Their repertoire and performance style has therefore been shaped not only by their diverse musical interests but also by their desire to appeal to this broader audience.
The Sydney based ensemble brings together an amazing diversity of musical ingredients. Harp, lutes, fiddles, recorders, guitars, chittarone, gittern, bagpipes, percussion and vocals are used in arrangements of Anglo/celtic folk, early European and original music to create a remarkable sound.
As well as their unique arrangements of folk songs they explore a vast range of other music ranging from the medieval period, through the Renaissance and Baroque to compositions by Alex Cronin.
Pastance has played at some of Australia’s largest folk festivals, including The National (1994-2000), Port Fairy (1996), Woodford (1996), Jamberoo (2003) and Cobargo (2004). Over the past 25 years Pastance has performed for over 200,000 school children in over 1000 schools all over Australia and New Zealand.
Alexander Cronin
harp, lute fiddle,
gittern, bagpipes, voice
Myfanwy Dibben
voice, recorder,
percussion
Megan Cronin
voice, recorder,
shawm, percussion
James Gastineau-Hills:
fiddle, viola
Chris Wheeler:
voice, baroque guitar,
acoustic guitar
Jenni Cargill:
voice, percussion
Carrl Myriad:
Guitars
Matthew Ridley:
recorders, Renaissance flute, voice
Sit Down Beside Me
Cover Artwork: Hilary Rhodes
In its inimitable style, Pastance again brings together music from the folk traditions and the early music world. Played with flair and grace, there are well known songs to sing along with, new compositions for harp by Alex Cronin, hauntingly beautiful Sephardic songs and a couple of up-beat Renaissance dance tunes to get your toes tapping.
The title refers to the chorus from the song “The Next Market Day”. It’s also an invitation to set aside the pressures and stresses of modern life and be transported by the music.
Alex Cronin – lute, medieval fiddle, gittern, harp, voice
Megan Cronin – voice, recorders, percussion
Myfanwy Dibben – voice, recorders
Matthew Ridley – recorders, Renaissance flute
Carrl Myriad – guitars
1. Wild Mountain Thyme – Scottish, trad.
2. Morena – Sephardic, 15th c.
3. Fireflight – A. Cronin
4. Next Market Day – English, trad.
5. The Lonesome Boatman – F. Furey
6. Skye Boat Song – Scottish, trad.
7. O’Carolan’s Concerto – T. O’Carolan (1670-1738)
8. Row Weel – Scottish, trad.
9. Stella Splendens – 14th c.
10. Sumens – J. Dunstable (d. 1453)
11. Roma Mail – A. Cronin
12. Sentomi la formicula – Italian, 16th c.
13. Chacona – Juan Aranez, 1624
14. Clement’s Squirrel / Packington’s Pound – English, 17th c.
15. Come Away – J. Dowland (1562-1626)
16. Puncha – Sephardic, 15th c.
17. Tamlin’s Fancy – A. Cronin
18. Tamlin – words trad. music A. Cronin
Total Playing Time 60’19”
This Recording was made at Cerrutti Chapel, St Patrick’s Manly in Sydney during February and March of 2003.
Engineer: Greg Simmons.
Mastered at Sonamax, Sydney
Copyright 2003 All Rights Reserved
A Valley Fair
A delightful collection of traditional, original, and early music for Celtic harp, recorders and voices. The compositions by Alex Cronin were inspired by memorable places visited while touring with Pastance. The album also includes two medieval dance tunes, a haunting arrangement of Josquin’s In te Domine and traditional Irish, Scottish and Welsh music.
Alex Cronin – harp, lute, voice
Megan Cronin – voice, recorders, shawm, percussion
Myfanwy Dibben – voice, recorders
Chris Wheeler – voice, baroque guitar, acoustic guitar
Matthew Ridley – bass flute
Cover Artwork: Hilary Rhodes
1. High Country / Helping Hands – Alex Cronin
2. The Minstrelsy of Chirke Castle – Welsh, 1791
3. Eileen Aroon – Irish, trad.
4. La Seconda Estampie Royal – French, 13th century
5. Dragons Breath – Alex Cronin
6. Cumberland River – A. Cronin
7. Durme – Sephardic, 15th century
8. Flowers of Edinburgh – Scottish, trad.
9. Saltarello – Italian, 14th century
10. In Te Domine – Josquin, 1500
11. Almond Tree – A. Cronin
12. Three by Three – A. Cronin
13. Forgotten Valley – A. Cronin
14. Slipping Away – A. Cronin
15. Farewell to Music – T. O’Carolan (1670-1738)
Total Playing Time 60’47”
Total Playing Time 60’47”
This Recording was made at Cerrutti Chapel, St Patrick’s Manly in Sydney during February and March of 2003.
Engineer: Greg Simmons.
Mastered at Sonamax, Sydney
Copyright 2003 All Rights Reserved
Joy
Cover Artwork: Judith Clingan
‘Joy’ refers to the intent and inspiration that underlies so much of the music on this disc. From the piety and reverence of the carols, the longing and even bitterness of Landini and Machaut, to the soaring, joyous beauty of Hildegarde von Bingen, the effect and intent of this music is ultimately to uplift the soul.
This collection of devotional music gives us an appreciation of how music formed the backdrop to people’s lives in the Middle Ages.
Alex Cronin – lute, medieval fiddle, gittern, harp, voice
Megan Cronin – voice, recorders, percussion
Jenny Cargill – voice, percussion, oud drone
Matthew Ridley – recorders, rebec drone, voice
1. De Spiritu Sancto – Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)
2. Dame, vostre doulze viaire/Comment qu’a moy – Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377)
3. Personent hodie – German, c.1360
4. Ochi dolenti mie – Francesco Landini (1325-1397)
5. Eya, martyr Stephane – English, 15thc.
6. Senti tu d’amour – Donata da Firenze, 14th c.
7. Ochi dolenti mie – F. Landini
8. Alleluia – A. Cronin
9. Now well may we mirthes make – English, 15th c.
10. Cara mie donna – F. Landini
11. Tres douce dame – Machaut
12. Veni, electa mea – York Fragments, 15th c.
13. Nowell sing we – English, 15th c.
14. Alleluya psallat – School of Worcester, 14th c.
15. Puzzle canon – John Dunstable (d. 1453)
16. Mariam matrem virginem – Lilbre Vermell, 14th c.
17. If love now reigned – King Henry VIII (1491-1547)
18. The Death of Queen Jane – Trad.
19. La Magdelena – Basse dance – Pierre Attaingant, 1543
20. Black is the colour – Trad.
21. Time stands still – John Dowland (1562-1626)
22. O Virtus Sapientiae – Hildegard
Total Playing Time 60’21”
This Recording was made in the John Lindgard Hall at Canberra Boys Grammar School in April 1998.
Recording Engineer: David Starr
Mastering: David Neil
Copyright 1999 All Rights Reserved
falling through time
All the colour and mystique of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance come alive with a presentation that is rich in music and drama.
Alex Cronin – lute, medieval fiddle, gittern, bagpipes, harp, voice
Megan Cronin – voice, recorder, percussion
Jenny Cargill – voice, percussion, oud drone
Matthew Ridley – recorders, gittern, voice
Cover Artwork: Hilary Rhodes
- Quant je sui mis – Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377)
- Douce dame jolie – Guillaume de Machaut
- Danca Amorosa, La manfredina (instr.) – Italian, 14th c.
- Kalenda Maya – Raimbault de Vaqueiras c.1155-1205
- Tant m’abelis – Folquet de Marselha (12th c.)
- Double Estampie (instr.) – English, c.1320
- Inperayritz – Verges ses par
- Saltarello (instr.) – Italian, 14th c.
- La Rosa – Spanish, 15th c.
- Though Some Saith – Henry VIII (1491 1547)
- Je n’ay point plus – Claudin de Sermisy (c.1490-1592) Lute intabulation – PierreAttaingant 1543
- O My Heart/ Consort viii – Henry VIII
- Stonecutter/ Greensleeves – Trad. English
- What if I Never Speed – John Dowland (1562-1626)
- His Golden Locks – J. Dowland
- Rest Awhile, You Cruel Care – J. Dowland
Total Playing Time 55’45”
This Recording was made in the All Saints Anglican School on the Gold Coast and The Old Darlington School in July and August of 1995.
Recording Engineer: David Starr
Mastering: David Neil
Copyright 1996 All Rights Reserved