Alnwick Castle to celebrate Northumberland's musical heritage with special weekend event
Alnwick Castle will celebrate the county’s musical heritage with a special weekend dedicated to the Northumbrian smallpipes and the tradition of the Duke’s piper.
Pipers, musicians, dancers, castle guides and visitors will come together on September 19-20 for a programme of demonstrations, talks, performances and hands-on opportunities to discover one of the region’s most distinctive musical traditions.
The Duke’s piper, Andrew Davison, will welcome visitors on both days and make appearances in the State Rooms and Great Kitchen.
Visitors can experience the Northumbrian smallpipes for themselves in a special “Have a Go” session with Ednie Wilson on Saturday, September 19, from 10.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 3.30pm.
Ednie has been playing the pipes since 1980 and has been teaching traditional North East clog dancing since 1978. Her sessions will offer visitors an informal and entertaining introduction to the sound and feel of playing the Northumbrian pipes — and perhaps the chance to discover a new hobby.
At 3.30pm, Ednie will be joined by the Duke’s piper for a demonstration of Northumbrian and Durham traditional hornpipe clog dancing, accompanied by Northumbrian pipes. Visitors will then have the chance to have a go themselves following the demonstration.
The musical highlight of Sunday, September 20 will take place from 2pm to 4pm, when more than 50 musicians will gather in the Guest Hall to perform a selection of tunes, including many associated with Alnwick Castle and the tradition of the Duke’s pipers.
Throughout the weekend, visitors will also be able to attend a series of spotlight talks delivered by castle guides, exploring fascinating stories and characters connected with the history of Northumbrian piping and the Duke’s piper.
A special exhibition, created especially for the weekend using material from the Castle Archives, will provide an opportunity to explore the history of the pipes in even greater depth.
Ednie said: “The Northumbrian smallpipes provide one of the most iconic sounds of the region, and this taster session is a rare opportunity to experience playing the pipes. How often can you just pick up a set and have a go?
“I’ll introduce people to the sounds and feel of playing the pipes, and what better setting than Alnwick Castle?”