Superstrings

A new work was composed by Pete Flood of Bellowhead and was inspired by the life and work of Alfred Williams, a collector of the folk songs of Wiltshire and ‘hammerman’ in the workshops of Great Western Railways in Swindon. Courageous and determined, his life story embodies the values of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Superstrings Folk Project took the form of 'A Folk Suite' and allowed young musicians from around Wiltshire to play alongside one of the top folk bands in the country. The piece also incorporated traditional songs and tunes from the county helping to rejuvenate traditional music and develop knowledge of Wiltshire heritage and culture.

Workshops, with outstanding folk duos, took place at venues around Wiltshire, mainly in Super String Clubs, Salisbury and Swindon. They commenced in September 2011 and continued through to March 2013. During this time young string players learned to play by ear, learned more about their local heritage and culture through the music and songs being researched for the new piece, helping to broaden children’s musical horizons by opening up new musical worlds to them. The musicians strove to instil a greater sense of self esteem and confidence in the young string players, enabling them to achieve excellence and a performance that they will never forget.

Watch this video to find out more about this exciting project.