CELLOFEST: 51 strings — Matthew Barley, Hanna Ryynänen, Adriano Adewale + Dawda Jobarteh

Grooves and lullabies

At the request of the Cello Biënnale, the quirky English cellist Matthew Barley has created an ensemble with string instruments from four different cultures. In this unique, 51-string setup, the cello meets the African kora (Dawda Jobarteh), the Finnish kantele (Hanna Ryynänen), and the Brazilian berimbau (Adriano Adewale).

51 strings connects different musical traditions and sound worlds in new compositions and arrangements of dances and lullabies from the United Kingdom, Finland, Turkiye, and Gambia. A continuous improvisation full of grooves and lullabies.