Biography

Emanuele Addis – Lute

Anne Sutton – Soprano

Rachel Allen – Soprano

Otto Hashmi – Recorders and Electronics

Ozgur Kaya – Viola da Gamba

Mikolaj Piszczorowicz – Viola da Gamba

Londinium Consort is an emerging ensemble based in London. Exploring spaces where old and new meet, the ensemble takes its name from the ancient name of the City of London, highlighting the city’s long and richly varied cultural landscape.

This programme blends contemporary compositions with timeless Elizabethan songs, each exploring a theme of journeys, transitions, and the quest for meaning.   From stories of relationships, exile and immigration to the sounds of commuting in the city, historical lines are blurred as these ideas appear in both their modern and historical contexts.

Can she excuse my wrongs? – Finlay-Dowland (8 min)

The King of Denmark’s Galliard – John Dowland (3 min)

Oh, Let us Howl – Hashmi-Johnson (8 min)  Scottish Dance – William Brade (3 min) Renaissance – Addis-Allen (8 min)

The opening of our set has been inspired by “Will you walke the woods so wylde”, the folk song that inspired Dowland to write Can she excuse my wrongs.We wanted to encapsule the frantic sounds of the city using the phasing, with the eventual peace you can find in exile.

Some of the most talented English musicians of the Renaissance chose a life of exile abroad, such as John Dowland and William Brade. These excellent composers were influenced by their time abroad; their travel impacted their playing and their compositional style, and allowed dissemination of musical ideas from around Europe, impacting English musical style.Inspired by this rich tradition of player-performers, we have collaborated as an ensemble to create arrangements of several pieces in this programme, culminating in our new composition, Renaissance.

“Oh, Let us Howl” by Robert Johnson has been innovatively reimagined by Otto Hashmi, incorporating electronics to enhance its emotional depth. Inspired by Italian recitative styles, Hashmi’s arrangement adds a contemporary resonance to the traditional lament, creating a hauntingly beautiful blend of the old and new. This modern twist on a classical form invites the audience into a dramatic exploration of anguish and expression, marking a unique journey through sorrow and sound.

“Renaissance” explores the personal journeys of hope and of self-discovery through immigration . While the period of the Renaissance is recognised as a timeprofound cultural rebirth, this piece discusses the more intimate new beginnings experienced by many immigrants,, and the impact of the exchange of those stories of personal evolution on culture, just as in Dowland and Brade’s time.

Award: New Elizabethan Award 2024

Photo Credit: Ben Reason