The Rheingans Sisters

Cumberland Arms, Newcastle

30 September 2019

It's a startlingly young audience. There are about 50 of us, and people my age are a small minority. I'm not used to that!

They start with Anna saying that they hope we like violin music, then they play two violin tunes based on old French dances, and from the audience response I think it's safe to say, yes, we're all here for the violin music.

It's not all fiddle duets, though. Both play multiple instruments and both sing, so there's a big variety in sound, and while a lot of their music is based on French traditional dances, there's enough variety in style that every new piece is unique and interesting.

The one word I would use to describe the music is "beautful". It all simply sounds beautiful.

The handful of songs that break up the set are perhaps the highlights. I don't understand Anna's French songs (but I love the sound of sung French, it doesn't matter that I can't understand it) but Rowan's English songs have some of the most profound words I've ever heard. This Forest carries a powerful message, while Edge of the Field literally breaks my heart every time I hear it. It's hard to even think about it while writing this...

But anyway. Beautiful evening of music. I don't know what else to say, but that's probably enough: just beautiful.