The Meridianum Ensemble is a trans-cultural collaboration bringing together top players from Portugal, the UK and Morocco. The six musicians bring their individual style & influence to the mix with Arabic oud from Morocco, Middle-Eastern percussion, original compositions for Persian santur & Swedish nyckelharpa, the Mediaeval sounds of the hurdy-gurdy and cittern - all inspired by traditions ranging from the Eastern Mediterranean to Portugal and beyond. The result is a glorious infusion that will entrance audiences everywhere.

The Meridianum Ensemble was conceived by Portuguese percussionist, Ricardo de Noronha in 2017. His aim was to combine the expertise, unusual instruments and individual styles of musicians he had worked with over the years to create a unique new sound - a glorious trans-cultural musical collaboration. The group brings together musicians from Portugal, the UK and Morocco playing a range of material that draws on influences from each member’s specialist area and acts as a vehicle for the performance of new compositions. The lines of longitude on a map, the meridians, link the north and south poles, and by coincidence the countries of Morocco, Portugal and the UK are roughly in a line, hence the group’s name.

With such unusual instrumentation arranging and composing for the Meridianum Ensemble becomes an exciting adventure in rhythm, texture and modality. Each instrument’s history, melodies, traditions and tuning systems come to the mix. Unisons, open harmonies and counter-melodies, use of quarter-tones, variations in timbre and rhythmic subtleties all combine to provide a rich palette of sound.

Once musical seeds were planted, they soon blossomed into arrangements. Suggestions for repertoire came from each player and range from the famous Cantigas - Galician/Portuguese manuscripts of Santa Maria dating from 1221 - to modern-day pieces by the likes of Greek ney player Christos Barbas, Spanish multi-instrumentalist Efrén Lopéz and oud player Saïd Chraïbi.

Steve, Griselda, Nuno and Soufian also offer up their own compositions, and Griselda has even composed a new piece especially for the group – and with its impressive array of instruments and playing techniques Meridianum Ensemble’s performances are also a visual feast.

The group has released one CD to date that includes music from each individual’s smaller ensembles plus live tracks from their first tour recorded in Kingskerswell Parish Church. They also have several live videos available online from their previous tours including Ashburton Arts Centre in December 2018 filmed by Tim Dollimore at The Media Workshop. See the link below for more information.