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Joglaresa is a London-based medieval and folk band, known for their scholarly and imaginative re-creation of medieval music. Founded in 1992 by director Belinda Sykes, their music spans a range of European, Middle Eastern and North African medieval and folk genres, drawing especially on Arabic, Sephardic and Andalusian traditions. They are also notable for their innovative programming and use of improvisation.

They have been featured artists in national radio concert broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio Jersey.

The name Joglaresa refers to the female troubadours of the middle ages – Sykes' vision was of a largely female band, although it was mostly male in the early years.

Members

Belinda Sykes

Singer and multi-instrumentalist Belinda Sykes (1966 – 16 November 2021) was founder and director of Joglaresa. She fell in love with the oboe at the age of six, by mistake, while listening to the cor anglais solo in the New World Symphony. She was also immersed in English folk music from a very early age, when her parents would take her to folk clubs and dances, where her father was a caller. Sykes went on to study oboe and recorder at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, obtained a Masters in Arab-Andalusian music from SOAS University of London and learned about various ethnic musical styles during field trips to Bulgaria and Hungary, and travels to Morocco, India, Syria and Spain.

In 2004 Sykes was solo oboist playing Harrison Birtwistle's music in a production of Euripides' Bacchae at the Royal National Theatre. In 2004 Sykes also performed and recorded as part of the female ensemble Mille Fleurs. In 2008 she sang and played ney for the world premiere of Karl Jenkins' Stabat Mater. Jenkins composed the Incantation section of this piece with Sykes' voice in mind. In 2011 Sykes was appointed professor of medieval song at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. In 2015 Sykes sang and acted in another production of Bakkhai, alongside Ben Wishaw at London's Almeida Theatre. In 2019, Sykes' "breathtaking" knowledge of the music and culture of Al-Andalus led to her presenting a special edition of the BBC's Early Music Show on the subject.

Sykes was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2019. She died on 16 November 2021, at the age of 55.

Discography

Year	Album	Label	Reviews
Ballads of Love & Betrayal : Sephardic Songs of the Mediterranean	2001	Village Life
Magdalena : Medieval Songs for Mary Magdalen	2003	Avie
Stella Nuova : Celebratory Songs of Medieval Italy	2005	Joglaresa
Douce Dame Debonaire : Medieval French Song	2008	Joglaresa
Dancing in Tetuán : Sephardic Song	2009	Joglaresa
Dreams of Andalusia : Jewish, Arabic & Christian Songs of Medieval Spain	2009	Metronome
In Hoary Winter's Night : Irish & English Songs of Wintertide	2009	Joglaresa
Nuns & Roses : Medieval Songs of Sin & Subversion	2012	Joglaresa
Magna Carta : 800 years of rebels & royals	2015	Joglaresa
Sing We Yule : Folk & Medieval Songs for Yuletide	2017	Joglaresa
Live at St Barts : Folk & Medieval Songs for Yuletide	2019	Joglaresa
Boogie Knights : Lockdown Plague Party	2021	Joglaresa

References

1. ^ Finch, Hilary (15 December 2005). "Concert: Joglaresa". The Times.
2. ^ Stewart, Andrew (December 2012). "Medieval rebels come of age". Early Music Today. Vol. 21, no. 1. pp. 15–17. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015.
3. Skeaping, Lucie (9 January 2010). "The Early Music Show - Dancing in Tetuan". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
4. Skeaping, Lucie (12 February 2006). "The Early Music Show". BBC Radio 3. Retrieved 13 August 2020. Magdalena: Lucie Skeaping introduces a concert given at the York Early Music Festival by the ensemble Joglaresa. The group presented a portrait in medieval song of Mary Magdalene.
5. Park, Julie (27 February 2008). "World peace through music". BBC Radio Jersey. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
6. ^ French, Hannah (17 July 2022). "BBC Radio 3 - The Early Music Show, Belinda Sykes: A Tribute". BBC.
7. ^ "Guildhall School is deeply saddened to hear of the death of alumna and former teacher, Belinda Sykes". Guildhall School of Music & Drama. 7 December 2021.
8. Northcott, Bayan (21 September 2004). "Inventions: The Early Music Weekend, Queen Elizabeth Hall/Purcell". The Independent.
9. Vernier, David (1 June 2004). "TEMPLE OF CHASTITY—Music from 13th-century Spain". Classics Today.
10. Eddins, Stephen. "Karl Jenkins: Stabat Mater". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
11. "Karl Jenkins - Stabat Mater". Boosey & Hawkes. Archived from the original on 19 February 2010.
12. "Early music mourns a vibrant leader, 55". Slipped Disc. 17 November 2021.
13. Bell, Clive (September 2002). "Ballads of Love & Betrayal". The Wire. No. 223. p. 64.
14. Hugill, Robert (15 January 2004). "CD Spotlight. Infectious performances - Joglaresa and Belinda Sykes perform medieval songs for Mary Magdelene". Music & Vision Daily. ...enormous freshness and immediacy.
15. Pettitt, Stephen (10 August 2003). "Classical: New Releases: Magdalena: Medieval Songs for Mary Magdalene". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
16. Stewart, Andrew (November 2003). "Joglaresa - Magdalena". Classic FM Magazine.
17. Hingstone, Michael (May 2008). "Joglaresa: Stella Nuova". fRoots. No. 299.
18. Gordillo, Bernard (3 November 2009). "Medieval Music with Joglaresa, The Rose Ensemble, and Millenarium". Harmonia Early Music. WFIU Public Radio. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
19. Nickson, Chris. "Dancing in Tetuan - Joglaresa". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
20. Manheim, James. "Dreams of Andalusia - Joglaresa". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
21. Horsewood, Adrian (December 2017). "The Perfect Mix". Classical Music. pp. 32–35. Archived from the original on 7 January 2018.

External links

• Official website
• Joglaresa discography at MusicBrainz
• Joglaresa on AllMusic
• Joglaresa discography at Discogs
• Sykes, Belinda (29 September 2019). "The Early Music Show Special: Al-Andalus!". BBC Radio 3.

• Medieval musical groups
• Musical groups from London
• Musical groups established in 1992