VIOLS
Tutors: Hugh Cherry & Ibi Aziz
Location: Fort Belan on the Menai Straits
Reviewer: Clive Tolley
The fifth annual NWEMF viol weekend was held from Friday to Monday, 13–16 March 2015, tutored, as on previous occasions, by Ibi Aziz, who came up from London, and, on Saturday, by Hugh Cherry, from rather closer to hand (Chester).
The previous two weekends were held at Llanarmon in the Ceiriog valley, but this year we returned to our original venue of Fort Belan on the Menai Straits, after a gap of two years (no weekend was held in 2014). The previous weekend, in 2013, was under-attended and made a financial loss, to the extent that the viability of the weekend event was put in doubt, but support appears to have returned, and, after encouragement from our tutor, Ibi Aziz, and the owner of Fort Belan, Chris Blundell, I decided to have another go and run the course again. Fortunately, the weekend proved successful in almost all ways this time – if we bar the rather biting weather.
Fort Belan is a distinctive, indeed unique, setting – a partially restored, partially ruinous Napoleonic-era fort, replete with cannons and other defensive accoutrements. It is further defended by a seemingly endless pot-holed access road, so that once there, you feel you have really reached the back-of-beyond. It is the ideal site for musical retreats, away from the distractions of the mundane. I was concerned its charms might have worn off after several visits, but participants made it clear this was not the case. There is a sense of being in a special place given over to a wide range of musical activity. We were, for example, sharing the fort with Chris Blundell’s mother, a former professional musician, and some other retired musicians, who were enthusiastic about what we were doing and quite accommodating to our constantly traipsing through their living quarters to get to the music room, or using their kitchen to make tea; we had some interesting conversations with them, for example at dinner. They (along with Ibi and Chris) presented us with a performance of some of Bach’s Brandenburg concertos as we readied to leave on Monday morning.
We were fortunate to have several participants who have not attended previous weekends; on the other hand, the core of regulars provides a much-needed backbone. Several non-playing spouses also came, and for example took walks around Fort Belan, returning red-faced from the bracing sea air of early spring.
We did not push any particular theme this year. People brought music, and played whatever worked, under the tutors’ guidance. Most players are fairly experienced, and instruments were shared around freely as needed. The smaller number of less experienced players were adeptly accommodated into groups by the tutors. As happened last time, in 2013, Liz White brought a whole consort’s worth of Renaissance viols. This provided people with the opportunity for playing these instruments in a series of trial sessions, which was much appreciated. There was a strong sense of enthusiasm on the part of everyone taking part, which all contributed to a positive and productive atmosphere.
Having attempted on previous occasions either to self-cater (horrendous amounts of work) or resort to the restaurant facilities at Llanarmon (rather expensive), we this time hired an outside caterer, Hilary Cooke, who performed splendidly. The viol weekends have thus managed to maintain their reputation for good fare, as well as good music. And we have managed to keep prices substantially lower than similar weekend courses (especially given that ours includes a stay over until Monday if desired).
We hope therefore to be able to offer the course again next spring. As ever, its viability does depend on finding sufficient numbers of players, however – it needs a minimum of a dozen or so. We would encourage any intermediate to advanced-level viol players to consider coming next time so that we can maintain this event, treasured by those who have attended.
Particular thanks go to our tutors, Ibi Aziz and Hugh Cherry, for their tireless efforts, to Chris Blundell for his assistance and determination to keep Fort Belan as a musical centre, to Hilary Cooke for her wonderful catering, and to the housekeeper Christina for her charming enthusiasm and keen desire to be helpful and accommodating, as well as to my wife Pat, who again ended up sorting out the coffee breaks and food distribution.
Clive Tolley
First published in April 2015 Newsletter
