Medieval ensemble ALKEMIE joins forces with composer ELLIOT COLE to reanimate the ancient tale of King Arthur in their program “Beautee & Bountee: An Arthurian Refraction.” In this project – a co-commission between 5BMF and Alkemie – Cole combines new and old words and music in an original setting of the fourteenth-century stanzaic romance, the Morte Arthur. Cole and Alkemie weave together spoken word, monophonic songs, motets, and instrumental commentary and interludes to tell the age-old story of Arthur, Guenevere and Lancelot, exploring themes of love, honor and duty that still resonate today. Flashes of transmuted medieval melodies, motifs, and works act as points of light that are variously refracted and recombined by Alkemie’s collection of period and modern instruments, including medieval fiddles and reeds, psaltery, recorders, harp, harmonium, guitar, and percussion.

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Please contact sian@alkemie.org for more information about this program.