We went to an unusual, but very enjoyable, concert at Chilton Church yesterday evening.
Although the weather was not very good the church was almost full to listen to Rubenstein Trunk. The lively atmosphere was enhanced by the need to light candles in the church to dispel the encroaching gloom.
Rubenstein Trunk can loosely be described as a folk group although really they do not fall neatly into any musical category, playing British tunes and also their own songs plus airs from different parts of the globe including Thailand and Spain. I would really call it ‘fusion’ music of a very original type!
The group plays principally on instruments created by themselves which are made out of recycled boxes etc, but nonetheless most are clearly related to ‘real instruments’. ‘Violins’ are formed out of cigar boxes for example. The double bass consists in part of a trunk, which once belonged to a Mr. Rubenstein, and it is from this that the ensemble derives its name.
Less immediately recognisable as a musical instrument is the ‘4 against 3 machine’, a percussive machine, operated by a handle, which beats in duple and triple time simultaneously. This is pictured below. In addition to the ‘recycled’ kit, the overall sound was supplemented by the wonderfully mournful tones of a baroque oboe and a skilfully played trumpet. The sound world created was quite unique.
The improvised nature of the instruments should not fool people into believing that the music was in some way amateurish or unplanned. All the players demonstrated a high level of musical competence, and they could sing in tune too.
It was well worth turning out in the rain
