About
Rune is a recently established ensemble of five musicians dedicated to sharing their joint passion for medieval music. The name 'Rune' is derived from the Old English 'rūn', meaning a mystical spell-song, and reflects the groups fascination with the rare and touching beauty of music from 700 years ago. The ensemble approaches this music with curiosity and dedication, sharing deeply researched programmes as well as outreach projects for children, all with the purpose of sharing stories that challenge and enrich our preconceptions of the past, and present.
Since meeting for the first time through Medieval Carols at St Bartholomew-the-Great, Rune was formed with the aid of the late Deborah Roberts and the Brighton Early Music Festival. They were featured in the 2023 Brighton Early Music Festival Live! Young Artist Scheme. They were also generously supported in 2025 by the Continuo Foundation with a grant for their Decameron tour.
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In 2026 Rune began their new position of Medieval Ensemble in Residence at St Bartholomew-the-Great. Performing within its over-900-year-old walls, Rune are presenting a hugely successful concert series inspired by the church's rich medieval heritage. 2027 will see Rune continuing to grow their residency by working with medieval music researcher Jamie Blasina to re-discover new repertoire and programmes.
“…the queue to enter the City of London’s oldest surviving parish church for [Rune's] concert of medieval carols was so long it nearly reached the nearby Fabric nightclub. But the kind of drum and bass that patrons of St Bartholomew the Great prefer is the tabor and vielle.”
​Claer Barrett, Financial Times, 25 Dec 2025
Listen
Rune perform as part of the BREMF Live! Showcase. Brighton Early Music Festival's young artist scheme - filmed live at St George's Church, Brighton in October 2023.
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To download a concert programme visit the BREMF website.
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Support us
Please donate to help us to continue bringing medieval music to life. Donations go towards commissioning new repertoire, recordings and our residency at St Bart's.
Make a one-time donation or become a “Friend of Rune” with regular contributions. Friends enjoy exclusive access to special performances and reserved seating at concerts (excluding our yearly Medieval Carols at St Bartholomew-the-Great).
