Augustine's Oak is the 12th album to be released by UK solo artist Tim Arnold

Peter Oswald’s ‘Augustine’s Oak’ was the first play to be commissioned for Shakespeare’s new Globe theatre and was first performed at the Globe on 6 August 1999. It tells the story of St Augustine’s mission in 597 AD to reconcile the Christians of the Celtic church with the authority of Rome. Beneath an oak tree on the Welsh border the two traditions collide. Political intrigue, civil war, the individual’s quest for truth and God: Augustine’s Oak charts the beginning of a struggle that has shaped the course of British history.

Singer songwriter and composer Tim Arnold, was invited to join the creative team and contribute an original score for the play. Arnold set out to bring a variety of musical styles to Augustine’s Oak, ranging from liturgical to modern rock, encompassing a multi cultural palette that would reflect the spirit of the play’s story. This palette fused classical harp, Indian tabla, early English instruments (such as the shawm and bagpipes), double bass and jazz drumming.

No recording was ever made of the score for Augustine’s Oak. Almost 12 years later in 2011,
Arnold re-assembled all the original members of the ensemble to produce this album, so that this unique theatrical piece of music would continue to be shared and enjoyed today, as much as when it was first performed.