I have had a few thoughts about my forum event to be held here in Anglesey next March and wondered if anyone hoping to attend would be interested in any of the following ideas:

Singing in a madrigal group.

Playing in an ensemble of early instruments. (crumhorns, rebecs, straight bore recorders etc)

Singing a choral item in Welsh.

Forming a small string ensemble to accompany any soloists who would like to play or sing a short concerto movement or a baroque aria.

Playing in a consort of garkleins! (Ear muffs to be provided fot the listeners. )

I don't play these instruments but I would love to see the early instruments and listen to both these ensembles/consorts

1. Yes
2. Yes (though, as some forumites will know, my skills on the larger crumhorns could be best described as 'interesting' )
3. Yes
4. Sounds interesting, though I can't play a stringed instrument (yet...)
5. If someone provides a garklein!

Almost ditto.
For 2), I have Mollenhauer Dream descant and treble, if they would be acceptable (440).
I'd acquire a garklein for 5) if it goes ahead.
And 4) is a no-no, as I don't play a stringed instrument and am probably not in the soloist category as far as singing is concerned.

Yes, thinking about it, I could buy myself a lovely garklein...



(and I must get round to getting a bass recorder sometime...)

Up for any or all of them. And also interested as a potential soloist for the Baroque string group to accompany.

Have a Mollenhauer Dream descant (no bigger straight bores yet) and an Aulos gark. And the usual mix of baroque recorders

Really would like to make it to this one - digits crossed.

1) Yup

2) don't have anything suitable but...

3) Ooooh yeah!

4) Up for that!

5) I don't have a garklein

I'll sing in a group.
I can play "normal" recorder, but don't have any of these wonderful sounding instruments
I'll be the audience with Skylark
Bev.

On behalf of my 2

1 Not sure what's required

2 Yes if we have a suitable instrument

3 Not sure

4 Yes on one account if it's not too difficult

5 Yes definately! Goes in search of a second Gark

Do you have a selection of early instruments in your collection Petra?

I have a few odd things. I have a passable set of harpsichord and lute voices on my keyboard too.

Sounds good. I have nothing apart from recorders, would it be OK if I used them in your group?

Hi Petra,

please could you confirm the dates for the event?

Many thanks

hillyb

Yes, of course. Next March over the weekend of the 8th and 9th. The main event will take place during the day of Saturday the 8th and on the 9th we will be playing in the music room of a local stately home if all goes according to plan.

Thank you.

hillyb

I've already expressed intrest in that one, and if it turns out to be a weekend will probably need some kind of accomodation. (Somewhere to pitch my tent and access to facilities to wash in will suffice... although a space for a carry mat on the floor sounds much more comfortable... oh and yes I do know how cold it gets in wales in March!)

I don't play a gark yet how different is it from the rest of recorders?

Jo

Hello, Ratty! Sounds a great weekend!

1. Yes
2. Not sure
3. Yes
4. Wouldn't mind singing a baroque aria...(tries to think of one..apart from Dido's Lament)
5. Probably one for the ear muffs brigade!

Looking forward to it already!

1. yes - I madrigals
2. yes, I'll see if I can borrow a crumhorn or rackett from my stepfather. If its got a double reed and recorder fingerings I can normally make some kind of sense of it.
3. yes
4. definately, and I think I might even have some string parts somewhere ( part of silete venti) also prepared to play oboe in aforementioned ensemble if needed.
5. If I can get my hands on a Garklein then yes

All looking good!

I'll have a talk to you in the not-too-distant future about accomodation Petra, I'd like to have a place to stay safely booked this side of Christmas.

One reason for choosing Benllech was that it is full of B and B places. The season will have hardly started in March so there should be plenty of choice.

Sounds good - thanks for that Petra.

We're only about three months from Anglesey...

I'd better start thinking of how I'm going to get there, where I'll stay, small things like that...

Do you have details of price etc. yet Petra?

Not yet but as soon as my last concert is over I shall start to get forms and prices sorted as well as a list of possible B and B's and a posh hotel or two also. The venue is booked and the organ is there for use too. I have my ensembles almost sorted and the Glass Studios are expecting us on the saturday evening before we all go off to eat. Watch this space. And get your garkleins fully charged and ready for action.

Sounds good.

Better get a garklein before the 8th March then...

How far is it from Chester, Petra, and is it motorway or dual carriageway all the way?

It is about a fifty minute drive from Chester. Not motorway but a good dual carriageway onto the island. Benllech is very easy to find.

OK thanks.

Slight diversion - can you remind me when and where is your Music Hall concert? I might be able to come but would I have to come in fancy dress?

Hi Skylark,
It is on December 14th and then again on the 15th at the Community Centre in Moelfre, a little village just a mile or so past Benllech where the Forum Event will take place. Do come in costume. That would be great. The choir are just giving an impression of being Victorians with long skirts, frilly blouses and shawls etc. (not the men) Bring some ear plugs. I'm singing in my best music hall voice! Some of it is really funny.

Sounds good! Can the audience join in some of the singing

Absolutely they can. We shall be singing each chorus twice in true music hall fashion just for that purpose. They can OOOOOHHHHH the Chairman too. I have hijacked my own thread!!!

I'll start practising! Put me down to come, weather permitting!


Do you think we should go back on topic?

50 minutes?! It's 45 minutes to Chester from me in Rhos! And multimap reckons it will take me 50 minutes to get to Benllech...

It's about an hour from Chester to Bangor, so add on a bit after that to get over to Anglesey.

Aye. Alternatively, you can do it in 45 minutes, and you might then get a present from that nice Mr Brunstrom.

I'm probably going by train - and I notice Benllech lacks a station. Is it easiest to go to somewhere like Bangor and bus it from there?

It is easiest to take a train to Bangor and then to ring me for a taxi! I may have underestimated the time to drive from Chester but it really doesn't take me more than an hour home from there. Mr Brunstrom has not sent me any speeding tickets yet because I never do.

Cool, thanks Petra . I'd better start looking into getting my train tickets soon : I think the cheap tickets go on sale any day now!...

edit : have just checked : tickets are available up to the 25th Feb, so I guess my tickets will be available in about a fortnight...

I'd like to do this one but there is no way I can drive it. So I think its a train to Bangor. Hubby and Kids just need to learn I need weekends away for myself.

Jo

I imagine I'll be around and about so if anyone extra needs a lift, give me a bell.

That's really kind. I'll bear that in mind.
Thanks

I'm not sure she's willing to drive all the way to Burwell though to pick you up!! LOL

(If it transpires she is, then she can pop down and give me a lift too!! )

I was thinking of taking the train from Ely to Bangor! LOL

I think Hubby is too busy with Lent. He's being "Told" I'm going. Petra and I have some unfinished business with a recorder and soprano duet with nice continuo part (not realised) to sort out. I need a Garklein!

I know dear Nat has the reputation of beingexcessivley kind but driving to Easy Anglia, then popping to London before returning to Wales is a little excessice!

Of course I am able to drive you jod, shall we make that a date?

Are you gracing us with your prescence as well mrbouffant?

What all the way from East Anglia, or would you rather I get the train from Ely first and make your life slightly easier. We are talking Ely other side of the country and not Ely Cardiff!

In my experience it takes nearly as long to go from Anglesey to Cardiff (or vice versa) as it does to go from Anglesey to Ely, Cambs. Not as pretty a drive in the latter case though!!!


I have to say it is tempting...

I looked at the train options and they all seem to involve changing at New Street. Right. Time to Play the Disabled Handdicapped Card again and ensure I'm assisted with the change as New Street is a Nightmare at the best of time and I cannot guarantee a good day. (See CISD for the explanation)

Cheap train tickets available from London up to Thursday 6th March, which means that the tickets for the weekend 7-9th March will probably be available next week!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the tip-off - you reminded me to buy my tickets for SRP that weekend!

W

I can't wait for March - I've just got back from the music hall weekend where we had a good old sing-song in the presence of Queen Victoria and Petra did a superb job! Thanks for a great evening Petra, and for an entertaining morning as well

Anglesey is a lovely place, very pretty and peaceful, and the drive round the North Wales coastline is wonderful - sea on one side and mountains on the other side. And Petra's got all sorts lined up for our "delectation and delight" Hope to meet lots of old friends and new in March!

Glad that you enjoyed yourself Skylark. £2.50 well spent then?

I am almost at the end of my concerts for this year so I shall be posting details very soon. Watch this space.