WHAT'S ON AT MMITD 2024: 13-15 SEPTEMBER AT BOLTON CASTLE

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WHAT'S ON AT MMITD 2024: 13-15 SEPTEMBER AT BOLTON CASTLE 〰️

This page summarises all the CONCERTS, WORKSHOPS, TALKS, 1-2-1s, and anything else happening at MMitD 2024. Read and scroll down, or click on these links to go to different sections. You can also follow the links below for a timetable for each day, and for a print-friendly programme in PDF form.

NB: Everything on this page is included in the Festival Pass except for the Friday and Saturday Evening Concerts and the 1-2-1 Tuition

Performing in Concert This Year

  • Ensemble Pro Victoria

    programme tbc
    1pm Friday, St Oswald’s Church


    Also appearing in the
    Friday Evening Concert

  • Eva Moreda

    The Roman de Silence
    3pm Friday, St Oswald’s Church


    Also appearing in the
    Saturday Evening Concert

  • Gaita

    featuring David Yardley
    The Roman de Fauvel
    1pm Saturday, St Oswald’s Church

    Also appearing in the
    Friday Evening Concert

  • The Makejoys

    Matilda Returns!
    3pm Saturday, St Oswald’s Church

    Also appearing in the
    Friday Evening Concert

  • Trouvere

    Ludus Danielis
    1pm Sunday, St Oswald’s Church

    Also appearing in the
    Saturday Evening Concert

  • Joglaresa

    Fierce Faith, Wild Wine & Tall Tales
    Sunday 2.30pm, St Oswald’s Church

    Also appearing in the
    Saturday evening concert

  • Bisarr

    Queen Mary’s Chamber Concert, Friday 5pm

  • Steve Tyler

    Queen Mary’s Chamber Concert, Friday 5pm

  • L'Erba Fresca

    Queen Mary’s Chamber
    Concert, Saturday 4pm

  • Edward Foster

    Queen Mary’s Chamber Concert, Saturday 5pm

  • David Yardley

    Queen Mary’s Chamber Concert,Saturday 5pm

  • Queen Mary's Chamber

    … this was one of the rooms occupied by the Scottish Queen whilst in prison at Bolton Castle.

Workshops

As usual, there’s a great range of workshops on offer at Medieval Music ion the Dales. Our instrumental workshops cover frame drumming, beginner bagpipes and recorder, woodwind techniques, and a whole range of ensemble options from loud winds to playing music in church dramas. Vocally, you can work with Richard de Winter on choruses from the Ludus Danielis (and join a performance with Trouvere), sing Adam de la Halle with Leah Stuttard, learn to sing like a medieval monk with Ensemble Pro Victoria, or totally let your hair down with Joglaresa. Gaita are offering workshops focusing on storytelling in dance and there is another opportunity to dance in Claire Goodall’s Mystery Plays workshops - a series of three workshops building to a performance. Last but very much not least, Medieval Mayhem with Jude Rees is aimed at youngsters (though all welcome) with dancing, music, feast of fools and plenty of silly games…

Full Details Here!

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Talks

  • Medieval Instruments

    Friday, 2pm
    Queen Mary’s Chamber

    In this content-packed illustrated presentation,
    Peter Bull will show how medieval artworks depict musical instruments, alongside a demonstration of various instruments using modern reproductions.
    A chance to buff up your instrument knowledge in preparation for MMitD 2025 - The Medieval Instrumentarium!

  • New Medieval Music

    Friday 4pm,
    Queen Mary’s Chamber

    David Yardley is a critically-acclaimed composer and performer who creates original works inspired and influenced by authentic medieval music. Find out about his inspirations and his methods, and listen to his reimagining of a medieval song for which no music has survived. David’s preparing this piece specially for MMitD!

  • Medieval Acrobats!

    Saturday 12 noon
    Queen Mary’s Chamber

    In this illustrated talk, Juliette Primrose discusses the role and status of acrobats in medieval performance.
    What music might acrobats have performed to? Were they considered "circus/street-artists" as they often are today, or did they have a different status and role? Could we be including acrobats in our medieval performances?

  • Orality to Literacy

    Saturday 2pm
    Queen Mary’s Chamber

    Gill Page (Director of Medieval Music in the Dales) considers the shift from oral transmission (learning by ear, performing from memory) to literate transmission (learning by reading, performing with visual aids), with regard to both music and storytelling. This was a key transition in medieval culture. What did it mean for performers and audiences?

  • The Trail of the Nibelungenlied

    Sunday 2pm, Queen Mary’s Chamber

    Holly Scarborough traces the trail of the Nibelungenlied. These days we are probably most familiar with the legends of the Nibelungs from Wagner’s Ring Cycle, but this was one of the great epic stories of the middle ages. It survives in over thirty manuscripts and fragments from c1200 onwards, and derives from an older oral tradition.

1-2-1 Tuition

  • Recorder

    Recorder tuition this year is available from Jim Parr.
    Beginner /
    Intermediate

  • Voice

    Vocal tuition is available this year from Richard de Winter.
    All levels

  • Shawm

    Shawm tuition is available this year from Jude Rees or Jim Parr.
    Beginner /
    Intermediate

  • Pipe & Tabor

    Pipe & Tabor tuition is available this year from Holly Scarborough (Beginner) or Terry Mann (Intermediate)

  • Hurdy Gurdy

    Hurdy gurdy tuition is available this year from Steve Tyler. All levels

  • Harp

    Harp tuition is available this year from Gill Page (beginner)

  • Medieval Transverse Flute

    Transverse flute tuition available this year from Holly Scarborough (all levels)

  • Medieval Bagpipes

    Bagpipes tuition available this year from Jude Rees or Jim Parr (all levels)

  • Frame Drum

    Frame Drum tuition available this year from Terry Mann (all levels)

  • Vielle

    Vielle tuition at all levels available this year from Juliette Primrose.

The Castle Stages

The Castle Stages are our venues for informal performances throughout the festival. Everyone is welcome on the Castle Stages - the only rules are

  • you must play all and only music from before the year 1500, and

  • you must register in advance.

Usually we have more than twenty different bands and individuals making their music on the Castle Stages, and if you’d like to join the roster, get in touch - we will be contacting all interested performers in early Spring.

Stories & Dancing

The epic tale retold by Rattlebox Theatre, in a show which employs engaging storytelling combined with clever puppetry; using many beautifully made puppets, sets and props. And accompanied by music from the amazing Steve Tyler! Warning: includes graphic puppet violence…

Saturday at 1pm and 6pm in the Great Chamber.

Beowulf

Enjoy stories from medieval times in the Great Chamber - check the programme for exact timings.

Stories in the Chamber

As well as our workshops withe the brilliant Gaita, Grantham Danserye return to Medieval Music in the Dales with more displays of medieval dances - and a chance to have a go. Plus informal workshops with Lottie Adcock - just turn up and join in!

Friday and Sunday afternoon in the Great Chamber - check the programme for exact timings.

Dancing

Everything Else!

Instrument Makers

Medieval Music in the Dales is the best place to source many kinds of historic instruments. All our featured makers specialise in medieval instruments, or include them as a significant part of their catalogue. It’s a great opportunity to browse the stalls and try out some instruments. Full information on this year’s exhibition to follow.

Sessions

There’s so many opportunities for informal music-making at MMitD. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings evening start with a led session from either Jude Rees or Terry Mann - just a great opportunity to get some tunes under your belt in a big friendly group. Then the session divides into louder instruments in The Whole Gamut Tavern and quieter instruments in the Castle Hearth - listen, jam along, lead a tune or two - everyone welcome!

Finale

Sunday afternoon sees the official Finale of Medieval Music in the Dales - a chance to enjoy some of the things people have been up to over the weekend, see if you’ve won anything in the (startlingly impressive) Festival Raffle, and be part of the Big Group Photo.

Last Night Party

… and then it’s time to get ready for the Sunday NIght Party in the Great Chamber and Solar. Candlelight, roaring fire, dancing, loads of music, bar - this is a medieval party like no other.

Admission is free! but places are limited, so be sure to book your place as soon as you can if you are planning to be around on Sunday night.