Toad Lane Concerts: The Rascallity Harp Duo

Rascallity Harp Duo

One harp is heavenly but two divine… especially in the marvellous acoustics of St Mary in the Baum on Wednesday 23 November.

The harp duo Rascallity is so named after a famous number by the ground-breaking American jazz harpist of the 1950s, Dorothy Ashby. She obviously influenced the duo with her adventurous range of styles and fusions incorporating jazz, Latin, folk and world music.

Alice Roberts (pictured right) graduated first-class from the joint course of Manchester University, where she gained the award for the highest mark in 2016 and 2018, and the RNCM where in 2020 she became the first harpist to win the Gold Medal. She loves exploring alternative styles.

Kathryn Mason was initially inspired by an episode of Barney & Friends on television that featured the harp and her parents eventually found her a teacher at the age of seven. She went on to gain BMus with first-class honours and followed up with a Master’s in performance from the RNCM. She has played with ensembles, orchestras, opera and theatre companies.

Both players gave lucid and engaging introductions. They have a symbiotic playing relationship with an improvisatory fluency and the audience was entranced.

Dorothy Ashby’s John R, Yiruma’s Forest Fantasy, Eric Whitacre’s The Seal’s Lullaby, and Duke Ellington’s Caravan were arranged by Alice with some jazzy touches; and Howard’s Fairy Music from the film Peter Pan was very effectively arranged by Kathryn.

Some works were enhanced by extra percussion instruments, unusual effects from the harps, and even singing, to produce a wide variety of atmospheric experiences – sometimes peaceful, ethereal, minimalistic, soporific, or sometimes conjuring up moody drama. Superb.

The Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts are every Wednesday at 12.30pm at the Grade 1 listed church of St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. No refreshments available now, but the venue is Covid-19 compliant. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.

To see details of forthcoming Toad Lane Concerts, click here.

Dr Joe Dawson