A harpsichord in the spare room isn't the only indication that Rod Alston is not your average Leitrim farmer. As he talks about the Sligo Early Music Ensemble, which he founded 10 years ago, he proceeds with his bread-making, casually announcing that he hasn't bought bread in 25 years.
Rod's traditional farmhouse in Rossinver, where he runs a successful organic herb garden business, will be the venue for rehearsals over the coming weeks as the ensemble meets again after the summer break.
Plans for the fourth annual Festival of Early Music, to take place in Sligo from October 22nd to 25th, are now well advanced. Anybody who appreciates a combination of Baroque music and good food should consider making a note of it in their diary. The festival prides itself on providing quality food.
Rod, who has played the harpsichord since his student days in Cambridge, says his initial motivation in setting up the ensemble was his love of playing music with other people. "The fun in making music is mainly in making it with others," he says. He laments the fact that so many children now just learn the piano, which means that most of them only ever play alone.
After one failed attempt to find enough people in the area who shared his love of pre-classical music, the ensemble eventually started with seven members. There are now some 13 musicians involved who play violins, violas, cellos, double bass, flute and bassoon.
The group has undoubtedly added to the cultural life of Sligo and has also provided an opportunity for younger musicians to develop their talents, although members must be able to play to a high standard before joining. They like to play in surroundings which suit the music and have performed at a wide range of functions in such venues as Markree Castle in Sligo, Donegal Castle and King House in Boyle. The idea is to re-create the sound as far as possible as it would have been heard when first played.
Rod believes music should be a part of everyday life and would like to keep alive the tradition of musicians gathering to play in private homes. The kind of music the ensemble plays would have been performed in this way in the grand homes of the day. One of the attractions of early music for Rod is the element of improvisation involved in its playing. Depending on the player's ability, he or she can aim for a very ambitious rendition or stick to something more basic. "Only about half of the music is on paper, the rest you are expected to improvise, so in a way it is much more fun than later music." As a gesture to those who like later music, the ensemble also performs Mozart.
Despite an initial lack of funding, the Festival of Early Music is now well established and attracts internationally renowned musicians. It now receives a grant of £10,000 from the Arts Council - a significant increase from the £500 it got in the first year - but the ensemble itself does not receive any funding. This year's festival will include an opening concert by Christ Church Baroque directed by Therese Timoney; harpsichordists Malcolm Proud and Laurence Cummins; a programme of Teleman performed by Ensemble Arion, recently formed in Dublin; violinist Maya Homburger in a programme of Biber's rosary sonatas; Dutch recorder player Marjolijn van Roon with Ensemble Mirac; tenor John Elwes with harpist Siobhan Armstrong and cellist Sarah Cunningham.
This year concerts will take place in Calry Church, opposite the usual venue, the Model Arts Centre, currently closed for renovations. Workshops and master classes will be held in the Grammar School, and buffets will be served with all lunchtime and evening concerts.
"The food is quite an important part of it. It gives a completeness to the concerts and means that all the performers are available for a chat afterwards."