Swaledale Festival - Days Out Leaflets

Welcome to the 2009 Swaledale Festival! 

The Swaledale Festival is a feast of classical, folk, choral, brass 

band, jazz and world music, visual art, poetry, drama, comedy, 

talks, guided walks, workshops and masterclasses. For two weeks 

in the beautiful northern Dales you can listen to the BBC’s Young 

Musician of the Year, remember Humphrey Lyttelton, laugh out 

loud at Ian McMillan and The Mandolinquents, marvel at Gwilym 

Simcock’s piano playing and Tasmin Little’s violin virtuosity, and 

enjoy a late-night dialogue between a composer and the bats in 

Grinton churchyard. 

As always, we feature 

superb local artists and a host 

of talented youngsters. There 

are more solo recitals and 

choirs this year, and some 

sensational folk and chamber 

groups. We introduce The 

Reeth Lecture, in Reeth (where 

else?) with inaugural lecturer 

Sir Roy Strong. And following 

John Bly’s popular 2008 visit, 

we welcome his Antiques 

Roadshow colleague, 

Eric Knowles. 

Richmond Day is back, 

with a Caribbean steel band, a celebration of the historic visit to 

Richmond 168 years ago by the great pianist Franz Liszt, and the 

superb Choir of York Minster. The lovely poem on page 23, How to 

make Richmond, is reproduced by permission of Ian McMillan and 

the Academy of Urbanism, which awarded Richmond the title of 

Best Town in Britain 2009. 

We have another large-scale community event this year, an 

opportunity for local people of all ages to perform alongside top 

professionals. And for the first time it’s a brand new work 

commissioned especially for the people who’ll perform it - a 

Musical Play entitled Semmerwater. Its creators are the Reethbased 

author Ann Pilling and composer David Gordon. 

We remain extremely grateful to our generous sponsors 

(listed on page 21), Festival Angels, Friends and volunteers, and all 

the local people who make the Festival special. 

Many of you told us in a recent audience survey that you 

like being surprised. I’m sure you’ll find a wealth of surprises in 

this year’s programme! We look forward to seeing you. 

Malcolm Creese 

Artistic Director 

Image of Swaledale on cover used by kind permission of Martin Priestley 

Saturday 23rd May 

Leeds Baroque Choir 

E1 | 8.00pm | St Andrew’s Church, Grinton | U 

The singers of Leeds Baroque specialise in presenting English 

Baroque music in a delightfully authentic way. Directed by Clive 

McClelland, the highly accomplished choir will perform a 

selection of uplifting music by Purcell, Handel and their 

contemporaries, including some composers from Northern 

England. Accompaniment will be provided by Martyn Hodgson on 

theorbo, Vicki Hoodless on cello and Duncan Boutwood on 

chamber organ. A joyful way to kick off the Festival! 

•Adult £12 •Child £6 

✪ Generously supported by Anne and Alan Maryon-Davis 

Swaledale Festival Friends 

The Friends scheme plays a significant role in funding the 

Festival, particularly in times of economic difficulty when our 

corporate sponsors may have major concerns of their own. 

Friends receive a range of benefits, most significantly the 

opportunity to book popular events before they go on general 

sale and, potentially, sell out. Friends are also invited to 

exclusive receptions during the Festival, when they can renew 

old acquaintances and meet the evening’s performers informally. 

Become a Friend before 13th April, using the Order Form 

on page 34, and your ticket order will receive priority treatment! 

Please become a Friend anyway, because we need you… If you’d 

like details first, contact Harriet Smithson at 01748 880018 or at 

friends@swaledale-festival.org.uk. 

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Priority booking is available to Friends of the Festival Box Office (01748) 880019 

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Sunday 24th May 

Monday 25th May ~ Reeth and Grinton Day 

LEAD-MINING WALK See page 35 for details 

E2 | 11.00am | Meet at Langthwaite Public Car Park (Pay and 

Display), on right approaching Langthwaite from Reeth. 

Rapscallion 

E3 | 5.00pm | The Buck Hotel, Reeth 

Chris Moss: Northumbrian pipes, Highland small pipes, bodhran • 

Amy Southworth: vocals • Callum McKeon: mandolin and guitar • 

Jim Caldwell: mandolin, banjo, guitar • Dan Hands: fiddle 

Rapscallion is a new Richmond-based group with a refreshingly 

different sound and a repertoire of Irish, Scottish, English and 

American folk music. With thought-provoking vocals and an array 

of strange-looking instruments, these canny musicians will 

serenade you into a false sense of security, then propel you into a 

fever of uncontrollable foot-tapping! 


The Carducci String Quartet 


Haydn Quartet Op. 33 No. 2 'The Joke' 

Bartók String Quartet No. 1 in A Minor 

Schubert Quartet in D Minor 'Death and The Maiden' 

This tremendous young quartet stepped in at the last minute to 

replace the injured Borodin Quartet at the 2006 Festival, and they 

brought the house down! The demands for a return visit have 

been overwhelming, so here they are with a sparkling programme 

of classic chamber music. 


Kindly sponsored by The Friends of the Swaledale Festival 

Bank Holiday Monday is the day when, traditionally, the Festival 

lets its hair down in its spiritual home of Reeth. This year, as 

you’ll see over these three pages, we’ve got a terrific assortment 

of activities for residents and visitors of all ages. 

In the afternoon on the Green we will once again be hosting the 

annual Swaledale Festival Quoits Challenge Cup. This year 

Richard Duck will give a demonstration and explanation of the 

game before the competition begins. Details will be available on 

the website. 

Guided Walk with Musical Interludes 

E5 | 10.00am | Meet at Reeth Green bus stop | 

Combining culture, nature and healthy exercise, this walk stops at 

outdoor locations for short musical interludes by Festival 

performers. The route and the artists will be a surprise on the 

day. Expect a fairly hilly walk of about 8 miles, returning to Reeth 

by 4.00pm 


Keith Stephen Quartet 

with guests Andy Dickens (trumpet) 

and Roger Myerscough (clarinet) 

E6 | 2.00pm | The Buck Hotel, Reeth 

Traditional jazz at 

its best from ace 

guitarist Keith 

Stephen, joined by 

Andy Dickens, a 

fine trumpet 

player with an 

infectious sense of 

humour, and 

Langthwaite 

resident Roger 

Myerscough. 

With guitarist 

Rolly Veitch, 

bassist Bruce Rollo 

and young vocalist 

Caroline Irwin. 


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Priority booking is available to Friends of the Festival 

You can buy home-made teas after the walk 

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Fourum 

E7 | 3.00pm | Reeth Memorial Hall | U 

The folklore and character of Swaledale are perfectly captured in 

the songs of this well-loved local group. They’re back by popular 

demand, and you will have to hurry to get tickets. 



The Mandolinquents 


The Reeth Lecture, by Sir Roy Strong ~ 

Saving the English Country Church 

E8 | 5.00pm | Reeth Methodist Church | U 

A fascinating talk by an immensely characterful writer, church 

historian, broadcaster, diarist, formal gardener and all-round man 

of the arts. Three elements of our treasured heritage which many 

people feel need protecting are the country house, fine gardens, 

and the country parish church. The first two, thanks in part to Sir 

Roy’s early work at the V&A, have become popular attractions, 

visited by thousands. But country churches are in crisis, and all 

16,000 are at risk. Sir Roy argues passionately that the real 

challenge is to give churches a reason to survive, and that their 

role as purely sacred spaces with all other activities relocated to 

the village hall is suicidal. So what is the answer? There will 

doubtless be some lively discussion! 


With special thanks to The Burgoyne Hotel 

Bookstall by Castle Hill Books of Richmond 

Pure fun from Britain’s first modern mandolin quartet. They play 

music ranging across many genres with a big helping of witty 

banter. The quartet is led by ace mandolinist, fiddle player and 

guitarist Simon Mayor, whose jokes are a match for any stand-up 

comic. With him are Hilary James (“One of Britain’s finest voices” - 

BBC Radio 4), Gerald Garcia, and Richard Collins, the three-time UK 

banjo champion. You'll come out grinning from ear to ear! 


Echolocation, with Robert Jarvis 

________ 

WORLD 

PREMIÈRE 

________ 

10.00pm or after | St Andrew’s Church, Grinton (churchyard) | U 

A unique performance which draws from the natural environment 

of Grinton Churchyard and its nocturnal 

wildlife. Composer Robert Jarvis uses the 

ultrasonic calls of bats searching for food to 

create a piece of music that celebrates this 

often unheard wonder of nature. The highfrequency 

sounds produced by the bats are 

picked up by a series of bat detectors and then 

fed into the composition. The result is a 

surround-sound experience with the music 

moving around the space as the bats themselves fly about. 

Mulled wine and soft drinks will be available and we 

recommend warm outdoor clothing. Come and enjoy this 

extraordinary performance as night falls in Grinton. 

Note that the exact starting time will depend on the time 

The Mandolinquents finish. 

•There is no charge for this event, and no need to book. 

Donations are welcome. 

✪ Generously supported by an anonymous resident of Swaledale 

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Box Office (01748) 880019 

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Tuesday 26th May 

Farewell to Humph ~ 

The Andy Dickens Jazz Band 

E10 | 5.00pm | CB Inn, Arkengarthdale 

A respectful nod to the great Humphrey 

Lyttelton, one of Britain’s best-loved 

musicians and broadcasters, who sadly 

died last year. Andy Dickens is the 

perfect choice to pay tribute to Humph, 

with his fine trumpet playing, Louis 

Armstrong-inspired vocals, and witty 

delivery. He is joined by ace guitarists 

Keith Stephen and Rolly Veitch, and 

superb bassist Bruce Rollo. 

•Adult £8 •Child £4 With special thanks to The CB Inn 

Mooncalf Theatre Company ~ 

Reflections 

E11 | 7.00pm | St Agatha’s Church, Easby, near Richmond 

If you listen carefully, can you hear the echoes of time? Does a 

place capture the emotions of those who have lived within it? 

The talented drama students of Richmond School are 

creating some superb original work. Having explored 

the area round the ancient church at Easby, the players, 

directed by Amy Southworth, perform a new piece 

created from whispers and secrets of the past, adding 

their own secrets to those which came before. 

Please note that there are no toilet facilities at the venue. 


✪ Generously supported by Stewart and Susan Nicholls 

Leyburn Band 

E12 | 8.00pm | St Matthew’s Church, Leyburn | U 

Leyburn Band has its roots in the 1840s and was re-formed in 2003. 

Director George Lundberg begins this concert with a short talk on 

the history of the band and the rich tradition of brass band music 

in the area. A treat for aficionados and newcomers to brass 

band music. 


wednesday 27th May 

WENSLEYDALE WALK See page 35 for details 

E13 | 10.00am | Meet at St Matthew’s Church, Stalling Busk | 

Double Reed Magic ~ 

James Turnbull, Oboe and Cor Anglais 

E14 | 5.00pm | St Matthew’s Church, Stalling Busk | U 

Perched high above Semerwater, the little church in Stalling Busk 

is a magical location for an afternoon recital. James Turnbull has 

developed a strong and varied programme which brilliantly 

shows off the haunting sounds of two instruments which are not 

often played on their own. Come and hear this gifted young 

player perform music by CPE Bach, Telemann, Britten, Michael 

Berkeley, Silvestrini and Thea Musgrave in this stunning location. 


Kindly supported by The Countess of Munster Musical Trust. 

Muker Silver Band 

E15 | 8.00pm | Muker Public Hall | U 

Muker Band has been a core component of every Swaledale 

Festival and continues to attract audiences from a wide area. 

Conducted by Duncan Bythell, the band will delight listeners as it 

has done for over a hundred 

years. There will be another 

performance by the band on 

Friday 29th May in the 

same venue. 


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Wednesday 27th May 

Thursday 28th May 

Preludes and Interludes ~ 

Graham Caskie, piano 

E16 | 8.00pm | St Andrew’s Church, Aysgarth | U 

A unique collaboration between the pianist Graham Caskie, the 

artist Brian Dunce and the composer Stephen Goss. 

In 2006 Brian Dunce was commissioned by the Guildford 

International Music Festival to paint twelve large works, each a 

direct and personal response to one of the twelve Debussy 

Préludes, Book 1, as performed and interpreted by the superb 

pianist Graham Caskie. As a development of the project, Stephen 

Goss was commissioned by Riverhouse Barn in Surrey to write a 

number of musical reflections on both the Préludes and the 

paintings. Entitled Interludes, these short pieces are interspersed 

with the Préludes to form a full evening recital programme. Brian 

Dunce will give a short introductory talk, and during the 

performance his paintings will be displayed on stage. The music 

will be introduced by composer Stephen Goss. 


Volunteering 

The Festival relies on dedicated volunteers, who give their time 

generously and with great enthusiasm. The work they do can 

include staffing the box office, transporting or offering bed 

and breakfast to artists, putting up signs and posters, 

stewarding walks and stewarding concerts. If you would like to 

join our friendly team, please call Felicity Manning on 

01748 880018. 

WENSLEYDALE RAILWAY WALK 

See page 35 for details 

E17 | 9.50am approx | Train from Leeming Bar Station. 

(Or join at Bedale Station, Finghall Station or 

Leyburn Station. Alternatively, meet at Redmire 

Station 10.50). Free parking at stations. Important: 

timetable was not finalised as we went to press, so please check 

exact times. 

Brian Dunce Art Workshop 

E18 | 10.30am | Bainbridge Meeting House | U 

For artists of all ages and standards. All you need is some paper 

and something to rest it on, and some pencils, chalks or pastels. 

You can also bring along a picture you’ve already created or an 

object that relates in some way to the local environment. The 

session will last for around three hours. Come and be inspired! 


Tasmin Little Violin Masterclass 

E19 | 11.00am | Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond | U 

A chance for string players to learn about technique, musicality 

and performance from a master musician - and for everyone who 

just loves listening to have their understanding and appreciation 

of music greatly enhanced. Full-time students of any age are 

admitted free – just apply for a child ticket. 

To play in the masterclass, call the Festival office: 01748 880018. 

•Adult £5 •Child Free 

Open Mic Poetry Reading ~ 

with special guest Ann Pilling 

Wensleydale Railway 

4.00pm | The Drawing Room at Simonstone Hall, Hawes | U 

If you’ve ever written a poem, here’s your chance to read it to an 

audience of like-minded people. The session will begin with wellknown 

author and poet Ann Pilling reading extracts from her new 

book Home Field, and then the floor is open to all. 

There is no charge for this event and no need to book. 

Food and drink are available at the hotel, and the session will last 

about two hours. 

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Box Office (01748) 880019 

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Thursday 28th May 

Spanish Fantasy ~ 

Tetra Classical Guitar Quartet 

E20 | 8.00pm | St Oswald’s Church, Askrigg | U 

Stephen Goss, Graham Roberts, Peter Howe and Gary Ryan: guitars 

These virtuoso guitarists have delighted audiences with their 

unique blend of fascinating repertoire and polished delivery. The 

first half will include Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio Espagnole, an 

arrangement of Kurt Weill’s Threepenny Opera and Stephen Goss’s 

Gnossiennes after Erik Satie. The second half features Carmen 

Fantasy - a suite inspired by Spain, including pieces by Bizet, 

Granados and others. The group’s CD of this music has received 

rave reviews. 

"Players of first-rate technical control and sensitive 

musicianship... Tetra ranks amongst the very best in the world" – 

Gramophone 


FOLK AT THE BRIDGE 

The Bridge Inn, Grinton 

Late music played by local musicians 

Donations 

As a registered charity, we are continually looking for funds both 

to run the Festival and to improve it. Donations not only help us 

bring in new performers and new works but also go towards our 

operating costs. If you would like to make a donation, please 

call us on 01748 880018 so we can send you a Gift Aid form to 

maximise the value of your donation. Thank you very much. 

Friday 29th May 

UPPER SWALEDALE WALK See page 35 for details 

E21 | 11.00am | Meet at Keld Car Park | 

The Hut People 

E22 | 5.00pm | Keld United Reformed Church | U 

Sam Pirt: accordion • Gary Hammond: percussion 

With a musical 

pedigree that 

takes in both The 

Beautiful South 

and the cream of 

the British folk 

scene, it's not 

surprising that 

The Hut People 

are blazing a trail 

across the world 

of traditional 

song. Armed only 

with an accordion 

and an array of 

drums, cow bells, 

and assorted exotic percussion instruments, The Huts take the 

best of home-grown folk and mix in influences from Scandinavia 

and beyond. Delightful foot-tapping music. 


Muker Silver Band 

E23 | 8.00pm | Muker Public Hall | U 

A second chance to hear the traditional Swaledale sounds of the 

Muker Silver Band in its spiritual home. 


Community and Education 

Our outreach programme aims to promote music and the arts to 

young people and local communities. This year, musicians will 

visit care homes and schools to give recitals and workshops. 

There are also community events which have been in 

preparation throughout the year. This work is greatly aided by a 

number of Trusts and Foundations, and we are profoundly 

grateful for their continuing commitment to such projects. 

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Friday 29th May 

Tasmin Little ~ the Naked Violin 


Saturday 30th May 

Sing Up 

E25 | 1o.30am Workshops begin | 5.00pm Performance 

Arkengarthdale Methodist Church 

Sing Up is a national programme designed to bring singing into 

every primary school child's life. Teachers, parents and anyone 

who loves singing are invited to have fun working on their skills 

and preparing for a performance at 5.00pm 

Lunch will be provided. There is no charge and no need to book. 

An Afternoon with Antiques Roadshow 

Expert, Eric Knowles 

E26 | 3.00pm | Leyburn Methodist Hall | U 

We are delighted to welcome Eric Knowles to 

the Festival. After an entertaining talk, there 

will be a 'Swaledale Mini-Roadshow', to which 

you may bring a treasured item for evaluation. 

Very small or large items are inappropriate. 

We cannot guarantee that everyone will get a 

chance to show their antique. Responsibility 

for damages and insurance rests with the owners. 


With thanks to Yorebridge House 

Coming from Swaledale? Why not take the Festival Bus? 

Ring the Box Office to book your place. 

Festival Gala Concert ~ The Heath String 

Quartet, with Tom Lessels (clarinet) 


For this very special Swaledale Festival event, one of the era’s 

great virtuoso violinists presents a varied programme of dramatic 

solo pieces - from the fun and technical bravura of Paul 

Patterson’s Luslawice Variations to the eerie intensity of Melodia, 

from Bartók’s Violin Sonata and the familiar elegance of the 

Adagio and Fugue from the G Minor Sonata and Partita No. 3 in E 

by JS Bach. 

Come and experience the wonderful range of styles and 

expressions that Tasmin Little can produce with her single, 

unadorned violin. 


Brahms String Quartet in C Minor Op. 51 No. 1 

Mozart Clarinet Quintet 

Webern Langsamersatz 

A highlight of 

last year’s 

Festival was the 

Heath’s powerful 

and moving 

performance of 

Debussy, Bartók and Beethoven. This time, 

joined by virtuoso clarinettist Tom Lessels, they 

will perform Mozart's iconic Clarinet Quintet, alongside Brahms's 

C Minor Quartet and an intriguing contrast from Webern. 


Kindly sponsored by Theakstons 

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You can buy home-made teas after the talk 

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Sunday 31st May 

Festival Service 

2.00pm | Keld United Reformed Church 

The Heath String Quartet ~ 

Haydn, Janác˘ek, Adès 


The rapidly-rising 

international 

success of The 

Heath Quartet is 

no surprise. 

This afternoon’s 

concert will be, 

however - to 

anyone who hasn’t 

heard Janác˘ek’s 1st 

String Quartet. This 

lovely work, 

alongside Haydn’s 

masterful Op. 50 

No. 6 and Quartet 

Op.12 'Arcadiana' 

by Thomas Adès (b. 

1971), will find 

these stunning 

young players in 

their element. 


Coming from Swaledale? Why not take the Festival Bus? 

Ring the Box Office to book your place. 

✪ Generously supported by Carol Webster and Julian Garland 

Swale Singers ~ Elijah 


Richard Brickstock conducts the Swale Singers and guest soloists 

in a performance of Mendelssohn’s last masterpiece - his oratorio 

Elijah. With its echoes of Bach and Handel, this dramatic work is 

bursting with beautiful melodies which will resonate perfectly in 

the superb acoustic of Grinton Church. 


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Book Online: www.swaledale-festival.org.uk 

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Swaledale Festival 2009 

At a Glance 

Saturday 23rd May E1 Leeds Baroque Choir 8.00pm St Andrew's Church, Grinton 

Sunday 24th May E2 Lead-mining walk 11.00am Meet at Langthwaite Public Car Park 

E3 Rapscallion 5.00pm The Buck Hotel, Reeth 

E4 Carducci String Quartet 8.00pm St Andrew's Church, Grinton 

Monday 25th May E5 Guided Walk with Musical Interludes 10.00am Meet at Reeth Green bus stop 

Reeth & Grinton Day E6 Keith Stephen Quartet, with guest Andy Dickens (trumpet) & Roger Myerscough (clarinet) 2.00pm The Buck Hotel, Reeth 

E7 Fourum 3.00pm Reeth Memorial Hall 

E8 The Reeth Lecture, by Sir Roy Strong 5.00pm Reeth Methodist Church 

E9 The Mandolinquents 8.00pm St Andrew's Church, Grinton 

Echolocation, with Robert Jarvis ca. 10.00pm St Andrew's Church, Grinton 

Tuesday 26th May E10 Farewell to Humph 5.00pm CB Inn, Arkengarthdale 

E11 Mooncalf Theatre Company - Reflections 7.00pm St Agatha's Church, Easby, near Richmond 

E12 Leyburn Band 8.00pm St Matthew's Church, Leyburn 

Wednesday 27th May E13 Wensleydale Walk 10.00am Meet at St Matthew's Church, Stalling Busk 

E14 Double Reed Magic - James Turnbull, Oboe and Cor Anglais 5.00pm St Matthew's Church, Stalling Busk 

E15 Muker Silver Band 8.00pm Muker Public Hall 

E16 Preludes and Interludes 8.00pm St Andrew's Church, Aysgarth 

Thursday 28th May E17 Wensleydale Railway Walk ca. 9.50am from Leeming Bar 

E18 Brian Dunce Art Workshop 10.30am Bainbridge Meeting House 

E19 Tasmin Little Violin Masterclass 11.00am Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond 

Open Mic Poetry Reading - with special guest Ann Pilling 4.00pm Simonstone Hall, Hawes 

E20 Spanish Fantasy - Tetra Classical Guitar Quartet 8.00pm St Oswald's Church, Askrigg 

Folk at the Bridge Late The Bridge Inn, Grinton 

Friday 29th May E21 Upper Swaledale Walk 11.00am Meet at Keld Car Park 

E22 The Hut People 5.00pm Keld United Reformed Church 

E23 Muker Silver Band 8.00pm Muker Public Hall 

E24 Tasmin Little - the Naked Violin 8.00pm St Andrew's Church, Grinton 

Saturday 30th May E25 Sing Up 10.30am Arkengarthdale Methodist Church 

E26 An Afternoon with Antiques Roadshow Expert, Eric Knowles 3.00pm Leyburn Methodist Hall 

E27 Festival Gala Concert - the Heath Quartet with Tom Lessels (clarinet) 8.00pm St Andrew's Church, Grinton 

Sunday 31st May Festival Service 2.00pm Keld United Reformed Church 

E28 The Heath String Quartet - Haydn, Janá˘cek, Adès 4.00pm St Oswald's Church, Askrigg 

E29 Swale Singers - Elijah 8.00pm St Andrew's Church, Grinton 

Monday 1st June E30 Wild flower and birds walk 2.00pm Meet in square near Gunnerside bridge 

E31 Horses Brawl 5.00pm Gunnerside Methodist Church 

E32 Sharp Stories - the Ian McMillan Orchestra 8.00pm St Andrew's Church, Grinton 

Tuesday 2nd June E33 Organ Recital by Robert Sharpe 5.00pm St Mary's Church, Arkengarthdale 

E34 Reeth Brass 8.00pm St Andrew's Church, Grinton 

Wednesday 3rd June E35 Willance's Leap Walk 9.45am Meet at Nun's Close car park, Richmond 

Richmond Day E36 North Stars Steel Orchestra 3.00pm St Agatha's Church, Easby, near Richmond 

E37 Liszt in Swaledale - a celebration 5.00pm The King's Head Hotel, Richmond 

E38 The Choir of York Minster in Concert 8.00pm St Mary's Church, Richmond 

Thursday 4 June E39 Low Row Walk 10.00am Meet at the Punchbowl Inn in Low Row 

E40 Master of the Keyboard: David Gordon - Harpsichord 5.00pm Holy Trinity Church, Low Row 

E41 Master of the Keyboard: Gwilym Simcock - Piano 8.00pm St Andrew's Church, Aysgarth 

Folk at the Bridge Late The Bridge Inn, Grinton 

Friday 5th June E42 The 'Royal' Harpist - Claire Jones 4.00pm St Mary's Church, Arkengarthdale 

E43 Semmerwater - a Musical Play 7.00pm St Andrew's Church, Grinton 

Saturday 6th June E44 Chet's Quartets 5.00pm St Oswald's Church, Askrigg 

E45 Grand Finale - London Concertante 8.00pm St Andrew's Church, Grinton 

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Priority booking is available to Friends of the Festival Box Office (01748) 880019 

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Monday 1st June 

WILD FLOWER AND BIRDS WALK See page 35 for details 

E30 | 2.00pm | Meet in square near Gunnerside bridge | 

Horses Brawl 

E31 | 5.00pm | Gunnerside Methodist Church | U 

Rooted in Renaissance, Medieval, Baroque and European folk 

traditions, this vibrant duo consists of Adrian Lever on prepared 

and bowed guitar, and Laura Cannel on fiddle, recorders and 

crumhorn. These engaging players create music which is both 

"chillingly beautiful" (Properganda) and "virtuosic and 

experimental" (BBC Radio 2). 


Wandering Minstrels 

Not everyone who would like to come to the Swaledale Festival 

is able to, perhaps because they are elderly, ill or disabled. So 

every year, as part of our outreach programme, we take a bit of 

the Swaledale Festival on the road! This year, the four members 

of the Tetra Classical Guitar Quartet will be heading off around 

Richmondshire to give solo recitals at care homes and day 

centres. Enjoy your day out, chaps! 

Sponsors 

In a financially challenging year, we are enormously grateful to 

Easby, Gale and Phillipson, Sherwoods of Darlington, 

Theakstons Brewery, Bösendorfer Pianos, Natural Retreats, The 

Bridge Inn, Grinton, Yamaha and The City Secret for their 

valuable sponsorship. 

20 Priority booking is available to Friends of the Festival 


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Monday 1st June 

Sharp Stories ~ 

The Ian McMillan Orchestra 


________ 

WORLD 

PREMIÈRE ________ 

Tuesday 2nd June 

How to make Richmond 

You need a river; preferably one that can hold the light 

Of the setting sun in Autumn; you need a castle, 

A nice big dominant one that holds half the sky, 

That percolates your thinking if you live here. 

You need a theatre, one where the performers on stage 

Are almost sitting in the audience, where the words you speak 

Seem to hang in the air like lights. You need a history 

That doesn’t poke you in the eye, but rather walks beside you, 

A companion, a guide pointing and explaining. Cobbles are good, 

And a range of museums. And the language has to be local, 

Has to sound like it’s made of things like cobbles, and the river, 

And the shadow of the castle, and the impossibly beautiful 

Skies of North Yorkshire with just the odd cloud sailing... 

Ian McMillan, 2008 

Ian McMillan: voice • Luke Carver Goss: accordion, guitar, vocals 

Dylan Fowler: guitar, mandocello, vocals • Clare Salaman: 

nyckelharpa, hurdy-gurdy, violin • Nathan Thomson: double bass, 

flutes, kalimba • Oliver Wilson Dickson: violin, percussion, vocals 

A scintillating night of poetry, music, improvisation and comedy. 

Yorkshire poet, broadcaster and comedian Ian McMillan, star of 

Any Questions, Just A Minute and Have I Got News For You, is back 

at the Swaledale Festival, this time with composer and 

accordionist Luke Carver Goss and the mighty Orchestra. 

McMillan's familiar Barnsley accent brings a unique charm 

to songs such as Memories Of A Russian Heatwave, The Shanty 

Attacker and Song Of The Quarryman, accompanied by fiddles, 

whistles, accordions and hurdy-gurdy. There’ll probably be a 

rendering of It's Goodnight From Him - Ian’s personal tribute to 

Ronnie Barker. And sometime during the evening a group of local 

students will perform a short musical which they will have 

conceived, written and rehearsed during a three-hour workshop 

with Ian and Luke in the afternoon! 

“You could call him daft as a brush but he’s as switched on 

as a power station” Yorkshire Evening Press 

“One of my all-time heroes - he’s such a talented bloke, I 

could kill him” Mike Harding 


Kindly sponsored by The Bridge Inn 

Organ Recital by Robert Sharpe 

E33 | 5.00pm | St Mary’s Church, Arkengarthdale | U 

Robert Sharpe is Organist and Director of 

Music at the mighty York Minster. In the 

slightly more intimate space that is St 

Mary’s Arkengarthdale, his programme 

will feature works by JS Bach and a 

selection of early English music. 


✪ Generously supported by Andrew and Elizabeth bedford 

Reeth Brass 


Continuing the 

tradition it has 

kept alive for many 

years, Reeth Brass 

will entertain 

listeners with its 

wide repertoire of 

traditional and 

modern favourites. 


Photo: Graham Frankland 


Box Office (01748) 880019 

23

Wednesday 3rd June 

Richmond Day 

WILLANCE’S LEAP WALK Details: p35 

E35 | 9.45am | From Nun’s Close car park, 

Richmond (near the cricket ground). 

North Stars Steel Orchestra 

E36 | 3.00pm | St Agatha’s Church, Easby, near Richmond 

The lovely church by the ruins of Easby 

Abbey plays host to three members of the 

Huddersfield-based North Stars Steel 

Orchestra for this delightful concert. 

Admire the ancient frescoes on the walls 

of the church, and let the evocative 

sounds of Caribbean steel pans carry you away. 


Kindly sponsored by Natural Retreats 

Liszt in Swaledale ~ a celebration 

E37 | 5.00pm | The King’s Head Hotel, Richmond 

On 27th January 1841 the great 

Hungarian pianist and composer Franz 

Liszt played a concert in the ballroom of 

the King’s Head Hotel in Richmond. In 

celebration of this historic event, the 

prodigious young pianist Simon 

Passmore will give an hour-long recital 

of Liszt’s compositions and other 

popular music of the time – in the same, 

recently-restored ballroom. 

Broadcaster, writer and music 

scholar Dr Kenneth Birkin will start the proceedings with a short 

talk on the great composer and his music, and after the concert 

there will be a chance to meet our modern-day ‘Liszt’ and enjoy a 

glass of wine and a finger buffet in the restaurant. There will even 

be some students from Richmond School serving food in elegant 

1841-style dress. Come and enjoy the party! 

• Introductory talk and concert: 5.00pm 

• Finger buffet with wine: 6.15pm – 7.00pm 

It’s then a short stroll down the hill to St Mary’s Church to 

hear The Choir of York Minster at 8.00pm! 

•Adult £20 •Child £20 inc. wine or soft drinks and finger buffet. 

z Grand piano kindly sponsored by Bösendorfer 

✪ Generously supported by Peter and Judy Denison-Edson 

Wednesday 3rd June 

The Choir of York Minster in Concert 

E38 | 8.00pm | St Mary’s Church, Richmond | U 

Directed by Robert Sharpe, the famous 

boys and men from York Minster will 

present a feast of English and European 

choral music including favourites such 

as Mozart’s Ave 

Verum Corpus, 

Duruflé’s 

Requiem and 

Mendelssohn’s 

Hear My Prayer. 

The Minster organist will accompany 

the choir and perform a solo or two during the evening. 

It is a great privilege for us to welcome one of the world’s 

great choirs to the 

Swaledale Festival 

for the first time. 

Don’t miss these 

wonderful singers 

in a rare day out 

from their hectic 

schedule at 

York Minster. 

•Adult £14 

•Child £7 

Kindly sponsored by 

Easby Gale & Phillipson 


Box Office (01748) 880019 

25

Thursday 4th June 

Friday 5th June 

LOW ROW WALK See page 35 for details 

E39 | 10.00am | Meet at the Punchbowl Inn in Low Row 

Master of the Keyboard: 

David Gordon ~ Harpsichord 

E40 | 5.00pm | Holy Trinity Church, Low Row 

In the first of two contrasting keyboard 

concerts today, David Gordon’s 

thoughtful programme of early 

harpsichord music is punctuated by 

some of his exciting improvisations. 

David has starred in previous Festivals 

with Zum and Respectable Groove. 

Today he will be heard solo in the lovely 

church at Low Row. 


✪ Generously supported by Nicholas and Sally Reckert 

Master of the Keyboard: 

Gwilym Simcock ~ Piano 

E41 | 8.00pm | St Andrew’s Church, Aysgarth | U 

z Tonight's piano kindly sponsored by Yamaha 

A solo performance from the 

dazzling young jazz pianist who 

is equally at home on classical 

piano or French horn. You may 

have heard Gwilym Simcock with 

Acoustic Triangle, or last year 

when he took the Proms by 

storm, performing his own piano 

concerto at the Royal Albert Hall. 

In this concert, Gwilym will 

perform a new piece written for 

the Swaledale Festival, some 

well-known standards, and 

breathtaking 

piano improvisations. 


✪ Generously supported by Adrian and Rosemary Anderson 

FOLK AT THE BRIDGE Late music played by local musicians 

The Bridge Inn, Grinton 

________ 

WORLD 

PREMIÈRE 

________ 

The ‘Royal’ Harpist ~ Claire Jones 

E42 | 4.00pm | St Mary’s Church, Arkengarthdale | U 

Claire Jones is the Official Harpist to HRH the Prince of Wales, so 

she’s a regular at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and 10 

Downing Street. Her programme contains works by Bach, 

Tchaikovsky, Mathias, Ravel, de Falla and, of course, some Welsh 

favourites. Sheer elegance! 


Kindly supported by The Countess of Munster Musical Trust 


Box Office (01748) 880019 

27

Friday 5th June 

Semmerwater ~ a Musical Play 


________ 

WORLD 

PREMIÈRE ________ 

Saturday 6th June 

Chet’s Quartets 


Featuring London Concertante with additional professional and 

local artists. Musical Director: David Gordon. 

Inspired by William Watson’s popular poem The Ballad of 

Semmerwater (now spelt Semerwater), renowned author, poet 

and Reeth resident Ann Pilling and composer David Gordon have 

created a brand new musical play for the Swaledale Festival. A 

large cast of schoolchildren and familiar local characters will be 

joined by leading chamber group London Concertante and some 

top vocal soloists to première a work written especially for them. 

David Gordon will conduct from the harpsichord as the uplifting 

music fills the church and the fascinating tale unfolds. A first for 

the Festival, and a guaranteed highlight! 


Special thanks to Swale Scaffolding for building the stage in St 

Andrew’s, Grinton. 

We are very grateful to various Trusts and Foundations for their 

support towards this project 

Anne Pilling 

David Gordon 

David Shaw and Sophie Xu: violins • Adam Riding: viola 

Robert Wheatley: cello 

Callum James and Elżbieta Young: trumpets 

Benjamin Hulme: French horn • Peter Moore: trombone 

Chetham’s in Manchester, popularly known as Chet’s, is Britain’s 

premier specialist music school, and has produced a glittering 

array of stars over the years. This concert features eight of the 

school’s current crop of talented students, many of whom will be 

destined for great careers in music. The string players will 

perform Beethoven’s Quartet, Op.18 No.1, and the brass group will 

play music by Gabrieli, Koetsier and others. You’ll probably 

recognise the young trombonist, Peter Moore; he became the 

youngest ever BBC Young Musician of the Year last year at the age 

of 12, and is already an international star! 


✪ Generously supported by Shirley Wilson 


Box Office (01748) 880019 29

Saturday 6th June 

Grand Finale ~ London Concertante 


Exhibitions 

Elizabethan Inspirations 23rd May - 6th June 

An exhibition of work by 

the Richmond and 

Leyburn Branch of the 

Embroiderers' Guild, 

inspired by Elizabethan 

needlework including 

stumpwork, blackwork 

and silk embroidery. 

Swaledale Museum, Reeth. Open daily: 10.30am - 5.30pm 

Schubert Octet 

Françaix Octet 

Tim Garland Octet 

________ 

WORLD 

PREMIÈRE 

________ 

Schubert’s Octet is a seminal work in the chamber music 

repertoire, and Jean Françaix’s Octet makes a fine companion. We 

invited composer Tim Garland to create a new piece for the same 

instrumentation (French horn, clarinet, bassoon and five strings), 

and this will be its World Première. London Concertante, in this 

compact incarnation, comprises eight of the finest players of 

these instruments. What a fabulous way to bring the 2009 

Swaledale Festival to an end! 


✪ Generously supported by an anonymous donation 

TheBridgeInn 

Grinton, Richmond dl11 6hh Telephone: 01748 884224 

Traditional old coaching inn, 

serving quality food all day, every day. 

Booking advisable for pre-concert meals 

Interval drinks service for Grinton concerts 

Recommended in the “Good Pub” & “Good Beer" guides 

East Windy Hall Exhibition 23rd May - 6th June 

An exhibition of Paintings, Patchwork, Pottery, Prints and 

Sculpture by Bryan Trueman, Carolyn Stevenson, Mary Farnell, 

Jenny Davies, Pauline Trueman, Will Illsley, Joy Bently and 

John Calver. 

East Windy Hall, Arkengarthdale Road, Reeth 

Open Daily: 11am – 5pm: Sundays 2pm – 5pm 

 

Swaledale Festival Photography Competition 

We are looking for images that sum up the Swaledale Festival and 

our celebration of the arts in this special corner of the country. 

Capture your Festival experience on camera and send it to us for 

your chance to feature in our 2010 photography exhibition. 

Email your photographs to click@swaledale-festival.org.uk 

or text them to 07794 627251. 

For Terms and Conditions visit our website 

www.swaledale-festival.org.uk 

2010 Swaledale Festival 

We hope you enjoy the 2009 Festival, and look forward to seeing 

you again next year at the 30th Anniversary of the Swaledale 

Festival! Block out these dates in your diary now: 

29th May – 12th June 2010 

30 Priority booking is available to Friends of the Festival Box Office (01748) 880019 

31

Booking Information 

✁ 

Booking Form 

ADVANCE BOOKING is recommended. All tickets are for unnumbered 

seats and are offered on a first-come-first-served basis. 

Due to the nature of church architecture, some seats may have a 

restricted or partial view. Any unsold tickets will be available at 

the door on the day of the event, but we suggest you check with 

the Box Office beforehand to avoid disappointment. In fairness to 

all, the reservation of seats for absent members of the audience is 

not allowed. 

w Online booking opens 14th April at 

www.swaledale-festival.org.uk. 

U Postal bookings may be sent at any time to: Swaledale Festival 

Box Office, Hudson House, Reeth, Richmond DL11 6TB. 

They will be processed in order of receipt, after 1st April (Friends) 

and 14th April (non-Friends). 

S Telephone booking opens 14th April, at 01748 880019. The phone 

is staffed Mon - Sat, 10 - 4. If you have to leave an answerphone 

message, we will respond as soon as possible. 

h Tourist Information Centre booking opens 14th April at 

Richmond and Leyburn TICs, and Hawes Community Office. 

Payment and conditions 

Cheques should be made payable to Swaledale Festival. Most 

credit/debit cards are accepted. Concessions are only available to 

children 16 and under. Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded 

unless a performance is cancelled. Programmes, events and 

artists are confirmed at the time of printing, but the Swaledale 

Festival reserves the right to alter them in the event of 

unforeseen circumstances. 

Access 

All venues will be provided with hearing loops. Those marked U 

are fully accessible. Access in other venues may be restricted due 

to the nature of the building. Not all our venues have lighting 

suitable for people who are visually impaired. Please call the Box 

Office – 01748 880019 – for further information. 

Event Adult quantity Price Child quantity Price Total 

E1 £12 £6 £ 

E2 £6 £3 £ 

E3 £8 £4 £ 

E4 £14 £7 £ 

E5 £8 £4 £ 

E6 £8 £4 £ 

E7 £6 £3 £ 

E8 £10 £5 £ 

E9 £12 £6 £ 

E10 £8 £4 £ 

E11 £6 £3 £ 

E12 £6 £3 £ 

E13 £6 £3 £ 

E14 £8 £4 £ 

E15 £6 £3 £ 

E16 £12 £6 £ 

E17 £12 £6 £ 

E18 £8 £4 £ 

E19 £5 £0 £ 

E20 £12 £6 £ 

E21 £6 £3 £ 

E22 £8 £4 £ 

E23 £6 £3 £ 

E24 £16 £8 £ 

E25 £0 £0 £ 

E26 £10 £5 £ 

E27 £14 £7 £ 

E28 £10 £5 £ 

E29 £6 £3 £ 

E30 £6 £3 £ 

E31 £8 £4 £ 

E32 £14 £7 £ 

E33 £8 £4 £ 

E34 £6 £3 £ 

E35 £6 £3 £ 

E36 £8 £4 £ 

E37 £20 £20 £ 

E38 £14 £7 £ 

E39 £6 £3 £ 

E40 £8 £4 £ 

E41 £12 £6 £ 

E42 £8 £4 £ 

E43 £10 £5 £ 

E44 £10 £5 £ 

E45 £14 £7 £ 

Subtotal £ 

PAYMENT DETAILS OVER PAGE 

32 Priority booking is available to Friends of the Festival Book Online: www.swaledale-festival.org.uk 

33

✁ 

Card Details 

Walks 

Name(s) 

Address 

Phone 

Phone during Festival 

Email 

Credit: Visa / Mastercard 

Name on card 

(Please print) 

Subtotal, brought forward from page 33 £ 

Postage (delete if a Friend booking before 14th April, 

or if collecting tickets) 

Debit: Maestro / Solo / Visa / Electron 

Card No. 

Expiry Date / 

Security Code or Issue No. 

Post Code 

If not already on our mailing list, would you like to join 

it so you can receive next year’s brochure? 

£0.50 

Friends (see page 3) I/we wish to take out/renew 

Friendship for 2009-10: Individual £24/Joint £36 

£ 

To pay Friendship by Standing Order, leave above box 

blank, and tick here – we will send you a form [ ] 

Donation (see page 12) £ 

Gift Aid adds 28% to the value of your Friendship or 

Donation, at no cost to you. If you’re a UK tax-payer, [ ] 

please tick to allow us to claim Gift Aid – thank you. 

TOTAL £ 

Yes/No 

We use the above information to process your order and for 

administrative purposes, and will not disclose it to third parties 

for their benefit. 

Please wear boots and bring waterproofs and hat, plus lunch 

and water for full-day walks. Well behaved dogs welcome if on lead. 

Remember coins for ticket machine if starting from a car park. 

Limited places – book in advance. 

Prices: Adult £6, Child £3, except E5 (£8/£4) and E17 (£12/£6). 

Home-made teas may be bought after walks E5, E13, E21, E30. 

SUNDAY 24TH MAY 

E2 11.00am - Lead Mining.Meet Langthwaite Car Park. 

Mining and its impact on the Dales will be explored in a moderate 

to strenuous 5-mile walk, with good views of Arkengarthdale. 

Walk ends before 5.00pm concert at CB Inn. 

MONDAY 25TH MAY 

E5 10.00am - Guided Walk with Musical Interludes. 

Meet Reeth Green Bus shelter for a walk full of surprises! 

WEDNESDAY 27TH MAY 

E13 10.00am - Wensleydale. Meet Stalling Busk church. 

A moderate 8-mile walk with some hills, round Semerwater. 

See rare globeflowers and birdseye primroses near Marsett and 

the Meeting House at Countersett; return before 5pm concert. 

THURSDAY 28TH MAY 

E17 see times etc. on page 11 – Wensleydale Railway. 

Moderate 7-mile walk up to Cobb Scar chimney, then west to 

Apedale before returning to Redmire via Castle Bolton. The return 

train leaves Redmire at about 15.50 , arriving back at Leeming Bar 

at about 16.45. 

FRIDAY 29TH MAY 

E21 11.00am – Upper Swaledale. Meet Keld car park. 

From this tiny hamlet we climb over Kisdon Hill on the old Corpse 

Road as Swaledale opens up before us. Descending to Muker, we 

cross wild flower meadows, then follow the river back. An easy 6 

miles, finishing at Keld before the late afternoon concert. 

MONDAY 1ST JUNE 

E30 2.00pm – Wild Flowers and Birds. Meet Gunnerside bridge. 

Members of Yoredale Natural History Society lead us through 

meadows famous for a spectacular range of flowers. A short walk, 

mostly flat, ending before 5.00pm concert. 

WEDNESDAY 3RD JUNE 

E35 9.45am – Willance’s Leap. Meet Nun’s Close car park, 

Richmond. Following the Coast-to-Coast route, then a short, steep 

road, we reach a ridge with fine views of the Swale. From historic 

Willance’s Leap we circle back to Richmond – 6 miles. 

THURSDAY 4TH JUNE 

E39 10.00am – Low Row. Meet Punchbowl Inn in Low Row for a 

moderate 8-mile walk. Views over Swaledale, beckside paths to 

Gunnerside, then return in time for 5pm concert. 

34 Priority booking is available to Friends of the Festival Box Office (01748) 880019 

35

Swaledale Festival 2009 

FESTIVAL VENUES 

1 Keld United Reformed Church 

2 Muker Public Hall 

3 Gunnerside Methodist Church 

4 Holy Trinity Church, Low Row 

5 CB Inn, Arkengarthdale 

6 St Mary’s Church, Arkengarthdale 

7 Arkengarthdale Methodist Church 

8 East Windy Hall, Arkengarthdale Road, Reeth 

9 Reeth Memorial Hall 

10 Reeth Methodist Church 

11 Swaledale Museum, Reeth 

12 The Buck Hotel, Reeth 

13 St Andrew’s Church, Grinton 

14 The Bridge Inn, Grinton 

15 The Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond 

16 The King’s Head, Richmond 

17 St Mary’s Church, Richmond 

18 St Agatha’s Church, Easby 

19 Simonstone Hall, Hawes 

20 St Matthew’s Church, Stalling Busk 

21 Bainbridge Meeting House 

22 St Oswald’s Church, Askrigg 

23 St Andrew’s Church, Aysgarth 

24 Leyburn Methodist Hall 

25 St Matthew’s Church, Leyburn 

Swaledale Festival 

Hudson House, Reeth, Richmond, North Yorkshire DL11 6TB 

S 01748 880018 w enquiries@swaledale-festival.org.uk 

www.swaledale-festival.org.uk 

The Swaledale Festival is a registered charity no. 1025480 

Media Partners 

designed by andy thursfield 01748 829507 design@andythursfield.demon.co.uk

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