FitkinWall Present: Harpland

FitkinWall follow threads of migration, loss and longing in their new show, inspired by the stories of the Highland Clearances.

At the heart of this show is Ruth Wall’s explorations into Gaelic song, fiddle and pipe tunes and history of the Scottish Highlands where she grew up. Composer Graham Fitkin has created enigmatic and mesmerising new versions of these tunes for Ruth’s three harps – the sitar-like Renaissance bray harp, the beautiful medieval Gaelic wire harp (clàrsach) and the Scottish lever harp.

The movement of people during the Highland Clearances is brought into modern-day focus: Ruth spoke with recent migrants to Scotland and their voices are incorporated in the music. FitkinWall have created something beautiful and at times disturbing. Dark, fragmented folk moods transform into soaring fast-paced music in this memorable show.

The concert is lit by a specially-commissioned light installation by the artist Peter Freeman.

“The harp is luminous, pastoral and urban at the same time under Wall’s fingers, she pushes the instrument to its limits and Fitkin’s music allows for a certain steeliness and discordance. The sound is immaculate.”
– London Jazz News