Supporting the Handlebards at Felton Park
Wind instruments amongst others at the All Blown Out ensemble group
Handlebards at Felton Park - Felton Music Ensemble
 

Ensembles give people who share an interest in a type of music or instrument a chance to make music together. Each of our ensembles has a clear purpose. Some meet regularly while others are created for a specific event. If people enjoy them, the latter may evolve into ongoing groups.

Below you can find out about the ensembles that are running at the moment. If you are interested in joining any contact Alison on felton4music@gmail.com. Get in touch if the ensemble you want isn't there. We may be able to put you in touch with others who share your interests and needs, and get something underway.


Ongoing Groups


All Blown Out 

All Blown Out emerged from a one-off morning for instrumentalists in January 2016. At the moment it's a combination of flutes, clarinets and saxophones, but anyone who would like to join in would be welcome.

Picking up an instrument again after years without playing, or starting from scratch is hard work, but also great fun. Some people are happy to play on their own, but others want to make music with others. Several of All Blown Out's members had never played in a group before, while some are experienced players who enjoy playing in a mixed ability group.

The main focus is on developing the skills involved in playing with others – coping with keeping a part that's different from everyone else's, playing together, listening, balancing and blending. Each person's part is written for them, in the hopes that no one is either over-faced or bored. We play in all sorts of different styles.

Occasional performances provide a goal and a chance to share what we've been doing with friends and families. Just before the lock down we were preparing to take part in a music festival in Rothbury and looking forward to taking a short programme to take to local care homes in the summer of 2020, and taking part in Feltonbury. In August we would have had our usual Playawayday in the summer – a whole day of music making, energised by a shared lunch!

In normal times All Blown Out meets on the first and third Wednesday evenings of the month, from 7.30 – 9.30pm at one of the member's houses. There is no charge. At present, we meet at Felton Village Hall when restrictions allow, still on Wednesday evenings, but from 8pm to 9,30pm. We are very well spaced, avoid playing too loudly, and each of us puts £1.50 in the pot for hall hire.


Fingers Adrift

Felton's recorder consort. Such has been the enthusiasm of adults returning to recorder playing that we now sport no fewer than 3 bass recorders. This group is for players of any or all sizes of recorder, happy to read music with one or two to a part and no conductor. Members sort out their own rehearsals from session to session.


The Georgianas

Named in celebration of their first public outing at the Regency Ball in 2017, the Georgianas grew out of the Start the Recorder course in Autumn 2016.

Since then they have contributed to several events. Members of the Georgianas are currently involved with the Better Recorder Playing course.


MadriGals

A group of up to about 16 women who meet each summer to prepare for specific events singing madrigals in 2 or 3 parts. It's open to anyone who wants to join, but with only a few voices to a part singers need to have the experience or put in the practising time to feel confident.

2019 was our third summer season, and our busiest to date. In addition to singing at Feltonbury and for the Handlebards' performance of “The Tempest” at Felton Park, we took ourselves on tour to three local churches in September. These weren't advertised, just mentioned to people who might like to come along. The project worked perfectly, with small, friendly audiences at two churches, and no one at the third, so we could enjoy moving round the building to sing in different locations and formats. A great day, rounded off with tea at the Running Fox in Longframlington.

We'll aim to meet two or three times in 2020 before we really get going in May, looking forward to a similar programme together, possibly with a short concert.

Email if you are interested in joining in. Rehearsals on Sunday evenings in Felton – no expectation to be able to come to everyone. A nominal charge to cover printing and room hire costs.


Ensembles for specific events


From time to time one-off opportunities for music-making occur, and Felton Music can facilitate these by advertising them, calling for volunteers and organising rehearsals.


Bow Brummel and the .......

The Regency Ball saw the first and perhaps the only appearance of a stringed instrument ensemble. Violins and a 'cello rubbed shoulders with guitars, mandolin, ukelele and a harp. The sound was glorious. Maybe some of those who played would like to work together on a more regular basis, and there could be others who'd like to join in.


Beyond the End of the Road

In 2016, Felton was fortunate to be selected as one of the communities involved in “Beyond the End of the Road”. This was to be a new musical for Northumberland, drawing on themes and anecdotes from several villages around the county. November Club, an arts company based in Morpeth, led the year long project. The performance came to Felton on June 11, 2017. One of the songs called for people, apparently just in the audience, to stand and sing. Eleven people from Felton and West Thirston spent three mornings learning the song, and then participated in the afternoon and evening shows. A couple of weeks later, seven of us took part in the performance at The Sage Gateshead.


Handlebards

Felton enjoys being included in the Handlebards tours. Handlebards provides bicycle- powered Shakespeare in the open air. In 2017 and 2018 Felton Music provided a group to perform Elizabethan music before and after the show. This provided those who enjoy playing recorders and singing madrigals an opportunity to share the music with others. HospiceCare North Northumberland organises the Felton event and others in the county. 

Felton Music performing Elizabethan Music before the Handlebards performance at Felton Park.

 
 

Upcoming Ensemble Events

(click on the title for more information):