Review: Kerr Fagan Harbron and Methera, National Centre For Early Music, York (From York Press)

Review: Kerr Fagan Harbron and Methera, National Centre For Early Music, York

10:44am Monday 6th October 2008 in Search By Richard Foster

FOLK trio Kerr Fagan Harbron and string quartet Methera delighted an audience in York with their virtuosity.

Playing without amplification to take full advantage of the medieval church’s natural acoustics, the musicians gave a fresh lilt to gems from the folk repertoire.

When required, this “magnificent seven” played with panache – yet there were plenty of deft touches too, as they created memorable filigrees of sound.

Fiddler Nancy Kerr and bouzouki player James Fagan, a celebrated folk duo, have joined forces with concertina maestro Robert Harbron to freshen up songs and tunes from Britain, Ireland, Australia and America.

Gustav Holst’s famous hymn tune Thaxted provided a stirring introduction to Kerr’s interpretation of the Australian folk song Leaving Old England, complete with its grumpy old convict subtext. Fagan sang with great feeling the lyrical anti-war song Farmhands And Masters. Methera use the dynamics of the classic string quartet to explore folk tunes both old and new. John Dipper, fellow fiddler Emma Reid, viola player Miranda Rutter and cellist Lucy Deakin showed great empathy as they huddled together, without music stands, playing from the heart.

Their combination of a Swedish waltz with a French bourree was sublime, as was their version of the Harbron tune Copernicus – inspired by the Polish astronomer. The two acts conjured up some wonderful ensemble playing when they shared the stage for the second half of Friday night’s concert ­– the first of their debut tour. Their exuberant encore was charged with the joy of music-making.