Folk musician, artist and founder of Welsh music group fernhill, Ceri Rhys Matthews has decided to run the Yscolan musicians retreats again at wonderful Pentre Ifan, Pembrokeshire.
The dates of the retreat are Monday 25-Wedneday 27 May 2015 with the option of joining Ceri for a walk on the coast path on Thursday 28th (these dates fall within summer half term). For those not familiar with the retreats they are a wonderful opportunity to play, learn, un-learn and contemplate music for ten musicians of any technical ability playing in any musical expression. All in the splendid isolation of a fifteenth century gatehouse in the magical rural setting of the Preseli hills, West Wales.
They are especially beneficial for musicians who feel they are a little stuck creatively or feel trapped by the mechanics of the cycle of work.
Background
This will be the twelfth residential retreat organised by Ceri which initially took as its direct inspiration the annual summer school organised by the English Acoustic collective in Ruskin Mill, led by Chris Wood, on which Ceri was invited to teach in the summer of 2007. The yscolan musicians retreat is focused on issues that grew out of that experience for him but which may not be the primary concern of the EAC summer school at the moment.
Though independent of each other, and perhaps different in nature, the EAC summer school and the yscolan musicians retreat may be seen as complimentary and participants at one may benefit from attending the other.
Details
For fuller details please visit here: http://yscolan.tumblr.com/post/104683432764/yscolan-musicians-retreat-12pentreifan-preseli
The price, which includes accommodation and some food, is £180 with the deposit of £80 needed to secure a place. Places will be offered on a first come first served basis and places are restricted to 10.
If you’re interested please write to ceri.matho@me.com or call 01559 384962
Over the years I have known Ceri I have caught him rummaging around in that bag and stood amazed as time after time he has produced, without any ceremony, some of the rarest treasure I have ever seen or heard”
CHRIS WOOD