A River's Song

'A River's Song' is a collaborative composition celebrating the stories, rhythms, and connections of the river. The piece brings together local singers, music-makers, and residents with a deep connection to the Malago. The River Malago runs quietly beneath the streets of Bedminster — often overlooked yet deeply rooted in the area's history and ecology. From July to October 2025, composer Liam Taylor-West collaborated with the local community to bring the Malago to life in sound. From cello and violin to clarinet, flute, piano, guitars, bass, percussion, voices, choir, and spoken word, the river's sounds were reimagined through a rich and varied ensemble. The results were shared in a series of public events that invited everyone to listen, take part, and experience the Malago in a new way. A River's Song walks along Bedminster's hidden river, listening while tracing the Malago's presence through the city. These walks later inspired the A River's Song audio walk, launched at the Art on the Hill Festival, Bedminster.