There are many things to love about our little corner of South East London, and one of them is its excellent (and indeed award winning) libraries. There is of course the usual myriad of fiction and non-fiction to get your teeth into, the computer access for those who need it and the reading groups and children’s rhyme times (one of which is sometimes led by one of Joyzine’s favourite local singer-songwriters), but there’s something a little different to be found here too.
During Women’s History Month I was stopped in my tracks when passing Catford Library by a front window display of posters featuring female punk bands and anarchist festivals. Last autumn saw a programme of sci-fi events that covered literature, film, theatre, gaming, music and visual arts, including zine making, philosophy and virtual reality. And Lewisham Libraries’ latest project is Echoes Off The Pages, a series of free music events organised with seasoned promoters Chaos Theory, bringing unconventional music to the local community through performances and workshops.
We’re here today for the second event, and while Chaos Theory’s slogan is “New music for open minds”, today we’re being treated to a set of 12th Century music, largely played on the hammered dulcimer (an instrument with history stretching back to 669BC) by musician and historian Kate Arnold. On approaching local library/community hub Deptford Lounge, we were unsure quite how Deptford’s locals would take to an afternoon of medieval music, but before long the staff were having to source extra chairs to cope with the demand.
The growing crowd filling those chairs are treated to a ninety minute set that is beautiful, transportative and eye-opening. Feeding centuries old music through effects pedals and building up mesmerising layers of loops, these ancient sounds feel as fresh as if they’d been written today. Performing on the aforementioned hammered dulcimer, vielle, violin and vocals, Kate holds the audience wrapt in silence throughout (which is apt given the setting for today’s show).
Many of the songs played today were written by women of the Middle Ages, and we’re treated to some interesting history alongside the tunes, from medieval sampling to dark ages diss-tracks, dispelling many of the myths about the era that have perpetuated through films and literature. The songs, taken from across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa are sung in their original languages, including Arabic and Old French, with handy translations and illustrations on a screen to the side of the stage.
After an hour and a half of sonic time travel, we’re left moved, informed and awestruck. Projects like these bringing unique music far from the mainstream into public spaces and opening them up to people who might never have encountered them otherwise is fantastic work, and Lewisham Libraries, Chaos Theory and Kate Arnold delivered a perfect afternoon, opening ears, hearts and minds. It just goes to show that if you’re searching for new sounds, you could do worse than looking back a few hundred years.
Lewisham Libraries’ Echoes Off the Pages series concludes with a performance and workshop by multidisciplinary artist, educator and pioneering maker of oversized musical instruments Lia Mice at Deptford Lounge on 5th July – full details here
Kate Arnold: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Bandcamp
Chaos Theory: Website / Facebook / Instagram
Lewisham Libraries: Facebook / Instagram
Review by Paul Maps
Photography by Estie Joy Booley: Facebook / Instagram
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