Find A Concert

Picardy Players

Birch Tales

Medieval Kyiv meets the Italian Renaissance

Birch Tales
The 10 musicians of the Picardy Players give a rare glimpse into life in Kyivan Rus’ in the Middle Ages, through music inspired by fascinating personal letters written on strips of birch bark that were unearthed in recent decades. The programme uses an otherworldly 16th-century musical language from Renaissance Italy with 31 notes to the octave and period instruments to bridge the gap historically between the protagonists’ world and our own. New compositions by James Batty draw inspiration from Slavic folk music from Ukraine and Russia to tell the characters’ stories, and are enriched with visual and tactile elements. The programme is framed by microtonal gems written 400 years apart by Nicola Vicentino and György Ligeti.

Read More
  • date Tue 16 January 2024
  • location Angela Burgess Recital Hall, London
  • time 7:45pm
  • ticket Free (ticket required)

Full Event Details

The 10 musicians of the Picardy Players give a rare glimpse into life in Kyivan Rus’ in the Middle Ages, through music inspired by fascinating personal letters written on strips of birch bark that were unearthed in recent decades. The programme uses an otherworldly 16th-century musical language from Renaissance Italy with 31 notes to the octave and period instruments to bridge the gap historically between the protagonists’ world and our own. New compositions by James Batty draw inspiration from Slavic folk music from Ukraine and Russia to tell the characters’ stories, and are enriched with visual and tactile elements. The programme is framed by microtonal gems written 400 years apart by Nicola Vicentino and György Ligeti.

Venue Details & Map

Location

Angela Burgess Recital Hall, London
Royal Academy of Music, Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5SD, United Kingdom

Previous performances

Don't miss a beat – subscribe today!

Subscribe to our fortnightly newsletter to get the latest concert recommendations, festival updates, artist profiles, and curated playlists delivered straight to your inbox.

Read our latest newsletter.

Help early music flourish!

Donate now to support Continuo Connect. Every contribution helps cover the costs of running this non-profit website, ensuring free access for musicians, festivals and the public.