Hogarth’s famous engraving The Enraged Musician (above) depicts the tension between classical and folk, or street, music. However, these genres share many features including their distinctive sound-worlds and host of historical instruments and sets of practices. A further parallel can be drawn between the improvisatory nature of un-notated folk music and the practice of free embellishment in early music. More generally, classical composers have taken inspiration from folk music for centuries, with examples from Byrd to Vaughan Williams and beyond.
This newsletter looks at the fascinating intersection between two musical practices which lie worlds apart yet share so much and have greatly influenced each other. We explore traditions both familiar to this country, and from further afield - each with a strong identity and cultural heritage - through upcoming concerts, recent articles and new recordings.
GreenMatthews specialise in storytelling through song. Their performances explore sound-worlds created through a blend of ancient and modern folk instruments, with the intention of breathing new life into old music and creating performances which are relevant for modern audiences. This December they tour their new Christmas programme, Midwinter Revels, featuring Christmas carols, winter folk songs, toe-tapping tunes and a plethora of weird and wonderful instruments. Catch them in venues across the UK from 1 to 8 December.
Transporting us to Scotland, classical guitarist Sean Shibe and folk fiddler and composer Aidan O’Rourke join forces to explore where their two traditions meet and delve into ancient Scottish lute and fiddle manuscripts to find a shared language. This meeting of musical minds takes place at the York Early Music Christmas Festival on 9 December.
Another duo, Intesa, interweave the timeless traditions of early Baroque with Armenian folk music. The concert also includes compositions by singer and viola da gamba player, Lucine Musaelian, serving as a reflection on these two sound-worlds. Intesa was formed out of a passion for the sound of the viol and its combination with voice, as well as the overlap between early and folk music. Join them on 11 December in London for a unique evening.
Idrîsî Ensemble will perform Navidad Nuestra, in association with the Iberian and Latin American Music Society, in the historic Temple Church in London on 13 December. Specialists in repertoire from the Medieval period, Idrîsî Ensemble join forces with the Monteverde Consort and soloists Ana Beard Fernández (soprano), Julia Merino (mezzo soprano) and Jesús León (tenor) for this journey through a millennium of early Latin and Hispanic sacred Christmas musical treasures, alongside vibrant, festive songs from Spain and Latin America, interlacing Amerindian and Afro styles with the entrancing sounds of the Roman world.
Examining this world from a different perspective, Lux Musicae London trace the hidden origins of Flamenco on their forthcoming album, The Secrets of Andalusia, to be released on 24 January on First Hand Records. The album explores this rich tradition through its roots in Sephardic, Arabic and early Castilian music, interwoven with Flamenco itself. Our new playlist includes the three tracks already released.
Our December playlist - Heritage and Identity - surveys the intersection of folk and early music, taking us from the use of folk melodies in 16th century works by Byrd and Josquin des Prez, to arrangements by Beethoven and Haydn of Scottish, Irish and Welsh folksongs. It also features tracks from two albums by Irlandiani with music from 18th-century Dublin and arrangements played on folk and period instruments.
You can delve deeper into the relationship between folk and early music through the articles available on the Continuo Connect website. Discover the inspiration for work on Irish folk and Baroque traditions in this article by Irlandiani founder Carina Drury. You may also enjoy an article about Phantasia’s Albion’s Delight tour, which explored art and folk music from 18th-century Britain, alongside new music inspired by the landscapes of the south of England.
Head to Continuo Connect to read more about these fascinating projects fusing musical genres, or to explore the live music on offer near you.
Browse previous newsletters on the Continuo Connect Substack page.
‘The Secrets of Andalusia’ sounds like a wonderful upcoming album — what a marvellous concept — can’t wait!