Ian Pittaway
medieval and renaissance music performed on . . .
gittern, citole, harp, symphonie, koboz, bray harp, lute, cittern, renaissance guitar, mandore, voice
Click the blue text above to see and hear a performance on the individual instrument.
Ian’s YouTube page with more videos is here.
Ian is also available in the early music duo, The Night Watch. For The Night Watch, click here.
Ian’s 45+ years of performance experience includes appearances on TV (music for period drama) and radio, in arts centres, folk festivals, early music festivals, folk clubs, private events and celebrations, and weddings.
“Ian’s instrumental virtuosity can’t be faulted, masterful on anything he turns his frets to.” English Dance & Song magazine
“beautiful set … a brilliant performance enthusiastically presented by a master musician to an appreciative and attentive audience that, quite simply, loved it. Wonderful.” Folk at the Fold
“superb … arrangements are breathtaking … and a very fine singing voice … Ian’s performances are both compelling and informing. A virtuoso.” Alcester Folk Festival
“a strong and fluid style, always in support of the songs, though when he wants to show off his picking prowess, he can … Ian always gives fascinating origins of the songs. His easy-going manner engages the audience; and the night was an object lesson in talking about the songs in an entertaining way – as well as some fine singing and playing.” Warwick Folk Club
“splendid performance … a joy and delight … he had us all spell-bound.” Food & Folk
Performance and workshops
Multi-instrumental performance of medieval music, renaissance music, or a mix of the two, on period instruments and in period clothes if required. Enquire using the email at the bottom of the page.
Ian delivers participatory early music workshops for adults or children, created and delivered to order or chosen from past workshops on the following subjects:
• early music for beginners
• medieval music for folk musicians
• From Monophony to Polyphony: arranging medieval music
• Love, Loneliness and Peasant Punch-ups: the history and music of the troubadours
• bryd one brere: constructing the missing voice
• Mirie it is: decoding the earliest surviving secular song in English
• renaissance music for folk musicians
• renaissance dance for musicians and dancers
Weddings and celebrations
Ian can offer the complete package of wedding music, with medieval and/or renaissance music for the pre-ceremony gathering, the ceremony itself including the bride’s entrance and signing of the register, and background music for the wedding breakfast. Performance can be on gittern, citole, harp, lute and/or renaissance guitar, in period clothes or in a modern suit.
Fees and enquiries
Every event is different: fees depend on preparation time, travel, and the length of performance. To enquire, please use the form below.