The Last Plantagenet - Stories in Sound

At the request of Leicester Cathedral, Prof. Leigh Landy of De Montfort University worked with four final-year undergraduates on the Music Technology BA course to create unique soundscapes and compositions derived from the Cathedral's Richard III Oral History Project.

They were provided with many interviews as source material. These were curated by Rebecca Hale, and the sound files were edited and collated by Kevin Meadows. The interviews covered aspects of King Richard III's life, the Battle of Bosworth, the discovery of his remains, and all that followed leading towards his reinterment in Leicester Cathedral in 2015.

The students chose which parts of the interviews they would use, focusing on one or more themes, and would integrate these, composing using any sounds or instruments, to reflect on the 10th anniversary, and the tomb itself.

The pieces were initially played around the tomb during the Light Up Leicester festival from Wednesday 12 to Saturday 15 March.

These binaural or stereo recordings are best enjoyed with headphones.

Sam Rowe - The Discovery of a King

Sam Rowe explores the mystery surrounding the discovery of Richard III. It features field recordings from the River Soar, the Bosworth battlefield, and Castle Gardens. Voices and the bells of the Cathedral, St Margaret's and St Mary de Castro are at first obfuscated, slowly becoming clearer, allowing the words of those involved in the reinternment to be heard and understood, representing the process of discovery and the emergence of clarity. Special thanks to Leicester Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers, and to Simon Edwards.

Andrei Budaca - Blessings for Our Liege

Andrei's piece invites people to experience a musical recollection of the King's era through a 2-section orchestration of newly composed, medieval-themed, music. The first section discusses aspects of the burial and the tomb, accompanied by a grieving melody composed of instruments such as the hurdy gurdy and the nyckelharpa, suggesting feelings of regret and compassion for King Richard III. The second section describes details regarding the pall, while the accompaniment switches to a dancing merry rhythm, denoting feelings of rejoicing and celebration, suggesting to the audience that, despite the tragic event, we are here now to celebrate the King through song, dance and jollity.

Alex Hillyard - Untitled

Alex's Untitled is a sound installation that uses multichannel recordings of the Cathedral's organ and interviews with those involved in the Richard III Project. The piece is designed to create an immersive and contemplative atmosphere. It offers a sonic reflection on the King's reburial in Leicester Cathedral, and the point of pride the event and here being his final resting place holds in the city.

With thanks to Leicester Cathedral's Director of Music, Dr. Christopher Ouvry-Johns for his contribution as organist.

Joshua West - Hymnal Stasis

Joshua's piece is inspired by the time passing, and the remembrance of King Richard III. With the choral music signifying the time when he lived mixed with the modern synthesiser drone, it illustrates the time between his passing and his reinterment. Death is viewed as a finality for some and a stepping stone for others. I therefore wanted to offer a piece that would be not only of interest but also enjoyable to everyone, regardless of their personal beliefs.