Apothecaries' Hall, Blackfriars Lane
24 June 09
One of Europe's most accomplished and innovative percussionists, Terje Isungset crafts his own instruments from Norwegian natural resources such as arctic birch, granite, slate, sheep bells and even ice; his work is truly powered by nature! - So what did we think?...
Well, if abstract Jews harp shenanigans and sticks being dragged across amped up drum kits is your thing then read on!... Unfortunately it was too darn warm for the ice instruments to come out, so... Terje opted for the more organic, rustic approach. The aforementioned sticks, granite blocks, miniature Cow bells and the composers own vocal mumblings all came together to form ambient sound-scape's. More beautiful with your eyes closed, these abstract compositions conjured up images of frozen evenings in Norway, moonlit walks through deserted forests and glaciers shattering and splintering as wolves prowl. Moving stuff indeed!
The venue is also worth a mention... The Apothecaries Hall is beautiful. Rarely open to the public, this is the oldest livery company Hall in the City and dates back to 1617.
This year's City of London Festival celebrates the trading cities of 60° North and explores sustainability in the new environmental and economic climate. London and other fascinating European cities are located on or around the latitude of 60°N – Kirkwall, Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn and St Petersburg. By drawing on the cities' interconnected histories, diverse cultures and creativity, this years festival organisers have created a rich programme of events.
The City of London Festival was first enjoyed back in 1962, since then it has provided a regular summer feast of music and the arts. The event takes place within the Square Mile's unique and remarkable collection of buildings (both ancient and modern), as well as the squares, gardens and other open spaces - both familiar and lesser known. The festival offers a wide-ranging and eclectic programme that includes live music, drama and poetry, installations and exhibitions of visual arts, film screenings, architecture walks and talks.
7 out of 10
