Old New England presents contradance and although the members of the group were no strangers to each other, having previously played together on occasion, it was not until 1992 that a Declaration of Dependence was issued, and they played their "World Premiere" fist dance as Old New England in the Francestown, NH Town Hall on November 14 of that year.
The band combines driving rhythms with a solid beat, tight sound and lively melodies, and features comtemporary and traditional tunes with exciting two-part harmonies created by Jane and Deanna.
Bob recently celebrated his fiftieth anniversary playing contradance music in New Hampshire and around the country. He has published 10 notebooks containing the hundreds of dance tunes that he has written. The notebooks as well as recordings of music by Old New England, are available for purchase below.
Old New England received a New Hampshire Governor's Arts Award in 1993 and Bob McQuillen won the Governor's Arts Award himself in 1998.
Old New England is comprised of:
DEANNA STILES, flute and fiddle. Deanna, on the right above, has played with the Canterbury Country Dance Orchestra, New England Tradition, the Black Water String Band, Jump at the sun, and the Bob-o-Links.
JANE ORZECHOWSKI, fiddle, both New England style and Swedish. Jane, on the left above, has played with Strathspey, Solomon's Seal, Green Gate, and the New Hampshire Fiddlers Union.
BOB McQUILLEN, piano and accodion. Bob, in the middle above, has played with Ralph Page's Orchestra, the Canterbury Country Dance Orchestra, Duke Miller's Orchestra, Forbes and Comer, and New England Tradition.
10/8/02: Old New England
