“Bach, Burridge and into the Amazon”
Solo Performance
There is a tradition of solo 'cello performance whose foundation is in the Bach Suites for unaccompanied 'cello. I love playing Bach and with this tradition in mind I designed a solo performance which develops from the Prelude of the first suite in G major.
Instead of performing the suite as a whole, for this production I have made a selection of dance movements from the first suite and integrate them with my own compositions in which I utilise modern sampling technology to create multi tracked pieces live.
I am often motivated to compose by news and current affairs. Titles of my compositions in the first half of the performance reflect this; "Globalisation" ( each new track added utilising the looping pedals conveys another emotion associated with the term Globalisation) "A Call to Peace" - inspired by the Muslim Adnan - call to prayer ""Andiamo" and "Reverie" both convey a South American dance - a style absorbed from when I lived in Brasil . "Fukushima" a new composition and not included on the new CD was my creative response to the images of the recent catastrophic earth quake in Japan.
In 2010 I had the opportunity to record these pieces in the fabulous recording studio British Grove in London. These tracks form the first CD in my new double CD release "Out of the Blue & Into the Amazon" and are included in the program of the live performance "Bach, Burridge & Into the Amazon".
"Into the Amazon" ( second half of solo performance)
Through creating an audible collage of recordings made when living with the Xavante featuring their traditional songs sung by both groups and individuals and sounds from their environment I aim to take the audience on a brief journey into an Indian village. Commencing with the birds at dawn I accompany the recordings with “Mr Cello” and utilise the modern sampling technology to create the multi layered pieces. Xavante songs sung by groups and individuals make up the core of the production and then the production ends with recordings of the Xavante making their daily prayers as they do each evening after their singing practise. The sun has gone down, the faces of the children and adults are lit by the fire and the sounds and rhythms of the forest at night reverberate in the air. The performance of "Into the Amazon" which makes up the second half of this solo production is accompanied by projected images of the Xavante community. Also included are images from the Amazon Rain Forest by kind permission of the international photographer Sue Cunningham.
For booking enquiries please e mail: admin@emilyburridge.com
If you have the time here is a description of the production for your perusal...:
“Into the Amazon” commences with “Dawn”, followed by the village singing a “Song for the Day“. Singing unifies the community and here is led by the Chief with his rattle.
Rain falls and I then accompany the
“Rain man who calls the rain”
“Agosta sings an Indian anthem”
A woman has walked down to the river with a baby in a basket on her back. She sings a song that she tells me is famous amongst the Xavante and basically translates; “the Indians went to the top of a hill and saw the white man digging up the ground and burning the trees. The Indians warn Toa ah toa ah - don’t do that don’t do that if you do that great sadness will come…..“Song of the Adolescents”
Adolescent boys are schooled by the elders and from the age of thirteen until their initiation into being a man they live a secluded existence in the boys house. In the evening they sing in groups in designated areas of the village and sometimes during these songs the boys run races around a clearing that surrounds the village.
"Proclamation" - the whole village sings - men , women and children.
Prayer "Atsawidi Maria"
photo of Xavante Chief Francisco Pronhopa by Emily Burridge
Previous performance venues include
Brazilian Embassy in London The first performance, “Into the Amazon" in collaboration with the "Heart of Brazil" photo exhibit by international photographer Sue Cunningham. Butley Priory Music Series Suffolk. The gothic arches created a beautiful ambience within which to play. Harcourt Arboretum - Oxford Contemporary Music Warneford Hospital, Oxford. Penny Gallery Kingston performance in collaboration with the "Heart of Brazil" exhibit by international photographer Sue Cunningham. St Mary's Church, Donhead St Mary, Dorset. Benefit concert for the Xavante tree nursery initiative.
Start Garden Party to make a difference St James's Palace London
Dorset Artsreach Rural Tour Autumn program 2010
Ebenezer Chapel Productions 2011
Warneford Chapel Oxford (promoted by Oxford Contemporary Music)
Rivenstone Festival Dartmoor
Ashleywood Farm Festival 2011
For concert bookings and enquiries please e mail: admin@emilyburridge.com
Comments