Grace Newcombe | Elizabeth Sommers
Alysoun
Songs from the people of thirteenth-century Britain
In high mediaeval Britain, one of the more pleasant means of saving souls was through the favourite music and poetry of the people.
Popular songs from different walks of life were imitated, translated, or repurposed to fit a new religious narrative or to conceal a secular one, wilfully blurring the borders between earthly and devotional love. Leaf through their surviving collections and hear songs about nature, death, the courting of Mary, and Christ the Lover-Knight.
Performers:
Grace Newcombe voice, harp
Elizabeth Sommers fiddles
'Newcombe's voice has many admirers' – Gramophone Magazine (2025)
Popular songs from different walks of life were imitated, translated, or repurposed to fit a new religious narrative or to conceal a secular one, wilfully blurring the borders between earthly and devotional love. Leaf through their surviving collections and hear songs about nature, death, the courting of Mary, and Christ the Lover-Knight.
Performers:
Grace Newcombe voice, harp
Elizabeth Sommers fiddles
'Newcombe's voice has many admirers' – Gramophone Magazine (2025)
Purbeck Art Weeks Festival
Sun, 31 May 2026
St Peter’s, Church Knowle
3:00pm
£20 (£2 students, £16 conc)
Full Event Details
In high mediaeval Britain, one of the more pleasant means of saving souls was through the favourite music and poetry of the people.
Popular songs from different walks of life were imitated, translated, or repurposed to fit a new religious narrative or to conceal a secular one, wilfully blurring the borders between earthly and devotional love. Leaf through their surviving collections and hear songs about nature, death, the courting of Mary, and Christ the Lover-Knight.
Performers:
Grace Newcombe voice, harp
Elizabeth Sommers fiddles
'Newcombe's voice has many admirers' – Gramophone Magazine (2025)
Venue Details & Map
Location
St Peter’s, Church Knowle
Church Knowle, Wareham BH20 5NF
