CANTY
a medieval christmas
KMC 4
FRIDAY 04 DECEMBER
7.30PM
KILMARDINNY HOUSE
A MEDIEVAL CHRISTMAS
Celebrating Advent and Christmas with a variety of music from our distant past including some of Scotland’s earliest polyphony from the St Andrews Music Book, plainchant from the pen of the visionary St Hildegard of Bingen, jaunty English Medieval Carols, meditative Gregorian Chant for Advent and Christmas, an exploration of the harmonious interface between traditional tunes and Medieval music, and lashings of lovely seasonal stuff from long ago brought into the present by the three core members of Cappella Nova’s offshoot ensemble, Canty. There’ll be melodies you know and love alongside discoveries we hope you’ll enjoy – from wassailing in Wales to cloistered contemplation. Be ready for a spot of audience participation!
CANTY TRIO
Rebecca Tavener (soprano)
Anne Lewis (alto)
William Taylor (medieval harps)
Canty, Scotland’s only professional Medieval music group, was formed by Rebecca Tavener in 1998, the 900th anniversary of the birth of Hildegard of Bingen, and it comprises the regular female singers with Cappella Nova, Scotland’s leading early music vocal ensemble. As individuals, the singers bring to the group a wealth of experience, both as soloists and as members of other distinguished ensembles. Together with regular collaborator, harpist William Taylor, they explore a unique repertoire combining Medieval music and contemporary works written specially for them, along with ongoing research and experimentation in performance practice for Medieval music from Celtic homelands. Canty has nurtured close relationships with a number of leading musicologists specialising in medieval sacred music and, as a result, enjoys access to a considerable amount of rare or unique material.
Canty’s debut CD, Wings of Wisdom, features chant by Hildegard von Bingen and from medieval Scotland and was released on the Dorian label. Flame of Ireland (Sanctuary Gaudeamus), their second recording, features world premiere recordings of 15thc Irish chant for St Brigit of Kildare. Their third disc, Felix Femina – medieval Scottish polyphony (Sanctuary Gaudeamus) was described by Andrew McGregor as having a ‘transcendental quality that absolutely suits the music’ (CD Review, BBC Radio 3). A fourth CD, Apostle of Ireland, featuring Medieval Irish chant for St Patrick, has just been released on the Divine Art label. Carmina Celtica, released by Linn Records in 2010, combines medieval repertoire with new works written specially for the group including pieces by James MacMillan and Sir John Tavener.
Canty has appeared in many distinguished festivals and venues at home and abroad, including the Edinburgh Festival, Galway Early Music Festival, Spitalfields Festival, Edinburgh International Harp Festival, the International Celtic Congress (Bonn) and the National Centre for Early Music in York. Future projects include collaborations with visual artist, Maria Rud, in her ground-breaking Art AniMotion events wherein she paints in real-time, inspired by the music, and her work is projected to the audience.
‘Intoxicating and truly spiritual’’ Jersey Evening Post
‘The singing is gorgeous’ American Record Guide
‘Voices that angels might envy’ Green Man Review
‘Voices carrying clearly through the stonework like messengers
from another age’ The Herald
“In a word: Blissful!” Journal of Music in Ireland
FRIDAY 04 DECEMBER
7.30PM
KILMARDINNY HOUSE
A MEDIEVAL CHRISTMAS
Celebrating Advent and Christmas with a variety of music from our distant past including some of Scotland’s earliest polyphony from the St Andrews Music Book, plainchant from the pen of the visionary St Hildegard of Bingen, jaunty English Medieval Carols, meditative Gregorian Chant for Advent and Christmas, an exploration of the harmonious interface between traditional tunes and Medieval music, and lashings of lovely seasonal stuff from long ago brought into the present by the three core members of Cappella Nova’s offshoot ensemble, Canty. There’ll be melodies you know and love alongside discoveries we hope you’ll enjoy – from wassailing in Wales to cloistered contemplation. Be ready for a spot of audience participation!
CANTY TRIO
Rebecca Tavener (soprano)
Anne Lewis (alto)
William Taylor (medieval harps)
Canty, Scotland’s only professional Medieval music group, was formed by Rebecca Tavener in 1998, the 900th anniversary of the birth of Hildegard of Bingen, and it comprises the regular female singers with Cappella Nova, Scotland’s leading early music vocal ensemble. As individuals, the singers bring to the group a wealth of experience, both as soloists and as members of other distinguished ensembles. Together with regular collaborator, harpist William Taylor, they explore a unique repertoire combining Medieval music and contemporary works written specially for them, along with ongoing research and experimentation in performance practice for Medieval music from Celtic homelands. Canty has nurtured close relationships with a number of leading musicologists specialising in medieval sacred music and, as a result, enjoys access to a considerable amount of rare or unique material.
Canty’s debut CD, Wings of Wisdom, features chant by Hildegard von Bingen and from medieval Scotland and was released on the Dorian label. Flame of Ireland (Sanctuary Gaudeamus), their second recording, features world premiere recordings of 15thc Irish chant for St Brigit of Kildare. Their third disc, Felix Femina – medieval Scottish polyphony (Sanctuary Gaudeamus) was described by Andrew McGregor as having a ‘transcendental quality that absolutely suits the music’ (CD Review, BBC Radio 3). A fourth CD, Apostle of Ireland, featuring Medieval Irish chant for St Patrick, has just been released on the Divine Art label. Carmina Celtica, released by Linn Records in 2010, combines medieval repertoire with new works written specially for the group including pieces by James MacMillan and Sir John Tavener.
Canty has appeared in many distinguished festivals and venues at home and abroad, including the Edinburgh Festival, Galway Early Music Festival, Spitalfields Festival, Edinburgh International Harp Festival, the International Celtic Congress (Bonn) and the National Centre for Early Music in York. Future projects include collaborations with visual artist, Maria Rud, in her ground-breaking Art AniMotion events wherein she paints in real-time, inspired by the music, and her work is projected to the audience.
‘Intoxicating and truly spiritual’’ Jersey Evening Post
‘The singing is gorgeous’ American Record Guide
‘Voices that angels might envy’ Green Man Review
‘Voices carrying clearly through the stonework like messengers
from another age’ The Herald
“In a word: Blissful!” Journal of Music in Ireland