Saturday 9 May 2015

Concerts

We are very sad to say that, due to unforeseen circumstances. our evening performance at Exeter Phoenix has been cancelled.  You can still come and hear us there at 4pm as part of our family series, Earworms.  Tickets will be available on the door at £4.50 (£3 child).

We will keep you posted with further dates for this programme as soon as we have them.

Friday 17 April 2015

Marenje

Our collaboration project with Chartwell Dutiro (Mbira)  and Denise Rowe (Dance/Mbira) is coming to an end - although it feels like it's just beginning. We have used a series of rehearsal days to devise a programme which we will be using in school's workshops and concerts coming up in the next few weeks.  Amanda Bayley (Bath Spa University) who brought this project together and is researching the process, has organised a showcase at Bath Spa on Wednesday 22nd April - tickets are free, do come along if you are in the area.  We'll be playing a short programme and this will be followed by a Q&A session - http://www.bathspalive.com/events/marenje-ensemble/1429722000/

On May 10th we perform a full length concert at Exeter Phoenix, 8pm.  Tickets now available.  http://www.exeterphoenix.org.uk/events/marenje/
For younger audiences - we will be playing at 4pm on that afternoon as part of our 'Earworms' series of concerts.  Ticket for this performance are from Exeter Northcott - 01392 493493.  More details on our Earworms blog - http://earwormsexeter.blogspot.co.uk/

The whole process has been a fascinating journey or us - we're realising just how different our musical backgrounds and educations are.  Having begun to put some pieces together - both english and African music, as well as working with the composer Daniel Linker on his new composition for us - we're hoping to be able to perform and tour this programme more widely.





Wednesday 18 February 2015

Meta-Mbira

We've been a bit quiet on the blog but working hard on our latest project.

Our string quartet are collaborating with Mbira player Chartwell Dutiro and dancer Denise Rowe, exploring music from our individual heritages and attempting to meet in the middle.  We're also working on a new piece by Bristol based composer Daniel Linker for quartet and mbira.
It's all part of a research project by Bath Spa University's Amanda Bayley and is being recorded by her and by film students from Bath Spa.
We have spent several days exploring the music and it's been a fascinating process.  Several performances are being planned and we will up date with these as soon as we have the information.
In the meantime, here are some photos which we hope will give a flavour of what we've been up to so far.