The Gloucester International Pipe and Tabor Festival

The Festival covered all aspects of the instruments and included performances, seminars, instructions and masterclasses from experts from the piping world. The full programme is on the Taborers Society website and the  papers will eventually be published by The Taborers Society and I do not wish to steal their thunder. 

In terms of programme,  content and presentation it is impossible to explain how brilliant and exciting I found it. 

The playing of Poul Høxbro from Denmark was phenomenal,  if you don't have his CD you are missing a great treat (it is hard to obtain at present but availability should improve shortly ... email me if you have problems.)  The joy and drumming of Carles Mas, Rafel and Teresa Mitjans from Catalunya playing flabiol in three voices was beautiful.  Maurice Guis and Remi Venture from Provence playing French 18c chamber sonatas on two galoubets and wonderful huge Tambourins was an eye opener,  to play such music with one hand is incredible. 

Below are a few images of the Festival.

Bucknell

On the first day of the festival there was an outing to take the pipe and tabor of Joe Powell,  the last of the traditional morris pipers back to Bucknell,  in Oxfordshire where he last played with the Morris side  towards the end of the 19th Century.  The story of tracing the pipe and tabor,  which had been separated over the years will be published by the society and is truly fascinating.

We were met with tea by the Womens institute and the Vicar to whom we showed the pipe and tabor and gave a short concert. We lunched at the pub in Bucknell where it is thought that the picture of Joe Powell below was taken.  Next time perhaps there will be time to attempt to recreate the photograph with,  say,  one morris man and lots of pipers

Broad Camden and the Chipping Camden Pipe.

An afternoon looking at pipes and tabors in the instrument collections in the Oxford museums was finished with a visit to Broad Camden where the Chipping Camden Pipe was shown to the current Chipping Camden Morris side.

Concert at Gloucester Cathedral

On the Saturday there was a lunchtime concert in Gloucester Cathedral.  The Cathedral has two stone carvings of pipe and tabor players,  but unfortunately both were hidden behind scaffolding for renovation.

Playing In Gloucester

Saturday afternoon gave the opportunity to play in the Gloucester Streets.

Taborers

These photographs were taken during the festival but not fitting into any of the above categories.

Conclusion