DORSET’s much-loved folk duo Ninebarrow are releasing a new album at the beginning of October, a celebration not only of the vocal harmonies of the two musicians but also of the joy of choirs singing together.

The Hour of the Blackbird marks a departure for Jon Whitley and Jay LaBouchardiere, who have worked with two choirs, Hart Voices from Hampshire and Chantry Singers from Surrey. The duo have earned a reputation over their 12 years of recording together for their engaging and empathetic songwriting, their reworking of traditional songs and their beautiful harmonies.

The new album sees Ninebarrow revisiting 13 of their songs, renewed and enhanced by the voices of sopranos, altos, tenors and bases, all directed by Roy Rashbrook, who is a member of the choir of St Paul’s Cathedral.

The songs lend themselves well to the choral style. There are eight Ninebarrow originals, two traditional songs and three covers.

There are some interesting back-stories to the songs – Coming Home, is Ninebarrow’s take on a song written by Jon’s father, Bob Whitley, himself a well-known Dorset folk musician and song-writer. It is taken from Bob’s song cycle about the 16th century explorer Magellan, the first European sailor to cross the Pacific, and the discoverer of the Magellan Straits.

The Sea takes the listener to the north and the remote and wind-swept hills where Hadrian’s Wall was built and guarded by Roman soldiers. Jon and Jay are keen walkers and love climbing in the Lake District. This poignant song imagines a soldier stationed at the bleak Hardknott Fort, with the choirs singing the chorus, reflecting the soldier’s yearning for his distant (and warmer) home.

There is more maritime music with Sailors All, by the north-west singer-songwriter Ewen Carruthers, and the final track, the traditional Farewell Shanty, which is also known as Padstow’s Shanty.

Birds feature as well as dramatic landscapes and adventures – as well as the title track, there is Nestledown, inspired by the elusive Dartford Warbler, one endangered but now making a comeback on Dorset’s heathlands.

The album will feature on this autumn’s Ninebarrow tour, which includes West Country dates at the Flavel Arts Centre at Dartmouth on 11th October, St James Church, Poole, on 1st November, the David Hall at South Petherton on 22nd November and St Endellion Church in Cornwall on 29th November.