Ensemble Information - for details of planned attendance
Since 2006, ringers from all over the South West Region have met to practise muisc to perform at the Regional Rally and Christmas Prelude and occassional public concerts. This group is known as the Sou'westers.
Sou’westers
Most regions now have a regional ‘orchestra’. SERBO (from the South East) was first and there are now the East Anglia Regional team and Northern Bell Orchestra. Scotland have their Celtic Carillon and there is a group in the Midlands too.
We have 30+ ringers belonging to the Sou’westers (all of whom must be HRGB members), many come from Somerset, Dorset and Devon, but there are significant numbers from Bristol, Gloucester, Cornwall and Wiltshire – we even have intrepid travellers from beyound the SW Regioanal borders.
The object of the group is to give established ringers and their leaders/conductors (who may not get much ringing themselves) the opportunity to tackle more advanced music written for 5 octave groups, often with a variety of special techniques. The music is challenging but not impossibly so, and help is always available!
The atmosphere of the rehearsals is calm and friendly; there is no test or audition for joining. The conductors don't pick on individuals but they do try to help and encourage ringers to improve their ringing knowledge, skills and style. Because there are 2 or 3 people ringing in each position, the odd wrong note or omission is not noticed and ringers can always negotiate with their fellow ringers to agree ‘who rings what’ during more difficult passages. We don’t insist on a particular style, in-hand or off table are fine.
The Sou’westers meet monthly, on a Saturday, usually at Staplegrove Village Hall near Taunton, setting up is from 10.30, we ring from 11.30am to about 4.30pm with a stop for lunch and two short tea breaks
We supply:
- tables and foams,
- bells (although some ringers like to bring along their own, which is fine if they are in the correct pitch), mallets and chimes,
- music (usually via email or downloaded from the SW website so that ringers can print their own copies. Members are permitted to print just one copy of each piece of music to go into their folder and we have the legal number of original copies. Ringers are asked not to share this music with anyone else or use it within their own teams),
- tea, coffee and biscuits (for which there is a donations dish)
Ringers supply:
- a music stand and riser if needed, gloves (mandatory please) and often a split-back music binder,
- their time to download, file and mark up the music as much or as little as they wish, and familiarise themselves with it between practices,
- a pencil (at least) to mark on their music any and all instructions given by the conductors,
- a commitment to attend as many practices as possible (we understand that there are times when people can’t make it, but we hope they will try). The various rehearsal dates are published in the Newsletter each issue and we ask ringers to let us know if they cannot attend,
- a packed lunch for themselves and occasional assistance in the kitchen,
- able bodied ringers are also asked to assist in setting the room up and packing away at the end.
The Sou’westers fee is currently £25 per year payable in September which includes all music; ringers starting mid-term are asked to pay £2.50 per session (after an initial free ‘trial’ month). The subs do not cover rally fees; these are collected from those going to any event (unless they are already registered with their own teams).
The Sou’westers usually ring as a group at rallies and Christmas and occassional public concerts – we feel it is important to have something to aim for! Dress is informal at rehearsals but a Sou’westers polo shirt and sweat shirt are available to order.
Any questions? Just drop an email to us at jThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or ring on 01837 52565 for a chat. We’ll let you know what bell positions are available and how to get the current music.
