Past performances include

Brief performance
Bede's World • Sat 29 January 2011: 12noon

A musical introduction to Gordon Jackson's lecture on Bede as Musician – in the series of lectures organised by the Friends of Bede's World

Swaledale Festival 2010

Plainsong and the 21st Century

with THE FIFTH QUADRANT STRING QUARTET

• Plainsong from the 7th century onwards, including a hymn by The Venerable BEDE
• JOSEPH HAYDN - Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross (excerpts) interspersed with plainsong for Holy Week
• ARVO PÄRT - Fratres 1
• PHILIP GLASS - String Quartet No. 2 'Company'
• JOHN CAGE - 4'33"
  

"This concert takes us on a fascinating journey from early plainsong through 18th century Haydn to the minimalist avant-garde. The thread that links all these is apparent in the spaciousness and melodic serenity of the music and the truly uplifting effect on the listener. At the end the performers will lead the audience into the churchyard for a rousing processional 'Alleluja' and some outdoor projections by local artist Martin Thorpe."      [Swaledale Festival Programme]

Enchant - The Music of Bede & Beijing
Wednesday 28 May 08
St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth
7.30pm

Saturday 31 May 08
St Paul's Church, Jarrow
7.30pm

These concerts featured the first performances of specially composed music by Sophy Ball, played by a group of five musicians, and Gregorian chant sung by the Benedict Biscop Gregorian Choir directed by Jonathan Adams – combining the music of ancient England with folk melodies and songs of China.

These concerts were part of the Bede and Beijing festival on Tyneside and Wearside. Concerts were held in the beautiful churches which make up the twin monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow – St Peter’s in Monkwearmouth and St Paul’s in Jarrow – founded by Benedict Biscop in 674 CE.

*

Bede and Beijing:
a festival of art linking two amazing cultures.

Bede & Beijing was a unique festival exploring themes that link Anglo-Saxon Northumbria and Chinese culture. Launched at the end of May 2008 with an exciting events programme, the festival exhibitions continued until September 2008.

The programme featured a range of art installations, newly commissioned artworks and music, and exhibitions including rare early Anglo-Saxon manuscripts from the British Library and an extraordinary Chinese carved ivory garden from the V&A.

Work by leading Chinese artists was also displayed at the six unique and historic venues that are partners in the Wearmouth-Jarrow World Heritage Site bid.

Bede & Beijing formed part of North East England’s world-class festivals and events programme and is funded by One NorthEast. The project was coordinated by the North East Regional Museums Hub as part of the Renaissance programme – a national initiative to transform England’s regional museums.

All venues were members of the Wearmouth-Jarrow Partnership, together with Sunderland City Council, South Tyneside Council, English Heritage and One NorthEast working to achieve World Heritage Site status for the remarkable twin monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow, one of the most important international cultural centres of the 7th century, home and inspiration to the Venerable Bede.

*Photo: John Pattinson

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