Chris Elmes bagpipes/medieval fiddles/oud/citole/percussion Cait Webb shawms/harps/pipe and tabor Stacy Schumacher oud/citole/percussion Anne Marie Summers voice/bagpipes Thor Ewing voice/narration

Gaïta specialise in music from the European courts of the 13th and 14th centuries. We especially perform music from Scottish sources but also the songs of the Troubadours, the Cantigas de Santa Maria from Spain, and the early Ars Nova of Italy. We aim to present the music in a medieval context, performing in period dress and on the instruments of the early ‘Alta’ group - shawm and bagpipes - or the ‘Bas’ group - fiddle, harp and lute. We are easily adaptable to playing energetic music outdoors at fairs and parades, or indoors in more intimate surroundings for concerts - especially suitable for medieval spaces such as churches or castles. Our concert programmes all have specific themes, often with a linking narrative, and tailored programmes can be arranged.

Sample Programme:

A Series of Unfortunate Events - A Musical History of Medieval Scotland: A brief history of Scottish Kings, Courts and Musicians from the 13th and 14th centuries. The programme includes music written in Scotland (St Andrews Music Book, Inchcolm Antiphoner), music showing others’ view of Scotland, and other contemporary sources, all interspersed with observations on this fascinating period of Scottish history and its relevance to the music.
The Miraculous World of Alfonso, the Wise: A fully-costumed, staged performance, based on new transcriptions from the famous thirteenth-century Cantigas de Santa Maria manuscript of King Alfonso, the Wise. The Cantigas are performed either as songs or as instrumental arrangements, and the colourful miracle stories behind the songs are told. An entertaining and accessible programme, presenting not only the musical world of 13th century Spain, but also the corresponding worlds of belief and spectacle. With Anne Marie Summers and Thor Ewing.

Education:

Instrumental and dance workshop focusing on the Gresley manuscript (English c1500) in conjunction with Misericordia.
Workshops on the Cantigas de Santa Maria exploring performance styles, period notation and instrumentation.

Recordings:

O Dulcis Scotia - Music in Medieval Scotland (GMMCD01)
Eschewynge of Ydlenesse - Music for dancing from the Middle Ages and Renaissance (CD MISERI 7)

Performances:

Dec 06 Reid Memoiral Church, Edinburgh
Feb 07 Dunfermline Holy Trinity Church
May 07 Aust Church, Gloucestershire

Contact:

Chris Elmes, 1F2, 25 Haddington Place, Edinburgh EH7 4AF
Tel: 0131 557 2397

Email: info@gaita.co.uk
Website: www.gaita.co.uk