Joining a line-up of internationally acclaimed soloists, chamber groups and orchestras at this year's Ryedale Festival will be the Aedelfrith Brass Quintet.
Celtic & Nordic cultures
The ensemble features five of London's busy young professional brass players and focuses on the exploration of connections between Anglo, Celtic and Nordic cultures.
Formed when the five players met and graduated from the Royal Academy of Music, it is led by Welsh Guards principal cornet trumpeter Nick Walkley, who is joined by Darren Moore (trumpet), Alex Hamilton (horn), Matthew Lewis (trombone) and Ross Knight (tuba).
New works
The group will feature a number of brand new works, from the pens of the festival's featured composer Michael Berkeley, with his 'Champagne Fanfare' and an intriguing work by Nick Walkley himself called 'JórvÃkekkoer', a theatrical piece featuring two Scandinavian Lurs to evoke the sound of the Danes in JórvÃk — now modern day Yorkshire!
Self made
Nick told 4BR that he had to make the Nordic Lurs (above); a long bending, natural blowing horn without finger holes himself. "This has been a long an interesting project, but was absolutely necessary since we are a brass group that explores ancient Nordic themes.
Dating from the Bronze Age, Lurs were one of the earliest forms of brass instrument as we know them now, though you won't find one in any music shop!
It's fitting that we can include them in our music and especially in a place to where they have a specific connection."
Dating from the Bronze Age, Lurs were one of the earliest forms of brass instrument as we know them now, though you won't find one in any music shop! Nick Walkley
Dobson and Gade
In addition Simon Dobson has reworked his SIDDIS award winning 'Joan's vision of St Michael' written for the Stavanger Band from his suite 'Sainthood: Difficult but not impossible' and will be premiered in a new chamber music format, whilst there is also a new arrangement of Jacob Gade's 'Jalousie', a popular Danish tango that has been reworked especially for the group by Ian Shepherd.
Where and when
The group can be heard at the Joan of Arc hall, Botton on 24th July.
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