The new FitkinWall show Harpland features three of my harps (electro, Gaelic wire strung and bray harps) while Graham manipulates sound and plays a variety of pedals and FX from stage. There is a specially commissioned light installation from acclaimed artist Peter Freeman and interviews from migrants into Scotland that I conducted earlier in 2023. We’ve performed all over the … Read More
TOUR 2022
Here’s a taster from the new set – touring in summer 2022. Composed and recorded in the winter lockdown Seventeen and a Half Come Sunday is based on a traditional tune, re-composed by Graham Fitkin for Ruth on lever harp, looper and gusli.
The Tin Drum – Kneehigh
One of the defining novels of the 20th Century, Gunter Grass’ dazzling tour de force, The Tin Drum will be brought to thrilling theatrical life in a co-production with Kneehigh, Liverpool Everyman Playhouse and West Yorkshire Playhouse. Directed by Mike Shepherd with music by Charles Hazelwood, The Tin Drum is a folktale for troubled times: a dark, burlesque comic extravaganza, … Read More
THE THREE HARPS OF CHRISTMAS
In December 2012, in 10 foot of Dolomite snow, Ruth and Graham began work on a new album. The music is a selection of their favourite Christmas carols, rearranged for Concert harp, Bray harp and Gaelic wire strung harp by Graham. Stille Nacht We Three Kings The Angel Gabriel
VAMP & VENEER
Two new albums from FITKIN – Graham’s 9 piece band joined by wonderful Melanie Pappenheim and 2 Bee Gees style countertenors. The music of VENEER celebrates disco from a modern perspective, with twisted lyrics and unexpected combinations of Fitkin energy and Donna Summer like grooves. VAMP is a rollercoaster ride of minimalism, jazz, energetic foot tapping tunes. Journalist and cultural compass Mark Kermode … Read More
Vamp, Veneer, MacGuffin – FITKIN band
In the summer of 2016 FITKIN recorded the albums VAMP and VENEER at Peter Gabriel’s beautiful Real World Studios near Bath. We toured and released the new CDs in 2017. The music mixes minimalism and contemporary musics in Fitkin’s irreverential and exuberant fashion. Combining piano, percussion, guitar, harps (bray, lever and concert harps), and brass section with Bee-Gees style countertenors, the new albums are … Read More
LOST – FITKINWALL
FitkinWall released their new album LOST in November 2014 www.fitkinwall.com . They toured UK, Brussels and Italy and performed on BBC Radio 3. Ruth performs on concert and wire stung harps and Graham on moog synthesizer, red box, fender rhodes and autoharp. Highwire – Excerpt Mapping – Excerpt Trace – Excerpt
LOST – FITKINWALL
LOST was released in November 2015 www.fitkinwall.com . After a tour to Brussels and Italy FitkinWall performed the new show in the UK at venues including Kings Place, Nottingham Lakeside and at the 2016 Ted-X at London Science Museum. Ruth performs on 2 harps and Graham on moog synth, red box, fender rhodes and autoharp and features visuals by Ryan Sharpe. The music and … Read More
THE THREE HARPS OF CHRISTMAS
In December 2012, in 10 foot of Dolomite snow, Ruth and Graham began work on a new album. The music is a selection of their favourite Christmas carols, rearranged for Concert harp, Bray harp and Gaelic wire strung harp by Graham. Candlelit recitals took place in stately homes and castles throughout Great Britain, and were introduced by Graham, who traced the history … Read More
WILL GREGORY MOOG ENSEMBLE
Ruth performs Mini Korg in The Will Gregory Moog Ensemble. The band first performed together in 2005 as part of the Bath Festival, recreating some of the ‘Switched on Bach’ arrangements of Wendy Carlos in the Seventies. As one half of Goldfrapp, the keyboard-player and composer Will Gregory is one of the UK’s leading advocates of using synthesizers and electronic instruments to … Read More
GOLDFRAPP
In 2008 Ruth toured extensively with the wonderful UK band Goldfrapp in UK, Europe, Australia and USA. She played wire harp, lever harp and keyboard on the tour. Her wire harp is featured on the Goldfrapp album ‘Seventh Tree’.
KATHRYN TICKELL and THE SIDE
Northumbrian piper Kathryn Tickell’s new band has been touring now for nearly 3 years. Last year The Side released their first album, and features Ruth on lever, wire and bray harps, Amy Thatcher on accordion, Louisa Tuck on cello and Kathryn on pipes. Channeling their diverse musical experiences into a powerful new sound The Side stay true to the spirit and essence … Read More
LOST – FITKINWALL ALBUM
FitkinWall continue touring their latest album LOST after touring Italy, Belgium and UK last year. Buy here: www.fitkin.com/cds Ruth performs on 2 harps and Graham on moog synth, red box, fender rhodes and autoharp. The music is both intimate and intricate and the live show features visuals by Ryan Sharpe. Rhythmic patterns are built up to climaxes and are juxtaposed with bare … Read More
THE MANXMAN
Hitchcock’s The Manxman was given a gala performance as part of 2012 London Film Festival at the Empire Leicester Square. Ruth performed Stephen Horne’s new score on lever and wire harp, as part of a small ensemble to a rapt audience. Below is a review of the show by ithankyouarthur: ‘This was the final restoration premier for the Hitchcock Nine … Read More
OCKHAMS RAZOR
Ockhams Razor are a stunning aerial theatre company who combine circus and visual theatre. In 2012-13 Ruth toured with the company, performing a new score by Graham Fitkin for lever and wire strung harps and choir. The music is strong and complex, building up rhythmic layers and sinuous textures. ‘dazzling aerial theatre’ The Independent ‘physically thrilling’ The Sunday Times
FITKIN OPERA – HOME
In April 2012 Ruth performed at the Royal Opera House in Graham Fitkin’s new opera. Graham’s new short opera, Home, commissioned by the ROH for the Linbury Theatre, was premiered in April 2012. Jasmin Vardimon directed the opera which is scored for two singers (Melanie Pappenheim and Victoria Coupar), three dancers (Luke Borrough, Esteban Fourmi and Aoi Nakamura) and the … Read More
FITKIN BAND
In 2009 Graham Fitkin put together a stellar line-up of players to form a new nine-piece band. The music is fast, loud, with a hint of gypsy bawdiness described by The Guardian as ”a delight that defied all fashionable labels and simply conjured its own whirlygig of ideas with such spontaneity and control.” Ruth performs with FITKIN on bray harp and lever … Read More
THE THREE HARPS OF CHRISTMAS
A beautiful selection of carols for Concert harp, Gaelic wire strung harp and the Renaissance bray harp, in new and wonderful arrangements by composer Graham Fitkin. Festive recitals took place at historic houses and castles throughout Great Britain. Album available on iTunes, amazon and fitkin.com TOUR DATES 2014 4 December 2014 Scorrier House, Cornwall 6 December 2014 … Read More
STEVE REICH
Ruth has performed Steve Reich’s music many times in the last 2 years. She received permission from Reich to perform Piano Phase on harp and has given performances of this at London South Bank QEH, Gateshead Sage, Sound Festival Aberdeen, Cheltenham festival and Tate St Ives. She also performed Reich’s gigantic work Four Organs in Krakow, alongside Will Gregory, Graham … Read More
RECENT TV, FILM and PERFORMANCES
FitkinWall performed at TEDx London in June 2016, playing music from LOST, in a line up including Stephen Hawkins, Francesca Beard and Talvin Singh. She features on lever harp throughout LOVING VINCENT – the world’s first fully painted animated film with music by Clint Mansell, and on solo harp in Ben Wheatley’s 2012 award winning film SIGHTSEERS, soundtrack by Jim Williams. http://youtu.be/XPUCNhcWzS8 She recorded on concert … Read More
POLAND – REICH 75th BIRTHDAY
Recent highlights include performing Steve Reich’s gigantic work Four Organs in Krakow, Ruth performed alongside Will Gregory, Graham Fitkin and Ross Hughes on Farfisa organs. The performance took place on an enormous old steel factory, in the now desolate communist district know as Nowa Huta. The Sacrum Profanum Festival in Krakow dedicated a week to Reich’s music, in honour … Read More
Recent FILM, TV and RADIO
Ruth plays solo lever harp throughout Ben Wheatley’s award winning film SIGHTSEERS, music composed by Jim Williams. She features on the BBC series THE WHITE QUEEN, music composed by Bafta winning John Lunn (of Downtown Abbey fame). The series features Ruth on concert harp. In 2013 Ruth appeared as soloist in the Radio 4 play ‘The Fair Maid of Perth’, featuring David … Read More
NEW ALBUM
In 2010-11 Ruth is working on a new album. This will feature her Bray, Wire and Lever harps and will expore her obsession with ancient harp ornamentation. Collaborators include Alex Lee, Will Gregory, Adrian Utley, Graham Fitkin, gavin Bryars. This year she has recorded again with Nolwenn Leroy on her new album ‘Bretonne’ (produce by Jon Kelly) which has just … Read More
THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC
One of the early cinema classics, Carl Theodor Dreyer’s The Passion Of Joan Of Arc (1928) has been hailed a towering masterpiece of silent film and inspired countless generations of filmmakers including Sergio Leone. Now Portishead’s Adrian Utley and Will Gregory of Goldfrapp have created a new score, soundtracking the powerful and moving story of Joan’s trial, imprisonment, torture and … Read More
THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC, QEH
28th April 2011 The Passion of Joan of Arc Ether Festival QEH Carl Theodor Dreyer’s classic silent film accompanied by a new score composed by Goldfrapp’s Will Gregory and Portishead’s Adrian Utley. Performers include six electric guitars, Will Gregory, choir, percussion, horns and Ruth on 3 harps and keyboard.
THE UNCOMMON HARP
Ruth performs works for solo lever harp by Howard Skempton, Gabriel Jackson, Peter Maxwell Davies, Laurence Crane, Michael Parsons, Graham Fitkin and Philip Glass. The CD comprises recently written music by composers working with tonality and modality today, and includes three of Ruth’s works. Farewell to Stromness – Peter Maxwell Davies Jim and Pam and Pam and Jim – Graham … Read More
THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC, ALEXANDRA PALACE
24th July 2011 The Passion of Joan of Arc Alexandra Palace Carl Theodor Dreyer’s classic silent film accompanied by a new score composed by Goldfrapp’s Will Gregory and Portishead’s Adrian Utley. Performers include six electric guitars, members of the Monteverdi Choir, percussion, horns and Ruth on 3 harps and synth. Curated by Portishead and ATP.
FITKIN, CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL
2nd July 2011 FITKIN Cheltenham Festival FITKIN – Fabulously energetic 9 piece band lead by composer Graham Fitkin. Brass, winds, piano, guitar, bass, percussion and Ruth on bray and lever harps.