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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writing on music, photography, travel and life as a freelance professional musician.
Handel - Messiah - Canterbury Cathedral
%PM, %Europe/London %b %2023, %RI played first trumpet in a sold out performance of Handel’s Messiah in the quire of Canterbury Cathedral on Saturday 2nd December 2023. It was, as the advertisements for the performance promised, ‘an intimate presentation of some of Handel’s most enduring music’.
I played first trumpet, with Will Russell (2nd trumpet), and Ben Fullbrook (timpani) in the section. The concert, part of the Canterbury Festival, featured the very excellent girl choristers and lay clerks of Canterbury Cathedral, and was conducted by Dr David Newsholme (Director of Music). The fantastic soloists included Rebecca Hardwick (soprano), Alex Simpson (alto) and Nick Mulroy (tenor), and I performed ‘The Trumpet Shall Sound’ with an excellent bass soloist, Simon Thorpe.
It took place during a very cold spell—outside conditions were -2ºC for most of the day, dropping to -3ºC by the end of the performance. I was glad (for once) to be wearing tails, as they were nice and warm, and I was even wearing a pair of silver cufflinks that I made myself just a few days ago!
Handel, Natural Trumpet, The SectionI played first trumpet, with Will Russell (2nd trumpet), and Ben Fullbrook (timpani) in the section. The concert, part of the Canterbury Festival, featured the very excellent girl choristers and lay clerks of Canterbury Cathedral, and was conducted by Dr David Newsholme (Director of Music). The fantastic soloists included Rebecca Hardwick (soprano), Alex Simpson (alto) and Nick Mulroy (tenor), and I performed ‘The Trumpet Shall Sound’ with an excellent bass soloist, Simon Thorpe.
It took place during a very cold spell—outside conditions were -2ºC for most of the day, dropping to -3ºC by the end of the performance. I was glad (for once) to be wearing tails, as they were nice and warm, and I was even wearing a pair of silver cufflinks that I made myself just a few days ago!
