Silver Tongues

Medieval music to celebrate Gothic Voices’ 25th anniversary

To celebrate its 25th anniversary Gothic Voices presents Silver Tongues, a compendium of medieval music from the 12th to the 15th century, containing some of the group’s favourite works.

One brief concert can scarcely provide more than a tantalizing glance over the abundant variety of passions, textures and timbres of the music of the Middle Ages, but introductions by the singers help to set the pieces in their context and to give some insight into the mind of a medieval composer.

Discover the delights and pangs of courtly love, the timeless spirituality of plainchant, the tumult of war or the ecstasy of religious devotion, all distilled in these miniature masterpieces from England, Germany, Italy and France. Hear works by celebrated medieval figures such as Hildegard of Bingen, Guillaume de Machaut and John Dunstaple.

Above all, come and share in the pleasures of a medieval sound-picture created by the Silver Tongues of Gothic Voices – at once familiar and yet set apart – something rich and strange.

You can listen to the following pieces from this programme:

• Gaude Maria virgo       
• The Agincourt Carol - Deo gracias Anglia       

The Medieval Magic Carpet

A musical flight-of-fancy hosted by Brother Giraldus (for three or four singers and an actor)

To celebrate 25 years of Gothic Voices we present a programme that draws together the very best of the repertoire and our own personal favourites. The Medieval Magic Carpet transports our audience from Hildegard's Abbey in 12th-century Bingen to the turbulence of the Crusades, from the devotions of pilgrims on their way to Compostela to the love songs of the troubadours. Through music we paint a picture of medieval life in all its vigour and variety.

To guide and entertain us along the way we have created our own medieval tour guide – Brother Giraldus. In his isolated monastery in the Welsh borders he dreams of distant lands and other times. When a returning crusader leaves the magic carpet in his care, Giraldus wastes no time in setting out to explore the world. In the course of the monastic day, from Matins in the early hours of the morning to Compline last thing at night, Brother Giraldus (not perhaps the most devout member of his order!) absents himself from the daily worship and instead rides the magic carpet to a series of very different destinations. His thumbnail sketches of each time and place – along with a touch of local gossip – introduce and link the music in this unusual and enchanted journey.

Composers featured in the programme include Hildegard of Bingen, Martim Codax, Guillaume de Machaut, John Dunstaple and, of course, that prolific medieval master – Anonymous.

You can listen to the following piece from this programme:

• O Jerusalem