The Contra Dance Encyclopedia is a handbook for musicians who want to play for contra dances. Music from American fiddle tunes to the Irish tradition are presented in sets suitable for playing for dances (as well as sessions, concerts, and other gigs). There is also an extensive section of tunes grouped into Reels, Jigs, and Waltzes that can be used. Included is a short history of contra dance, as well as ideas on putting together a dance band. Instrumental and stylistic techniques for guitar, mandolin, whistle, and fiddle are discussed, as well as band dynamics and orchestration.

• Convenient and easy to use handbook

• Music from American fiddle tunes to Traditional Irish tunes are presented in sets suitable for dances

• Information on the history of the contra dance

• Instrumental and stylistic techniques for guitar, mandolin, whistle, and fiddle are discussed

49 Cats In A Rainbarrel

All The Way to Galway

Angeline The Baker

Apples In Winter

Arkansas Traveler

Banish Misfortune

Bear Dance

Billy Church’s

Memorial Breakdown

Billy in the Lowground

Blackberry Blossom

The Boyne Hunt Buttermilk Mary

Cliffs of Moher

Colraine

Congress Reel

The Connaughtman's Rambles  

Coppers and Brass

Cripple Creek  

Devil's Dream

Dick Gossip's

Drowsy Maggie

Ebenezer

Eighth of January

Farewell To Shorty’s  

The Fermoy Lassies

Fisher's Hornpipe

Flowers of Edinburgh

Forker Deer

Four Winds Waltz

The Frost Is All Over

The Gander in the Pratie Hole

Garrett Barry’s

Gaspe Reel

The Girl I Left Behind Me

Golden Slippers

Green Groves of Erin

Green Willis

Growling Old Man  

The Hag at the Spinning Wheel

Haste to the Wedding  

Hewlet  

The Humors of Winter  

The Hunter's Purse  

Hunting The Buffalo

Irish Lamentation  

The Ivy Leaf  

The Jaded Optimist  

Jaybird  

Julia Delany  

Juliann Johnson  

The Kerfunken Jig

Kesh Jig  

Kitchen Girl

Lady of the Lake #1

Lady of the Lake #2

Lady of the Lake #3

Lannigan’s Ball

The Lark In The Morning

Leather Britches  

Liberty

Little Judique

Liza Jane

Lord Inchiquin

Luke Dillon

Magpie

The Malbay Shuffle

Man of the House

Mason's Apron

The Merry Blacksmith  

Midnight on the Water  

Mississippi Sawyer  

The Monaghan Jig  

Morning Dew

Morrison's

Mountain Road

My Darling Asleep  

My Own House

Nail That Catfish to The Tree

Nancy Rowland  

Off She Goes

Out On the Ocean

Out With the Boys  

Over The Waterfall

Paddy Fahey's Reel  

Petronella  

The Pipe on the Hob  

Planxty Irwin  

The Poor Scholar  

Price of My Pig

Pumpkin Ridge

Queen's Polka

The Rakes Of Kildare

Rakish Paddy  

Reel Eugene

Red-Haired Boy

Return to Milltown  

The Road to Lisdoonvarna

Rock That Cradle

The Rollicking Boys Around Tandaragee  

The Sailor’s Bonnet

St. Anne's Reel

Scatter the Mud

Sheebeg and Sheemore  

The Ships Are Sailing  

Shove That Pig’s Foot A Little Further In The Fire

Six Penny Money

Soldier’s Joy

Southwind

Sporting Paddy

Squirrel Heads and Gravy

Squirrel Hunters

Star of the County Down

Sugar In The Gourd  

The Swallowtail Jig

Swinging on a Gate

Tam Lin  

Temperance Reel

Ten O’Clock Jig  

The Ten Penny Bit  

Tobin's Jig

Tripping Up the Stairs  

Trip To Killavil  

Trip To Sligo  

Turkey In The Straw

Up Sligo

Waltzing With Althea

Water Under the Keel  

Weave and Way

The Wedding Reel

Westphalia Waltz

Whiskey Before Breakfast

The Wind That Shakes the Barley

Year of Jubilo