News Archive
Music Commission
Eminent composer Tim Garland has received a major commission to compose music for the Faerie Queene Liturgy Project which will be performed by Acoustic Triangle and the Choir of Royal Holloway in St George's Chapel Windsor and Manchester Cathedral.
A note from Tim Garland on his new composition 'The Faerie Queene Canticles':
Four poems from different contemporary writers, all personalising one of the four elements, are the settings for these songs. Each was written also with the story of St. George in mind, and his trials through the material world. The recurring theme of St. George is heard on the soprano sax. Although the songs can be sung with piano or organ, the choir is ideally accompanied by musicians with improvising skills. Some of the unpredictable, spontaneous and even vulnerable qualities of our central character (who really is representing us all as we either battle or befriend the elements,) can have animated life amidst the narrative of the choir. The over-arching message of the poems is one of unity, appreciated through our common frailty and fallibility. For me it is not a mono-religious work when out of its context in a service, but a chance for a second life for four beautiful and thought provoking poems which question, as much as they celebrate, our higher aspirations. I hope this is reflected in the music I felt moved to write.
A special concert version of Tim Garland's music will form part of a mixed concert by Acoustic Triangle and the Royal Holloway Choir at 7.30pm on Friday 8th July 2011 in Romsey Abbey, Hampshire. This is a Romsey Arts Festival event, and tickets are available from Romsey Tourist Information Centre on 01794 512987.
25 May 2011
Some photos of the 'gegants' (puppets) from Manchester Cathedral are now available here. The two Catalan-style ‘gegants’, giant puppet figures, represent Spenserian figures, namely St. George and the Dragon. They were made by artists working with clients from the Booth Centre for the Homeless, based at the Cathedral; the project has been supported by two grants, from Awards for All and from the Church Urban Fund.
18 May 2011
An interesting reflection on Recrosse is now available here.
13 May 2011
A write-up of our recent event in Manchester from the Manchester Evening News is now available here. The link includes a video from the beginning of the service, prior to the liturgy, though we apologise for the quality of the video which is somewhat shaky. Some photos of the event are to follow.
09 May 2011
Faerie Queene Liturgy Commission member, Andrew Shanks, was on the Sunday programme on BBC Radio 4 this week, talking about Redcrosse:
A New Celebration of England and St George in advance of our event in Manchester Cathedral which ran from 5.30 on the same day. For a limited time, the interview is available to listen to again, via the BBC iPlayer. Click here.
05 April 2011
For some spectacular photos of Redcrosse at the Windsor Spring Festival, click here.
The Guardian reviews the Faerie Queene Now's new Liturgy
(posted 25th January 2011)
The Faerie Queene Project received prominent mention in The Guardian Culture section yesterday.
You can read the full article here.
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The Faerie Queene Now! project receives Arts Council Funding The Faerie Queene Now! project has received £3000 of funding from the Arts Council. |
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We're on Facebook! The Faerie Queene Now! project now has a presence on Facebook. |
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Fable and Drama Workshops
(posted 25th October 2010)
Write-ups of Fable and Drama Workshops in our partner schools are now available:
Workshop One: Bishop David Brown School, Woking
Workshop Two: George Mitchell School, Leyton
Workshop Three: Bishop David Brown School, Woking
In addition there are some scene-setting materials, tasks and characters for the workshops here.
Second Meeting of The Faerie Queene Liturgy Project (Manchester Group)
(posted 30th July 2010)
Funding has now been raised for the making of two Catalan-style processional ‘giants’, St. George and the Dragon. These will be made by artists working with clients from the Booth Centre for the Homeless, based at the Cathedral; the project has been supported by two grants, from Awards for All and from the Church Urban Fund.
For more infromation and to access the write-up of the second meeting of The Faerie Queene Liturgy Project (Manchester Group), please click here.
Second Meeting of The Faerie Queene Liturgy Project (Windsor Group)
(posted 22nd July 2010)
To access the write-up of the second meeting of The Faerie Queene Liturgy Project (Windsor Group), please click here.
Inaugural Meeting of The Faerie Queene Liturgy Project (Manchester Group)
(posted 11th May 2010; updated 27th May 2010)
The Manchester arm of The Faerie Queene Liturgy Project has now held a very successful and stimulating inaugural meeting. To view the write-up from the first Manchester Group meeting, please click here.
Inaugural Meeting of The Faerie Queene Liturgy Project (Windsor Group)
(posted 19th April 2010)
A recording of the inaugural meeting of The Faerie Queene Liturgy Project (held on 14th April 2010) in
New Music for The Faerie Queene Liturgy Project
(posted 6th April 2010)
The LCACE (London Centre for Arts and Cultural Exchange) have awarded The Faerie Queene Now project money which has enabled us to commission new music for The Faerie Queene Liturgy Project. We’re in the process of commissioning the composer Tim Garland to compose four original ‘Faerie Queene Canticles’ for jazz trio Acoustic Triangle and the Royal Holloway College Choir. These canticles will set original texts inspired by The Faerie Queene by the writers (Ewan Fernie, Michael Symmons Roberts, Jo Shapcott and Andrew Shanks). We are also seeking further funding to support this new musical part of the project.
Update: 21st April 2010