Toad Lane Concerts: The Rascallity Harp Duo

Rascallity Harp Duo

One harp is heavenly but two divine… especially in the celestial acoustics of St Mary in the Baum.

The harp duo Rascallity is so named (and spelt) 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.

Alice Roberts (pictured right) graduated first-class from the joint course of Manchester University, where she gained the highest mark in 2016 and 2018; and the RNCM (Royal Northern College of Music) 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 a first-class BMus and a master’s from the RNCM. She has played with ensembles, orchestras, opera and theatre companies.

Both players gave lucid and engaging introductions at their performance on Wednesday 13 December. They have a symbiotic playing relationship with an improvisatory fluency. The audience was entranced.

Atmospheric pieces by Monika Stadler, Meinir Heulyn, Jessica Gallo, followed by Kathryn’s own Christmas Reel led to The Sunken Forest Suite by their teacher, the celebrated harpist, Eira Lynn Jones - 5 short descriptive movements played by Alice with narration by Kathryn.

Other charming duo pieces by Phillipe Barnes and Esther Swift followed, finishing with a delightful encore ‘Christmassy’ piece.

Sometimes vital, peaceful, ethereal, soporific, or sometimes conjuring up moody drama this made a superb and memorable recital.

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. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.

Dr Joe Dawson