10 February 2020
Newsdesk
In a world-premiere, award-winning sound recordist, Chris Watson (David Attenborough’s long-term collaborator on the ‘Life’ series and recent collaborator on Chernobyl by Oscar winner Hildur Guðnadóttir) and award-winning composer Claire M Singer (known for her experimental approach to organ and her critically acclaimed releases on Touch) will present their new, multichannel diffusion work for field recordings, organ, the London Contemporary Orchestra and Choir on the 28th March 2020 in the perfect gothic atmospheric of Union Chapel in London.
“I’m genuinely excited by the prospect of collaborating with Claire and the LCO in creating a global journey through a range of acoustic landscapes” – Chris Watson
The composition will incorporate the soundscapes of habitats northwards from Antarctica to the Artic captured by Watson processed and diffused live over a multi channel set up brought in specially for the event with a live score from Singer echoing a musical response to the sound and spirit of each location. Together the music featuring brass, strings, voice, electronics and organ located around the chapel and Watson’s field recordings interweave taking the listener on an immersive aural journey from Pole to Pole. Both on the 39 year running innovative audio-visual label Touch, this is Watson and Singer’s first collaboration. Separately known to draw inspiration from their deep connection with space and place their two sound worlds are merged together for one night at the internationally renowned festival of experimental organ music, now in its fourth year. There is a ticketed pre-concert Q&A with Watson and Singer led by Wire magazine’s Editor Derek Walmsley, exploring the process of writing the new work.
“Chris’ field recordings are extraordinarily beautiful and inspiring. They project a strong sense of place full of intricate melodies and abstract textures. It is hugely exciting to create a musical response to these masterpieces with Union Chapel’s great 1877 Henry Willis organ and the London Contemporary Orchestra and Choir” - Claire M Singer
Organ Reframed is brought to you by Union Chapel Project, in partnership with the London Contemporary Orchestra and Spitfire Audio with generous support from Arts Council England, PRS Foundation and the Institute of Physics.
Tickets on sale now https://www.unionchapel.org.uk/about-us/organ-reframed
Festival Schedule
Friday 27 March 2020
19:15 Organ Reframed: Anna von Hausswolff, Abul Mogard and Ipek Gorgun
Saturday 28 March 2020
11.30 & 12:25 - WOOFYT family organ building workshop
11.00 - A Highland Year by Chris Watson and Claire M Singer with interactive organ performances by James McVinnie, Katherine Tinker and Jacob Lekkerkerker
17:45 - Derek Walmsley in conversation with Chris Watson and Claire M Singer
19:15 – Organ Reframed: Chris Watson and Claire M Singer
