Past Trips and Events

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On Tuesday 1st October 2019 we put on our dancing shoes as Tim Walker, a Medieval and Renaissance dance expert, taught us dances from Orchesography by Thoinot Arbeau 1520-1595. We learned several Branles or Bransles (pronounced, we learned, “Braun” if using the French). In Branle Des Cheveaux – English Horses’ Brawl – on one step we pawed at the ground like a horse. In Bransle les Lavandieres – English Washerwoman’s Brawl - we waggled our fingers at our partners before doing the washing together. In Branle des Pois – English Peas Brawl – the boys and girls took it in turns to jump and shout “POP”, like a lot of peas popping in the summer sun.

A huge SWeet! THANK YOU to the wonderful Tim, also known as The Dancing Mister, for a thoroughly enjoyable and very informative evening. Next time we play any dance music from this period on recorders we will understand exactly how we should perform it, especially when choosing an appropriate tempo.

Follow Tim on Facebook and find him soon at a festival near you!

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A group of SWeet! students heard Red Priest perform their amazing virtuosic programme Truly, Madly Baroque, featuring Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, a transcription of Vivaldi's famous 4-violin concerto, and a psychedelic arrangement of Tartini's Devil's Trill Sonata. SWeet! students were in awe of the tempo and precision of the playing, particularly that of recorder player Piers Adams. Piers and ‘cellist Angela East kindly posed with us for a photograph afterwards.

Here is video of Red Priest in action!

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James Acaster visited SWeet! students at Streatham Wells to make a BBC podcast recording which will appear on BBC Sounds later this year. 22 students took part in recreating the track "Morning Thought" from one of James's favourite 2016 albums, "AV" (Surface To Air Missive). Recorder features prominently on this album and James was keen to learn about creative uses of the instrument in serious contemporary (rock/pop) music-making. The students taught the first 4 descant notes to James, and after a bit of practice he was ready to join us as we recreated the track. The podcast is now in post-production and will appear on BBC Sounds soon.

James Acaster - www.jamesacaster.com

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A group of SWeet! children had front row seats at Wilton's Music Hall for this critically acclaimed one man play about the first black person to vote in a British General Election, Ignatius Sancho 1729-1780. SWeet! performs music by Sancho who has been called "the black Mozart". One of our party was invited onstage to play Mrs. Sancho and danced with Paterson Joseph! Afterwards we met Paterson and he posed with us for a photograph. He was impressed with the concentration and engagement of SWeet! children during the performance and called them his "little Sanchionettas".

Written and Performed by Paterson Joseph - Click Here

Photographs by SWeet!