MUSIC BEFORE THE MICROCHIP
Music is very convenient now. There is usually no hiss and crackle either. But what happened to its soul? Does the sterile stuff that you can download have vitality or depth?
Come back to the time when people cranked a handle for half a minute in order to hear three minutes of music – and appreciated it all the more as a result. YOU don’t have to crank the handle – the SHEIK OF SHELLAC does that.
Hear the sounds your parents, grandparents and great-grandparents loved – in the way they heard them.
I give talks, demonstrations and courses, in which you can see and hear:
a disc music-box; cylinder-playing phonographs; table-top and portable gramophones; a ‘diamond disc’ phonograph; a ‘camera’ gramophone; and even a representative of hi-tech in the shape of a Dansette – using real electricity!
A DISC JOCKEY WITH A DIFFERENCE
If you, or a Society or an Organisation you are involved with, would like some period background music for your function, I can provide it. It will make a talking-point, and your guests will be able to talk about it because I won’t deafen them with banks of loudspeakers. It won’t cost too much either! I can play a programme of just about any kind of music you want, and for as long as you want (within reason!):
Classical (instrumental, orchestral, vocal); jazz and blues; dance band; rock’n’roll, skiffle and 50’s pop; traditional; Welsh; French; world music; brass band; Music Hall. Or a bit of everything!
The Sheik has played at various jazz events, such as Keswick Jazz Festival (every evening in the Festival Bar); a pre-Festival fundraiser at Ffwrn in Fishguard for the Aberjazz Festival (see feedback on Facebook); Dove Holes Jazz Festival; Tony Jacobs' Jazz and Swing Weekend at West Wittering, Chichester; Barmouth Jazz and Blues Club; and Abergavenny Jazz Club. He has given many illustrated talks and demonstrations for groups such as the W.I., the U3A, Probus and West Wales Friendship Group. He has provided background music at such events as a wedding, a garden party, film shows, a Christmas Market, a beer festival and a summer fete. He has run 3- and 4-day residential courses on old recorded music, including a U3A summer school at Cirencester in 2017.
IT'S NOT FOR ANTIQUARIANS AND ANORAKS!
IT’S MUSIC FOR PLEASURE FOR ALL!
Click here to see short thematic programmes with music clips on the Sheik's blog
(CLICK HERE to read feature on The Sheik of Shellac published in 'Aberystwyth Ego' 2015)
How to contact me:
E-mail (most reliable!): woolgathererinwales@fastmail.com
Telephone: 01974 298081
Write to: Gilfach, Llanddewi Brefi, Tregaron, Ceredigion SY25 6SB
