Cutting Edge

Ancient yet Modern
Drone yet Melody
Scottish yet World

@ Southwell Methodist Church kicking off the Southwell Music Festival for me at 1pm. 

Aidan O’Rourke and Brighhde Chaimbeul

Middle track 1:30 in sums up their sound best to me; info on the ethos derivation and sound is well worth hearing too. I first came across multi award winning Aidan's as part of Lau at Southwell Folk Festival many years ago. Brighde is a rising star who has worked with many well known artists, including a member of the mercury music price nominated dark folk group Lankum, who I'll be seeing in Nottingham.

The Voice of Freedom - Minster Nave (& Crossing) 8pm
Spellbound by these choral works interspersed with poetry readings of Maya Angelou from the pulpit, and with a little subtle organ accompaniment with some incredibly deep bass sounds in places.
Works included Arvo Part, Thomas Tallis and James Macmillan.

A highlight was the use of the cathedral space and acoustics during Spring Song by Veljo Tormis. Women rear left of nave and in the crossing; men likewise on the right. At one point the crossing women emerged sideways singing facing the audience down the north aisle of the Nave (guess men did the same), then turned 180 degrees to sing facing the quire. The majority of the audience wouldn't have seen this.

Bumped into a woman I exchanged a few words with at the Folk concert earlier. Only later did I realise it was the BBC Radio 3 presenter Kate Molleson.

 
What a day!



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