Free Concert
THE TRADITIONAL DANCE MUSIC OF CENTRAL FRANCE
Central France is the heartland of song and dance. The Bourbonnais region of the Auvergne is home to the Bourrée, Schottish, Mazurka, Waltz and Polka. The Bourrée however, is perhaps the most typical dance. It is a rhythmic and energetic, much loved by the French and has delighted listeners for hundreds of years. Most typically accompaniments are played on bagpipes and hurdy gurdy..

Even within the extensive Auvergne area, several types of bagpipe exist. These are very different to the more familiar Scottish pipes; we use the Grande Cornemuse of the Bourbonnais area. These instruments, made by meticulous artisans, are faithful copies of 18c instruments. Often highly decorated with inlaid tin designs or more simply engraved; pipes can even have no decoration but use a black wood (formally ebony, but this is no longer permitted) with contrasting turned rings. Bagpipes come in different sizes and keys, we use pipes in C, D, G and A to produce harmonies appropriate to the music of this region.
The hurdy gurdy is a medieval instrument which was played throughout Europe until the 17c. It is still much played in Central France and this curious instrument never fails to arouse interest. The instrument used for this concert is an original French example and dates from about 1840.

The concertina was made by Louis Lachenal in 1925. It was restored in 1976 by Colin Dipper, concertina maker, who lives in Heytesbury.

The accordion is the baby of the group! It is not from France, but from Italy and was made by Vignoni in 2013.

This is a chance to experience the vibrant rhythms and melodies of this little known area; the home of the writer George Sand, who lived and died in Nohant. She was a great admirer of the local music and even wrote a novel entitled ‘ The Bagpipers’ (Les Maîtres Sonneurs).