Celebrate midwinter with Pastance, in a journey across the centuries, presenting music from medieval and Renaissance Europe alongside traditional folk arrangements.

As dusk falls, grab a glass of wine and be transported by the sounds of harp, lute, recorders, shawm, vocal harmonies and percussion, woven together to create an ethereal musical experience. 

Set against a backdrop of works by leading Australian photomedia artist Tamara Dean and beside sparkling Sydney Harbour, this intimate Sunday evening includes wine on arrival and light refreshments.

Performed across two sets, Pastance invites audiences to slow down, listen deeply and embrace the seasonal turning point.

About Pastance
Sydney based ensemble Pastance bring together a diversity of musical ingredients; harp, lute, recorders, fiddles, gittern/guitar, shawm, hgemshorn, percussion and vocals are used in unique arrangements to create a remarkable sound.

They explore a vast variety of music ranging from Celtic/folk, the medieval period, through the Renaissance and Baroque to original compositions by Alex Cronin.

About Alex Cronin

Alex began playing and composing for the Celtic harp and later on the Baroque Triple Harp under the guidance of renowned harpist Andrew Lawrence-King. Alex trained at the NSW State Conservatorium in classical guitar and furthered his studies in lute at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam (1983-86) with the assistance of a Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Award and an Australia Council International Fellowship. As a lutenist and guitarist, he has performed with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, The Brandenburg Orchestra, Opera Australia and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Triple-strung (baroque) harp, lute, Shawm, medieval fiddle and oud

Alex will be playing his triple-strung (baroque) harp which is based on a harp featured in a painting by the Baroque Italian painter Carlo Francesco Nuvolone. The triple-strung harp allows musicians to play a wide variety of repertoire because of its fully chromatic scale, including all sharps and flats, without the need for mechanical pedals or levers. 

The Renaissance lute will also be featured, the ensemble is heavily influenced by the lute songs of John Dowland and other Renaissance composers as well as folk music. Alongside the lute and harp, the Shawm, an ancestor of the modern Oboe, the medieval fiddle and oud will feature. The oud and fiddle were made by renowned Australian luthier Peter Biffin and are based on original paintings from the period. 

Don't miss your chance to hear these exquisite instruments played by expert musicians at Music at MAG&M: Midwinter with Pastance.