Charlie Draper and Holly Lowe perform as STRANGER STRINGS: THEREMIN & HARP DUO, an electro-acoustic classical duo combining theremin and concert harp. Modern circuits and antique strings combine in dramatic counterpoints: as hands flutter in mid-air, the instruments' complementary tonal streams cascade and blur into one. The results are otherworldly yet serene. Formed at the end of 2019, the duo has performed with the Radio Science Orchestra at TEDSummit, at Bluedot Festival, Bishopsgate Institute lunchtime concert and TedX to name just a few. Now, including new works written for them, they present a spectrum of music for these striking instruments, producing music to delight, mystify and astound in equal measure.
The theremin is an early monophonic electronic instrument invented by the Russian physicist Lev Sergeyevitch Termen (later known as Leon Theremin) in around 1920. It is controlled by free motion of the player's hands around two field-emitting antennae, one of which controls pitch, the other volume. As the player's hand moves nearer or further from the vertical antenna, the tone gets higher or lower. As the player's hand moves up or down over the looped antenna, the volume increases or decreases. Through the execution of precise gestures in midair, it is possible to make the theremin sing, effectively summoning music from the air. Although the theremin is noteworthy for being the only expressive musical instrument controlled entirely without physical contact, its most interesting feature is its tone, which lies somewhere between a stringed instrument and a voice, and which is capable of infinite sustain and infinite gradations of pitch and volume. For Percy Grainger, it was “the most perfect tonal instrument”.
The programme will include works by Villa-Lobos, Debussy, Ravel and Philip Glass. Doors will open 20 mins before each concert starts for a prompt start at either 1.30pm or 4pm, with refreshments available. Please note that seating is unreserved, but you can choose to sit in the gallery or on the ground floor. These concerts are hosted by Abney Park Trust, as a fundraiser to support our community programming.
Access information: The ground floor of the Chapel is fully accessible, with accessible facilities. There is level access at our High Street entrance and ramp access at the Church Street entrance. The gallery seats have a great view and acoustic but please note that they can only be reached by a steep, narrow spiral staircase. Please contact us in advance at info@abneypark.org to let us know your access needs and we will do our best to accommodate them.