so! i'm back. it's been quite crazy at guildhall. this month we're running a project called 'dialogue' for the '
Barbican Weekender'. the theme is Urban Stories. it's a big project working with storytellers, community groups, family groups, choirs, primary and secondary schools in nearby bethnall green, and current & post students of the guildhall. my part is running workshops with the schools and supporting the secondary band & choir, creating small performances that all piece together one after the other, creating a larger roving sort of concert, throughout the barbican. that's my understanding of it anyway.. the rest i improvise (but don't tell them i said that).
at the same time (and the most exciting thing for me), is starting a project with the
London Contemporary Dance School...
it was a last minute invite from the composition department at guildhall, to compose a work for a dance project, in collaboration with a choreographer, Chris Scott. he's finishing his course at LCDS. so, the project is to create a work together from scratch. it's a pretty new concept for me (but oh so exciting), coz until now, any specific dance projects i've been involved with have usually been entirely improvised, or the work is choreographed to one of my existing compositions. this time however, as we're both creating from scratch, we're influenced as much as each other right throughout the process.
there'll be more news to come as the work unfolds, but here's a sneak peak at what came out of the first rehearsal. i mostly improvised or played some existing compositions on the piano, to get chris and the dancers familiar with my style. on this below clip, i left out the music (sorry!) so i wouldn't be influenced by it when watching it at a later date. i'm sure they'd say it's a bit rough, but it was waay exciting for me...
and the next thing... MY NEW PIANO!!!
today i experienced a most amazing and generous thing. someone donated a piano to me (edit: actually this didn't turn out in the end, but it made for a good story at the time!!!!). i've been needing to buy one for my flat (it's been driving me crazy to not have one at home believe me!) and i have been looking frantically for one that is suitable, affordable and course playable. i've had a number of trips to the countryside to play and bid on pianos. the train journeys have been great, but not so successful until today, yay!
i initially put a hold on a very small second-hand yamaha upright from a shop, however had to call back, apologise and say no when i received a call following up my 'email of interest' from last week. a lovely lady and gentleman from orpington (countryside outside london), questioned me about my studies, wanting to know more and more. to cut a long story short, today i have walked away with an antique 'Dörner' upright piano, from stuttgart in germany. could be from the early 1900's.. it's quite old, but such a lovely open tone. the moving and shaking of course is yet to be done (my only costs are to move and tune it), but soon (hopefully next week?!), i'll have the piano in my flat. i'm hoping my neighbours won't mind.. i haven't even checked it with the official building peoples, but my flatmate likes the idea, so that's good enough for me until i get told off!
the best part about the story is that during our conversation over a lovely cup of english tea, i found out that the lady is the sister of a certain Isobel Rolston, who was the director at the banff centre in canada, whilst i was there in 2006 for my winter residency. what are the chances?! i gave them a gift of my cd 'never stops to wait'. it certainly doesn't balance the scales, but one day i'll thank them properly by inviting them to an amazing concert. it truly is a fabulous and generous gift.. and i am very grateful that it came at this time.. i can afford to eat for another couple of months now! yay!
ok (edit 29/02/2012): so the free one didn't work out.. they reneged! how's that?! offering then reneging. sheesh!! to cut a long story short: i called the piano shop back and mine was still there.. so it's being delivered today.. yay! just goes to show that it's waaay better just to pay someone to do the job, then you know it'll be done.
well, better run. work and sleep to be had.
back soon! :)
