Saturday 16 July was Playback Dulcimer day at the Gressenhall Rural Life Museum in Norfolk.  Playback is a series of music and song events and a travelling exhibition under the auspices of the East Anglian Traditional Music Trust featuring traditional music and musicians in East Anglia.  The director of the Trust is John Howson, a tireless collector and recorder of traditional music, who has the record label Vintage. 

On the day, there was a marvellous display of old east Anglian dulcimers, about 40 in all in various sizes and condition, which were painstakingly measured, photographed and recorded into an archive. Included were the instruments that belonged to Billy Bennington and Billy Cooper, two ell known Norfolk dulcimer players. You will be able to see the archive on the EATMT website in the autumn. (www.eatmt.org) 

East Anglian Players traditionally used rattan beaters rather than hard hammers and there was a workshop on making them run by Steve and if you hadn’t time to make your own, he’d sell you a pair for a fiver.

In the chapel, John Howson gave a most interesting talk on East Anglian musicians along with recordings of several. 

Fred Woodley (yes that man gets everywhere) gave a demonstration of his West Midlands plucking style of playing, which opened a few eyes. 

At the end of the afternoon there was a concert in the chapel including, Reg Reader (of the Old hat Band) and his grandson, Chris Coe, Ian Clabburn, and our own Fred Woodley. 

Out in the courtyard, there was a gazebo for a music session.  For me this was the best part of the day.  As well as dulcimers, there were whistles, fiddle, cello, and autoharp.  Nearly every player joined in over the afternoon, including Nonsuch’s Sally and Jenny.  An excellent cask of real ale nearby added fuel to our playing. 

A great day out, good music, good company and perhaps one or two recruits for Nonsuch. 

Bernie Duffield