Jesus’ Blood – Early Music Version

During the week when I was guest composer at the Dartington Early Music Summer School, July 23-30 2022, there were performances of a number of my pieces in individual concerts. On the second night Fretwork played In Nomine (after Purcell); Stile Antico sang A qualunque animale from the Fourth Book of Madrigals on the third night; on the fourth night James Gilchrist sang The Fisherman, from Four Songs from Northern Seas. The sixth night was a full concert “Gavin Bryars and Friends”in which Cara Curran sang Incipit Vita Nova (with members of Fretwork), Stile Antico sang three madrigals from Book Two, Jane Chapman played After Handel’s Vesper (for solo harpsichord), John Potter sang two of the Irish Madrigals from Book Three (with Danny Murphy, lute) as well as Lauda 4 (with soprano Helen Ashby) and Lauda 19 (unaccompanied).

The fifth night had a pubic conversation with Fiona Talkington, followed by a unique 50-minute version of Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet for voices and early music instruments.

Dartington Music Summer School and Festival

Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet (1971)

Special Early Music Performance, July 27th, 2022, 9:30 pm

Directed by Gavin Bryars

Voices

Rebecca Hickey, Emily India Evans (soprano), Rosie Parker, Laura Coppinger (alto), Jonathan Hanley, John Potter (tenor), Nathan Harrison, Sam Evans (bass)

Viols

Emily Ashton, Joanna Levine, Sam Stadlan, May Robertson, Aguella de Oliviera, Rachael Kennedy, Isaac Harrison-Louth, Philip Wilkinson, Andrew Freeland, Camilla Morse-Glover, Tore Eketorp

Wind

Kate Allsop (recorder). Ellie Carr (recorder, dulcian), Dillon Connolly (recorder), Tasmain Cowell (cornett), Matyas Houf (cornett), Sarah Humphrys (recorder), Tristan Lambert (dulcian), Emily Saville (sackbut), Kira Thomas (recorder), Mark Wilson (dulcian), William Lyons (recorder, dulcian), Nick Perry (recorder, dulcian),George Bartle (sackbut), Richard Thomas (cornett, recorder)

Lute: Danny Murphy

Harpsichord: Jane Chapman

Chamber Organ: Claire Williams)

Gavin Bryars