Medieval Music in the Dales

Reenactment of Visit to Holywell of Henry V
to give thanks for victory at Agincourt

June 2016 - 600 years after Henry Vth's thanksgiving visit to the holy shrine at Holywell

Medieval Banquet July 2015

St Bartholomew's Church, Wilmslow, Cheshire
Photographs courtesy of Richard McBride

Flint Castle Living History Day - July 2015

Young Tom was with us for the whole day; he played for both parades and for the dancing and kept strict time. He was a joy to work with - well done, Tom!

Wirral Storyfest - June 2015

Tatton Old Hall Medieval Fayre - June 2015

Chester Midsummer Watch Parade - June 2015

Leicester University Richard III Open Day - March 2015

We played three one-hour sets in the giant marquee while the public wandered round drooling over the medieval banquet, chatting to the knight in armour about the grisly details of Richard's death, buying medieval pottery and bric-a-brac and generally getting into the whole War of the Roses theme
This video was taken during one of the busiest periods of the day

Maranella medieval minstrels at the @uniofleicester King Richard open day pic.twitter.com/pKgXq0fROy — England of RIII (@FLRichardIII) March 21, 2015

... and here is a picture from the Leicester Mercury

Our lovely Elizabeth T stayed on in Leicester after the rest of us came home and this picture shows her in the medieval chapel of De Montfort University where she played to the delight of the visitors. Here she is in full fig as Lady Elizabeth Howard (daughter of the Duke of Norfolk and contemporary of Richard III), not too far a stretch of the imagination since her name really was Elizabeth Howard before she married!

Chester Fringe - October 2014

We were asked to take part in the Chester Fringe 'PopUps' and here we are 'popping up' on Bridge Street Row.

We drew a huge crowd of bemused shoppers and tourists - I don't think any of us has ever been photographed so much before; strange to think we will 'pop-up' in photograph albums all over the world!

Many thanks to Rose Price for inviting us to take part in this very enjoyable event (in spite of the heavy rain during part of the afternoon - we found out how waterproof medieval clothing is!)

A better photograph in better light

On Eastgate Row (opposite St Weburgh Street) where we made our last 'pop-up' appearance.  We also played in the Wesleyan Centre in St John Street, at the Tudor House Cafe in Lower Bridge Street and in the Roman Amphitheatre

Interestingly, one chap came up to me and said 'of course, what we see of Chester around us today is largely medieval so it's particularly good to see a set of medieval musicians playing here.  Perhaps people will see more than just Roman soldiers when they think of Chester'

Photo courtesy of Jeff Price

A passer-by, Rosalind, took this photo of us outside the Tudor House Cafe on Lower Bridge Street and very kindly sent it to me

She said I enjoyed your music - I am actually a trained opera singer and a music teacher and it's great to see authentic music going on - keep playing."

Medieval Wedding - September 2014

A glorious late summer afternoon to remember forever - playing for a medieval themed wedding in the 'Bombed Out Church' in Liverpool - what a setting!

Here we are with the bride, Helen, at her magical medieval themed wedding at the Bombed Out Church in Liverpool

Minstrels' Court, Chester - June 2014

Lucille, Ged (Elizabeth A's husband), Elizabeth A, Marilyn, Peter and Tom enjoying watching one of the other bands before our own spot in the afternoon

Musicioners with their licenses
Left to right: Jude Rees (Piva), Tom Goodale (Maranella), Elizabeth Armstrong (Maranella), Eric Moulder (Piva) and Jane Moulder (Piva)

Minstrels' Parade - at the Cross, Chester

Tatton Medieval Fayre - June 2014

photographs courtesy of Christine Widdall

Left to right: Lucille Brain (playing gemshorn); Elizabeth Taylor; Tom Goodale; Elizabeth Armstrong; Marilyn Farrington; Peter Farrington

Elizabeth (soprano recorder) and Marilyn (lute)

Elizabeth T., Lucille and Tom

An ever smiling Lucille playing the timbrel ...

... and the harp ...

... and temple bells ...

... and nakers

Marilyn (bass recorder) and Peter

Tom (harp)

Bones (both real bone and wooden)

Elizabeth T (tenor recorder)

Elizabeth T. (soprano recorder)

Elizabeth A, Marilyn and Peter

and one of us all together