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Details of future weekends will be posted in the coming months. In the mean time here is a set of pictures taken during the 2010 weekend. Just click on the controls to see them. The text below is about the 2010 weekend.
Venue. Fort Belan is a late-eighteenth-century fortress on the North Wales coast, close to Caernarfon and Snowdonia, in an area of outstanding natural beauty (see the website at http://www.fortbelan.co.uk/). The fortress has been restored over the last couple of decades by the owners (the Blundell family) and now has a number of self-catering cottages which are let out, each of which has a large sitting room suitable for a viol consort. In addition there is a large galleried Music Room. Chris Blundell is himself a viol player and will take part in the weekend. He is enthusiastic about the fort being used for this purpose and is freely offering additional help in setting things up.
Date. We have settled on the weekend of 16–18 April 2010 (two weeks after Easter).
Getting there. Fort Belan is a little under two hours’ drive from Chester. The nearest railway station is some distance away at Bangor. If you are intending to arrive by train, please let us know – arrangements for picking up may be possible (but cannot be guaranteed).
Accommodation. It is envisaged that we shall rent two of the cottages; this will give up to 21 places. We need a minimum of around 12 players (giving, hopefully, three consorts), but spouses or friends may also come along (they will not, of course, contribute to the tuition costs). Most bedrooms are shared; there are a few doubles for couples. All rooms are spacious and well furnished, with lovely views. It should also be possible to stay locally in hotels or bed and breakfast: see for example
Food. This will be a self-catering weekend, but foodstuffs will be made available for all meals and breaks (included in the cost). Participants may wish – but do not need – to supplement these by bringing pre-prepared meals etc., as there is no restaurant in the vicinity. The nearest town is Caernarfon
Music. Details of musical arrangements are still to be made with the tutor; at present, we are thinking in terms of a couple of themes, such as the music of Lawes and Byrd. The weekend will provide opportunities to play from a selection of material set beforehand, enabling people to practise if they do not feel up to dealing with it unseen, as well as personal choices of the participants. Precise repertoire will be selected according to the balance of forces available. The tutor will arrange the consort groups. There may also be technique sessions.
We shall be playing baroque viols at A = 415; participants should bring as many sizes of viol as they can play and manage, to allow for maximum flexibility. Participants will be expected
to give some indication of their ability level, as well as which instruments they play, so that suitable consorts may be formed.
Timetable. It is planned that we shall have sessions between Friday evening and Sunday afternoon, to be arranged with Ibi according to the forces available. The aim will be for players to spend as much time as possible playing, while spouses may for example enjoy the beautiful surroundings. It will be possible to stay on to Monday if people wish (at a minimal extra cost), so playing may continue on Sunday evening in an informal manner.
The North West Early Music Forum
Held a weekend for Viol players for the first time in April 2010
With Ibi Aziz and Hugh Cherry
Keep an eye on this page for news of more weekends to come