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On Pilgrimage: "Writing songs along the Northern Saints Trails"
Sam Slatcher is a singer-songwriter, community arts facilitator and founder of Citizen Songwriters CIC. Sam is passionate about engaging different communities in the process of storytelling through songwriting. In 2018, Sam graduated from Durham University with a PhD in Human Geography on creative community engagement.
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Writing sheet music
The video is available via the IMEMS Facebook Page.
Abstract
Sam Slatcher’s lecture will be something a little different. Pre-recorded on the inaugural launch of the ‘Way of Learning’ Northern Saints Trail this spring, the community singer-songwriter brings us up close to one of the new Northern Saints Trails, as he walks alongside people seeking sanctuary, religious leaders, writers, community practitioners as well as local people interested in pilgrimage. Through a new song written especially for the launch – and sung along the trail - Sam explores how pilgrimage connects to themes of embodiment, companionship and sanctuary.
The material for the talk was recorded on 17 – 18th May 2021 which was the first chance this year to meet outdoors with groups of up to 30.
Sam shows us how the trails imaginatively pieced together walks that route along ancient pilgrimage paths, as you rub shoulders with local heroes and heroines of the past, drift by beautifully abundant natural landscapes, encounter sites of world-changing industrial history and discover forgotten folklore.
Links
Northern Saints - http://www.northernsaints.com/
The song ‘City of Sanctuary’ by Sam Slatcher - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auCmemjDluk
Sheridan Voysey’s virtual pilgrimage - https://sheridanvoysey.com/virtual-pilgrimage-to-durham/