RNCM

I did a set of new songs for chamber(ish) ensemble at the RNCM in Manchester last week. I was writing right up to the night before - not a good idea. None the less, I think we got away with it, just.

The piece was based on the wax recordings made by Percy Grainger between 1906 and 1909 in Brigg in Lincolnshire. Amongst the singers he recorded was Joseph Taylor, possibly the most influential 'source' singer of them all. He's certainly the most influential on me. I used to think that Taylor was a young man when the recordings were made because they sound so powerful and fresh in a way that other source recordings don't. He was actually well into his seventies, and the groundsman at Saxby-All-Saints where he is buried. Grainger, meanwhile, was only 24. He was loaned a wax cylinder machine by the EFDSS - the machine is still there in the Vaughan Williams memorial library, and he carried it up to Lincolnshire to try to record some of the singers over subsequent visits. These were eventually released as the first ever commercial folk recording, entitled "Authentic Songs of Peasant Folk Singers" in 1908. They were also released as "Unto Brigg Fair" by Leader records in 1972, making them amongst the 'lost' Leader catalogue owned by Dave Bulmer and Celtic Music. My copy of Unto Brigg Fair came from ebay. In my piece, half the songs were sung by the voice of Joseph Taylor synched up with the ensemble - easier said than done.

After one performance, I think the piece needs a bit of re-think. Its got the makings of something good though. This was the view in the interval from my place.




J