Bab L’ Bluz announce new album
Come, enter the world of Swaken, the much anticipated second album by Bab L' Bluz.
Wed, 14 February 24
Jane Harbour of Spiro and the BBC Concert Orchestra
BBC Concert Orchestra will premiere a new BBC Radio 3 commission by Jane Harbour at Cecil Sharp House on Friday 31 March in a special concert to mark the BBC's longstanding relationship with the English Folk Dance and Song Society.
The BBC Concert Orchestra presents an evening that places some of the great folk-influenced works of the 20th Century alongside a brand new commission from Jane Harbour, violinist and composer with renowned acoustic instrumental group Spiro.
Jane’s commission, Kynde, is a piece about connection; about connections to one another, ourselves, lost loved ones, ancestors, folklore, and how we connect ideas to find new meaning in old stories. Performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra and BBC Singers, and conducted by Martin Yates, it continues the personal journey of the notorious folk figure Barbara Allen, who spurned her dying admirer, but now has to confront her feelings.
With influences including minimalist classical music and electronica, Jane Harbour uses systems music to convey Barbara’s confused, fractured thoughts and her longing for re-connection and clarity.
Throughout the piece, Barbara’s internal world, represented by the live singers, vies with the overt narrative, told by recordings of traditional singers from the Peter Kennedy archive. The source material for his 1950s BBC Radio show As I Roved Out, his recordings form the springboard for this piece.
The programme will also include live performances by Spiro and piano soloist Victor Sangiorgio.
Listen to the concert of BBC Radio 3 from 7.30pm on 31 March.
-
England
Bands often claim to be unique, but Spiro really do defy easy categorisation. They are an acoustic instrumental quartet, playing violin, mandolin, accordion and guitar (which is occasionally replaced by cello), and though they do make use of traditional themes, they are most certainly not a folk band.
Further reading
Jasdeep Singh Degun makes history at Royal Philharmonic Society Awards
The Leeds-based musician was the first sitar player to receive the 'Best Instrumentalist' award.
Fri, 08 March 24
Sheila Chandra: The pursuit of radical vocal expression
Sheila's trilogy of albums for Real World is being re-issued on CD, and on vinyl for the first time.
Fri, 28 April 23
Track of the day: ‘IWAIWA FUNK’ by Bab L’ Bluz
French-Moroccan power quartet Bab L' Bluz, release the third track from their album Swaken.
Fri, 05 April 24