Horses Brawl

Horses Brawl begins in 2003 as a trio and later performs as a duo. The group consists of Laura Cannell, who plays recorders, fiddle and crumhorns, and Adrian Lever, who plays guitar and bowed guitar.

The pair use their instruments in unusual ways to create sounds that evoke medieval music. A violin played with the bow outside and around it produces a sound that resembles a hurdy-gurdy, and in some pieces the guitar is bowed as well. Their approach combines historical performance practice with a contemporary presentation.

Their repertory ranges from traditional dance tunes to works by Machaut and their own compositions. The music moves between lively, dance-like pieces, more languid material, and passages with a strange or unsettling atmosphere. Their ensemble playing is described as accurate and warm, with a focus on the texture of the music.