Tune in to Tenebrae isolation edition
We’ve asked our singers in isolation to name their favourite Tenebrae tracks and the music that’s getting them through coronavirus isolation.
Have a listen to the Spotify playlist for the full selection.
Hannah King:
A favourite track of mine is Footsteps, by Owain Park. I’m a bit biased as he’s my other half, but that’s actually not why I’m choosing it! In 2016 I was in my first year of freelancing, and was a member of the NYCGB fellowship octet. One of the great opportunities we had was to come and record the community choir parts for Footsteps. It was a real eye-opener for me to watch Nigel and Tenebrae at work, and it’s lovely to be on the other side of that now – every time we perform it I am reminded of that day.
Something I’m listening to at the moment is an album called Of the People by a quintet called Kabantu. They’re a fusion group working across the classical, jazz and folk traditions and won the ROSL competition a few years ago. If you pinned me down to a track, I would probably have to go for the opening one – Ulidzile – but number 3 (Gago Grego) is really cool too.
Owain and Hannah have been playing virtual monopoly with the family too!
Hannah Cooke:
I’m going with the Gretchaninov Now the Powers of Heaven – first track of Russian Treasures CD. The Russian Treasures album launch at St James’ Spanish Place was my first Tenebrae gig back in early 2015, and it still sends shivers down my spine from the very first chord. I think it’s a track that encompasses the entire Tenebrae experience for me – incredibly beautiful music, a huge range, both dynamically and in terms of drama and as a singer, it’s one that just grabs you by the guts emotionally every time.
I actually made a whole Spotify playlist for the current times the other day of my favourite things to make me smile and lift spirits.
Otherwise, I’m going to have to say that for right now, a daily dose of Tom Lehrer Poisoning Pigeons in the Park is absolutely what the doctor ordered. Even on the bleakest of days, it’s a track that has the ability, if played enough times, to lighten everything and bring me back to a happy place.
Otherwise, Hannah has been out for some air in Windsor Great Park and baking unseasonal saffron buns (traditionally made for Sankta Lucia day in Sweden in December).
