There are a vast array of special occasions that we play
for:- parties, anniversaries, christenings, fund raising, society
functions........... the list is endless. There are few rules about what kind of music
should
be played and when. The most important thing is to have the music you
enjoy.
Below are some notes on the characteristics of different
kinds of music group, for you to consider in addition to your liking for
their kind of music.
<String
Quartet> ~ <Harp> ~
<Classical
Guitar>
~ <Soprano> ~
<Folk & Ceilidh> ~
<Jazz> ~
<Organising the Occasion>
4 |
Repertoire |
Baroque, classical, romantic, light,
shows, films, light jazz arranged for
quartet
or smaller ensemble |
4 |
Ambience |
Civilised atmosphere - mostly formal, or
Palm Court, or Lounge music |
4 |
Appropriate venue size |
Anything from the a room in a private
house to a concert hall. Great flexibility. |
4 |
Appropriate audience size |
We have played for events with 2 guests,
to 300 people |
4 |
Amplification |
None |
4 |
Set up time |
15 minutes |
4 |
Playing outside |
Yes, shelter from the elements needed. |
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4 |
Repertoire |
Concert harp is Baroque, classical,
romantic, light music. Occasionally with vocals, particularly with the
Celtic Harp. |
4 |
Ambience |
Civilised atmosphere - mostly formal, or
Palm Court, or Lounge music |
4 |
Appropriate venue size |
Large private house room / medium hotel
room to the hall of a stately home |
4 |
Appropriate audience size |
2 to 80 guests |
4 |
Amplification |
None |
4 |
Set up time |
30 minutes. Good access required |
4 |
Playing outside |
Sometimes, good shelter from the
elements essential. |
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4 |
Repertoire |
Baroque, classical, romantic
guitar music |
4 |
Ambience |
Civilised atmosphere - mostly period, or
intimate romantic |
4 |
Appropriate venue size |
Anything from the a room in a private
house to large hotel room, or medium room in a stately home. |
4 |
Appropriate audience size |
We have played for dinner parties of 2
guests, to 60 people |
4 |
Amplification |
None |
4 |
Set up time |
15 minutes |
4 |
Playing outside |
Yes, shelter from the elements needed,
and good acoustics. |
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4 |
Repertoire |
Irish,
Scottish,
English, Welsh,
American, Scandinavian, Eastern European
folk |
4 |
Ambience |
Ceilidhs: - A wonderful evening, where
everyone gets involved and has a thoroughly good time. Suitable for
all ages. Folk music /singing:- informal background music, or pub
atmosphere, or period music, depending on the group. |
4 |
Appropriate venue size |
For un-amplified music to listen to, a
small room upwards to any size of venue with amplification. For a
Ceilidh, a small village hall with 40 guests, to a large hall with 350
dancers. |
4 |
Appropriate audience size |
Music to listen to - any size. Ceilidh -
40 to 350 |
4 |
Amplification |
None for very small venues with good
acoustics, but normally amplified |
4 |
Set up time |
45 minutes with amplification |
4 |
Playing outside |
Normally, no, but can do with adequate
shelter from the elements. |
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4 |
Repertoire |
Any period of jazz from the 1920s to the
present day, Dixieland, Swing, Rhythm & Blues, Blue Note, Jazz/
Fusion/ Funk, Latin Jazz & Bossa Nova |
4 |
Ambience |
Widely varying, from boisterous to
smokey lounge jazz, from fun to anguish. |
4 |
Appropriate venue size |
Any size, depending on size of music
group. |
4 |
Appropriate audience size |
Any number |
4 |
Amplification |
Yes |
4 |
Set up time |
30-45 minutes |
4 |
Playing outside |
Normally, no, but can do with adequate
shelter from the elements. |
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4 |
Repertoire |
Baroque, classical, romantic, light,
shows, light jazz
soprano repertoire |
4 |
Ambience |
Special musical interludes |
4 |
Appropriate venue size |
Large room in a private house to hall in
a stately home, to a church, good acoustics necessary. |
4 |
Appropriate audience size |
We have played for dinner parties of 6
guests, to 300 people in a Cathedral |
4 |
Amplification |
None. NOTE: some form of accompaniment
is required |
4 |
Set up time |
10 minutes |
4 |
Playing outside |
Normally, no. |
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Don't forget the influence of the
venue on the success of your event. The acoustics of the
venue and number of guests influence
the kind of music group that is appropriate, and the location of the
musicians who are playing un-amplified instruments [string quartets,
harpists, etc]. [Jazz & Folk bands are normally amplified, and can
artificially compensate for bad acoustics to some extent].
What a lot to
think about, and what's more, you quite possibly don't know a lot about
the whole subject of live music in it's various genres and what is
involved from the point of view of the musicians. There's also the whole
history of the kind of music, be it Jazz, String Quartet or Ceilidh, all
of which has a bearing on the music as you perceive it now. Music has
been used in celebrations of all kinds right back to the days of Ancient
Egypt and before, and has been the way to mark everything from a
Birthday to a Wedding Anniversary as a special event. So if you fancy
some bedtime reading around the subject, have a look at these
articles on everything from Jazz to
how or string quartets coped with the results of global warming to make
sure that the special events that the bands have been hired for, happen,
despite the weather. Have a mooch through some
musical musings about what it
is like to be a string quartet or barn dance band musician and find out
about the history of the thing you're about to commit your life to, your
wedding. Then there is some light reading in the
fantasies section that was all
written late at night after a drink or two (hence title), but covers
anything under the sun, from what is music about, the instruments of the
orchestra, the on about the concepts of ceilidh and barn dance
entertainment, the range of string quartet music, and how jazz has
developed. Just about anything to do with music, parties and weddings
that came to mind in the wee small hours. You can see what a strange
mind I have! Then lastly, it struck me that it might be interesting for
people to see the sort of events that our music groups
have been hired for over the past
few years. Remember, this is just a small random selection to give you
an idea of the counties, towns where people hire live music for their
important events.