Songs on the Eastern wind
Learn songs from different Eastern European cultures and traditions. A fantastic opportunity to discover songs from harmony singing traditions that go back almost a thousand years, all in a wonderful Lake District setting.
"It was amazing how very quickly I was participating in a beautiful three-part harmony with lots of other voices, never having done the like before! Brought a lump to my throat! This was my first ever experience of a singing workshop and I thoroughly enjoyed it. You were so relaxed and friendly and funny, I felt my nerves quickly start to disappear." Participant on a previous Eastern European singing weekend
Not been on one of Chris's singing weekends before? You might like to check out some frequently asked questions.
Friday 21 July 2023 5pm to Sunday 23 July 2023 2pm
Brathay Hall
Ambleside
Cumbria LA22 0HP
Cost: £245 (superior twin/double) | £210 (standard twin/double) | £245 (budget single) | £300 (twin as single) PER PERSON
if booked and paid for by 21 April 2023, otherwise £20 per person more
Click here for venue accessibility information.
TWO PLACES LEFT FOR BASS/BARITONE VOICES ONLY — contact Chris for booking form.
Ambleside is in the very heart of the Lake District. Brathay Hall,
a beautiful Georgian mansion, is set in 360 acres of mature woodland and rolling pasture at the head of Lake Windermere. The peace and tranquillity to be found on the
estate, enjoyed by visitors such as Wordsworth, Coleridge and Constable, offers guests a unique sense of space. The weekend includes all meals, tuition and tea/ coffee
breaks.
Superior twin/ double room accommodation is in lodges at the side of Brathay Hall. The lodges have a commanding view of the surrounding Lake District and all rooms can be
either twins or doubles (no single occupancy). All rooms offer a unique blend of comfort and contemporary design, with solid oak furniture, flat screen plasma TVs and
wireless internet access in addition to the usual standard features. Each room has an en-suite shower and King-sized bed.
You can find out more about Scafell superior
rooms here on the Brathay website
Budget single rooms (Loughriggs) are in a separate building at the back of the main house accessible by steps. You can find out more about Loughrigg
rooms here on the Brathay website
Standard twins (and single occupancy rooms) called Helvellyns are located on the second floor of Brathay Hall (please note there are no lifts!) or at the side
of the main building (called Wansfells). Some of the Helvellyns have spectacular views of Windermere, but at an extra cost. Each room has a plasma screen TV, hot drinks facilities,
hairdryer, desk, wardrobe, safe and radio alarms. Each room is en-suite. You can find out more about Helvellyns and Wansfells here on the
Brathay website.
Learn songs from a range of Eastern European cultures and traditions: crunchy harmonies from the Balkans, Romanian lullabies, Czech gypsy passion, haunting chants
from the Russian Orthodox church, gorgeous clashing harmonies from Georgia, mountain hollers from Macedonia and much more.
All songs will be taught by ear in the traditional way.
No previous experience is necessary, just a love of singing. This will be a relaxed, informal and fun weekend
of group harmony singing. You will be surprised and delighted by the rich and stunning harmonies we will produce in a relatively short time.
There will also be opportunities to explore the local area and soak up the summer sun.
Chris will make a recording of the workshop available free afterwards. This will remind you of the weekend and impress you with the sound we create together!
Feedback from previous Songs on the Eastern wind weekends:
"Once again Chris, you have excelled with your incredible ability to teach us complex harmonies from different cultures and produce some fabulous singing at the end of the weekend – thank you!"
"I had a great time at the Eastern European harmony singing weekend. I really liked the variety of styles we tried and enjoyed the glorious harmonies from those various traditions. And the fun and laughter we had while getting to grips with them! Thank you so much for organising and facilitating such a wonderful experience."
"We had so much fun learning the songs and with such a great group of very friendly, interesting people! There seemed to be so many people who had had or were going through tough times and I know that concentrating to learn the harmonies and then being part of such a lovely sound when it all comes together is enormously therapeutic ... and great fun!!"
Feedback from previous singing weekends at Brathay Hall:
"I enjoyed it all: an excellent balance between the singing, great songs, meeting and chatting with lovely people, good food and having a good stomp up a hill with views on Saturday afternoon."
"This is the first time that I have ever done a singing workshop, and Brathay was a lovely introduction. Your teaching is wonderfully relaxed and delightfully humorous, spot on. Great company there too, and I hope that if and when I take part in another workshop I meet up with some of the really lovely people who were at Brathay."
Click to hear recordings from previous Eastern European singing workshops that Chris has run.