Synopsis
Ruth Wall – Renaissance bray harp, Gaelic wire harp (clàrsach), Scottish lever harp.
Graham Fitkin – electronics.
Composer Graham Fitkin and harpist Ruth Wall follow threads of migration, loss and longing in their new show, inspired by the stories of the Highland Clearances. Ruth Wall’s explorations into Gaelic song, fiddle and pipe tunes of the Scottish Highlands where she grew up, are at the heart of this show. Composer Graham Fitkin has created enigmatic and mesmerising versions of these tunes for Ruth’s three harps - the sitar-like Renaissance bray harp, the beautiful medieval Gaelic wire harp (clàrsach) and the Scottish lever harp.
“…folk lilt often haunting, lamenting… .conjuring wind and air, raw and elemental.” The Guardian live review ★ ★ ★ ★
The movement of people during the Highland Clearances is brought into modern-day focus: Ruth spoke with recent migrants to Scotland and their voices are incorporated at times in the performance. FitkinWall have created something beautiful and at times disturbing. Dark, fragmented folk moods transform into soaring fast-paced music in this memorable show.
The concert is lit by a specially-commissioned light installation by the artist Peter Freeman.