Widely regarded as the foremost exponent of the Northumbrian smallpipes, the internationally acclaimed composer and performer has recorded specially commissioned passages for “Legend of the Wear” – an ambitious new live show inspired by the famous Lambton Worm myth.
Her distinctive playing will be woven into the original orchestral score, specially composed for Kynren – The Storied Lands and recorded by the world-renowned BBC Concert Orchestra.
The collaboration brings together one of the North East’s most celebrated musical figures with the cinematic soundscape created for the UK’s first live action show park, which opens later this week.
“The Legend of the Wear” transforms a vast lake into the stage for dramatic water stunts and a retelling of one of the region’s most enduring legends.
Audiences will hear echoes of the traditional folk ballad The Lambton Worm, alongside specially created water-based sound effects and the unmistakable voice of the Northumbrian pipes.
Kathryn, who lives in Northumberland and whose father’s family came from County Durham, first took up the pipes at the age of nine and has spent decades sharing the music and stories of the region with audiences around the world.
Her career has seen her collaborate with artists including Sting, Jacob Collier, The Chieftains, Evelyn Glennie and The Penguin Cafe Orchestra.
Her contribution forms part of a wider original score created by composers Samuel Pegg and Martin Batchelar and performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra under Associate Conductor Jérôme Kuhn.
Kathryn has been familiar with the story of the Lambton Worm for all of her life.
“I grew up listening to my father singing the song and, in fact, he still sings it now,” she said. “The story is woven into the folklore of this region, and the Northumbrian pipes are part of its musical identity, so it has been wonderful to contribute to a project that celebrates both. There is something very special about hearing these traditional sounds alongside a full orchestra and seeing them become part of a contemporary retelling of one of the North East’s great legends.”
Kynren – The Storied Lands opens on Saturday.
