One of the North East’s best-loved folk songs has been given a new interpretation in a permanent audio installation at The Glasshouse, in Gateshead.
The Water of Tyne: Reimagined, by British-Bengali artist, composer and performer BISHI, opened this week and is free for visitors.
The specially commissioned work takes The Water of Tyne, the beloved traditional song telling of two lovers separated by the river, and brings it into the present through a three-part composition combining North East folk traditions with Raag Durga, new music and field recordings made in and around The Glasshouse itself.
BISHI, who is classically trained in Western and Hindustani music, has written, composed and produced the work, with contributions from Brian Eno, Jennifer Reid, ILĀ, Ian Bruce and Genevieve Dawson.
“The Water of Tyne is one of those rare songs that feels completely timeless,” she says. “It’s deeply rooted in the North East, but its themes of love, distance and belonging are universal.
“I wanted to honour that history while creating something that reflects my own musical journey, bringing together North East folk traditions, Hindustani classical music and the sounds of the River Tyne.”
The installation unfolds across three locations on Level 1 of The Glasshouse, each revealing a different movement of the composition.
Visitors can scan QR codes to listen on their own devices and can experience the three sections at their own pace while moving through the building and taking in views of the river.
“The Glasshouse and its incredible setting inspired me to create something immersive that people could discover in their own way,” says BISHI. “I hope visitors take a moment to pause, listen and experience both the music and the landscape differently, while feeling a deeper connection to this place and the stories it holds.”
The installation is the first permanent addition to a developing programme of free public experiences at The Glasshouse, intended to give people more ways to engage with music and the building outside its concert halls.
Rachel Williams, head of digital and communications at The Glasshouse, said: “We wanted to create something that anyone can discover, whether they’re here for a performance, meeting friends for coffee or simply exploring the Quayside.
“BISHI has created a beautiful new interpretation of a song that means so much to the North East, while giving people a completely new way to experience both the music and our building.”
The Water of Tyne: Reimagined is free and will remain permanently available to experience and enjoy at The Glasshouse. It can also be streamed here.