Occasionally, I get the chance to play music for the elderly at a rest home or nursing home which I usually very much enjoy so when I got the invitation from a friend whose mother had just moved into the Dunster Lodge Residential Home to join in with some folk music, I leaped at the opportunity.
I met a few of the other local traditional folk musicians at the door and we stopped to admire the fantastic views across Minehead and the Bristol Channel.
Entering, we got a warm welcome from the management of the care home, dutifully disinfected our hands and got straight down to music matters in the lounge with a quick flurry of jigs, reels and sea shanties in front of a very appreciative audience.
As the afternoon progressed, more and more musicians arrived until we practically had an orchestra. This gave ample opportunity for us to vary the music by using the individual talents of the musicians present. The violins were fiery, the singer whistle player was extremely popular, the bodran was like a heartbeat with the guitar, the piano accordion formed a solid backbone to the band and my mellow soprano sax received it’s sensitive accompaniment from the other musicians to make a brilliant sound.
To end the afternoon, we were treated to tea with the residents which we very much enjoyed and a kind speech from the manager who thanked us for our memorable visit.
It was a great afternoon’s folk music at a friendly and pleasant residential care home for the elderly with outstanding views over the Bristol Channel.
Bye for now
Rob
