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playing music and song popular in England from medieval times to the 17th century.
Their repertoire includes medieval and troubadour music from all over Europe; music and song from the Tudor and Stuart courts; country dance tunes from Playford; theatre music from Restoration England; traditional music and song and their own period style compositions.
Mock Hobby Horse are well known as wandering minstrels or strolling players, providing entertainment and atmosphere at historical events.
Mock Hobby Horse are:
| Howard Frey | Mandolin, guitar, percussion, voice. |
| Julia Thomas | Leicestershire smallpipes, English concertina, recorder, whistle, voice. |
| Meg Compton | Voice, bowed psaltery, percussion. |
Howard Frey and Julia Thomas have played music together almost as long as they have lived together in Totnes, Devon. They have played in country dance bands and were founding members of Sambaloco. Howard is currently studying middle eastern percussion which is spicing up the sound of some of the medieval music, and Julia's Open University degree in arts with a diploma in music has equipped her well to arrange and write music for Mock Hobby Horse. They established Mock Hobby Horse in 1995, naming the band after a tune in Playford's English Dancing Master.
Meg Compton joined in 1998, enhancing the group with her voice and singing expertise. Meg is also a voice teacher specialising in rounds and vocal harmonies for inexpereienced singers wanting to gain confidence and enjoy singining in a group.
In 2005 Mock Hobby Horse welcomed Simon Cassell (Percussion, saz and voice) and Nick Millington (bouzouki) into our medieval band.
Mike Edwards (bass viol and cello) enriched our tudor music in 2004, and continues to join us for some events.
Mock Hobby Horse is now available as a 4 or 5 piece band to play for medieval style dances, plus a medieval dance expert to teach the dances.
Compagnie Giulia
Compagnie Giulia breathe new life into medieval music with their exciting instrumental sound and evocative singing. Their concerts, full of contrast and interest, include an opportunity to experience medieval dancing.Their repertoire of dance music and song derives from all over medieval Europe,with newly composed material to medieval texts by Julia Thomas.
Their debut as a 6 piece band in April 2006 was a sell out and warmly received.
"I've never enjoyed a concert more," "I loved the dancing".
"I didn't know medieval music could be so captivating".
Compagnie Giulia are:
| Simon Cassell | Saz, percussion, voice |
| Meg Compton | Voice, bowed psaltery |
| Mike Edwards | Bass viol |
| Howard Frey | Mandolin, percussion |
| Nick Millington | Bouzouki |
| Julia Thomas | Bagpipe, concertina, voice. |
Compagnie Giulia Sample tracks
| Compagnie Giulia cd £12 + £1 p&p |
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Branle Commun (1.8 mb) |
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Cuncti Simus (2.8 mb) |
