All instruments – Ensemble: Toon van Mierlo (Be)
This workshop ensemble playing is intended for players of (semi) advanced level. All instruments are welcome in this workshop: violin, accordion, accordion, guitar, wind instruments, bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy, bass or percussion! Please indicate instrument and tuning clearly when registering.
Toon wrote:
“Welcome to the ensemble course about playing balfolk. We will work with a number of simple melodies, which will be sent to you in advance. We will use them to create a few fun arrangements together so that they get a danceable form. You will receive useful tips to take home with you to get started at home, but we will mainly spend a lot of time on “playing together”… Because that is the most fun there is. So welcome to this wonderful weekend!”
Level of playing
Participants must have a good command of their instrument in order to be able to play together with other musicians. They have outgrown the beginner’s level and are of (semi) advanced level. Participants can of course tune their own instrument correctly & the instrument is in good condition. They can quickly pick up a melody to play together. Music is learned by ear, with sheet music afterwards.
The workshop will probably be given in Dutch or English.
Toon emphasizes the following in the level requirements:
- Percussionists, drummers and bassists must also be able to play subtly (and in time)
- For participants with a loud instrument (such as bagpipes or bombarde) it is advisable to also bring another -softer- instrument that you can play, such as a flute. Toon indicates that not every melody will be suitable for permanently playing loud instruments.
- Toon asks to only play when asked: “You will be given time to practice, but you will not do that when the teacher is talking or when there is a joint break. I promise that you will play enough music :)”
Maximum amount of participants: 25
Toon van Mierlo
Toon van Mierlo is a musical jack-of-all-trades, bird lover, child of 8 in his head and music is one big playground for him. He is probably best known for Naragonia. With this duo he played together with Pascale Rubens, his wife, at many festivals, concerts and balls throughout Europe and they gave many workshops or internships. Toon plays besides bagpipes also many other instruments such as accordion, flute, saxophone etc… He played in many formations (Gôze, Fluxus, Embrun, Amorroma….) and is now mainly active in Novar and Hot Griselda. In recent years he also makes a lot of music for theater pieces.
Listen to Toon van Mierlo:
• Naragonia – Hellebore / Too late to sleep
• Naragonia – 20th anniversary concert
• Naragonia – Gozar
• Naragonia quartet – Astor
• Hot Griselda Broken Doll – Sandpipers
• Hot Griselda – Live at Studio Trad
• Hot Griselda – Roll on, Roll off
• Novar – La Bande Des Volcans
• Novar – Bourrée 2 temps
• Novar – Tom & Jerry
• Tal en Thee – Boom
• Tal en Thee – Wars
• Naragonia Quartet – Lapwings & crossbills
• Naragonia Quartet – Lilac/ Dave the Watchman
• Naragonia Quartet – Naya
• Naragonia Quartet – Live at Funambals 2019
• Naragonia – Darius