winter anchorage by benjin

winter anchorage is a four-part nyckelharpa improvisation which was recorded whilst at anchor out in ‘The Pyfleet’ on the North Essex Coast. It was the first attempt benjin made to explore the wider sonic capabilities of the nyckelharpa and the work received national radio airplay on BBCRadio6 music in late 2018.

Following on from the ‘One Together Four Full’ project which sought to ‘read’ the Georgian landscape as a visual score, Winter Anchorage attempts to capture the ebbing of the tide and the cross currents which were streaming around the hull of the Sailing Barge.

Although focussed on a sonic reading of natural forms (and reacting to these in the moment), the work was also inspired by the monumental towers of scrap metal which line the quayside of Brightlingsea harbour.

Here, once a year benjin can be found breaking into old shipping containers, rigourously testing their acoustic properties and playing Bach in the most resonant until late into the night.

benjin is a multi instrumentalist who has toured and recorded with a number of experimental ensembles over the last 20 years. His solo compositions use classical guitar, cello, harp, clarinet, vocals, nyckelharpa, field recordings and found sounds. Aside from regular concert performances, benjin's music has been featured on BBC Radio 6 Music, Radio 3 and at the TATE Galleries.

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