St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney, 22 June 2009

Trio Medieval from Norway.

OF COURSE, the setting is perfect; that warm red sandstone, the soaring roof – it’s a small cathedral but it seems very big and airy – some architect did a good job, all those years ago, created a landmark you could see for miles.

The acoustics are good, though the sightlines are famously compromised by hefty pillars – the brochure says that’s compensated for by the ‘special ambience’, and it’s true, though there are always people who will complain. The Rose Window is looking fine; the house is full.

On they come then, three Norwegian sopranos with impossible Norwegian names – Friman, Fuglseth and Ossum. They formed Trio Medieval in 1997, and the name belies them – it’s a mixed programme, not at all the Gregorian chantsy thing one might be led to expect.

But at the start it’s very monastery. You want them to wander about in habits. I can’t help wondering, as I hear this pure sound, what a boy’s unbroken voice would make of this. These women have warm, rich voices – beautiful, but full throated. There’s something about the reediness of a young male voice that catches the Middle Ages – lots of kneeling on stone and flagellation and Black Death angst.

The Trio feel different. They play against each other beautifully – the harmonies and fiddly bits are absolutely professionally executed. They look a bit like nuns having fun, humming and reaching all sorts of unexpected notes. The three voices intertwine like a plait, like ribbons on a Maypole – it’s mesmeric. In this setting too, it feels a bit as if time has stopped, and if we go outside there’ll be pigs and a leper or two in Broad Street.

But a bit samey, after a while. Just as I’m nearly dropping off, lulled by the lovely rhythms – a fella turns up with a Jew’s harp! Who is he? He looks a bit lost but once he starts to play, it’s seriously good – funky even. If you can imagine nuns having even more fun , that’s what’s suddenly happening. They’re all smiling and making a delicate, intricate, clever sound together. My notes say – o it’s seriously good! They left the best till last!

They love to sing together, that’s clear. They make a wonderful sound, a nostalgic, careful evocation of early music; but boy, do they rock when they let their hair down. Nuns on the run from their small retreat – that’s what the last number felt like. I’d like to hear more stuff like that, rocking the Cathedral to its sandstone roots.

© Morag MacInnes, 2009

Links

• St Magnus Festival
• Trio Medieval