Tim Hughes talks to Clemmie Franks from Oxford vocal trio Voice, who bring their divine music to some historic venues for Open Doors

Clemmie Franks is clearly a woman who likes a challenge.

As one third of sublime Oxford vocal trio Voice, Clemmie has performed stunning a capella music everywhere from her hometown to the USA. But this weekend she, and singing partners Emily Burn and Victoria Couper, are taking on five shows – without leaving the city.

The acclaimed three-piece celebrate the release of their new album Patterns of Love, by staging performances in historic settings to coincide with Oxford Open Doors.

The short concerts will see the girls raising the roof in the evocative settings of the Ashmolean Museum and the Castle Crypt, on Saturday, and, on Sunday, at the Norrington Room at Blackwell’s bookshop, the Vaults Café at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, and, finally, an hour long show in East Oxford’s medieval Bartlemas Chapel, where their album was recorded.

The performances will see audiences treated to music dating from the 12th century to freshly-commissioned pieces by contemporary composers.

“We want to get people listening to our stuff who may not have otherwise heard it,” says Clemmie. “And it’s going to be a lot of fun.

“We are visiting some interesting venues, but that’s the great thing about Voice. Being an a capella vocal trio allows us to perform anywhere we want.

“We are a vocal trio who perform music we love – which includes contemporary music which has been written for us.

“And we enjoy watching the effect of our singing. We always have a warm reception wherever we go.

“We are three voices, unadorned, but with very different timbres in our voices, and the music creates a unique blend.

“People also enjoy the range of stuff we perform.”

That includes modern pieces of poetry set to music, cheeky Shakespearean drinking songs, traditional and modern arrangements of folk tunes, and the music of Hildegard of Bingen – the 12th century German abbess, monastic composer, playwright, mystic and visionary.

Despite the beauty of such archaic pieces, Clemmie is determined that Voice should not be dismissed as simply purveyors of early music.

“We perform music that we love, but often that includes contemporary music that’s been written for us,” she says. “We were lucky enough to get Arts Council England funding, which meant we could commission five new pieces and tour Patterns of Love.

The songs, each created by different British composers on the theme of love, were aired on tour in America last February, then fine-tuned and recorded back in Oxford.

The album marks a highpoint for the women, who met while performing with Oxford Girl’s Choir.

At the time Clemmie was living in East Oxford, Victoria in Bagley Wood and Emily was living in Faringdon.

They were briefly separated by studies – Clemmie reading ethnomusicology at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London – but were reunited over the love of singing, and formed Voice in 2006.

“We all said ‘let’s form a trio’ and started singing anything we could get our hands on,” says Clemmie. “It helped that we had sung together for so long before. It was wonderful to hear our voices in unison.

“We did a couple of gigs and it grew and grew. It has been a very exciting journey.”

The three have also performed together in Sinfonye – the a cappella female group, Sinfonye, founded by director Stevie Wishart as a vehicle for repertories sung, inspired or composed by women.

Oxford Mail:

  • In full voice: From left, Emily Burn, Victoria Couper and Clemmie Franks

Emily, who also performs with the all-female choir, Schola Pietatis Antonio Vivaldi (SPAV), now lives in London, while Victoria, who performed in Blur star Damon Albarn’s production Dr Dee, as well as SPAV and The Helen Chadwick Group, divides her time between Oxford, London and Ireland.

Clemmie, who lives off Cowley Road, is involved in numerous other projects, and sings with soprano Flore Philis. She has also sung backing vocals for psychedelic rock band Spiritualized, ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’ star Bobby McFerrin, folk supergroup Bellowhead, and performed on the film soundtracks to Harry Potter, The Hobbit, and Snow White and the Huntsman alongside with Florence Welch.

In 2013, Voice launched their debut album Musical Harmony. More recently they collaborated with the Dufay Collective on their hit classical album I Have Set My Hert So Hy.

Venues have included the Sage Gateshead, National Portrait Gallery, Southbank Centre, concerts in Brussels and Bucharest, and the Shambala festival – better known for its leftfield rock, indie and dance music.

Future dates include shows in Bermuda and another tour of the USA.

“It has been a great year,” says Clemmie.

So what does she enjoy singing most? “I love all the repertoire,” she says.

“That may not sound like the most interesting thing to say, but it depends on the venue and the atmosphere given off by the audience. That’s what makes all the difference – that and the fact we grew up singing together.”

And, she says, she can’t wait to get stuck into the weekend’s performances.

“We’ll be singing different stuff, depending on where we are and who turns up,” she says.

“So there’ll be a slightly more intellectual programme for a more ‘knowing’ crowd at Blackwell’s and more uplifting tunes with a few Eastern European folk songs at the Vaults Café and Ashmolean.

“So depending on where you come and hear us, we’ll be slightly different. Or come along to them all and hear everything!”

Performances: Saturday, 2pm: Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont Street Saturday, 5.30pm: Oxford Castle Crypt, Oxford Castle (limited space, reserve in advance) Sunday, 2pm: Blackwell’s Music Shop (Norrington Room), Broad Street Sunday, 4pm: Vaults Café (University Church), High Street Sunday, 6pm: Bartlemas Chapel, off Cowley Road (limited space, reserve in advance) All performances will be free, and CDs will be available to purchase afterwards.

Where and when
Voice plays venues across Oxford on Saturday and Sunday.
Details from voicetrio.co.uk/concerts
Entry is free. 
This event is part of Oxford Open Doors oxfordopendoors.org.uk