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Playback Dulcimer Day
Programme of events
Display of East Anglian dulcimers
This included some dulcimers belonging to Norfolk Museums which are not normally
on public display, as well as a number of locally-made instruments in private
hands. The Playback exhibition includes further information about dulcimers and
other Norfolk musical traditions. Billy Bennington’s CD was launched on the day.
Concert spots and talks
Chris Coe 11.00-11.45
Chris orginally learned from Glaswegian player Jimmy Cooper, and has
since developed her own style,using hard hammers.
John Howson - The Dulcimer in East Anglia 12.00-12.45
Come and hear about the instruments, the players and the music. John has
been carrying out research into the dulcimer as part of the Playback project,
and this talk (with musical examples) outlines his findings.
Fred Woodley 2.00-2.45
Fred has a family tradition of playing and making dulcimers in the West
Midlands, and plays with plectrums.
Final concert with Reg Reader and Tom Knight 3.15-4.15
Reg and his grandson Tom carry on their family tradition from Suffolk,
using wool and cane beaters. Reg spent much time playing with the late great
Norfolk player Billy Bennington, and recently Tom has been playing Billy’s old
instrument. Other guests will also feature in this, the day’s final concert.
Drop-in workshop
Ian Clabburn brought a collection of dulcimers for
you to have a go at actually playing - even if you’ve never played anything
before you were able to drop in and have a go under Ian’s guiding eye.
Players’ session
Players with their own dulcimers were welcome to
join a session hosted by Richard Blake and Chris Holderness.
Cane beaters workshop
Although many modern dulcimers are played with
wooden hammers, the older style of beaters, which remained popular in Norfolk,
were made of cane or rattan and bound with wool. Most people using these beaters
only possess an old pair, and no-one has been making them since the great Billy
Bennington died in the 1980s. Through the Playback project, the East Anglian
Traditional Music Trust is reviving the craft of making them, and on the day
people were able to
make their own pair to take away and play or just come and have a look.
For further information about dulcimers in East Anglia, click here.
What are the musical traditions of East Anglia?
Traditional Music Day Melodeons & More Workshops, classes & schools Community Projects
Profiles of traditional musicians Research Jig Dolls Dulcimers Stepdancing