The timetable for the course is below, covering all workshops, evening activities and sessions. Breaks are timetabled to allow all participants and tutors the opportunity to take regular, planned meal breaks. Times are displayed at GMT.
Members Area
Welcome to the Burwell Bash 2024 members area. This is where you can find all your pre-arrival information and course itinerary to help prepare you for the week itself. Please read this information carefully even if you have been before as there are some changes to be aware of. We aim to make this page as helpful as possible for everyone attending.
The Big Tune
Our Big tune is a tune that will definitely be played on the course. Instrument classes may cover it on the first day but it is helpful for all participants to learn it ahead of time. It will be included in all the evening sessions as it is a tune everyone on the course knows. The tune is a brand new and original composition, called Burwell Lode (Seldom), written for us by our Melodeon tutor Andy Cutting to commemorate his final year with us (for now). Check out the tune and notation below. The audio recordings below are of Andy playing the tune, made especially for us to aid learning by ear.
Download the sheet music
Listen to the track
2024 Big Tune slower
2024 Big Tune faster
Arrivals Info
We aim to make you feel as welcome as possible while on site. To do this we like to make arrivals day go as smoothly as possible. When booking you will have indicated whether you wish to arrive on Sunday or Monday.
Sunday Arrivals - Please arrive after midday so that the staff will have the house ready and the team will be on site to greet you. Food will be available for dinner from 6pm. It's a lovely opportunity to meet everyone and have a session before getting ready for day one.
Monday Arrivals - Be sure to arrive by 8:30 so that you will be able to attend the welcome briefing and be able to participate in the first class.
The view of the house from the North Street Entrance
When arriving please enter via the Silver Street entrance (unless you have a caravan or campervan, in which case the North Street entrance will give you more room to maneuver onto the campsite). From there you will be able to park, unload your belongings and instruments and follow the path and the signs through the gates towards the entrance at the side of the house. Please do NOT go to reception as it will most likely be closed. Once there our members and committee (dressed in red shirts) will be waiting to greet you, direct you towards tea and coffee, show you your allocated room and get you ready for the 9am welcome talk. In this time, we will also give you your folder with a copy of the timetable and of course a copy of the big tune along with all sorts of helpful things and goodies.
The Silver Street Entrance Car Park
While we try and keep everyone as comfortable as possible we can, we ask everyone to bear in mind that Burwell House is not a hotel and that there is no lift up to the rooms. While we are happy to help you to your room, please make sure you are able to carry your bags and that you pack essentials such as toiletries and towels (bedding is provided). In addition, due to the smoke detectors on site we advise against bringing aerosol sprays where possible as the system can be sensitive to them. Due to this aerosols can only be used in the ventilated bathrooms.
The entrance where you will be welcomed
Timetable
Below is a rough timetable for the week to be sure you know what's on when. For new members, there will be a copy of the timetable given to each of you in your members folders which will be given to you on arrival.
The Slow Session
The Slow Session is an optional group activity that runs each evening after dinner, overseen by our volunteers Jean and Volker. It allows those who are not comfortable keeping up in a standard session to learn and play tunes at a gentler pace. Music for this will be available at the slow session. Copies can also be found below in both common notation and in simple ABC should you wish to learn some in advance. The slow session usually runs in Manderville (the bar) and the lounge.
An Evening Session in the Bar
Download 2024 Slow Session Tunes
Download previous Big Tunes and session Tunes
The Dance Session
Back by popular demand, the Dance Session will take place in the same time slot as the slow session with Sword, Maypole, Morris and even accessible ceilidh dancing on offer. Like the slow session, this is run by members for members with volunteers taking up the reins. Matthew, Poppy and Julie plan on making this fun for everyone who takes part. The dance session will have the option of using the marquee or the garden (weather permitting).
Ceilidh dancing in the garden
The Song Session
Following the success of the slow session and the dance session, we are trialling a song session using the same formula, offering a range of genres, song styles and repertoire. The song session will meet in the Studio with Lizzy, Cathy and Helen.
Evening Activities
The evening activities are an opportunity for team building and performance and we urge all members to take part. The tutors all choose to join us for all evening activities leading teams on "Quames" (Quiz and Games) Night and give positive feedback on performance during the One Night Stand Band. For certain activities (such as One Night Stand Band) it will be essential to know who will be taking part. Please let members of the committee know if you will not be taking part. Members will be required to come to the tutors concert and end of week concert to perform in their instrument classes and mixed band classes. As you will see, the One Night Stand Band runs from lunchtime on Wednesday until the end of the evening. Any non-resident members taking part in the One Night Stand Band will need to stay on site all day until the end of the evening in order to rehearse and perform. We also recommend having an evening meal on site that day. The committee aim for each evening activity to finish around 10pm in order for a session to start before it gets too late. This was also the impetus behind the Big Session on Tuesday night, allowing the session to start as soon as possible and give students a chance to 'digest' the tunes they've learnt so far and help prevent anyone becoming overwhelmed.
Tola performing at the Tutors Concert
Early Morning Activities
For any early birds, Helen and Phillip will be running early morning yoga and Tai chi classes every morning, aimed to allowing us time to stretch and relax before class. Based in the Lounge or Marquee (weather permitting), these sessions do not clash with any other activity and come highly recommended by all those who have previously taken part. Both Helen and Philip are Burwell Bash veterans with years of experience and are fully accredited in their individual fields.
Tutor Time
Following the success of previous years, Tutor time is back for the fourth year running. The concept of Tutor Time is to allow time within class with your tutor to play together, create arrangements, have time peer to peer, workshop ideas and techniques, and try new things. Your tutors may have specific plans for what they wish to accomplish within this time but you can ask to work on specific things in this session should the opportunity arise. During this session, Ernesto will also be running an introduction to Panpipes session as an alternative for those who have been coming for a number of years and would like to try something different and new.
Big Band
After the success of 2019's big band experiment with the fiddle and flute and whistle classes, in 2022 we introduced the big band class. Instead of having a single tutor, each class has three times the expertise, musicianship, experience, ideas and sound with three tutors sharing the class, leading an afternoon each and 35 students per class, creating a unique ensemble. These classes will perform in the first half of the tutors concert, as before. Ernesto, our resident ensemble expert will work with both groups in an advisory capacity.
Folk Orchestra
With our ensemble tutor and composer in residence, Ernesto Calderon (Ensamble Transatlántico de Folk Chileno), all participants will be guided through a unique workshop, learning and arranging a piece of music as a 70 piece folk ensemble. This 4 hour workshop will take everyone through from learning to performing the arrangement. This brand new venture will take place of Wednesday morning before the One Night Stand Band rehearsals, in the marquee or the lounge, depending on weather.
1:1 Composition and ensemble leadership
We will once again be offering 1:1 composition and ensemble leadership tuition with our composer in residence, Ernesto Calderon. Aimed at those already composing, either as an established composer or newly starting out, these 1:1 sessions are designed to share ideas, give feedback and give composers a toolkit to use in later work. These 1:1 20 minute sessions are limited and given out on a first come, first served basis. Sign up sheets will be in the hall way with sessions on Monday and Tuesday. These sessions run in the conservatory, at the same time as Instrument classes, therefore those taking part may need to catch up in their own time.
Any Questions?
Please check our FAQ page, email us, find us on Facebook or Twitter, or visit the Burwell House website.