bandcamp.
Live From Dan’s Hall | 2010
Live From Dan's Hall, the first recording by The Dancehall Players, was released on Thursday, 21 January 2010 (Ann’s birthday!), at the Victoria English Country Dance Society's regular Thursday evening dance at Dan's Hall. We even called two dances to it on that special occasion. On hearing this new recording, the dancers claimed “it sounds just like them”!
The Tracks:
Knole Park, Childgrove, The Fandango, Ronde IX (O Susato), The Duke of Kent's Waltz, Agatha (Sarah), Cadboro Bay Waltz (Karen McIvor) / Elsie Polley's Waltz (Keith Malcolm), The Foxhunter's (Trip to Town-O), Miss Gordon of Gight (Easter Morn), The Ashford Anniversary, Bolt The Door (Jack's Health), Leather Lake House, Lady Marian (Filigree), Late Night Waltz (Dan Page) / Buddy's Waltz (Ann Schau).
Original tunes by the band are titled in bold
The Players:
Gregory Brown flute, guitar,
Susan Larkin recorder, violin
Keith Malcolm violin
Karen McIvor cello
Dan Page mandolin
Ann Schau keyboard
“It is DELIGHTFUL, just delightful. No other word will do. I generally try to listen carefully and then give constructive criticism; but that ain’t gonna happen here. I wasn’t halfway through Knole Park before I had to put fingers to keyboard to tell you how I’m feeling. If I could type standing up (or dancing), that’s what I’d be doing. What a great CD you and the band have put together! On behalf of the whole dance scene, thank you. “
- Bruce Hamilton (California)
“The arrangements are really beautiful and the piano playing is impeccable. Makes me wish I were an English country dancer! I’m sure the CD will be a great asset to the dancing community, not just in Victoria but far beyond. Congratulations!”
- Barclay MacMillan (Ottawa)
