Hawkwood has always been a deeply special place to the musicians and singers who come with Emma Kirkby and Dowland Works. There is nowhere else like it in its freedom – both physical, in the wonderful, open, grassy grounds, and in ethos, which not only encourages but almost demands an explosion of creativity, of inspiration, of immense joy.
You cannot make music alone. This much has been made clear over the last 18 months, to such detrimental effect in our industry but also as a nation – as a world. It is one thing to learn new repertoire, practice daily exercises, even join a zoom music call – but the physical act of making music together cannot be replicated when isolated and locked down. It has been such a hard, dark time.
There was therefore perhaps nowhere more fitting than Hawkwood for us to meet this summer, as we once again were able to make music together in its grounds. It is so rare for us as musicians to simply be enjoying music making with no hurry, no immediate rush, no pressing urge or to-do list of pieces to perfect, but this is precisely what Hawkwood provides. To be given the flexibility, space and time to try out solos, duets, trios, whole ensembles, gamba pieces, lute duos, Italian madrigals and English song – nothing is off limits and the goal is as much pleasure in performing and working with each other as it is preparing and planning future concert.
Of course it helps that Hawkwood is set in such beautiful grounds: that the catering somehow manages to surpass itself every year: that the freshness and vitality of the produce is only matched by the inventiveness and creativity of the chefs and servers and workers who make Hawkwood such a wonderful place to explore.
We always knew, at Dowland Works, that Hawkwood was a deeply special place. But it is perhaps only now, emerging from the depths of the pandemic, that we can really acknowledge quite how unique it is – and how much we need it.
We always knew, at Dowland Works, that Hawkwood was a deeply special place. But it is perhaps only now, emerging from the depths of the pandemic, that we can really acknowledge quite how unique it is – and how much we need it.
