The Modern Musical Dynasty: Kanneh-Mason Family Performs Saint-Saëns, Bob Marley

By Lisa Flynn |

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The Kanneh-Masons (Photo: Stuart McIntyre)

There have been many musical dynasties throughout history – think of the Bach and Strauss families. Today, we have a new dynasty in the making with the extraordinary talents of England’s Kanneh-Masons – seven brothers and sisters, all of whom play either violin, piano, or cello. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided the siblings with the opportunity to join together at home for the first time in over five years, as they've performed and shared their music with the world via livestreams.

In 2020, the Kanneh-Masons also released their first-ever family album, Carnival, joined by several instrumentalist friends for Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals. Michael Morpurgo wrote delightful new poems for the beloved work, read by the author and actress Olivia Colman. The siblings say, “This album has grown from our passion as a family for making music together. This has been a heart-breaking time for musicians and performing artists. We want to share our love of music and our passion for communication.”

The album features a selection of other family favorites, including the Kanneh-Masons’ own arrangement of Bob Marley’s Redemption Song. Enjoy this beautiful video of their performance.