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 - Easter Oratorio - Liturnia - St Clement Danes, London
%PM, %Europe/London %b %2025, %RI played first trumpet in Bach’s Easter Oratorio (BWV 249) at St Clement Danes Church in London on Thursday 27 March 2025 with the ensemble Liturnia, directed by Joel Sanderson. The programme also featured Bach’s cantata Ihr werdet weinen und heulen (BWV 103) in which the trumpet aria, Erholet euch, betrübte Stimmen, was played by Nick Walker (who has performed it with this group on a previous occasion); he did an excellent job. The concise and energetic ensemble featured 15 instrumentalists (led by violinist, Gabi Jones, who also played a brilliant obbligato aria) and 4 singers, namely Ana Beard Fernandez (soprano), Rebecca Leggett (alto), Gwilym Bowen (tenor) and Gareth John (bass). Special mention must be made of Robert de Bree’s outrageously good oboe obbligati in the Easter Oratorio. There were also virtuoso recorder contributions from Iain Hall (with Robert de Bree when a second was required) in both works. This was a very successful and enjoyable concert! I’m looking forward to delving once again into the Easter Oratorio, on an upcoming tour with Christophe Rousset and Les Talens Lyriques.
Bach, London, Natural Trumpet
