London's oldest parish church appoints ‘Medieval Ensemble in Residence’
St Bartholomew the Great, founded in 1123, has appointed the recently established five-member group Rune as its ‘Medieval Ensemble in Residence’, with a series of concerts planned for 2026.
Through the year, the mixed vocal and instrumental ensemble will perform five different programmes, starting with Soave dolce melodia: Music of the Trecento (14 March), a duo concert of music from 14th-century Italy featuring works by Jacopo da Bologna (fl. 1340–1386).
Further performances in April, May, October and December will explore the morality, religious fervour, dreams, and obsessions of Medieval Europe through its unique sound world. Australian tenor Daniel Thomson, vocalist in Rune, explains the inspiration for this residency:
‘St Bartholomew the Great is one of the most beautiful church spaces in London. To become Medieval Ensemble in Residence in this stunning over-900-year-old church is both a privilege and an inspiration. This residency allows us to explore medieval music not as a museum artefact, but as something living – intertwined with storytelling, belief, and human experience. We are hugely grateful to St Bart’s for supporting us to grow our audience and explore medieval music in a medieval space.’
Rune comprises musicians who met for the first time at Great St Barts, aided by the late Deborah Roberts and the Brighton Early Music Festival. Alongside Daniel, they are Angela Hicks (soprano), Daniel Scott (recorder, portative organ), Jean Kelly (harp), and May Robertson (vielle, voice). The name 'Rune' is derived from the Old English ‘rūn’, meaning a mystical spell-song, and reflects the group’s fascination with the rare and touching beauty of music from 700 years ago and beyond. The group presented their Decameron Musicale programme in a September 2025 concert at St Bart's, as part of a tour supported by Continuo Foundation, to great acclaim.
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