I am a composer living on the Malvern Hills and my creative work is deeply embedded in wild landscapes. Since moving to Malvern in 2009 I have created award-winning music and projects inspired by the surrounding skies, land, people and hills. I am always seeking ways to encourage myself and others to connect with the wild land and the wildlife that we share it with.
Last summer on at the Resurgance summer camp in the Green and Away fields at The Fold I was sitting on a bench soaking up the sun when I had an ‘Aha! moment’. I realised that this special place was literally on my doorstep (I live on the top of the Malvern Hills) – with wild water, wild land and a green vision for a healthier future. Maybe I could find a way to connect my own creative work with the work here?
Fast forward a few months to a brisk December morning when I meet up with The Fold’s Operations Manager Suzanne in the Fold Cafe. Over two steaming cups of tea we talk about all The Fold has to offer.
We talk about the River Teme and the health of the water and the traditions of wild swimming here. We talk about the wealth of arts, crafts and well-being activities happening here, bringing people to the Fold for a multitude of nourishing reasons. We talk about finding new ways to bring people together as a community here, to celebrate this beautiful place and all it has to offer.
So now it is the beginning of Spring 2025 and here’s a little sneak preview of some of my plans for creative things in the pipeline for the year ahead at The Fold as composer-in-residence…
Dark Waters is a new multi-layered creative project exploring the River Teme through poetry, art and music. We will be celebrating the river that flows through The Fold – one of the fastest flowing in England. The river’s history, geography and wildlife will inspire new music, words and art – as well as ideas around the current challenges faced by our rivers and the impact made on them by intensive poultry farming and land use.
I will be meeting with water-testing volunteers, visual artists, writers, singers, dancers and local residents to create a series of films and live events that dive deep into the waters and raise awareness of how to protect and savour our beautiful rivers for the generations to come.
60 Wild Songs is a solo project where I go out into the wild landscape and create a short improvised song. This Spring I will be visiting three different wild spots around The Fold to create my next set of Wild Songs (I will probably be quite secretive about it, for now)…
In my next blog I will explain more about the 60 Wild Songs project and there will be more information about the Dark Waters project too and how you can get involved. Watch this space!
If you’d like to know more check out my website and sign up for my newsletter.
Here are some YouTube links to some of my music inspired by and composed on the Malvern Hills:
On Malvern Hill A Wild Midwinter Carol Harebell Lacrimosa Can You Hear Me? Elephant Woman Blake Reimagined