Workshop

Workshop Sessions for lutes, viols, voices

Lute playing is steeped in a rich history of community playing and singing and we are delighted to welcome Ciska Mertens - President of the Netherlands Lute Society to our festival to host a community workshop session. Ciska will be running the first music making session on Thursday. The ‘come and play’ sessions will take place in the wonderful Martineau Hall, next door to our main venue - The Octagon Chapel. We invite you all from far and wide to bring your lute, viol or voice, and join in with some Lute Songs sung in English and Dutch. The session will explore Dowland’s lute songs and will provide a unique insight into how his music would have been received 400 years ago, on the continent as well as in England. Participants may ask for scores in advance.

Thursday 23rd July -

13.00 -16.00 Public Workshop, Led by Ciska Mertens

15.30-16.00 Presentation of music rehearsed in the Workshop

17.00- 17.30 A short free concert of music prepared by a visiting Ensemble for the Netherlands.

Despite Dowland’s disapproving words, expressed in Lachrimae or seven tears: Having in forren parts with diverse Lute-lessons of my composition, published by strangers without my name or approval, The programme will consist partly of Dutch versions of Dowland’s music, along with some music by colleagues such as William Brade, who worked at the Danish court at the time Dowland was there.