Jonny Hennessey-Brown (2&3 South, 1988-1993) discusses battles with mental health and the therapeutic value of making music:
“At Cranleigh I was lucky enough play in ‘Chapel Strings’ when Keith Abrams was the Director of Music. I had cello lessons from Caroline Dale who has the kind of diverse career that I admire, playing as principal cello with the English Chamber Orchestra but never turning her nose up at commercial music and innovative projects. This liberal-minded attitude has been rewarded by her becoming probably the UK’s most successful session cellist and appearing with bands as iconic as Pink Floyd.
“In the lower sixth at Cranleigh, heading for Oxford, and described by the Headmaster in a report as a “renaissance man”, I suffered what I now know to have been my first bipolar episode. People had no idea what to make of my behaviour at home or at school. Mental health really wasn’t on the radar back then and it was not something that was discussed. I was sectioned and it was extremely frightening and there were times when I thought the nurses were terrorists. I remember being in the hospital chapel when under section at the Priory in Roehampton playing unaccompanied Bach. It kept me going. It is something I still do occasionally, but in different environments:
https://www.facebook.com/ClassicFM/videos/10155799381419260/
“We even had tea parties in there at which I played the cello to entertain other patients. I had been deluded, exhausted, psychotic and very ill but music helped me pull through.
“I spent most of the upper sixth asleep and struggled through my A-levels. Music kept me going and has done in subsequent episodes. So it is fitting that a quarter of a century later, having battled through three more serious bouts of mental ill-health, I am combining making my second quartet album with raising money and awareness for Mind the Mental Health charity.
“A blog that I wrote for Mind can be found here:
“We were delighted to perform several of the tracks from the album in Cranleigh’s splendidly refurbished chapel where I also regularly play with Kevin Weaver, Marcus Pashley and the Merriman Ensemble. The album was eventually made with an English Bandoneon player called Julian Rowlands.
“He has appeared regularly on Strictly Come Dancing and, more importantly in my view, the genuinely fine Tango band called Tango Siempre. Julian’s knowledge of this music helped the Santiago Quartet to play it in a more authentic manner. ‘Language of the Heart’ will be released on March 9th, distributed world-wide by Kartel Music Group, and it can already be purchased on pre-order here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0784W1BN9/
“We’ve been pleased with some of the feedback and look forward to further sessions at Classic FM and on the BBC. “I’m listening to the standing chromatic clarity of your ‘Piazzolla’. I’ve always love this music both cerebral and sensual in equal measure, but this is truly special.” (Sting)
“You can read further blogs and see videos of clips from the album here:
http://www.santiagoquartet.co.uk/press/
“I would be delighted to think that some Old Cranleighans and past teachers might order our album and get to hear this fascinating cross-over of a classically trained string quartet teaming up with a true expert of the Tango to create something a bit different.
“There are also three tracks of a more traditional nature by the English composer Will Todd. His beautiful song ‘Call of Wisdom’ was performed at the Queen’s Jubilee at St. Paul’s Cathedral. He is a dear friend and a talented man. ‘Birthday Quartet’ was commissioned from him by my mother for my Dad’s 70th birthday. Nearly seven years later we finally got it just about good enough to go out on an album! Music that sounds simple and effortless is always the most difficult to record. The first eight bars took hours and hours of work.
“Whether using it to help overcome personal crisis, pay the bills, find a sense of self-worth, or help other people making an album of music that you believe in, can be a life event. We have tried to integrate different cultures, different feelings, and support those with mental health issues in a project that has meant a lot to all of us.
“I do hope that the reader will feel and know that I am being truly congruent when I say that there are two things that matter to us more than anything else at the Santiago Quartet: they are promoting the beautiful and under-rated music of Latin America and modern English artists such as Will Todd, and bringing hope to people in a dark place, acknowledging that emotional pain is part of life but doesn’t have to take it over, especially if we find a passion in culture.
“Ex Cultu Robur is the School motto. Out of culture comes strength. How true that has been for me.”
For more information or to hire them please write to: info@santiagoquartet.co.uk