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ON OUR RADAR

Love, Devotion and Harmonious Melodies

Steve Tyler and Marco Cannavò perform medieval music on historical instruments.

Donna Vincent

St Nicholas Priory is hosting an evening of medieval music from the 12th to the 14th century performed by Steve Tyler and Marco Cannavò on Saturday 31 May.

The programme includes music spanning 200 years from love songs of the troubadours to sacred compositions in honour of the Virgin Mary played on historical musical instruments including hurdy-gurdy, citole, organistrum, portative organ, bladder pipe and gothic harp.

Hurdy-gurdy player Steve Tyler co-founded Misericordia with Anne Marie Summers in 1994, winning the duet competition at St. Chartier in 1999 before joining Daughters of Elvin in 2001.

He has performed with folk singers, industrial/electronic musicians and puppeteers and played for theatrical productions at Shakespeare’s Globe.

Marco Cannavò is a hurdy-gurdy player and multi-instrumentalist from Devon who brings ancient melodies to contemporary audiences.

Last year he released Vexilla Regis, a collaboration with Steve Tyler, Katy Marchant and Terry Mann.

Steve Tyler and Marco Cannavò Steve Tyler and Marco Cannavò

Grade I listed St Nicholas Priory, founded by William the Conqueror in 1087, is Exeter’s oldest building.

Following the dissolution of the monasteries it became a prominent Elizabethan town house before being subdivided into several smaller houses and business premises.

In 1916 it was restored to become a museum, with Exeter Historic Buildings Trust becoming responsible for its use in 2018.

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Love, Devotion and Harmonious Melodies begins at 7.30pm on Saturday 31 May 2025 at St Nicholas Priory.

Tickets cost £15 and can be purchased from the TicketSource website.

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