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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Bach - Christmas Oratorio - Oxford Bach Soloists - University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford
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I played third trumpet in Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248) at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford, on Saturday 3 January 2026. The performance, featuring cantatas I, II, and VI of the Christmas Oratorio, was given by Oxford Bach Soloists and conducted by Steven Grahl. The soloists were Mariana Rodrigues (soprano), Stephanie Franklin (alto), Nicholas Mulroy (tenor), and Ben Davies (bass). Last year I performed the Christmas Oratorio with Oxford Bach Soloists at SJE Arts in Oxford and St James Piccadilly in London.
After a busy December on tour with Vox Luminis and spending time with my family over Christmas, it all caught up with me and I was inevitably ill in the final week of December. Like Oxford Bach Soloists’ performance of the Christmas Oratorio—this happens every year! Fortunately I was much better by the time of this performance, but still a little under my usual lung capacity.
Still, onwards and upwards! It was great to be back performing so early in 2026—happy new year!