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.
Solomon's Knot Messiah - St. John's Smith Square
%PM, %Europe/London %b %2014, %RI played first trumpet in a performance of Handel's Messiah at St. John's Smith Square on Friday 5th of December 2014. The performance, given by Solomon's Knot was a refreshingly vibrant performance of this well-known work. The eight singers performed the entire piece from memory, which somehow gave the impression that the music was being spontaneously composed. The movements flowed seamlessly into each other, giving a wonderful theatrical effect. Each of the two singers per part had been assigned arias to learn, and the choruses were performed by the same eight singers. They did an excellent job with the memorisation, with no memory slips at all in the performance. Being 'off-copy' gave them the freedom to move around and gesture.
I played 'The Trumpet Shall Sound' which is always a great honour. The words 'at the last trumpet' always remind me of Frank Tomes, the instrument make who made my natural trumpet. I have the pleasure of owning the 'last trumpet' he ever made, so I always get a shiver down my spine when I hear those words in situ, towards the end of this monumental oratorio.
The stage in St. John's Smith Square had been arranged to be side on to the usual formation, with chairs laid out in semi-circular rows. The audience were extremely appreciative, giving us a standing ovation. It was a great concert to be a part of!
Concert, Handel, The Section, TrumpetI played 'The Trumpet Shall Sound' which is always a great honour. The words 'at the last trumpet' always remind me of Frank Tomes, the instrument make who made my natural trumpet. I have the pleasure of owning the 'last trumpet' he ever made, so I always get a shiver down my spine when I hear those words in situ, towards the end of this monumental oratorio.
The stage in St. John's Smith Square had been arranged to be side on to the usual formation, with chairs laid out in semi-circular rows. The audience were extremely appreciative, giving us a standing ovation. It was a great concert to be a part of!