EIBF Review: Raymond Antrobus & Evelyn Glennie: Transcendent Sound

Transcendent Sound brought together two accomplished artists, Raymond Antrobus and Dame Evelyn Glennie, for an improvised collaboration of poetry and percussion. Both performers are widely recognised for their work, each with a remarkable collection of accolades. Antrobus read from his upcoming book, Signs, Music, which explores themes of imminent fatherhood and the birth of his child. Dame Evelyn responded to his reading (having neither heard nor read the poems prior) with improvised percussion, including timpani.

Antrobus’ skill as a poet is undeniable; his timing during readings is spot on, with well-placed pauses and clever emphases that keep the audience engaged. He even managed to weave in a form of call and response, which was a lovely touch, drawing us further into his world. While the subject matter didn’t fully resonate with me, I could still appreciate the flow of his words and the emotional depth he brought to the performance. 

There were moments where Glennie’s ethereal sounds perfectly matched the rawness of Antrobus’ poetry, particularly when he shared his fears and vulnerabilities. However, at other times, the timpani and other loud sounds, felt a bit overwhelming, taking me out of the poetic flow. 

A standout moment was towards the end when Antrobus recited a poem while it was signed in sync by Joe (unfortunately, I was only able to catch her first name). For me, this was the most beautiful and moving part of the performance. I also deeply appreciated the use of captions throughout the performance. While likely intended for deaf audiences, they also made the performance more accessible for the neurodivergent, who can find the contrast of sudden loud sounds and spoken word challenging.

Reflecting on the experience, I couldn’t help but feel that the performance would have been better suited to a warmer, more intimate space rather than a large lecture theatre. This is the kind of event I’d expect to see at Unbound in previous years, perhaps with an interval to allow for reflection and conversation. Such a setup would have given the performers a chance to reconvene and potentially deepen the connection with the audience.

While the subject matter wasn’t entirely relatable for me, the combination of Antrobus’ engaging poetry and Glennie’s impressive improvisation certainly created a memorable experience. It was a beautiful addition to the Edinburgh International Book Festival.