REVIEW: A Mediaeval Christmas, at the Huntingdon Hall, Worcester.

 

THIS is the Middle Ages made easy, a sort of chastity starter pants for all those eager to learn about a period that wasn’t just brutal punishments and short lives endured against a background of all-pervading smells.

No sirrah, here we had the Christmas of olden days, when knights were bold and withered crones could be transformed into fair damsels at the drop of a codpiece.

Brought to us by historical musicians Blast from the Past, this was a festive doublet jam-packed with seasonal treats, and all delivered without a trace of the stuffy academia that can so often blight this form of entertainment.

These truly golden oldies came to us via the authentic instruments of the period – harp, pipes, shawm and cittern to name just four. And as we bumped along muddy, wintry roads back to the era of Angevins and Plantagenets, more of the mediaeval landscape slowly unfurled.

We discovered that King Wenceslas wasn’t all that good after all, having bumped off several of his relatives. His kindness to a poor man was probably little more than him just being nice for a change.

There were also moments of great beauty, in particular the delightfully haunting Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, a story of youthful anticipation and longing for the sun to burn away the mists of a bleak midwinter.

The group’s rendition of The Coventry Carol then consolidated the period feel, their voices combining to form a cathedral of sound.

However, the highlight of the night was Chris Green’s tale of the foolish knight Sir Pearce. This was the choicest Chaucer, a morality tale that kept us guessing throughout the entire evening.

Blast from the Past infuse their historical sorties with superb musicianship and an infectious sense of humour that makes the journey all that more enjoyable.

And so verily I say unto ye… go and check them out!

JOHN PHILLPOTT