Musicians — photography by Hamish Gregory

Musicians

An orchestra performs on the crossing floor of Buckfast Abbey
The Choir of Buckfast Abbey accepts an ovation
The Choir of Buckfast Abbey performs a concert
The Sopranos of the Buckfast Abbey Choir singing
Charles Maxtone-Smith plays an organ
The Choir of Buckfast Abbey singing
A concert from above
Liturgical music during mass
A BBC Radio 3 recording
A Christmas carol concert at Buckfast Abbey
A harpsichord from above
Musicians play fanfare trumpets
A musician plays a natural horn
A soprano sings a solo
A musician plays a flute
A musician stands with his violin accepting applause
A portrait photograph of Matthew Martin, organist and composer
A full portrait of Matthew Martin
A portrait of musician Pascale Walker
Matthew Searles conducts a choir
A violinist is directed

Music is the one discipline that has never opened itself to me. I have tried, and whatever it is that musicians find inside it, my mind cannot follow. What I can read, without difficulty, is the work behind it. The choral, classical and organ traditions represented here operate at a level where precision is not optional and commitment is total; qualities legible to anyone who has pursued anything seriously. I cannot hear what they hear. But in the moments of hard work and clarity, I recognise something. That recognition is what the camera is for.

Some photographs were taken during employment with Buckfast Abbey and are included with permission, presented solely to demonstrate capability.