Vivien Ellis voice Giles Lewin violin/medieval fiddle/ud/flutes/voice

Alva was founded by vocalist Vivien Ellis and multi-instrumentalist Giles Lewin to explore the links between early European vocal repertoire and surviving folksong; by comparing different traditions, they bring a fresh approach to early music presentation. They are experienced performers who communicate their passion for this repertoire to audiences in a relaxed, intimate, accessible and informative style. Vivien is well-known through her work with The Dufay Collective and Sinfonye. Giles was a founding member of The Dufay Collective, and plays with The Carnival Band and folk big band Bellowhead. Their concerts have featured on BBC4, BBC Radio 3’s The Early Music Show and Late Junction. Their concert programmes include European medieval and traditional music, Sephardic repertoire and newly composed material.

Sample Programme:

Love Burns in me: Medieval and traditional songs and fiddle music from Britain and France. Tracing the roots of popular song repertoire preserved in the songbooks of medieval France and British oral tradition, this programme celebrates the more earthy aspects of romantic love.
The Bells of Paradise: English folksongs collected by R V Williams, and medieval English repertoire.
The Dawn Songs: medieval, traditional and new songs of lovers meeting and parting at dawn.

Education:

Early and Traditional Song and Instrumental Workshops: Vivien and Giles are highly experienced and enthusiastic teachers, who work with groups of adults or children, both beginners and more experienced participants, in one-off sessions or in workshop series which can lead to informal performances. Giles is a visiting lecturer at Birmingham Centre for Early Music Performance and Research. Vivien is a community musician for The Spitalfields Festival in Tower Hamlets and teaches regularly at Dartington Music Summer School.

Recordings:

Love Burns in Me: Medieval and traditional songs and fiddle music from Britain and France
The Bells of Paradise: English Folk Songs
The Dawn Songs (all on Beautiful Jo Records)

Performances:

16 Jul 06 Wirksworth Music Festival
16 Apr 07 British Museum Concert Series
18 Jul 07 Chester Summer Music Festival

Contact:

Vivien Ellis, 17 High View,
Pinner, Middlesex HA5 3NZ

Tel: 020 8537 8748

Email: vivien.ellis@virgin.net
Website: www.alva.uk.com