Episode 29 - Doug Protsik

Contra Pulse

The intro and interstitial tracks from today’s episode are Blanchard's Hornpipe/Good For The Tongue from the Old Gray Goose album Maine Country Dance Tunes and Songs, She Said She Couldn't Dance from the Old Gray Goose album Opera House Medley, Feisty Barny self-recorded by Doug Protsik, Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad Polka also from Opera House Medley and Popcorn Schottische from Maine Country Dance Tunes and Songs.

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 Doug Protsik in action:

• Doug’s longest-running musical project is the folk band Old Grey Goose. He produced all three of their recordings, including the group’s first recording in 1978 for Folkways, “Old Time Country Dance Tunes and Songs from Maine”
• This video is from a contra dance at Maine’s “Common Ground Fair” in 2011 with Doug playing fiddle and calling.
• Hear Doug perform his original work during the New Rag Contest at the World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest, held every Memorial Day Weekend in Oxford, MS.
• Doug shares a special “Rain song” created at Maine Fiddle Camp
• Check-out this article from the Bangor Daily News featuring Doug and other Mainers sharing how they adapted and helped keep traditional music and dance alive during the pandemic.
• Doug LOVES a good Fox Trot! Here he leads a Fox Trot on saxophone at an evening dance at Maine Fiddle Camp. He also arranged a fox trot version of “A Sentimental Journey” for a virtual Camp recording during pandemic..

Some other people and topics mentioned in this interview:

• Doug is the current director of Maine Fiddle Camp, a family traditional music camp in central Maine
• He speaks at length about legendary Maine caller Ted Sanella

In the interview Doug cites numerous influences on his playing and musical style:

• Fiddle masters Otto Soper [little to no information exists online about Otto though he is cited as an influence by countless traditional musicians), Don Messer, and Mellie Dunham
• Dudley Laufman, a regular at Maine Fiddle Camp (Dudley is featured in the very first episode of this podcast!)
• Franco American musicians Louis Beaudoin, the band La Bottine Souriante, and harmonica player Gabriel Labbé