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 - Jephtha - Les Talens Lyriques - Oslo Cathedral
%PM, %Europe/London %b %2024, %RI played first trumpet in Handel’s Jephtha [HWV 70] on Sunday 17 March 2024 in Oslo Cathedral, with Christophe Rousset and Les Talens Lyriques.
The performance featured the singers: Jeremy Ovenden (Jephtha), Deborah Cachet (Iphis), Sophie Harmsen (Storgé), Edwin Crossley-Mercer (Zebul), Tim Mead (Hamor), Lian Wei (Angel) and the Chœur de Chambre de Namur. This performance was the last concert in the Oslo Internasjonale Kirkemusikkfestival (Oslo International Church Music Festival), and it received a fantastic standing ovation. The festival looked after us fantastically; they, along with the French and Belgian embassies, organised a convivial reception for us after the concert.
This was my first visit to Norway, and it was brilliant to explore this crisp and wintry capital city. I enjoyed the viewpoint on the icy roof of the opera house before exploring the grounds of the Skarpenords kruttårn, a fort with fine views over the harbour. I wandered down to the waterfront next, where a few people were swimming in the pristine water. After watching the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace, I wandered back to the hotel along Karl Johans Gate (street), taking in the various university, theatre and Parliament buildings on the way.
I look forward to revisiting Handel’s Jephtha in Halle and Namur later this year, and I will be rejoining Les Talens Lyriques for several weeks in Vienna, starting in just a few days time! In other news, my natural trumpet book is nearing completion, so watch this space!
Handel, Les Talens Lyriques, Natural Trumpet, Touring
The performance featured the singers: Jeremy Ovenden (Jephtha), Deborah Cachet (Iphis), Sophie Harmsen (Storgé), Edwin Crossley-Mercer (Zebul), Tim Mead (Hamor), Lian Wei (Angel) and the Chœur de Chambre de Namur. This performance was the last concert in the Oslo Internasjonale Kirkemusikkfestival (Oslo International Church Music Festival), and it received a fantastic standing ovation. The festival looked after us fantastically; they, along with the French and Belgian embassies, organised a convivial reception for us after the concert.
This was my first visit to Norway, and it was brilliant to explore this crisp and wintry capital city. I enjoyed the viewpoint on the icy roof of the opera house before exploring the grounds of the Skarpenords kruttårn, a fort with fine views over the harbour. I wandered down to the waterfront next, where a few people were swimming in the pristine water. After watching the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace, I wandered back to the hotel along Karl Johans Gate (street), taking in the various university, theatre and Parliament buildings on the way.
I look forward to revisiting Handel’s Jephtha in Halle and Namur later this year, and I will be rejoining Les Talens Lyriques for several weeks in Vienna, starting in just a few days time! In other news, my natural trumpet book is nearing completion, so watch this space!