A feast of Renaissance and contemporary music performed by clarinettist Stuart King, cellist Clare O'Connell and viola da gamba player Liam Bryne - the result of a weeks residency in Walpole Chapel supported by Snape Maltings Music, the Hinrichsen Foundation, the Leche Trust and the Fidelio Charitable Trust.

“Awakening” was conceived by CHROMA cellist Clare O’Connell, whose curiosity and enthusiasm for narrative programming has epitomised her decade-strong concert series in Berkhamsted. She envisaged this programme as a collaboration - with her long-standing friend and founder of CHROMA, clarinettist Stuart King, and star viol player Liam Byrne - three musicians who all transcend the traditional roles of their instruments.

It explores the parallels between experimental composers both ancient and modern, allowing the music to speak on its own terms unfettered by historical context. This seemingly disparate combination of instruments affords a uniquely rich sonic experience. Throughout the concert are electronic episodes linking the pieces, all of which are derived from sampling or live processing of these instruments.

Composers Freya Waley-Cohen, Rubens Askenar and David Bruce were invited to the Walpole showing, as they are each commissioned to write a short piece in response to their experience of the music so far - the next stage of the project is stitching their new pieces into the programme.

Programme as performed at Walpole Chapel, Friday 6 July 2018: 

Nico Muhly- Drones and Viola Da Gamba
Francis Poulenc - Sonata for two Clarinets - Andante
Christopher Tye - Sit Fast - part 1
Igor Stravinsky - Three Pieces for solo clarinet - Sempre e Molto Tranquillo
David Lang - Broken
Pierre De La Rue - Si Dormiero
Tarquinio Merula - Canzonetta Spirituale spora alla nanna
Manuel De Falla - Nana
Maurice Ravel - Passacaille from his Piano Trio
Marin Marais - La Biscayenne
Alexander Agricola - Tandernaken
Charles Koechlin -  Le Soir Dans La Campagne

The Fidelio Charitable Trust