Kai is now concentrating on carved top instruments and doesn’t offer any flat top ones anymore. He has fully developed new models of carved top mandolins, mandolas, bouzoukis and citterns which are truly individual, beautiful and sound great too !
Kai is also able to offer now his new tailpiece design, fully handmade at the workshop -in cast bronze and available in a variety of finishes and designs.
We are in the process of adding new details of these models on our site, so keep watching !

Claire has closed her waiting list and has been turning down orders for over a year now to fulfil her commissions. She then plans to concentrate on bringing in new models which she will offer online and at exhibitions.

We are both very excited about these changes, and will keep you posted !

Do come and meet Kai and try his instruments if you are around !

more info at www.eurofonik.fr

Saskia Tomkins grew up in Kent, and began playing classical violin at 7 years old. She discovered folk music at 11 years, and completed a jazz degree at Middlesex University. Because of her very mixed heritage, she enjoys exploring and connecting to each of these through the music.
Since then, Saskia has travelled the world learning different violin genres, playing with people such as The Chieftains, Sin E, Uriah Heep, The English Shakespeare Company, Toronto Tabla Ensemble, Laurie Anderson and various Dance and Theatre troupes. Her recording career covers over 30 albums and numerous Radio broadcasts including work for the BBC. At some point during all this, Saskia learnt and now performs on Violin, viola, ‘cello, and Nyckelharpe, and is an all Britain Fiddle Champion in Irish fiddle. Since moving to Canada 5 years ago with her family (3 kids!), she has been embraced by the music community.

For over 20 years Brandon has been performing, recording and teaching the type of acoustic finger-style guitar often described as “heavy wood”. Brandon has studies guitar in France with Pierre Bensusan, Two years with Canadian guitarist Don Ross, Jazz studies with New York based Barrie Harris, Jazz saxophone both under Pat Labaraba and Kirk MacDonald, and music composition at the University of Ottawa. He records and composes music for film and television when not touring.

Saskia was introduced to Brandon by her husband Steafan Hannigan who foresaw the musical possibilities. They enjoy writing their own compositions, which nod at a range of different genres, and arranging more familiar pieces, on Violin, Viola, Nyckelharpa, Saxophone and guitar.

It is their first tour together!

everyone welcome but please let us know you’re coming !
£5 per adult – children go free.
BYO and have fun !

tel.01843 588 470
mail@kai-toenjes.com

We are having another day of great music and workshops in Ramsgate on the 5th of march !

Evening concert at the Sailors Church – military road, Ramsgate CT11 9LG with SYM :

Anne Hytta from Oslo on Hardanger fiddle
Eleonore Billy from Paris on Nyckelharpa and hardanger fiddle
Clare Salaman from London on Nyckelharpa, hardanger fiddle and hurdy-gurdy

“Norwegian hardanger violins, Swedish nyckelharpas and the hurdy-gurdy are brandished here to conjure up an eerie, natural environment which is both refreshing and magical…. Heady and unique”   Musician

“exquisite, warm, rich and texture-laden sound…a magnificent and truly symbiotic union of musical minds and talents.” Taplas          

Doors open at 19.00 for a 19.30 start .
tickets £10 – children under 13 £7.

Workshops :

14.00 to 16.00 pm :
Hardanger Fiddle/ Hardingfele workshop with Anne Hytta

Anne Hytta is among the foremost players of Hardanger Fiddle in Norway. In 2006 she was awarded the Norwegian Folk Music Award for Best Solo Album for her CD “dag, kveld, natt” / “day, evening, night”. Alongside her work as one of the finest players and teachers of the Hardanger fiddle she has collaborated with musicians from many different countries and musical cultures and in the last few years has been establishing herself as a composer. She is an experienced workshop leader and teaches in US as well as being a regular guest teacher of the London Hardingfelelag. (Participants of this workshop will need to bring their own hardanger fiddle).

Nyckelharpa and fiddle workshop with Eléonore Billy

Eléonore Billy is a pioneer for the nyckelharpa in France and has a reputation as one of the finest players of the instrument in Europe. She has wide experience of teaching nyckelharpa and regularly runs courses for an every growing body of students. As a player she has collaborated with musicians from many different countries and musical cultures and has explored the possibilities of the nyckelharpa in a wide variety of musical contexts, ranging from electric trip hop to a harp and nyckelharpa duo. As the first French player to study at the Eric Salhstrom Institute she has a deep knowledge of Swedish traditional nyckelharpa music and a repertoire of hundreds of tunes.

£15 per workshop
at Workshop 5 – St Lawrence industrial Estate – Manston road – Ramsgate CT11 0QZ –

For more info and booking, please email me at mail@claire-dugue.com or give me a ring 01843 588 470.

We are also very happy to announce our 1st event “Ramsgate Buzz” -a day of workshops and concert in Ramsgate on saturday the 20th of March.
Here is all the info you will need to know about it, hope to see you there !

Ramsgate Buzz

>A day of hurdy-gurdy and bagpipe workshops & concert
in Ramsgate

On the 20th of March 2010
Studio 5 – St Lawrence Industrial Estate- Manston Road- Ramsgate Kent CT11 0QZ

Featuring

Steve Tyler
Katy Marchant
Tim Garside
Sean Jones
Claire Dugue

Bookings and general information at www.claire-dugue.com. mail@claire-dugue.com. Claire – 01843 588 470

In association with the bagpipe society and Pie Factory Music.

Workshops

Please arrive at least 15 min before the start of your workshop, and meet us at Studio 5, St Lawrence Industrial estate. Someone will take you to your workshop venue.

Saturday morning- from 10.00 to 12.30:
Hurdy-gurdy maintenance with Claire Dugue, at Studio 5, St Lawrence Ind. estate.
Come and learn to get the most out of your instrument. We will be looking at tips on general set up (cleaning of the wheel, cottoning, stringing, rosin…) and also at the tuning of the keyboard and if we have time, making of a trompette bridge.

Bagpipes for beginners with Sean Jones, at Studio 2, St lawrence Ind. estate.
Come and try the pipes ! -There will be a number of instruments available for people to try, please book early if you don’t have a bagpipe.
In this workshop, we will be looking at bagpipe maintenance, tuning and basic playing techniques.

Saturday afternoon – from 14.00 to 16.00
Hurdy-gurdy playing with Steve Tyler at Studio 5 -St lawrence Ind.estate-
The workshop will be suitable for G and D hurdy-gurdies and involve trompette techniques and rhythms starting very simply ,suitable for beginners, and progressing to greater levels of complexity suitable for more able players. Some medieval repertoire will be looked at.

Bagpipe playing for beginners with Sean Jones -at studio 2- St lawrence Ind.estate- A continuation of the morning workshop with Sean. with still the possibility to borrow some of Sean’s bagpipes. In this session we will be looking at gracing and ornamentation in tunes.

Middle eastern Percussion with Tim Garside. at Pie Factory Music, 67a Chapel Road. Ramsgate
A two hour Middle eastern percussion  workshop  for beginners or those wanting to improve their percussion skills, covering some basic technique and rhythms on frame drum {douf} Tambourine {Riq} and  Darbuka {Goblet drum}. Come and join in the fun and see how easy it is to get started. Please bring a drum if you have one.
This workshop is funded and run in partnership with Pie Factory Music. It is free but spaces are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.

and from 14.00 to 15.00
Bagpipe playing with Katy Marchant at St Lawrence Church Hall. St Lawrence High street-Ramsgate-
A one hour workshop for beginners and more advanced players of G and D bagpipes who would like to expand their knowledge of the Medieval bagpipe repertoire. The workshop will cover some of the music which was specifically written for instrumental playing, as well as examples of how to adapt the more unusual vocal repertoire for bagpipes and other instruments. The workshop will also aim to include some ideas on how to embellish the melodies and create suitable harmonies and variations.
There will be some time for informal playing at the end of the hour.

All Workshops are £12 each/or £30 for the day including evening concert- except for the percussion workshop which is free – but needs to be booked-
All workshops should be booked in advance , by telephone, email or post.
Cheques made payable to “Claire Dugue” -

Tea/coffee and biscuits will be provided- Bring your own lunch or join us down the pub.

Accommodation – Ramsgate has many lovely , affordable B&Bs and hotels on offer. Check the internet or contact us for details.
There is also a campsite 5 minutes away from the studio: Nethercourt touring park on 01843 595 485 .

Evening Concert :
Daughters of Elvin

With
Katy Marchant – bagpipes, recorder, pipe and salterio
Steve Tyler – hurdy-gurdy, gothic harp, cittern
Tim Garside – percussion, dulcimer

The repertoire will have a strong medieval flavour with lively dance music from 13th century Spain, more complex pieces from the Italian Ars Nova, and quieter, more devotional, melodies from monastic sources. This will be augmented by traditional music along with a few new compositions by members of Daughters of Elvin.

Doors open at 19.00 for 19.30 start
at The Sailors Church
Military Road-Ramsgate CT11 9LG

Adult – £8
Children- under 13- £5

Tickets available on the door or in advance at Studio 5-
St Lawrence ind. Estate- Manston Rd- Ramsgate CT11 0QZ-
or telephone Claire on 01843 588 470 -
mail@claire-dugue.com

Biographies
Katy Marchant
In 1996 Katy discovered that the masks she was making made a powerful combination with the medieval music she had begun to play on the bagpipes. The exciting juxtaposition of the masks and music which was evolving led her to found Daughters of Elvin. With masked and dancing fantastical beasts and giant stilt puppets, inspired by medieval iconography. she and her fellow Elvins which included percussionist Dhevdhas Nair and dancer Clio Wondrausch began to be booked to play at street festivals, rock festivals, historical fayres, art centres and early music events throughout Britain and Ireland.
In 2001 the National Trust commissioned her to develop a series of site specific shows which involved a medieval circus of masked beasts with live music played on authentic early instruments. She invited Steve Tyler to join the project. This led to Steve and Katy discovering a shared interest in medieval music and in particular music from 14th century Italy. They began to develop a style which would make this repertoire suitable for bagpipes and hurdy-gurdy.
In 2003 she was awarded a bursary by Arts Council Southwest to travel to America to research her other passion of mask making with Beckie Kravetz from the Los Angeles Opera Company.
The Steve Tyler/Katy Marchant duo have been developing a mixed programme of medieval music and self penned compositions for hurdy-gurdy and bagpipes inspired by Early Music, jazz, Jimi Hendrix and folk music for the last 4 years. They have performed together as a duo in Britain, France, Holland, Germany and Norway. They are part of the historical ‘ceilidh’ band, Caliban’s Dream with Brazilian early dance master Dr Ricardo Barros. Caliban’s Dream recently played for a Fairy Masquerade ball in Devon where the mainly 16th dances were met with great enthusiasm.

Stephen Tyler is one of the foremost hurdy-gurdy player in Europe today.
In 1993 He began playing the hurdy-gurdy, adding this instrument to the sound of the recently formed medieval music ensemble Misericordia, which he founded with Anne Marie Summers. In 1996 they joined with melodeon player Julian Sutton to form The Wendigo, playing their own compositions inspired by the traditional dance music of central France.In 1999, Steve & Anne Marie, won first place in the higlly acclaimed competition for duets at Saint Chartier festival.In 2001 he joined medieval music and dance theatre group Daughters of Elvin for their spectacular medieval circus show “Garden of Earthly Delights”, commissioned by the National Trust, and continues to play with them.
With these bands he has travelled and performed throughout Europe and recorded numerous CDs, most recently “Passion, Pestilence and Polyphony” comprising music and song from the fourteenth century, with Misericordia, many tracks of which have been played on BBC Radio 3′s Late Junction.
Katy & Steve’s photographs courtesy of www.stonefree.org
In 2006 he was featured on Radio 3′s Early Music Show on the hurdy-gurdy, along with Nigel Eaton, and played at Anost Fete de la Vielle with Jon Swayne and Becky Price.
He has run hurdy gurdy workshops at various events including the Lancaster hurdy-gurdy festival, Aust festival of medieval music, Kinnersley castle and the Bagpipe Society Blowout.
He is currently working on new pieces, some of which involve obscure rhythms and multitracked hurdy-gurdies with diverse other instruments. Two of these were premiered at the first Lancaster Hurdy Gurdy festival in April 2007.

Tim Garside is a percussionist who has specialised in Middle Eastern percussion for over 20 years. In 1993 he became the first European percussionist to tour with an Arabic band, in Hossam Ramzy’s Egyptian Ensemble.
He also plays Nay {Arabic flute}, Arghul {Arabic pipe}, and many other ethnic instruments.
His Arabic percussion workshops appeal not only to percussionists but to dancers wanting to gain more of an insight in understanding the rhythms , his highly motivated enthusiastic approach and sensitive teaching skills have lead to great success in this area.
Tim toured extensively and recorded with Arabic singer Natacha Atlas for 5 years. Other artistes include Algerian singer Cheb Mami, composer David Arnold, Egyptian singer Hakim, the late great Iranian singer Vigen, Transglobal Underground, Iranian singer Jirar, and the successful early music group Joglaresa.

Sean Jones is a professional bagpipe maker who has been making and developing instruments for the past twenty years. The inspiration for his pipes comes from historical sources and an understanding in acoustics. He offers a range of bagpipes used round the world for dancing, modern music, session playing as well as early music. More info on Sean and his pipes can be found at : www.jonesinstruments.co.uk

We are also very happy to announce our 1st event “Ramsgate Buzz” -a day of workshops and concert in Ramsgate on saturday the 20th of March.
Here is all the info you will need to know about it, hope to see you there !

Ramsgate Buzz

ng>A day of hurdy-gurdy and bagpipe workshops & concert
in Ramsgate

On the 20th of March 2010
Studio 5 – St Lawrence Industrial Estate- Manston Road- Ramsgate Kent CT11 0QZ

Featuring

Steve Tyler
Katy Marchant
Tim Garside
Sean Jones
Claire Dugue

Bookings and general information at www.claire-dugue.com. mail@claire-dugue.com. Claire – 01843 588 470

In association with the bagpipe society and Pie Factory Music.

Workshops

Please arrive at least 15 min before the start of your workshop, and meet us at Studio 5, St Lawrence Industrial estate. Someone will take you to your workshop venue.

Saturday morning- from 10.00 to 12.30:
Hurdy-gurdy maintenance with Claire Dugue, at Studio 5, St Lawrence Ind. estate.
Come and learn to get the most out of your instrument. We will be looking at tips on general set up (cleaning of the wheel, cottoning, stringing, rosin…) and also at the tuning of the keyboard and if we have time, making of a trompette bridge.

Bagpipes for beginners with Sean Jones, at Studio 2, St lawrence Ind. estate.
Come and try the pipes ! -There will be a number of instruments available for people to try, please book early if you don’t have a bagpipe.
In this workshop, we will be looking at bagpipe maintenance, tuning and basic playing techniques.

Saturday afternoon – from 14.00 to 16.00
Hurdy-gurdy playing with Steve Tyler at Studio 5 -St lawrence Ind.estate-
The workshop will be suitable for G and D hurdy-gurdies and involve trompette techniques and rhythms starting very simply ,suitable for beginners, and progressing to greater levels of complexity suitable for more able players. Some medieval repertoire will be looked at.

Bagpipe playing for beginners with Sean Jones -at studio 2- St lawrence Ind.estate- A continuation of the morning workshop with Sean. with still the possibility to borrow some of Sean’s bagpipes. In this session we will be looking at gracing and ornamentation in tunes.

Middle eastern Percussion with Tim Garside. at Pie Factory Music, 67a Chapel Road. Ramsgate
A two hour Middle eastern percussion  workshop  for beginners or those wanting to improve their percussion skills, covering some basic technique and rhythms on frame drum {douf} Tambourine {Riq} and  Darbuka {Goblet drum}. Come and join in the fun and see how easy it is to get started. Please bring a drum if you have one.
This workshop is funded and run in partnership with Pie Factory Music. It is free but spaces are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.

and from 14.00 to 15.00
Bagpipe playing with Katy Marchant at St Lawrence Church Hall. St Lawrence High street-Ramsgate-
A one hour workshop for beginners and more advanced players of G and D bagpipes who would like to expand their knowledge of the Medieval bagpipe repertoire. The workshop will cover some of the music which was specifically written for instrumental playing, as well as examples of how to adapt the more unusual vocal repertoire for bagpipes and other instruments. The workshop will also aim to include some ideas on how to embellish the melodies and create suitable harmonies and variations.
There will be some time for informal playing at the end of the hour.

All Workshops are £12 each/or £30 for the day including evening concert- except for the percussion workshop which is free – but needs to be booked-
All workshops should be booked in advance , by telephone, email or post.
Cheques made payable to “Claire Dugue” -

Tea/coffee and biscuits will be provided- Bring your own lunch or join us down the pub.

Accommodation – Ramsgate has many lovely , affordable B&Bs and hotels on offer. Check the internet or contact us for details.
There is also a campsite 5 minutes away from the studio: Nethercourt touring park on 01843 595 485 .

Evening Concert :
Daughters of Elvin

With
Katy Marchant – bagpipes, recorder, pipe and salterio
Steve Tyler – hurdy-gurdy, gothic harp, cittern
Tim Garside – percussion, dulcimer

The repertoire will have a strong medieval flavour with lively dance music from 13th century Spain, more complex pieces from the Italian Ars Nova, and quieter, more devotional, melodies from monastic sources. This will be augmented by traditional music along with a few new compositions by members of Daughters of Elvin.
 
Doors open at 19.00 for 19.30 start
at The Sailors Church
Military Road-Ramsgate CT11 9LG

Adult – £8
Children- under 13- £5

Tickets available on the door or in advance at Studio 5-
St Lawrence ind. Estate- Manston Rd- Ramsgate CT11 0QZ-
or telephone Claire on 01843 588 470 -
mail@claire-dugue.com

Biographies
Katy Marchant
In 1996 Katy discovered that the masks she was making made a powerful combination with the medieval music she had begun to play on the bagpipes. The exciting juxtaposition of the masks and music which was evolving led her to found Daughters of Elvin. With masked and dancing fantastical beasts and giant stilt puppets, inspired by medieval iconography. she and her fellow Elvins which included percussionist Dhevdhas Nair and dancer Clio Wondrausch began to be booked to play at street festivals, rock festivals, historical fayres, art centres and early music events throughout Britain and Ireland.
In 2001 the National Trust commissioned her to develop a series of site specific shows which involved a medieval circus of masked beasts with live music played on authentic early instruments. She invited Steve Tyler to join the project. This led to Steve and Katy discovering a shared interest in medieval music and in particular music from 14th century Italy. They began to develop a style which would make this repertoire suitable for bagpipes and hurdy-gurdy.
 In 2003 she was awarded a bursary by Arts Council Southwest to travel to America to research her other passion of mask making with Beckie Kravetz from the Los Angeles Opera Company.
The Steve Tyler/Katy Marchant duo have been developing a mixed programme of medieval music and self penned compositions for hurdy-gurdy and bagpipes inspired by Early Music, jazz, Jimi Hendrix and folk music for the last 4 years. They have performed together as a duo in Britain, France, Holland, Germany and Norway. They are part of the historical ‘ceilidh’ band, Caliban’s Dream with Brazilian early dance master Dr Ricardo Barros. Caliban’s Dream recently played for a Fairy Masquerade ball in Devon where the mainly 16th dances were met with great enthusiasm.

Stephen Tyler is one of the foremost hurdy-gurdy player in Europe today.
In 1993 He began playing the hurdy-gurdy, adding this instrument to the sound of the recently formed medieval music ensemble Misericordia, which he founded with Anne Marie Summers. In 1996 they joined with melodeon player Julian Sutton to form The Wendigo, playing their own compositions inspired by the traditional dance music of central France.In 1999, Steve & Anne Marie, won first place in the higlly acclaimed competition for duets at Saint Chartier festival.In 2001 he joined medieval music and dance theatre group Daughters of Elvin for their spectacular medieval circus show “Garden of Earthly Delights”, commissioned by the National Trust, and continues to play with them.
With these bands he has travelled and performed throughout Europe and recorded numerous CDs, most recently “Passion, Pestilence and Polyphony” comprising music and song from the fourteenth century, with Misericordia, many tracks of which have been played on BBC Radio 3′s Late Junction.
Katy & Steve’s photographs courtesy of www.stonefree.org
In 2006 he was featured on Radio 3′s Early Music Show on the hurdy-gurdy, along with Nigel Eaton, and played at Anost Fete de la Vielle with Jon Swayne and Becky Price.
He has run hurdy gurdy workshops at various events including the Lancaster hurdy-gurdy festival, Aust festival of medieval music, Kinnersley castle and the Bagpipe Society Blowout.
He is currently working on new pieces, some of which involve obscure rhythms and multitracked hurdy-gurdies with diverse other instruments. Two of these were premiered at the first Lancaster Hurdy Gurdy festival in April 2007.

Tim Garside is a percussionist who has specialised in Middle Eastern percussion for over 20 years. In 1993 he became the first European percussionist to tour with an Arabic band, in Hossam Ramzy’s Egyptian Ensemble.
He also plays Nay {Arabic flute}, Arghul {Arabic pipe}, and many other ethnic instruments.
His Arabic percussion workshops appeal not only to percussionists but to dancers wanting to gain more of an insight in understanding the rhythms , his highly motivated enthusiastic approach and sensitive teaching skills have lead to great success in this area.
Tim toured extensively and recorded with Arabic singer Natacha Atlas for 5 years. Other artistes include Algerian singer Cheb Mami, composer David Arnold, Egyptian singer Hakim, the late great Iranian singer Vigen, Transglobal Underground, Iranian singer Jirar, and the successful early music group Joglaresa.

Sean Jones is a professional bagpipe maker who has been making and developing instruments for the past twenty years. The inspiration for his pipes comes from historical sources and an understanding in acoustics. He offers a range of bagpipes used round the world for dancing, modern music, session playing as well as early music. More info on Sean and his pipes can be found at : www.jonesinstruments.co.uk