Does anyone have any recommendations for a traditional/folk retreat in UK? I'm interested at the moment in Irish traditional music, less keen on traditional Irish weather.....
Recommendations for traditional folk music retreat
- Thread starter saundersbp
- Start date
Thank you!
You won't find broader than:
who are
Home - Halsway Manor
Halsway Manor, National Centre for Folk Arts, offers year-round residential courses and workshops in music, song, dance, and craft. The manor hosts gigs from professional musicians, wellbeing and artist retreats. We are a registered charity based in Somerset.
halswaymanor.org.uk
who are
National Centre for Folk Arts
but not Irish.
Thanks, I'd seen this one https://halswaymanor.org.uk/event/folk-summer-school-2023/
It's at the far end of the UK for me and pricey but sure its good. Also been looking at https://www.folkcamps.co.uk/
It's at the far end of the UK for me and pricey but sure its good. Also been looking at https://www.folkcamps.co.uk/
Walker
Member
I suppose anything is possible - sure only the other day the farmer's horse was found in the byre... But just in case you don't find Irish traditional music at folk camp, maybe pack your handkerchiefs and Morris sticks, in case you are asked up to dance. 
If you decide to brave the Irish weather (that would likely be milder than in Yorkshire) maybe you could consider checking out the Blas International Summer School of Irish Traditional Music and Dance. There's the Willie Clancy Summer School (apparently the largest traditional music summer school held annually since 1973). Failing that there's always plenty of music in Irish sessions - everywhere. Oh, don't forget Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann - that would be mighty fun too. Last year there were nearly 500,000 visitors at the festival.
If you decide to brave the Irish weather (that would likely be milder than in Yorkshire) maybe you could consider checking out the Blas International Summer School of Irish Traditional Music and Dance. There's the Willie Clancy Summer School (apparently the largest traditional music summer school held annually since 1973). Failing that there's always plenty of music in Irish sessions - everywhere. Oh, don't forget Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann - that would be mighty fun too. Last year there were nearly 500,000 visitors at the festival.
Many thanks for all those great ideas - I'll have a google!
Walker
Member
Slightly off-topic... I just noticed The University of West London (London College of Music Examinations) have a syllabus for both Irish Traditional Music and Scottish Traditional Music.
lcme.uwl.ac.uk
LCM Exams | Irish Traditional Music Graded exams and Diplomas - University of West London
An inovative syllabus pioneered by LCME offering eight grades, one introductory level and four diplomas. Enter for Traditional Music exams with LCM.
lcme.uwl.ac.uk
boxplayer4000
Well-known member
Thanks Box! Seems like I have heard the word "byre", but probably would have gone with, like a shelter with roof, but no sides. Anyway, gonna have look for that tune....
hais1273
Well-known member
In early May Skolvan from Brittany will be at the Hadleigh folk club for a weekend of music and dance. Music workshops, Dance workshops plus two " Fest Noz"and a session and "Fest Deiz" on the Sunday. Regis Huiban is Skolvan's accordionist. He's worth a hunt down on YT. I guess most of this will be hard-core Breton, Gavotte, Plin, various Larides, Loudeac etc etc etc. Just the occasional Irish tune for Chapelloise and Cercle Circasian. Not sure if we'll be going my wife's health ain't that great.....
hais1273
Well-known member
http://www.frenchdanceleeds.co.uk as this may be in your neck of the woods it might worth checking Les Panards Dansent. There's a French/Breton session or two in the Leeds area. ( My geography gets a bit sketchy north of Birmingham)
Thank you, I haven't ever done a music exam and not going to start now but the syllabus with repertoire was very interesting reading. To my horror the tunes I've been learning are in the G6-8 area. Had I looked first I'd have more wisely started at G1 !
Thanks again. Hebden Bridge isn't a million miles away and is a nice place when it's not flooded. I've been listening to a few country's traditions and to my ears the Irish comes up on top, why though they have to play everything insanely fast beats me. Going to go to my first session tonight in a local pub just to listen and perhaps make surreptitious notes.
There's also a Scandinavian traditional music thing up this way in a few months called Scandimoot, very specialised!
Walker
Member
If you enjoy the challenge of technically demanding traditional tunes let me know. I have a few rare and special Scottish tunes that might be a bit... interesting.
boxplayer4000
Well-known member
Tom, I associated the word ‘byre’ as being Scottish but on checking the Encyclopaedia Brittanica it lists it as a ‘British’ word. For me its a 4-walled building with a roof.
The tune is a very traditional one embedded in the Scottish culture and I believe first appeared as a tune called ‘The Linton Ploughman’.
The nonsense song called ‘The Muckin’ o’ Geordie’s Byre’ was set to that tune and tells the hilarious story of the that event. The tune also appears in 3/4 time as ‘Bonnie Strathyre’ a song praising the beauty and tranquility of that Perthshire village.
I used this 'shorthand' version of the tune for years in my band:
Thanks again! Wow, that's a lot of chords for a "simple" tune!Tom, I associated the word ‘byre’ as being Scottish but on checking the Encyclopaedia Brittanica it lists it as a ‘British’ word. For me its a 4-walled building with a roof.
The tune is a very traditional one embedded in the Scottish culture and I believe first appeared as a tune called ‘The Linton Ploughman’.
The nonsense song called ‘The Muckin’ o’ Geordie’s Byre’ was set to that tune and tells the hilarious story of the that event. The tune also appears in 3/4 time as ‘Bonnie Strathyre’ a song praising the beauty and tranquility of that Perthshire village.
I used this 'shorthand' version of the tune for years in my band:
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boxplayer4000
Well-known member
The chords and bass line were handled by a rhythm piano/keyboard (bass overlaid on the left hand).
Pipemajor
Well-known member
Also the same tune as "Westering Home"Tom, I associated the word ‘byre’ as being Scottish but on checking the Encyclopaedia Brittanica it lists it as a ‘British’ word. For me its a 4-walled building with a roof.
The tune is a very traditional one embedded in the Scottish culture and I believe first appeared as a tune called ‘The Linton Ploughman’.
The nonsense song called ‘The Muckin’ o’ Geordie’s Byre’ was set to that tune and tells the hilarious story of the that event. The tune also appears in 3/4 time as ‘Bonnie Strathyre’ a song praising the beauty and tranquility of that Perthshire village.
I used this 'shorthand' version of the tune for years in my band:
boxplayer4000
Well-known member
Pipemajor: I hadn't thought of this connection; there's a divergence in the 2nd 8 bars but I think they've all been in the same pub at some time or another.
