1039: Liturina x Jonny Mansfield

‘1038 explores a space between specificity and ambiguity’, says Huddersfield-born jazz musician and composer Jonny Mansfield of his first commission for chamber ensemble Liturina, composed in September 2022. Written ‘as a response’ to Johann Sebastian Bach’s Trio Sonata BWV 1038,the work ‘draws on the trio sonata for inspiration’ whilst remaining true to Mansfield’s explosively cerebral yet soulful compositional style. For Liturina, 1038 embodies a sparkling meeting point between baroque music and jazz, a musical experience that highlights the connections between these two genres, inherent in the structures, improvisational traditions and harmonic vernacular. Collaboratively, the aim was to create a work that teases out these elements in fresh and surprising ways through the musical languages, sounds and structures used; in short, a reimagining of the trio sonata.

So what does this mean in practise? 1038 comprises a vibrant blending of original and innovative features. Mansfield has retained BWV 1038’s original scoring, down to the scordatura violin set up (the top two strings are both tuned down a tone, producing the chord G-D-G-D across the four open strings) which is used to radiant effect throughout the work. Unlike Bach’s trio sonatas, cello and harpsichord are liberated from the combined role of basso continuo and Mansfield makes particularly compelling use of the harpsichord, leaning in to its more percussive potential with virtuosic drum kit inspired rhythmical patterns (Mansfield trained as classical percussionist at Chethams, before embarking on a jazz focussed career performing primarily on vibraphone) that nods to the Swedish bassist and composer, Petter Eldh. Swirling vocal melodies, that tantalisingly hint at Bach’s original themes through their melodic contours, form the basis of periods of free collective improvisation, as well as improvised textures over which the theme soars like the shadowy spectre of Bach. No two performances of any piece of music are ever identical, particularly with the added possibility of improvised ornaments found in the type of dynamic chamber music Liturina performs. ‘But this takes it to a whole new level’ says Liturina co-founder Gabi Jones. ‘What’s really exciting is that 1038 might have different affects or characters, spotlight different players or focus in on different features every single time we play it. It’s a level of spontaneity we don’t usually have access to, which is both challenging and hugely liberating’.

Following the success of 1038 which premiered in May 2023 at Heath Street Baptist Church, Liturina has commissioned a second work by Mansfield: 1039 is inspired by Bach’s trio sonata BWV 1039. Unlike 1038, which exists as a single 8-minute response to the sonata as a whole, 1039 will be a more extended composition mirroring the four movement structure set out in Bach’s version. Glittering counterpoint, imitative fugal writing, sensuous melodies and wistful dissonances feature in Bach’s work, which feels hugely expansive for such an intimate chamber piece. Liturina’s concert on 31st January will place BWV 1039 alongside Mansfield’s new commission and will also feature the side by side performances of his 1038 and BWV 1038, and a Liturina arrangement of Bach’s organ trio sonata, BWV 525. An upcoming album will feature all of these works and more of the ensembles own arrangements, comprising an homage to Bach that celebrates the composer and his influence.

Whilst it is thrilling to operate within such a specialised branch of music making as historical performance, Liturina feels passionately that this should not limit options for collaboration. Building on the pioneering research and authentic performance practice characterising the first wave of the HP movement, Liturina’s work with Mansfield aims to expand and diversify by forging a new path for historical performance with genre crossover at its core. The group hopes to create a body of new works that explores the lively intersection between historical performance and other genres, but also celebrates musicians from diverse musical and cultural backgrounds. ‘There’s such a rich musical landscape within the UK’, says Jones ‘and we want to use our work to build a creative network of artists and audiences that will grow and evolve with us’.

1039 would not have been possible without help from generous supporters and Liturina would like to thank the Continuo Foundation and RCM Accelerate for enabling this project to take place, as well as their brilliant and inspiring collaborator, Jonny Mansfield, for his ground-breaking compositions.