Throughout our time in Glasgow, my class has had so many great opportunities to listen to and learn about folk music. From performances to guest talks to guided tours, we’ve explored the meaning and impact of this genre, and how it relates to our own lives. I have always looked at folk music as a way of passing down stories, specifically stories of the hurting and oppressed. It’s a genre whose artists are not afraid to tackle difficult subjects, and I really admire its diversity. It honors tradition, while also challenging it. This quote by Bob Dylan really resonates with the way that I view folk music.
“It [folk music] exceeded all human understanding, and if it called out to you, you could disappear and be sucked into it.”
I love this quote because it reflects the idea that music transcends the normal way that we express ourselves. It helps to explain the unknown, and folk in particular has a wonderful way of doing so.
Thursday evening,our class attended “We Are Here Scotland”, a diverse assortment of folk-inspired musicians. I got to see and hear how this genre has impacted the lives of several people from very different backgrounds. We began with Miwa Nagato-Apthorp, a Scottish-Japanese musician, whose self-written pieces told stories of female oppression and cultural/racial identity. One of her songs, titled “The Bonded One”, explored the mistreatment of “Bondagers”, female farm workers in 19th century Scotland. The song was simple as far as instrumentation goes (it was just her voice and a shruti box), but was full of sincere emotion.You can listen to and read more about this song here — https://alchemyfilmandarts.org.uk/miwa-nagato-apthorp/.
The next artist Simone Seales, an American-born Glasgow-based cellist. Seales self-composed pieces reflected feelings of love, loss, identity, and belonging. Their songs questioned what it means to be Black and queer and how they have navigated the world through tumultuous periods in their life. You can find Seales’ on several streaming platforms, including Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/artist/4y5UNCSdkcNu9Y1WUHNJVy?si=hobwpsviROG8zs-FzquzrQ.
The final musicians, lead by Iranian refugee Aref Ghorbani, were full of life! Several of the songs that they played honored their culture and felt full of light and love. Their songs were often more upbeat, but still reflected the hardships and deeply-rooted problems within society. Immigration and conflict were two important themes that were brought up by the group.
(Left to right) Aref Ghorbani, Simone Seales, and
Miwa Nagato-Apthorp.
Folk is about so much more than just the music. It’s about community, empowerment, and understanding. It is a genre found throughout the entire world. It isn’t afraid to question life or humanity, but also appreciates these things. It gives voices to the voiceless, allowing stories to be carried on for generations. Folk is absolutely timeless, and will continue to be!
When I received my tickets to see The Furrow Collective and Salt House on Wednesday night, I was ecstatic! The two bands were performing as a part of Celtic Connections, a folk, roots, and world music festival held in Glasgow each January. One of my favorite genres is folk and I’m always looking to discover new artists, so I was very excited to see this performance. The two groups did not disappoint!
The Furrow Collective and Salt House joined together in song.
The concert began with Salt House, a Scottish/English trio made up of Ewan McPherson (vocals, guitar), Jenny Sturgeon (vocals, keyboard, guitar), and Anna Hughes (vocals, guitar, fiddle, viola, and harmonium). The group is heavily influenced by nature, as each member is from different parts of the British countryside. Most of the songs that they performed were originals, with the occasional covers of old folk songs.
Then came The Furrow Collective, a unique four-piece band from England and Scotland. The group consists of Lucy Farrell (vocals, viola, saw), Rachel Newton (vocals, harp, fiddle), Emily Portman (vocals, concertina, banjo), and Alasdair Roberts (vocals, guitar, jaw harp). They took a lot of inspiration from traditional folk music, covering several old Scottish ballads. Each musician was a multi-instrumentalist, which kept things interesting (you never knew what they’d be playing next).
After performing a few songs with their own respective groups, the two bands joined together to play the rest of their set. I was surprised to learn that they had only practiced as a whole group once before this show. They seemed so in tune with each other and their styles fit together very naturally! My favorite aspects were the vocal harmonies and appearances of unexpected instruments (e.g. the jaw harp and saw)! To get a better feel for what the music was like, here’s a song that I liked by Salt House! Written by band member Anna Hughes, it was initially inspired by birdsong (further displaying the group’s love for nature).
Official music video for “Headed Our Way” by Salt House.
The festival, Celtic Connections, is very interesting as each show is held in a random venue across the city. They are located anywhere from concert halls to churches to the Old Fruit Market (a historic market-turned-concert venue). This performance was in the Mackintosh Church. Designed in the 1890’s by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, it is the only church ever created by the famous Glaswegian architect. It served as a parish for about 100 years, before being closed and reopened as a museum and concert venue in the late 1990’s. You can find more info on the history of the building on the official Mackintosh Church website (https://mackintoshchurch.com/history/).
In front of the historic Mackintosh Church
(aka Queen’s Cross Church).
Overall, I had a really nice time at this concert. I enjoyed a lot of the music, so much that I saved a couple of songs to my library on Spotify! Both put a modern twist on traditional folk music, while still honoring its roots. To check out more of The Furrow Collective and Salt House, here are the links to their websites, as well as their Spotify profiles. I recommend a listen or two!
I sat in a velvet seat, watching soft white snow fall to the stage floor. As I waited for La Bohème to begin, I was unsure of what feelings it would bring. Even after reading a background on the story and some facts about opera, it was one of those things that I needed to experience to fully grasp. I could tell that whatever it was, it was going to be good, based on the beautiful, high-end venue and large, eager crowd. I’d seen one opera prior to this experience, but it was just a dress rehearsal and I didn’t remember it very well. I was looking forward to seeing what a full-length, professional show was like. Plus, we were catching the very last night of this version!
La Bohème (meaning “The Bohemian” in French) follows the lives of several young artists struggling to make ends meet in 19th century Paris. It explores themes of poverty, community, love and loss. The main characters are a poet named Rodolfo (played by Mikhail Timoshenko) and a seamstress named Mimi (played by Olga Kulchynska), whose love story ends very tragically. The music was written between 1893 and 1895 by Giacomo Puccini, an Italian composer. It is sung in Italian, so English subtitles were provided above the stage during the performance.
Inside of the Royal Opera House.
My overall impressions of the show were great! The actors/singers were incredibly talented. They did a wonderful job expressing their characters’ personalities and portraying emotion in each scene. As a quieter, more “folky” singer, I was incredibly impressed with their vocal abilities. Many of the singers had very wide ranges and were able project their voices loudly throughout the entire theatre. Each voice sounded very full, even when singing softly. I could also hear the emotion in every note. Whether it was joy, pride, frustration, or sorrow, each feeling was clear simply through song. I was also impressed with the orchestra. Their playing was flawless, and accompanied the characters on stage perfectly. The story takes place in winter, so as a part of each set, there was faux snow falling delicately onto the stage. By the end, it was almost entirely covered in white. It was really beautiful! During some of the songs, especially towards the end, I even cried a little bit! Overall, It was very touching and moving.
Taking photos or recording during the performance was prohibited, so here are a couple of (professional) photos that I found online!
One song that I found particularly moving was performed by the main character, Mimi, at the end of the second act. The bittersweet lyrics, along with the pain in her voice, brought me to tears. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a good version of it anywhere online.
I did find it difficult at times to follow along with what was happening visually, since my eyes kept having to dart back and forth between the stage and the subtitles. At one point, I gave up on reading the English lyrics and just paid attention to the singers’ movements and expressions. Although I was a little more lost on what they were trying to say, I could see and feel the emotions that were pouring out.
Five years ago, I became enthralled by the magical, musical wonder of The Beatles. Hailing from the lively port city of Liverpool, The Beatles are one of the most famous and beloved groups to ever come out of Great Britain. Not only did they widely impact modern music, but also fashion, artwork, politics, and cultural movements. References to their iconic songs, albums, and live performances can be found all throughout the world, but especially in England. One of my goals while in London was to visit landmarks related to “The Fab Four”. I was able to make my way to a couple of them. Here’s what I discovered!
The Beatles during their famous “Mad Day Out” photoshoot,
London, 1969 (Photo by Tom Murray).
Abbey Road
There’s no questioning that the most famous site to visit in relation to The Beatles is Abbey Road. Even if you know little/nothing about the band, you’ve most likely heard and seen references to this iconic place everywhere. The famous street in London is home to Abbey Road Studios, the recording studio where The Beatles began and ended their career together. Originally an old townhouse, the building was converted to Abbey Road Studios (then known as EMI Recording Studios) in 1931. In 1963, The Beatles began using it during the making of their first album, Please Please Me. Over the years, the studios have become a resource for thousands of impactful musicians, such as Pink Floyd, Kate Bush, and Radiohead.
Abbey Road Studios (today).
The Crosswalk
While the studio is rich in musical history, this site is probably more well known for the crosswalk in front of it! The iconic white lines were featured on the cover of The Beatles’ 1969 release, Abbey Road (named after the street and studios where it was recorded). The photo, shot by Scottish photographer Iain Macmillan, has become the inspiration for countless parodies and recreations. It has also been subject to conspiracy, being included as “evidence” for the infamous “Paul Is Dead” theory (you can read more about this here — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_is_dead). The Beatles themselves have even referenced the cover later during their solo careers.
These days, the site is very chaotic, full of tourists, traffic, and graffiti. My friends and I were able to hurry across and create our own little homage to this masterpiece, similar to what The Beatles had done over fifty years ago. It was a dream come true (at least for me, the Beatlemaniac of the group)!
Abbey Road album cover.
Emma, Lauren, and I crossing Abbey Road!
A quick pose on the crosswalk!
Apple Corps Headquarters (3 Savile Row)
The next spot on my Beatle landmarks list was located in the artsy district of SoHo. To passersby, this tall brick building on Savile Row may seem insignificant. However, it holds a very special place in the hearts of Beatles fans. From 1969 to 1975, it was home to Apple Corps, a multi-media company founded by the band. Its main division is Apple Records, the label that The Beatles have released music under since 1968. Other notable artists to be signed with Apple Records include Badfinger, Mary Hopkin, and Billy Preston.
3 Savile Row (the old Apple Corps. building) today.
While Apple Corps is still in business, the building itself is no longer in use, changing between different stores and galleries throughout the years. Along with everything that it provided as the company’s headquarters, this building has an even deeper significance in Beatles history.
Rooftop Concert
After The Beatles wrapped up Abbey Road, they embarked on one the most stressful songwriting journeys of their entire lives. The band were tasked with writing and performing an entire album’s worth of new material within just three weeks. The group had the basement of Apple Corps converted into a recording studio, where many of the songs were completed. This collection of tunes would become their twelfth, and final, album, Let It Be. The performance would be broadcasted live, being the first time that the band had played in front of a live audience in almost two years. As they were writing and recording, they were also having had a documentary-style film made about them. Talk about pressure! All the while, they were struggling from internal, personal disputes.
Eventually, the televised performance was scrapped, and The Beatles decided to go for a completely public gig (which would appear in the film, Let It Be, and later, Get Back). The band, along with keyboardist Billy Preston, climbed to the top of the Apple Corps building where they played a forty minute set on the roof. They probably would have played longer, if it weren’t for the police shutting them down due to noise complaints. Imagine complaining about hearing amazing music? And The Beatles? I could never…
Sadly, this was the group’s last performance together, making it a bittersweet moment for Beatles fans and music lovers around the world.
Plaque commemorating the rooftop concert.
The Beatles performing “Don’t Let Me Down” on the roof
of Apple Corps (as seen in the film Let It Be). Check it out!
For some more cool (and highly recommended) listening, here is a playlist that I made containing all of my favorite Beatles tunes!
Overall, I’d say that my mini, self-guided Beatles tour was a success. I felt overcome with emotions at each stop, having admired their talents — as a whole and individually — for so long. I cannot wait for the day that I make my way to Liverpool, where I’ll find a plethora of locations with deep Beatles lore. For now, I’ll leave you with my favorite lyric on Abbey Road (and one of my favorites ever written).
As soon as I stepped into St. Paul’s Cathedral, it was the most stunning and ethereal place I’d ever seen. The entire week, I’d been amazed just by the outside of it, so getting to go inside and take a self-guided audio tour was so exciting! It felt like visiting an art museum. I was fascinated by the statues, paintings, mosaics, and metal/woodwork. I explored almost every nook and cranny. I even climbed my way to the stone gallery, where I could see a 360 view of London from the top of the Cathedral! Due to the sacredness of the building, certain spaces do not allow photography. They also do not allow photos during services or past 4:30 p.m., so I took as many as I could before then. Here are four of my favorite shots!
Outside of St. Paul’s (featuring the iconic dome).
Looking up at the quire.
Looking up from the bottom of the dome.
View of London from the Stone Gallery.
Later in the day, my class attended an Evensong, a traditional Anglican church service. The service is performed by a choir, with almost every part being sung. It was very serene and beautiful. I sat in the quire stalls, which set me a little bit closer to the choir. The singers, all male (adults and children), were so impressive. They were very formal and polished. Their voices blended perfectly, their harmonies flawless. The quire and dome carried their voices throughout the entire space, creating a rich, yet still light, sound. I could sense the emotions that it evoked in the people around me, especially those who were Christian.
The quire stalls.
Nativity scene in front of the quire.
It was interesting going into this experience as a complete outsider, as I have not grown up immersed in the Christian faith like many of my peers. It was definitely harder at times for me to follow along with the service. I felt that I could understand the general meaning, but did not pick up on specific details. As someone who is not religious, the tour and service were both very informative and left me with a deeper appreciation of the artistry and creativity that goes into worship and spirituality. Art and religion are constantly going hand-in-hand. In fact, it is nearly impossible to find one without the other.
To see more of St. Paul’s from home, I found these virtual tours on the official website! While it may not be as exciting as seeing it in person, it’s definitely worth checking out!
As my classmates and I filtered into the magnificent London Palladium, I was very perplexed and excited. We had come to see a rendition of Robin Hood in the style of a pantomime, a famous type of English musical/comedy production. I’d read about pantomimes, browsed through photos of performances, and even heard a guest talk from Professor Steve Dykes on the subject. Still, I never could have predicted what I was about to witness!
Outside of The London Palladium.
Waiting for the show to begin!
Explaining the full pantomime experience to an American is very difficult. You have to see one to really understand what it is. So, I’ll try my best to describe it! Merriam-Webster defines a pantomime, also known as “panto”, as “a British theatrical entertainment of the Christmas season based on a nursery tale and featuring topical songs, tableaux, and dances”. However, it is much more complex than that. Firstly, the shows have little or nothing to do with Christmas itself, it’s just that they take place during the holiday season. They feature elaborate sets, costumes, and makeup. Some have compared it to drag, as they oftentimes have men dressing up as female characters and women dressing up as male characters. No matter who is playing who, their outfits are always very dramatic (and even a little bit absurd). Pantos are indeed based on folktales and children’s stories, but never follow the plot to a T. There will usually be a short scene that is semi-relevant to the story, followed by a musical number, dance routine, or comedy sketch that is completely unrelated. In my experience, it felt more like watching a musical/comedy variety show that used Robin Hood as inspiration for the costumes/general themes. Even the characters themselves weren’t entirely true to the original story. The actors implemented much of their own identities and personal lives into their dialogue. They made jabs at each other, calling each other by their first and last names. They often broke character, laughing at themselves and others. It felt more interactive and informal, while still highlighting the talents of the performers. I really liked this, as it added a lot of personality to each scene!
I have to admit that I was a bit shocked by the abundance of sexual humor (in England, they call it “smut”). I am a very open-minded person, but I think that it struck me so much because you don’t see and hear that as often in American theater. I was also surprised because people of all ages attended this show, the youngest being four or five years old. Most Americans cannot fathom bringing their children to something like a panto. We try so hard to keep any vulgarity away from young viewers. Fortunately, the panto’s inappropriate jokes are always witty enough to fly over kids heads! From what I observed, it’s a very enjoyable experience for them. A few were even invited onstage by a ventriloquist for a goofy rendition of “Old McDonald” (which poked fun at actress Jane McDonald), after which they received gift baggies. It was a nice mix of humor and wholesomeness!
To get an even better idea of the pantomime, specifically Robin Hood, here is an interview with Marisha Wallace (who plays the Sheriff of Nottingham) and Nigel Havers (who plays Friar Tuck, amongst other characters). Marisha’s perspective is especially interesting, as she is also an American who used to be unfamiliar with this genre!
Overall, pantomimes are very obscene, over-the-top, and entertaining! They are like nothing found in American culture, but provide great insight on the English world of entertainment. I enjoyed my experience, but it’s safe to say that I’ve had my fix for a few years!
