Review: Walk the Way
with the Artisans, Vanderbilt and Aykroyd
Stewart's Hall, Huntly
[Map]
After a bit of a sabbatical from cultural activity for reasons that would really
bore you dear reader, I, fortified by a good meal and a glass of wine, attended
this poetry, prose and music event. Ready for anything because you never know and
it is best to be prepared. I hoped I had managed to get enough wine down easily-made-grumpy
friend.
Walk the Way told the story of the epic five hundred mile Santiago de Compostela
pilgrimage, also known as the Way or Camino. The story was told using poetry, prose
and music. Paulina Vanderbilt, whose book The Way: a Poetic Pilgrimage,
based on her personal experiences of the Camino, was being launched at this event,
read the punchy evocative poems from it. She also provided a lively prose narrative
tracing its history from earliest beginnings in the ninth century to the continuing
popularity it holds today for people of all faiths or none. Lucy Aykroyd,
who completed the whole five hundred miles last year straight off (phew!) read complementary
extracts from her soon-to-be published journal Leaf or Lizard: Shoe String Tales
from the Camino. These readings intertwined with mediaeval songs and music
relating to the Camino by The Artisans, a talented group of musicians from
London who specialise in early music.
The performance overall was entrancing despite an odd set-up. Right at the back
of the stage there was a projection of pictures of the Camino beaming out from a
gap in black curtains which were decorated by a framing of little white lights.
This meant that the performers were back-lit as the main hall lights were switched
off for both halves of the programme. Some audience members who, like me, were sitting
at the back of the hall found this disconcerting especially Easily-Made-Grumpy.
I don't think that those who got a seat nearer the front were affected. Should have
got there a bit earlier and got a seat at the front and I would have heard the voices
better as well. I'll know next time. However, after a while I found that the impression
of looking into the sun zoned me completely with the whole notion of a penitent
pilgrimage in climes a lot warmer than Scotland. The fact that the performers were
in silhouette also lent an other-worldly feel to the whole thing. Indeed the words
of Vanderbilt and Aykroyd spoke of how the Camino is a state of being rather than
an objective to be accomplished.
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More than the bruising of yesteryear,
the shin-splint and blisters, we feel
how the bread-and-water trail feeds us.
(Vanderbilt)
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The hypnotic rhythms of the music maintained the effect. When Yvonne Eddy
sang the marvellous Alleluya Vocavit Jhesus I was quite prepared to believe
I was at that moment hearing an angel.
What else is there to say? One poet, one chronicler and the Artisans had never met
face to face before. The Artisans had travelled that day from London and had been
on the go since early morning. They had about two hours to sort themselves out.
A miracle took place. A marvellous evening. A seamless performance. That's professionalism
for you. The depth and humanity of Vanderbilt's poetry, the engaging honest humour
of Aykroyd's journal and the truly beautiful music and song of the Artisans blended
like grace and transported us all. Easily-Made-Grumpy just shut his eyes and listened
and solved his problems that way — Camino style. Worked better than wine.
P.S. It is perhaps worth mentioning that this concert was brought to Huntly in a
collaborative effort by Music Centeral and Huntly Writers. These local groups are
dedicated respectively to promoting music and creative writing in the area. Their
collaboration shows how the combination of the vision and passion of two separate
groups can provide an opportunity for artists from different disciplines to interact
in ways which can enhance both their performance and audience experience.
Vanderbilt's book The Way is published by Blue Salt (£9.50) and contains
photos, notes about Galician folklore and some yummy Galician recipes as well as
other good things:
www.bluesalt.co.uk
Copies of the Artisans' early music CD can be ordered from their website:
www.the-artisans.co.uk
Review by Maureen Ross
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L to R: Paulina Vanderbilt, Sarah Stuart, Emily Askew, Yvonne Eddy, Hazel Askew,
Lucy Aykroyd
Photos by Cal Wallace
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North East Writers and its partner organisations undertake to produce
all events in the New Words festival as advertised, but we can accept no liability
for details that are changed due to circumstances beyond our control.