The Music
Pastance create unique arrangements of traditional ballads and tunes from England, Ireland and Scotland with instruments and vocal styles perfectly suited for performance. Repertoire choices are influenced by a love of musicians such as the 18th century harpist Turlogh O’Carolan, Loreena McKennitt, Planxty, Steeleye Span, Enya, The Furieys, The Bothy Band and many, many more.
11th-14th century
Songs of courtly love, knights in shining armour, pilgrims travelling the roads of Europe, maypole dancing, ancient spiritual chant and lively instrumentals with fiddles, harp, bagpipes, shawm, gittern, recorders and drums. Composers such as Hildegard von Bingen, Guillaume de Machaut and the ever popular “Anon” are brought to life.
Experience the drama of the Baroque with triple harp, chitarrone, virtuosic recorders and voices. The beginnings of Opera and the invention of the bassline with the catchy chord progressions still used in much of today’s popular music. They perform music by composers such as Monteverdi, Caccini,, Purcell, Handel, Bach and Telemann.
15th-16th century
This glorious time in European history saw the invention of printing press and the birth of modern science. Shakespeare, Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci revolutionised the arts. In music it was the golden age of the lute, which was as popular then as the guitar is today. Featuring exquisitely intricate vocal polyphony, yearning love songs and madrigals, courtly dances and consort music by composers such as Henry VIII, Josquin de Pres and John Dowland.
Alex’s original compositions, often inspired by places of great natural beauty from the Australian landscape, are intended to evoke a sense of peace and meditation. Triple harp, recorders and guitar form the basis of most of his repertoire along with other instruments such as cello, violin and percussion.
