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 - La Resurrezione - The English Concert - Sage Gateshead
%AM, %Europe/London %b %2021, %RAfter last month’s abridged video recording (for television broadcast), The English Concert made an unabridged audio recording of Handel’s ‘La Resurrezione’ [HWV 47] at the Sage Gateshead. The orchestra and vocal soloists were conducted by Harry Bicket.
In light of the improving pandemic situation, musicians were able to travel to the UK to play in the project (having followed the restrictions and quarantine etc.). It was wonderful to see colleagues from near and far (well... far, considering the ongoing social distancing!). I played second trumpet under Mark Bennett, who had travelled from Norway, who I had not met before. La Resurrezione has no timpani part, but a trombone part had been specially prepared for this recording (played by Adrian France); apparently the research had indicated that a trombone had been used in one of Handel’s performances.
It was great to play at the Sage, and I even (metaphorically) bumped into an old friend from the Royal Northern College of Music who lives nearby. It’s remarkable that we recognised each other after almost a decade, from two metres away, and while partially disguised by a face mask.
It was fantastic to work with The English Concert again after such a short time. The group makes a fantastic sound, which was enhanced by the splendid acoustic of the Sage.
Handel, Natural Trumpet, Tour, TravelIn light of the improving pandemic situation, musicians were able to travel to the UK to play in the project (having followed the restrictions and quarantine etc.). It was wonderful to see colleagues from near and far (well... far, considering the ongoing social distancing!). I played second trumpet under Mark Bennett, who had travelled from Norway, who I had not met before. La Resurrezione has no timpani part, but a trombone part had been specially prepared for this recording (played by Adrian France); apparently the research had indicated that a trombone had been used in one of Handel’s performances.
After so much time spent in lockdown, with orders to ‘stay local’ for so much of the past year, I took the opportunity to see the coast before the session on Tuesday. I was running a few hours early, so I took a diversion via Souter Lighthouse and Sandhaven Beach, in South Shields (south of the River Tyne’s estuary). I took a walk on the sandy beach and paddled therapeutically in the North Sea before our first session on Tuesday 20st April 2021. Our remaining tutti was recorded in the first session on Wednesday 21st April 2021. We stayed near the Tyne Bridge, which was magnificently illuminated by night.
It was great to play at the Sage, and I even (metaphorically) bumped into an old friend from the Royal Northern College of Music who lives nearby. It’s remarkable that we recognised each other after almost a decade, from two metres away, and while partially disguised by a face mask.
It was fantastic to work with The English Concert again after such a short time. The group makes a fantastic sound, which was enhanced by the splendid acoustic of the Sage.