Episode 27 - Betsy Branch

Contra Pulse

The intro and interstitial tracks from today’s episode are a set of three tunes from the Portland Playalong Selection with Sue Songer and Clyde Curley (a companion CD to the renown tune book): Jeff City / John Sharp's Hornpipe / Ducks on the Pond, Sunday River Waltz from Betsy’s album with David Kaynor - Midnight in Montague, Picassiette from her album with pianist Mark Douglass -Iles de la Madeleine, Kitchen Jig/Over the Causewayfrom Midnight in Montague, and Offerat Ecclesia, a piece from a Portland Revels recording called Down Through the Winters featuring Betsy and Shulamit Kleinerman on vielle.

See the Contra Pulse website for transcripts and more.

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

See and hear Betsy Branch in action:

• Betsy plays with longtime collaborator David Kaynor live at Fiddletunes Festival in 2010 and again at the Folklife Festival in Seattle
• Here she joins Leela Grace and Lisa Ornstein at the Portland Oldtime Music Gathering in Portland, Oregon in 2013
• Through the magic of the internet and video editing Betsy plays along with her younger self and some friends in this compilation video ofMoney Musk

Some other people and topics mentioned in this interview:

• Learn more about Betsy’s book project with Kevin Burke here
• Betsy is a close collaborator and music editor for The Portland Collection
• She is also the Associate Music Director for Portland Revels
• Betsy mentions fiddler and musicologist Lisa Ornstein, who also resides in the Pacific Northwest
• Here’s a peek behind the scenes of the Tractor Tavern Square Dance, a significant venue in Betsy’s exploration of dance music.
• Finally, check out this mega-cool video of the Portland Megaband, recorded virtually and edited together during pandemic times. An impressive feat!