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Annual Weekend Report - Last updated November 2002 |
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Launde 2000 bites the dust and another good time was had by all. The weather wasn't up to last year's standard but, with the chandeliers, the oak panelling and the beautiful garden views, we hardly noticed.
The AGM proved more interesting than usual with honorary life memberships being granted to Fred, Arthur and Sally in recognition of their work in the hugely successful, "Make and Play Project".
The treasurer reported a healthy surplus. This prompted a wide-ranging discussion about what to do with the money. "Education! Education! Education!" seemed to be the main thrust. Anyone interested in publicising or educating in their own area, with a view to dulcimer scholarships for school children, should contact a committee member.
Sally is sadly retiring from events organising after many years in post. So, anyone interested in helping or doing this job, please contact a committee member. (Different people could organise different events.)
Tuition sessions began in earnest on Saturday morning: Roger Nicholson and John Shaw for mountaineers and Matt Fox, Roger Frood, Jenny and Sally for hammerers.
Roger (N) focussed on embellishments and ornamentations for a simple tune: damping, hammering, pulling, trilling, harmonies, simple chords, melody across all strings and yodelling. (Did you say yodelling??!!)
John dealt with different modes (tunings), arpeggios, chord shapes, economy of movement, advanced knee trembling and nice strums!
Roger (F) focussed on rhythmic group playing, Matt Fox on wild, Eastern rhythms and Sally and Jenny on tune swaps and writing your own tunes.
Chris Fitt organised, "How to Join in with a Session," chiefly for hammerers. One-to-one sessions featured Hurdy Gurdy with Irene; and Open Tuned Guitar was led by Neil.
The famous Launde Lectures covered the histories of the HD with Roger (F) and the European fretted zither with John. (At Saturday teatime there were some sticky moments with Abbey's birthday cake.)
The weekend highlight for me is the Saturday evening concert which showcases the versatility and talent of the participants. This year we were entertained by monologues, dramatic action songs, choruses, clog dances and the inevitable dulcimer tunes with the stunning duelling dulcimers of Roger and John. A democratic "Names in the Hat" format made it much more informal and enjoyable and we concluded with a "Horses' Brawl" (a dance)!
An innovation this year was the small song sessions in the dining room for those of us who felt we'd just heard one tune too many. We didn't have the stamina of the horde of hammerers who hammered well into the early hours.
The traditional MD question time covered such topics as "String neurosis" and peg preference. John showed a penchant for modal woodwork whereas Roger (N) liked ebony violin pegs and fine tuners at the bridge end.
String gauges were thought to give good results at 11.12.24 (wound) for three strings and 10.10/11.11/22.22 wound) for six strings. Arthur listened with interest and will no doubt go home and beat more bits of wood into submission.
Two thoughts for the day:
See you all next time.
Linda Murphy
October 2000
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Annual Weekend Report - Last updated November 2002 |
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