The St James' Lunchtime Concert on Wednesday the 17th of July at 1:15pm is Medieval Love, Death and Magic presented by Performer and Composer David Yardley. Tickets are $10 (the livestream link will be sent to your email account at 12:30pm on Wednesday 17th July when you purchase the Humanitix ticket).

Programme:

Jaufre Rudel (fl.1120-1147)

'Lanquan Li Jorn Son Lonc En Mai'

David Yardley (b.1978)

A Troubadour Laments the Plague of 1348

King Richard I, the Lionheart (1157-1199)

'Ja Nus Hons Pris'

Gaucelm Faidit (c.1170-1205)

'Fortz Causa Es'

David Yardley

From the Wycliffe Bible: David Took The Harpe, And Saul Was Coumfortid

David Yardley

'Wynter Wakeneth Al My Care'

David Yardley

Frozen Fens

Comtessa de Dia (1140-1212)

'A chantar m'er de so no volria'

David Yardley

'That Hart My Hart Hath In Such Grace'

David Yardley

Lay of the Ash Tree

Immersed in Medieval and Renaissance music since his teenage years, David Yardley is a countertenor, medieval harpist and composer. Singing since the age of 8 and composing since the age of 12, music has been a life-long passion. His critically-acclaimed compositions have been described in reviews as “transcendent medieval-inspired music for modern times” that “transport our ears back to the medieval world.” The latest albums of his compositions, The Lost Codex of Avalon (Volumes I + II), are a unique medieval and fantasy collaboration between David and some of Australia’s finest musicians from The Song Company, the Sydney Chamber Choir, Pastance, and percussionist Jess Ciampa, also featuring New York-based medieval ensemble Concordian Dawn and renowned medieval organist, Cristina Alís Raurich. As well as medieval texts set to his new medieval-inspired music, the albums feature contemporary poetic texts whose words have medieval/fantasy ideas at their core. This includes award-winning poetry of Anne Casey. David’s debut album of compositions, New Carols and Songs for Chaucer’s Pilgrims, featured his original settings of surviving medieval secular and sacred texts, which are regularly performed and broadcast in the US, the UK and Australia. As a performer, he has been a soloist in Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center, with New York-based group, Talisman Medieval and with the UN Chamber Music Society. He has performed with outstanding ensembles across the world, including the choirs of St Thomas, Fifth Avenue, New York; the Church of the Transfiguration, New York; Southwark Cathedral, London; Jesus College, Cambridge; St James’ Church, King Street, Sydney; The Sydney Chamber Choir; The Renaissance Players, Sydney. David studied at the University of Cambridge and the University of Sydney, and his voice teachers have included Jacqui Horner-Kwiatek (Anonymous 4), and Patrick Craig (The Tallis Scholars, St Paul’s Cathedral Choir, London).

Visit DavidYardleyMusic.com for albums, downloads, live performances, commissions, sheet music, or get in touch and join the mailing list at david.yardley@cantab.net. Samples of his work are also available through streaming and social media.