Harriet Mackenzie

mmersive music & poetry: cello (Elgar, Casals) in the burial chamber, folk & Bach in the chapel, poetry in the longhouse.
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Hougue Bie Festival: Music and Poetry

An immersive experience of music and poetry. For one magical evening, the ancient Neolithic mound comes alive. Hear the cello playing Elgar and Casals in the burial chamber, folk music, Bach in the chapel above, and poetry in the longhouse.

Concert goers will rotate through 3 performances between the Chapel on top of the mound, the Neolithic passage grave below, one of the ten oldest buildings in the world, to the longhouse. In the Chapel, violinist Harriet Mackenzie performs Bach’s Sonata in E minor, accompanied by David Gordon on the harpsichord.

In the ancient passage grave, the cello takes centre stage. Solo works continue Bach’s legacy: selected movements from the Cello Suites, Pablo Casals’ Song of the Birds, and Elgar’s Salut d’Amour, offered in homage to Jacqueline du Pré, whose paternal roots in Jersey lend particular resonance to this tribute. Poetry is recited in the longhouse. The poetry element will feature a selection of readings shared by both Springfield pupils and guest Michelle Le Herissier. Poetry readings by both Springfield pupils and guest Michelle Le Herissier, featuring texts specially written for the occasion, inspired by the music performed at the event.

Performed by Harriet Mackenzie, Urška Horvat and David Gordon, the evening promises a stunning interactive experience from 7:30pm.

For those who are unable to climb up to the chapel or crouch low to enter the passage grave there will be a performance of all three sections down below at 5:30pm.