Folk festivals traditionally celebrate the music of bygone eras (as well as contemporary tunes), but one band will be taking that to extremes at the 40th anniversary Illawarra FolkFestival at Bulli Showground on January 15-17.
The Bard Band (from left): George Wills, George Teasdell, Dan Morris, Kathryn Roberts Parker, Shalani Thomas and Harrison Werlemann-Godfrey.
Musician and musical historian Dr Kathryn Roberts Parke and The Bard Band will take audiences back more than 400 years to Elizabethan England, performing songs from William Shakespeare’s plays in two performances that promise to swing between wild and whimsical.
The Bard Band is Dr Roberts Parker’s musical project that combines her academic historian’s focus on the songs and music that were integral to many of Shakespeare’s plays, her professional career as a teacher of Renaissance Performance at the SydneyConservatorium of Music, and her love of performing songs from those times.
Dr Roberts Parker, who lives in Woonona, gained her doctorate from the University of Sydney and the Conservatorium researching the musical culture of traditional festivals in the British Isles and their representation in Shakespeare’s theatre. Earlier, she had completed a Masters degree at Kings College in London, where she was able to work extensively at the Globe Theatre – the modern recreation of Shakespeare’s theatre where his plays were performed in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
“In Shakespearean times festivals and music were a big part of people’s lives,” Dr Parker said. “There were festivals around May Games, where people would dress like Robin Hood and there would be archery, plays and lots of singing and dancing … there would be sheep shearing festivals in the Spring… Shakespeare incorporated this music and festival culture into his plays, particularly his comedies. Sometimes he wrote his own songs, and other times he incorporated traditional songs into his plays.” Dr Roberts Parker said the musical practice of the time centred on over 40 stock tunes that musicians would play regularly, and lyrics were written to fit one of those tunes. “This meant
that a lot of different songs were written to the same tune,” Dr Roberts Parker said.
London had a company of musicians called the City Waits, who were employed by the Mayor of London to play at a wide variety of events. The Globe Theatre also used these musicians to provide the music for the songs in Shakespeare’s plays, and other musical features like trumpets announcing the arrival on stage of an actor playing a monarch. Dr Roberts Parker has drawn on this treasure trove of songs from plays like As You Like It for The Bard Band. The band’s EP is called Under The Greenwood Tree, from As You Like It.
You can hear the songs at: www.kathrynrobertsparker.com/thebardband while physical copies of the EP will be on sale at the folk festival.
The Bard Band have played at The National Folk Festival in Canberra and the Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival, and Dr Roberts Parker is excited to be bringing the show to the Illawarra in January. She and the musicians involved try to mirror the sound of four centuries ago as much as possible, utilising traditional instruments like the lute and baroque guitar and contemporary instruments that evolved from the earlier instruments.
The Bard Band has two performances at the Illawarra Folk Festival, both designed to encourage audience participation, just as Shakespeare did. “There is a strong communal aspect to our shows, and we teach the choruses as we go, so we hope everyone joins in,” Dr Roberts Parker said.
“On the Saturday our show will be dance-themed. We will be joined by Aimee Brown from the Sydney Baroque Ballet, who will be demonstrating some traditional dances and calling out the steps for the audience to join in,” Dr Roberts Parker said. “Our Sunday morning show will be more about the songs, with a touch of whimsey.”
The Bard Band is Kathryn Roberts Parker (vocals, cittern, fiddle, harmonium, whistle, percussion); George Teasdell (vocals, mandolin); Shalani Thomas (vocals, acoustic guitar); Harrison Werlemann-Godfrey (vocals, cello); Dan Morris (vocals, lute); George Wills (baroque guitar, percussion); and Nyssa Milligan (vocals, harmonium).
Dr Roberts Parker and Shalani Thomas will also teach the Youth Traditions sessions at the Folk School to be held in conjunction with the festival, at Bulli Uniting Church.
The full lineup of around 90 acts, details of the folk school and tickets for the 40th anniversary Illawarra Folk Festival are available at www.illawarrafolkfestival.com.au
News written by festival publicity officer Nick Hartgerink 0418424085
