Tickets will be released on www.minsterquarter.com - they are all free but EXTREMELY LIMITED...The Minster Quarter Launch
An Afro-Saxon Soundclash in York Minster
Artists, businesses and other stakeholders are working together to boost the culture and shopping buzz of the ancient streets around the Minster.
It's a FREE CONCERT - all are welcome, keep visiting website for details.
A Precedent
In AD 208, African Emperor Septimius Severus came to York and made it the capital of the Roman empire for the next 3 years. Having thus put the town on the map, Septimius died in York and it is told that his funeral was the most spectacular public event that had ever been witnessed in northern Europe.
In AD 2008, this same historic core of York is being re-christened `The Minster Quarter' and is becoming animated by a collective effort from artists, musicians, composers, local businesses and the city council with the Minster itself. Together they are preparing a massive free concert unlike anything done before.
The Soundclash
Round 1 is a recital of choral works, ancient and new, by vocal ensemble Canty. They will give the World Premiere of ‘Two Hadiths' a work by Sir John Taverner, commissioned for the event. It is the second in a series of settings of Islamic verses, the first having been commissioned by Prince Charles and performed in Westminster Abbey in 2007. Sir John came to widespread public prominence when his Song for Athene was performed at the funeral of Princess Diana.
Round 2 is the World Premiere of a work written for the event by Ruckspin and other artists from the acclaimed Leeds dubstep label Ranking Records. Dubstep is Britain's newest and most adventurous music genre. A dubstep album was widely tipped to win this year's Mercury Music Prize. The music has that religious sense of space found in late 60s/early 70s Jamaican dub and sound system culture. Dubstep continues the sound system culture but has no overtly religious content. What it does offer is a sublime homage to the power of deep bass. Collaborating musicians include Zimbabwean choral ensemble Umdumo Wesizwe, a cathedral organist and other orchestral performers.
The launch event is conceived and staged by the artists running KINDOM on Low Petegate.
What's the Score?
The ancient streets of the Minster Quarter host Britain's finest shopping and cultural destination. There are almost 300 independent shops, bars and restaurants delivering a level of expertise and enthusiasm impossible to find in most British Cities. The Minster is an artwork that puts all Britain's other treasures in the shade.
But there's a problem. For many years, locals have given the Minster Quarter a wide berth, dismissing it as a tourist district. Tourists in turn are in sightseeing mode when here, not shopping. To address this, the Minster Quarter team was established a year ago by artist Ewan Allinson of design business Kingdom on Low Petergate, and York City Centre Manager Carolyn Dunn.
The Afro-Saxon Soundclash is the first grand gesture of the Minster Quarter. It is being put on for the people of York that they re-evaluate what this district is about and start to hang out more here. But equally, an event like this merits national attention and if people reading about it have their presumptions about York challenged then hey, job's a good ‘un. A Minster Quarter street-festival is being planned for Spring next year and work is underway to establish York in the years to come as the European town where the African and European traditions collaborate most actively. The Archbishop of York is, of course, Ugandan and brings great credit upon the city.
This is not just about marketing. Culture blossoms where the political and economic spheres throw their weight behind the spontaneity of artistic vision. York is reviving an urban dynamic known here in Anglo-Saxon times, again with the building of the Minster and at many other eras in its deep history. The buzz in York rises and falls with the centuries. It's been away and now it's back.
Concert Date & Time
Thurs October 23rd 2008
Doors Open 7pm
1st Round starts at 7.30pm and lasts 1 hour.
2nd Round starts at 9.00pm and lasts for 50mins.
Please pm me for more details
