The Medieval Manuscript the 'Chronicles of Mann and Sudreys' mentions various locations, including the Isle of Man, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and even places as far away as Norway and Brittany.
Russell Gilmour (trumpet) and David Kilgallon (organ) use melodies from these countries and they merge and fuse these ideas together with their own to create unique compositions for trumpet and organ. The idea behind their musical collaboration is to explore traditional music from these countries and to adapt the music, interpret it and explore it. Chronicles' musical format is slightly unusual in that it combines trumpet and organ - not the instruments you may initially associate with folk music - but it is an approach that has sparked a lot of interest.
Their limited edition EP "Prologue" is a sample of things to come, as the production of a full album is underway. The full album will be Chronicles' musical impression of the Isle of Man's influences and rich history - as documented in the Chronicles of Mann.
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Gorczycki - Completorium - National Forum of Music, Wrocław
%PM, %Europe/London %b %2015, %RI travelled to Wrocław in Poland to perform Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki's 'Completorium' in a concert of chamber music, played in the Red Hall (Sala Czerwona) at the National Forum of Music (Narodowe Forum Muzyki). The concert was given on the 18th of November 2015 and it marked the 50th Anniversary of a message being sent from Polish Bishops to German Bishops after World War 2.
'Chamber concert on the 50th anniversary of a message being sent from Polish bishops to German bishops' - Koncert kameralny z okazji 50. rocznicy wystosowania Orędzia biskupów polskich do biskupów niemieckich.
The initiator and author of the letter was Bolesław Kominek, Archbishop of Wrocław and so it was significant that this anniversary should be marked in Wrocław. The concert was full of international dignitaries and announcements were made in Polish and in translation.
The programme - naturally - represented music from Germany and music from Poland. Pisendel had famously been the leader of the Court Orchestra in Dresden. The next piece was a lute suite by Silvius Leopold Weiss (Sylvius Leopold Weiss). This was something of a link as Weiss served at courts in Breslau (Wrocław), Rome and Dresden in the early 18th century. The concert concluded with music by the Silesian composer: Gorczycki. One of his finest works, the 'Completorium', brought singers and natural trumpet players to the stage to conclude this anniversary concert.
Johann George Pisendel (1687 - 1755)
Sonata in E minor for Violin and Basso Continuo
Silvius Leopold Weiss (1687 - 1750)
Suite in D major for solo lute - performed by Anton Birula
Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki (c.1665 - 1734)
Completorium
This photograph was taken during the concert by the NFM's official photographer and archivist, Bogusław Beszłej. Used with permission.
Wrocław Baroque Ensemble - Photograph © Bogusław Beszłej - National Forum of Music Archive
Wrocław Baroque Ensemble
Andrzej Kosendiak - Director
Aldonna Bartnik - Soprano
Piotr Łykowski - Countertenor
Maciej Gocman - Tenor
Jerzy Butryn - Bass
Zbigniew Pilch - Violin I
Mikołaj Zgółka - Violin II
Julia Karpeta - Viola da Gamba
Janusz Musiał - Violone
Anton Birula - Lute / Theorbo
Marta Niedźwiecka - Organ
Russell Gilmour - Trumpet I (Clarino I)
William Russell - Trumpet II (Clarino II)
The following photographs were taken in rehearsal by Russell Gilmour © 2015.
Aldonna Bartnik - Soprano
Piotr Łykowski - Countertenor
Maciej Gocman - Tenor
Jerzy Butryn - Bass
Zbigniew Pilch - Violin I
Mikołaj Zgółka - Violin II
Julia Karpeta - Viola da Gamba
Janusz Musiał - Violone
Anton Birula - Lute / Theorbo
Marta Niedźwiecka - Organ
Russell Gilmour - Trumpet I (Clarino I)
William Russell - Trumpet II (Clarino II)
The following photographs were taken in rehearsal by Russell Gilmour © 2015.