The Portland Megaband: A Beneficial Tradition is a high-energy recording of contra dance music. Most contra dance bands consist of 3 - 5 musicians. The Portland Megaband of 2009 had 80 musicians! The Megaband is known for its precise, enthusiastic renditions of the naturally-lively fiddle tunes that make up the contra dance repertoire. This album is structured just like a dance itself with sets of jigs and reels (both traditional and recently composed) and waltzes and a hambo interspersed. This CD was recorded at the annual Megaband contra dance in Portland, Oregon, March 14, 2009 with 30 fiddles, 10 mandolins, banjos, and autoharp, 7 whistles, flutes, recorders, 3 concertinas and accordions, 2 clarinets, 2 saxophones, 3 hammer dulcimers, 9 guitars, 4 percussionists, keyboard, bass, and harp. Although the tune sets here have been edited to fit the time allotment of the cd, many transitions within and between the tunes have been left intact to retain the feel and flow of an actual Megaband dance. Hopefully, the listener will experience this same energy and excitement as do the dancers who come to Portland from all across the United States to attend this special event. The Portland Megaband began in 1996 with 25 musicians. By 2009 it had grown to 80 players, each bringing unique energy and expertise to the group. This all-volunteer band is open to any musician, on any acoustic instrument, at any experience level, and its members range in ability from professional to novice. The ages of 2009 Megabanders span eight decades; they play on more than 30 fiddles as well as 30 other kinds of instruments. The band s tight, cohesive sound is the result of each member s commitment to bringing their best to the group combined with 7 highly focused rehearsals. Some musical arrangements are worked out in advance, but many of them arise spontaneously at the dance and are communicated to band members through an elaborate set of predetermined hand signals by conductors Susan Songer and Gordy Euler. Each year, dancers from all over the Pacific Northwest and points beyond join Portlanders at the Megaband Contra Dance. The dynamism of the Megaband in sync with the feet of hundreds of enthusiastic dancers makes for a supercharged experience for dancers and musicians alike. We have attempted to capture the feeling of the Megaband dance on this CD. The music has been edited down to fit the time requirements of one disc, but almost all of the original switches between tunes have been preserved, and the planned arrangements are intact. We hope that you, the listener, can experience (or re-experience) the pleasures of being at the event itself through this recording.