Ep 81 Herrick’s Fairy Temple: Opera, Fairies and Audio Ghosts with Lucinda Guy

In this magical episode of the Fairy Whispering Podcast, I’m thrilled to dive into the world of sound art and opera with the talented Lucinda Guy. Lucinda's latest creation, inspired by Robert Herrick’s 17th-century poem "The Fairy Temple," is set to premiere at Tête à Tête, the UK's leading festival of new opera, on Tuesday, September 23rd at the Cockpit Theatre in London.

Lucinda's artistic practice engages in ritual, participatory music, and improvisation. She often intertwines hymns and traditional melodies, delving into themes of landscape and the sacred. As a researcher at Transtechnology Research, University of Plymouth, she explores the intersection of automation with radio art, pushing the boundaries of sound.

Herrick's poem, the temple "with small bones instead of walls," conjures visions of enchanting and hedonistic rituals under the "silver light of snails." The poem's oscillation between the sublime and the ridiculous creates a rich, magical backdrop for Lucinda's opera.

This production promises to transport the audience into the captivating realm of fairies, featuring performers who reside near Dean Prior, where Herrick served as vicar. The opera not only includes recordings from this mystical location but also showcases fresh live music that brings the spirit of the fairies to life.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Lucinda since 2021, having participated in her audio workshops on Dartmoor for her creative project Skylark FM radio. Those experiences ignited my passion for sound and led me on a journey into podcasting.

In our conversation, we recorded at the very church where Herrick preached, nestled in the enchanting setting of Dean Prior, Devon. Lucinda describes the church's remarkable acoustics, which blend the sounds of bustling traffic into ethereal audio ghosts that resemble choral harmonies. We even engaged in a playful call-and-response, with delightful results woven into the episode. The mingling of external noises and these spectral echoes crafts a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere as we explore Herrick's poetry and the delightful world of his fairies.

To catch a fairy whisper you have to listen closely, listen with me…

If you're eager to catch a glimpse of this enchanting opera, tickets are available starting at just £6.50. Secure yours here: [The Fairy Temple at The Cockpit Theatre](https://www.thecockpit.org.uk/show/the_fairy_temple).

**Connect with Lucinda:**

- Skylark FM: [Skylark.fm](https://skylark.fm/about/)

**Contact the Show:** clairefairywhisperer@gmail.com

**Show Notes:** [The Fairy Whispering Podcast](www.thefairywhispering.com)

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**Have you seen a fairy?**

Share your sightings with the Fairy Census: [Fairy Census Submission](https://www.fairyist.com/survey/)

**Explore Past Fairy Censuses:** [Read Fairy Census 1 & 2](https://www.fairyist.com/survey/read-the-fairy-census-1-and-2/)

**Mentioned in the Episode:**

- The Fairy Temple by Robert Herrick: [Read Here](https://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/herrick/fairytemple.htm)

- Learn About Robert Herrick: [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Herrick_(poet))

**Music Credits:**

- Intro Music: "Forest of Butterflies" by Twelve Trees

Music in episode: Ancient Winds by Kevin McCleod https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html

- Outro Music: Lucinda Guy / Claire Casely

**Photos:**

- By Claire Casely, Lucinda Guy