Folk Duo Stevens & Pound Redefine Classical Music Through Aural Tradition
In a remarkable fusion of musical worlds, folk duo Stevens & Pound are embarking on a groundbreaking tour this week, performing a reimagined version of Gustav Holst's iconic The Planets Suite alongside the acclaimed Britten Sinfonia. The project, titled The Silent Planet, represents an ambitious 18-month collaboration that challenges conventional boundaries between classical and folk traditions.
The Power of Playing by Ear
Will Pound, the harmonica and accordion player who forms one half of the duo alongside classical percussionist Delia Stevens, has never learned to read musical notation. Rather than viewing this as a limitation, Pound considers his aural approach to be his greatest artistic strength. "Aural mastery can be just as potent a force as visual literacy," he explains, pointing to legendary musicians like Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, and Taylor Swift who have achieved extraordinary success without formal music reading skills.
Pound's journey has been shaped by his background in folk traditions, where music is typically passed down orally and through communal sessions rather than written scores. "Music and song are passed down by ear, either through recordings or traditional music sessions where players and singers get together to share, swap and play tunes," he describes. This approach has informed the duo's unique methodology for engaging with classical works.
Reimagining Holst's Masterpiece
The Silent Planet represents the most ambitious project yet for Stevens & Pound, who formed their partnership in late 2022 with the specific mission of rethinking major classical compositions. The 60-minute work, orchestrated by Ian Gardiner across 165 pages of score, includes an entirely new composition titled Earth featuring words by acclaimed writer Robert Macfarlane.
Pound acknowledges the significant technical challenges presented by Holst's monumental work. "This has proved the biggest test yet for our system – and my brain," he admits. To meet these demands, he commissioned custom harmonicas from manufacturers including Seydel and Suzuki, developing new techniques and exploring different timbres to bring the composition to life in unexpected ways.
Bridging Musical Worlds
The collaboration represents more than just a fusion of genres – it challenges deeply ingrained assumptions about musical hierarchy and capability. "I've always challenged the notion that classical players can't play folk, or folk musicians can't play classical," Pound asserts. "Whether you call our tour dates gigs or concerts, the two genres are far more interlinked than we have been led to believe."
This perspective is reflected in the programme's first half, which features works by Percy Grainger and Benjamin Britten – two composers who recognised and embraced connections between folk and classical traditions. Despite their mutual admiration, the pair only met once at Cecil Sharp House in London, headquarters of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, highlighting the historical separation between these musical worlds.
A New Approach to Collaboration
Stevens & Pound have developed a distinctive system for engaging with classical scores that leverages their respective strengths. Delia Stevens creates voice-note recordings that Pound learns by ear, allowing them to approach familiar works with fresh perspectives while maintaining respect for the original compositions. Their previous project reimagining Ralph Vaughan Williams' The Lark Ascending served as a testing ground for this methodology before they tackled the more complex demands of Holst's masterpiece.
"Our goal is not simply to play cover versions, or compensate for my lack of reading," Pound emphasises, "but to lean into the dynamism and freedom that playing by ear brings." This approach encourages lateral thinking and personal interpretation, resulting in performances that bring what Pound describes as "a unique, personal voice to the work – a voice that is not confined by the dots on the page."
Tour Details and Musical Legacy
The Earth and Other Planets tour with Britten Sinfonia and Robert Macfarlane represents a significant moment in contemporary British music, demonstrating how traditional approaches can breathe new life into established repertoire. Performances are scheduled at Milton Court in London on 28 January, Norfolk Events Centre in Norwich on 29 January, and West Road Concert Hall in Cambridge on 30 January.
As Pound reflects on their journey from folk sessions to concert halls, he sees their work as part of a broader conversation about musical accessibility and creative interpretation. "Learning by ear and resisting the explicit instructions of a score has become my greatest strength," he concludes, offering an inspiring perspective for musicians navigating different traditions in today's increasingly interconnected musical landscape.
