Rod Stradling ‘Playing for Playford’ Workshop, Welwyn Garden City – UKby Rob Howard |
Rod Stradling leads an accordion workshop – ‘Playing for Playford’ - on Sunday February 26th, 10.30am until 3.30pm, at the Backhouse Room, 116 Handside Lane, Welwyn Garden City, Herefordshire AL8 6SZ. The workshop is organized by the Herefordshire Folk Association. Unfortunately there are no eating facilities nearby, so please bring a packed lunch. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided during the day. Cost: £40 Rod Stradling is a highly experienced accordionist, band leader, tutor, and workshop leader. Rod comments: “The Playford publishing dynasty lasted from the middle of the 17th Century into the early 18th Century. Borrowing from composers of the day such as Purcell, they left us with a large catalogue of music and we will be trying some of the tunes, not just to hear how they sound, but to examine how well they reflect the dances. At the time there was no instrument like an accordion so we will review how the character of our instrument affects the music. The tunes will range from some that are familiar today to some you may never have heard, and from tunes in familiar keys and time signatures to a couple of more challenging titles. As our knowledge of Playford’s work has expanded over the recent decades, the dancing masters of today have written new dances and tunes in the Playford style. We will try some of these as well.” For further information email: roger.swaine1@btinternet.com |