This was a logistically-challenged visit to the sprawling ruins of Netley Abbey near Southampton. I usually get to the sites early to get the light for the photos and video, get the vibe, and to avoid the hoards, but rocking up at 7, the gates were shut, meaning no entry to this wonderful ruined abbey.

So that meant three hours of staring through gates, drinking coffee and researching the harmonic structure of plain chant (perfect fourths and modes, rather than straight major or minor keys). Time well spent, and interesting learning, which I then pretty much ignored for the piece.

I never try to create the pieces using any kind of authentic instrumentation or musicality, instead preferring to tell a story and capture whatever it is I feel while walking the sites. Here though, that feeling did manifest as some kind of choral thing because, you know, monks, but it’s not going to appeal to the purists.

The abbey was a home to monks from 1239 until Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries in 1536. It wasn’t ruined then, but turned into a country house for a Tudor politician.

Here’s the piece:

And the trailer film…