London Nightscape
Five movement, 30-minute jazz work for
saxophone (soprano and tenor), clarinet (Bb and bass),
percussion (marimba and vibes), piano, congas, bass
(electric and acoustic) and drums plus tape - with
specially commissioned still photography. (2005)
Use the links on the right to navigate to movement specific pages with audio-visual Quicktime content and further programme notes.
Visit photographer Josie Reavely's website by clicking here.
[Programme notes from the performance on Tuesday 28th June 2005 by Paul Hughes]
Use the links on the right to navigate to movement specific pages with audio-visual Quicktime content and further programme notes.
Since childhood, I have always loved London. The
atmospheres experienced in any part of the capital at
any time always seem to have a special quality,
whether it be the bustle of Oxford Street at midday,
the tranquility of Regents Park early-afternoon, the
buzz of theatre-land as show-time approaches, the
apparent stillness of Canary Wharf and its
surrounding buildings lit up against the pastel sky
at dusk, or the awakening of the city encountered in
Leicester Square at 7 ‘o’ clock on a
crisp spring morning.
It was reflection upon these things which
led me to conceive the London Nightscape project. The
idea was to compose a work that would suggest a
number of city atmospheres, such as those above,
within a thirty-minute timeframe.
Jazz seemed the most suitable musical language to use, for its characteristics of energy and rhythmic-intensity are so closely reflected in the busyness of London. In addition to the seven- piece live band, the piece makes use of electronics - audio recorded on location in and around the city. Both treated and untreated, these elements are used to suggest places or situations, and are often utilised rhythmically, inspiring or echoing ideas played by the conventional instruments.
Since the idea of movement and travel is an
inbuilt factor of city life, the idea of a musical
journey reflecting snapshots of different atmospheres
during a certain time of day seemed very appropriate.
As the title suggests, this piece specifically
concerns the period of time between dusk and dawn.
The journey is split into five parts, each of which
has a corresponding movement.
In addition to the audio aspects of the production, specially commissioned still photography by Josie Reavely of Greenwich University adds an exciting visual stimulus to the work, consolidating the atmospheres suggested in the music and further enhancing them.
Jazz seemed the most suitable musical language to use, for its characteristics of energy and rhythmic-intensity are so closely reflected in the busyness of London. In addition to the seven- piece live band, the piece makes use of electronics - audio recorded on location in and around the city. Both treated and untreated, these elements are used to suggest places or situations, and are often utilised rhythmically, inspiring or echoing ideas played by the conventional instruments.
In addition to the audio aspects of the production, specially commissioned still photography by Josie Reavely of Greenwich University adds an exciting visual stimulus to the work, consolidating the atmospheres suggested in the music and further enhancing them.
Visit photographer Josie Reavely's website by clicking here.
[Programme notes from the performance on Tuesday 28th June 2005 by Paul Hughes]