Last October, Ben Heaney was invited by Challow Park Studios to record some solo violin music. It was an informal session primarily to help the studio line and mic test as part of their new build. Another result however, was a set of original, spontaneous arrangements and interpretations of Ancient Gregorian Chants and a selection of works from the “Book of Scores”, a set of  pieces of Funerary Violin music from the early 19th Century. These have subsequently formed the basis of Ben’s latest solo violin project…

*

Available to hear on Soundcloud now and unveiled today exclusively by Deltaviolin, a brand new home recording entitled “Viktoria”.

This work, although still in progress, is a fully realised performance of Ben’s interpretation of the “Ave Regina caelorum” – one of four Marian antiphons, traditionally heard after each of the canonical hours of the Liturgy of the Hours. Strictly used, it is a prayer made after Compline, the final canonical hour of prayer before going to sleep.

In this new interpretation, Ben explores rhythms created by the pattern of syllables creating the words and harmonies from the mode employed. The melody is heard five times in total, gradually morphing through increased speed at each repetition and with the introduction of a quite rustic drone part in the third and fourth variation the music reaches a tempo more associated with dance. Suddenly, the music seems very naturally from the Folk tradition, sounding convincingly as it maybe was once heard in a Tavern 1000 years ago. The final repetition returns the music to the original contemplative and plaintive atmosphere.

The plan is to produce an album of solo violin music in this vein, exploring some of the oldest surviving melodies in print and presenting it in the most simple instrumental form of solo acoustic violin.

If you would like to help this particular, or any Deltaviolin project, please do not hesitate to use the contact form here giving details of how you may be able to assist.