Emily and David are currently touring their "...from the Roots" project - where they took a collection of very well-known British folk songs and arranged them in instrumental versions for various flutes and plucked strings. Like the best folk music, these arrangements bring together the old and the new, and whilst they began with live versions of the songs on flute and guitar, they then overdub harmony parts and improvised solos (using a loop pedal in live performances) to create the widest range of colours, reflecting the breadth of feeling, the light and shade, present in all folk music of the British Isles.
"In making “…from the roots” we have reached down into our tangled musical roots and used our intuitive musicianship to create our own unique arrangements of this selection of folk songs. We let the music grow and evolve naturally, using improvisation and memory rather than written music, to respond to the aural tradition of folk music.
With flute and guitar, the words of the songs are lost, but we have tried to retain their meaning in the textures and atmospheres of the music, conjuring up the spirit of the words, like the ghost of Molly Malone still selling her cockles and mussels on the streets of Dublin…"
Their January tour was funded by Culture West, and included two public concerts (Tetbury and Central Bristol) as well as some schools workshops on folk music and storytelling. The tour coincided with their new release of the CD of this project (the old sold out album was called "...from the Roots" and the new one is called "from the Roots... new branches" to acknowledge the addition of 5 new songs, and their growth as artists in the 10 years between these two releases). The songs are coming out on digital platforms during Spring 2025.
"In making “…from the roots” we have reached down into our tangled musical roots and used our intuitive musicianship to create our own unique arrangements of this selection of folk songs. We let the music grow and evolve naturally, using improvisation and memory rather than written music, to respond to the aural tradition of folk music.
With flute and guitar, the words of the songs are lost, but we have tried to retain their meaning in the textures and atmospheres of the music, conjuring up the spirit of the words, like the ghost of Molly Malone still selling her cockles and mussels on the streets of Dublin…"
Their January tour was funded by Culture West, and included two public concerts (Tetbury and Central Bristol) as well as some schools workshops on folk music and storytelling. The tour coincided with their new release of the CD of this project (the old sold out album was called "...from the Roots" and the new one is called "from the Roots... new branches" to acknowledge the addition of 5 new songs, and their growth as artists in the 10 years between these two releases). The songs are coming out on digital platforms during Spring 2025.
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Audience Feedback from Live Performances
"What an amazing duo - people really must get to one of their shows"
"Such beautiful music - they are so talented, so professional"
"To be able to sing and play so beautifully is a really outstanding gift"
"What a wonderful evening of outstanding music"
"Thank you for hosting such an incredible concert"
"We really enjoyed their Carmenco the other month and tonights concert really demonstrated their musical talent and imagination"
"I didn't know quite what to expect but I am so glad I came along - just magical!
And from the concert organiser: "Having had the pleasure of hosting Emily and David previously at the Goods Shed and knowing just professional they are I was confident supporting their new venture we would be treated to a great performance. Their Back to the Roots show is everything we hoped for: imaginative, original and a musical delight for all ages. Happily recommend and we look forward to welcoming them back to the Shed in the future"
Written reviews of "from the Roots" albums
“a lovely, fresh surprise. The arrangements are very musical, the playing is wonderful …” – Anthony Kershaw, Audiophilia.com
“beautifully atmospheric … wonderfully authentic” – Rosamund Woodroffe, Bright Young Folk
“a very fine recording of some songs that we really should all know” – Ed Hamer, The Wharf
“An enchanting album… Highly imaginative arrangements, delivered with flair, technical brilliance and beautiful sound from both players… A true masterpiece of world music arrangement” – British Flute Society magazine on Make Merry
"What an amazing duo - people really must get to one of their shows"
"Such beautiful music - they are so talented, so professional"
"To be able to sing and play so beautifully is a really outstanding gift"
"What a wonderful evening of outstanding music"
"Thank you for hosting such an incredible concert"
"We really enjoyed their Carmenco the other month and tonights concert really demonstrated their musical talent and imagination"
"I didn't know quite what to expect but I am so glad I came along - just magical!
And from the concert organiser: "Having had the pleasure of hosting Emily and David previously at the Goods Shed and knowing just professional they are I was confident supporting their new venture we would be treated to a great performance. Their Back to the Roots show is everything we hoped for: imaginative, original and a musical delight for all ages. Happily recommend and we look forward to welcoming them back to the Shed in the future"
Written reviews of "from the Roots" albums
“a lovely, fresh surprise. The arrangements are very musical, the playing is wonderful …” – Anthony Kershaw, Audiophilia.com
“beautifully atmospheric … wonderfully authentic” – Rosamund Woodroffe, Bright Young Folk
“a very fine recording of some songs that we really should all know” – Ed Hamer, The Wharf
“An enchanting album… Highly imaginative arrangements, delivered with flair, technical brilliance and beautiful sound from both players… A true masterpiece of world music arrangement” – British Flute Society magazine on Make Merry
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