Goethe-Zentrum to Host German Band ‘The Playfords’ in Tvm, Kochi

KOCHI:
Goethe-Zentrum will host German band ‘The Playfords’ in Kochi on 27 February at the Chavara Cultural Centre at Monastery Road at 7 pm.

Hailing from Weimar, home town of German literary legend Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, ‘The Playfords’ will play early German songs and dance music from the 17th to 19th Century to accompaniment of traditional instruments like the viola da gamba, lute, recorders and percussion.

Björn Werner (vocals), Annegret Fischer (recorders), Erik Warkenthin (lute), Benjamin Dressler (viola da gamba), Nora Thiele (percussion) form the five-member band, known for their improvisatory, danceable style and their unique creative arrangements.

Formed in 2001, ‘The Playfords’ is influenced by the music, literature, and ethos of 16th and 17th centuries, and encompasses in their concert early music, folk, jazz, world music, poetry, and dance.

Inspired by “The English Dancing Master” by John and Henry Playford first published in 1651 which had well-known melodies with matching dance instructions and improvisations made on harmonies, bass lines, and variations, ‘The Playfords, embraces a playful approach in their performances, engaging the audience.

In their 24 years of existence, ‘The Playfords’ have performed at European festivals such as Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht (Fringe) in the Netherlands, at famous concert halls like the Gewandhaus Leipzig and the Berliner Philharmonie in Germany, and were invited by the Goethe-Institut to Belarus.

In 2015, they represented the German state of Thuringia at the EXPO in Milan, Italy. So far, seven of their concert programmes have been released on CD by Coviello Classics, Raumklang, and SONY/DHM.