Archive for category: News

So are you a fan of Lumbricus terrestris? You should be – especially if you are a gardener – because these common Earthwormsare our ‘ecosystem engineers’ – maintaining soil structure and breaking down decaying roots and leaves.

“There are few animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world than the earthworm.”

Charles Darwin

Side two of Rewilding dives underground where we encounter Big Fat Earth Worm.

“The intense subterranean activity of the flocculating protozoans, fungal networks and tunnelling earth worms (to name but a few) can help control flooding, digest pollutants and trap vast amounts of carbon.  It’s the energy and movement of these re-wilding collaborators that helps to sustain life on earth”

Says Richard

Watch the video to find out more…

This is just one of the magical tracks from the highly topical musical fantasy that is Rewilding. It has a strong connection with Knepp Wilding project in Sussex where Richard performed in 2018.

Did you know…?

• Earthworms are also know as ‘Night Crawlers’
• They can dig down as deep as 6.5 feet
• They can live for up to 6 years
• They can grow up to 14 inches long

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The inner sleeve of the album was designed by soil specialist David Sheil who turned the musicians into protozoa:

Do you recognise any of them…?

Led by Durrant’s guitars, ukuleles and cello, this uplifting and optimistic album was created by Richard Durrant earlier this year during Lockdown, and as he says:

‘The world changed… and so did my music. 

Pre-order the limited edition gatefold vinyl (signed and numbered by the artist). 

The hi-rez audio versions are now available.

Rewilding will go live on all streaming platforms on 31 October at 4.37pm (as the sun sets in Shoreham).

This is all building up to the official album launch on 31 October – Halloween – which will be live streamed from 2pm. 

After eight months in the studio Richard Durrant has finally completed work on his forthcoming album: Rewilding…

Now renamed Rewilding, this single album will be available on vinyl as a limited edition gatefold with artwork by the English “unrealist’ artist, Jon Everitt.  Although there are no plans for a CD release, the album will be widely available to stream or download including hi-rez audio formats (included in the vinyl price).

Unsurprisingly, this is a very different outcome to what was originally planned back in 2019.  

“The enormity of what we are all living through has, of course, deeply affected my work. Lockdown came at a time when I should have been finishing and launching an album followed by a busy and exciting tour.

“Instead the entire year was cancelled and what I had begun to record became all that was left. The music was immediately under intense scrutiny and the soul searching began.“

Richard

The album’s focus on ecological issues are unchanged as is the sense of place with the Sussex countryside centre stage. 

The internationally famous re-wilding project taking place at the Knepp estate just outside Horsham has proved a particular inspiration.

This was where Richard was invited to play a gig with folk musician Sam Lee and one of the virtuoso Knepp nightingales back in 2018.

“Knepp allows us to see how nature can rebalance, realign and refresh; if we stand back to allow the process to unfold then this can happen fairly swiftly both above and below ground.

“These results have proved surprising even to those in specialised areas and the benefits offered provide an incentive to reassess and change for the better. This is not just nature quietly offering to teach those who care to look, it is also a beacon of hope for humankind.“

Richard

Rewilding the album is a musical fantasy led by guitars, ukuleles and cello. These instruments and many others are played by Richard himself. He is also joined by the incredible Brian Gulland from Gryphon on bassoons, recorders, organ and crumhorns.

Old friend and percussionist Stephen Hiscock plays various exotic percussion instruments and the Durrant family not only play but have helped out by engineering on some fairly intense recording sessions!

Side one takes place above ground with four tracks:
Aurochs, Forr All Mannkinne Nede, Knepp and Leaf. 

Side two is set below ground with three tracks:
Step Gently, Triskelion and Big Fat Earth Worm.

And coming up…

Don’t forget Richard has live performances coming up soon. This will be his first gig since February. See his diary for details.

Friday 3 July saw the release of Richard Durrant’s single Kenneth the Hedge. This is a remix of the stand-out track from Richard’s 2018 double album Stringhenge…

Complete with new vocals, bass and percussion Kenneth comes with the equally revamped B side containing The Bog Oak Boureé. Both tracks are being released as part of the build up for the forthcoming album Rewilding.

Please show your support by visiting:

Last Sunday night saw the completion of Richard’s Music For Midsummer Tour with 14 livestream broadcasts direct from Richard’s studio.

This virtual tour which was focussed on each venue from Orkney to Sussex is still available to watch online – visit Richard’s Facebook or YouTube channels.

Alongside the challenges brought to us all by 2020, this year has also brought moments of extraordinary inspiration. Richard explains:

‘Faced with the loss of an entire year’s touring we decided to try as hard as we could to stay in touch with both the venues and my audience. And whilst friendships and the love of music were never at stake,  livelihoods and the future of venues and artists most definitely are so the live-streaming project felt very positive.’

Richard Durrant

Richard and Louise run all touring and recording from their home and studio in Shoreham. This little cottage industry has sent Richard out around the British Isles, across to Europe and South America to play solo concerts, Christmas tours and concertos with orchestras for the past 21 years.

During this time the studio has also seen the production of all Richard’s albums and scores along with recordings by a host of other musicians produced by Richard during the days of LongMan Records. Now, as with so many involved in the arts, none of this activity qualifies for direct government support

‘Working on my new album has filled the void left by the abrupt cancellation of all my touring. And inspiration has not been in short supply as we witness fascinating changes of perspective in the climate change debate, the positivity of the Black Lives Matter movement and the real hope that the world will never be the same again.’

Richard

Richard would like to thank you all for your ongoing support and encouragement. He looks forward to seeing you in person in the not too distant future.

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From every Sunday you can tune in – and switch off – with Richard Durrant’s weekly midday musical meditation on Richard’s YouTube channel.

This first offering is a little guitar piece from early 17th century Spain: Pavanas by Gaspar Sanz. It was recorded on Easter Sunday, in Richard’s studio in Sussex, England. We hope it brings you feelings of peace, love and positivity.

“My playing has helped me find peace and calm throughout my life, now seems a good time to try and share these feelings.“

Says Richard

If you haven’t done so already then please subscribe to Richard’s channel. Subscribe now.

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Changes to diary

Due to the current lockdown and uncertainty that the Coronavirus has caused Richard has taken the decision to move his Music For Midsummer Cycling Tour.

All concert dates from Orkney to Sussex are being rebooked and will be displayed on the website.

Although some concerts in late June may still take place if restrictions are lifted, the full tour is now postponed until 2021.

Weald Barrows – new album update

Richard has been able to devote more time than ever to working on his forthcoming double album Weald Barrows.

Please note that the album release date may be slightly delayed due to the difficulty of guest musicians recording their contributions. We are now aiming for a release date in July.  

Thanks to those of you that have already ordered your copies in advance – these orders are more important than ever now, especially with the postponement of the tour.

Click here to order your copy and help with the production costs.

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In the meantime Richard and Louise thank you for your support. Please stay safe and take care!

Watch this amazing excerpt from Richard’s new piece Knepp for four ukuleles – part of the premiere to be unveiled on 26 February with cello, hand drummers and electric bass by Shoreham’s maverick musician…

“The re-wilding activities at the Knepp estate near Horsham inspired and informed this new piece. It was conceived at an outdoor gig one perfect summer’s evening back in 2018 playing music with the nightingale. Knepp itself is a wilding site of international significance which, for those who take time to look, contains a lesson for the entire planet.”

Richard

Richard Durrant has also written a six movement ukulele concerto as well as a ukulele quartet. His work is often featured in the UKE Magazine. Click on the image above for more.

But what exactly is the ukulele? And what makes it so different from the guitar?

The ʻukulele originated in the 19th century as a Hawaiian adaptation of the Portuguese Machete – no not the big blade for slashing through the jungle – but a small guitar-like instrument also called the machete de braga or Cavaquinho brought over to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants, mainly from Madeira and the Azores.

Hawaii’s King Kalākaua was a great patron of the arts and encouraged the use of this new instrument into performances at royal gatherings.

The Hawaiin name ‘ukulele (oo-koo-leh-leh) roughly translates as Jumping Flea, possibly because of the movement of the player’s fingers. This might explain why Ukulele players remember the tuning of the four strings with My Dog has Fleas:

From Hawaii the Ukulele quickly gained great popularity in the USA and around the world and come in all shapes and sizes – most commonly as soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone – between them offering a range greater than that of the guitar:

Through the 20th century the popularity of the instrument took off in the works of jazz and popular music. Eclipsed to some extent by the guitar in this genre, since the 1990’s there has been a huge revival in the ukulele since the 1990’s with a new generation of musicians and In many schools it has become recognised as a great instrument to learn in the classroom – beats the recorder any day!

Did you know…?

Just last year Jake Shimabukuro’s ʻukulele rendition of George Harrison’s ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ went viral on Youtube receiving over 16 million views! 

George Hinchcliffe’s Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain play and sing music from a variety of musical genres featuring all types of ukuleles.  Richard produced their classic album The Secret of Life back in 2004. Within weeks the band where filmed for Jools Holland’s Hootenanny and appeared on radio and television across Europe.

The band are now an international phenomenon widely credited as being responsible for the global popularity of the uke.

Joining Richard on stage on 26 Feb to perform Knepp will be ukulele mega-star George Hinchcliffe, the ever modest co-founder of The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. Other players involved in the premiere include Richard’s four children and his wonderful Ukulele Circuit Trainers at the end of their annual six week ukulele course.

The rest of the concert will feature Richard’s solo guitar playing and the first performance of Richard’s Ukulele Quartet No1 Tan y Bwlch (with GeorgeHinchliffe, Mark Allen, Felix St Maur Sheil & Richard Durrant) plus plenty of other musical surprises.

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Ukes and All!

26 February 2020, 7.30pm 
Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 5EG