2 November: Meridianum Ensemble

After their highly successful and uplifting concert in 2023,  Calstock Arts is delighted to welcome back the much acclaimed and popular Meridianum Ensemble, featuring: M

Nuno Silva – Persian santur

Griselda Sanderson – violin & nyckelharpa

Soufian Saihi – oud

Steve Tyler – hurdy-gurdy

Louis Bingham – cittern & tambura

Ricardo de Noronha – percussion

The Meridianum Ensemble is a unique musical collaboration, bringing together top players from Portugal, Morocco and the UK.  The six musicians bring their individual styles and influences to the mix, inspired by traditions from Iran and the Eastern Mediterranean to Portugal, Scandinavia and beyond. Modal music, improvisation and virtuosity are features of their gloriously entrancing infusion. Featuring traditional and original repertoire for Arabic oud, Middle Eastern percussion, cittern, Persian Santur, Swedish nyckelharpa and the mediaeval sounds of the hurdy-gurdy, this blend is a sonic and visual treat.

Founded in 2018 by UK-based Portuguese percussionist Ricardo de Noronha, the idea was to draw his collaborators into one ensemble. Santur player Nuno Silva (the only non-UK member) resides in Porto and previously worked with Ricardo in several groups, especially on the mediaeval scene in Portugal. In 2019 Nuno studied the santur in Iran. Through his interest in mediaeval music Ricardo met top UK hurdy-gurdy player Steve Tyler, renowned for his rhythmic and inventive style. Violinist and nyckelharpist Griselda Sanderson and cittern player Louis Bingham performed in the Radial Band with Ricardo, and Moroccan oud player Soufian Saihi’s Arabic classical musical style forms a bridge between them all to create a unique alliance.

Listen here: https://youtu.be/DWX6Dt3yV0U?si=NC_bs9p7V3esB-K0