York ensemble steps ‘further into musical unknown’
Posted on 8 January 2008
Romaria is the latest collaboration between Dr John Potter, of York’s Department of Music, and ECM founder Manfred Eicher, who has donated the label’s entire catalogue to the University.
The album features the saxophone and bass clarinet of John Surman, the guitar of American Stephen Stubbs and the violin of Slovakian Milos Valent, as well as John Potter’s tenor voice.
The music includes songs from the 13th century Carmina Burana Manuscript, some rarely-heard 15th century mass fragments, and improvisations on Iberian folksongs.
This project takes us further into the unknown musical territory between jazz and early music
Dr John Potter
It was recorded in the Austrian monastery of St Gerold, where, ten years ago, John Potter recorded Officium, the pioneering collaboration between Norwegian saxophonist and the Hilliard Ensemble.
John Potter said: "This project takes us further into the unknown musical territory between jazz and early music."
Manfred Eicher added: "Romaria opens up fascinating new perspectives in a pioneering project that has inspired many musicians from all different contexts."
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- The four members of the Dowland Project are: John Potter (tenor); Milos Valent (violin, viola): John Surman (soprano saxophone, bassclarinet, tenor and bass recorders) and Stephen Stubbs (baroque guitar, vihuela).
- Dr John Potter is Reader in Music at the University of York. He has recorded for ECM for more than 20 years, and is a contributor to Horizons Touched: the Music of ECM edited by Paul Griffiths and Steve Lake (Granta Books, 2007).
- Romaria is scheduled for release on 15 January in Italy; Norway (21 January); Switzerland (25 January); UK (28 January); Netherlands (1 February); Germany (8 February); France (11 February) and USA (February). More information on ECM at www.ecmrecords.com.
- The Music Department at York currently supports the work of around 100 postgraduate students. It offers an outstanding environment and facilities for postgraduate study in music and research in most areas of musical scholarship and practice. The modern buildings of the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall now incorporate a new 'Music Research Centre' with an additional auditorium, new recording studios and research spaces. The Department’s Sound Archives include Music Preserved and the ECM Collection. For more information, go to http://music.york.ac.uk/.