Gavin Bryars and Runi Brattaberg in the Faroes. Photo: Alan Brockie.
Gavin Bryars: From Egil's Saga
Saturday 20 November 2004 23:00-1:00 (Radio 3)
Robert Worby introduced the London Sinfonietta, joined by Faroese bass Rúni Brattaberg, Chris Ekers and Sound Intermedia and conducted by Olari Elts, in a concert taken from the orchestra's Eastern Orchestral Board Tour with a programme devised by Gavin Bryars.
In addition to his classic piece 'The Sinking of the Titanic', Arvo Pärt's 'If Bach had been a Beekeeper' and Erkki-Sven Tüür's 'Passion and Illusion', the climax of the concert is the world premiere of a new work by Bryars: 'From Egil's Saga' - a BBC commission - which explores the relationship between the Nordic Sagas and the connected history of the East of England.
This programme is preceded by a special edition of
Between the Ears
on Radio 3 at 22:40 as a prelude to tonight's Hear and Now premiere of the new Bryars commission.
Online:
Listen to excerpts of previous works by Bryars, find out about the composer's creative process, download MIDI files derived from the new work:
From Egil's Saga
Playlist
Gavin Bryars: From Egil’s Saga
Arvo Pärt
‘If Bach had been a Beekeeper’ (7’03”)
London Sinfonietta conducted by Olari Elts
Gavin Bryars
‘In Nomine (after Purcell)’ (8’00”)
London Sinfonietta conducted by Olari Elts
Erkki-Sven Tüür
‘Passion’ (7’11”) and ‘Illusion’ (3’37”)
London Sinfonietta conducted by Olari Elts
Jean Sibelius
‘Valse Triste’ (4’38”)
London Sinfonietta conducted by Olari Elts
Gavin Bryars
‘The Sinking of the Titanic’ (15’43”)
London Sinfonietta conducted by Olari Elts with Chris Ekers (sound designer) and Sound Intermedia
Gavin Bryars
‘From Egil’s Saga’ (32’23”)
London Sinfonietta (http://www.londonsinfonietta.org.uk/home/home.html) conducted by Olari Elts (http://www.vanwalsum.co.uk/amd/artists/oe.htm) with Rúni Brattaberg (bass), Chris Ekers (sound designer) (http://www.gavinbryars.com/Pages/ensemble_chris.html) , Sound Intermedia (http://www.soundintermedia.co.uk/) and Viva Voce Chamber Choir (http://www.su.nottingham.ac.uk/%7Emussoc/vivavoce)
This performance of ‘From Egil’s Saga’ was recorded at Southwell Minster on 12 November 2004. The remainder of the programme was recorded on 11 November at the Cambridge Corn Exchange.
Magnus Lindberg
‘Action-Situation-Signification’ (movements 2–8) (25’26”)
Toimii Ensemble
CD: Finlandia FACD 372
The Gavin Bryars/London Sinfonietta ‘Connected’ Tour dates:
Tuesday 23 November 2004, 7.30pm: Norwich Cathedral
Wednesday 24 November 2004, 7.00pm: The Baggage Hall, Tilbury Cruise Terminal, Essex
Thursday 25 November 2004: Middleton Hall, University of Hull
Thursday 9 December 2004: Royal Festival Hall, London
Norwich Cathedral
01603 630 000
boxoffice@theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
£14/£8
Tilbury Cruise Terminal
01375 383 961
£8/£5
Middleton Hall, Hull
01482 465056
Royal Festival Hall
0870 264 9988
http://www.rfh.org.uk
Don’t forget, you can have your say on tonight’s programme, or any aspect of new music by visiting the New Music Messageboard.
For further details of any of tonight’s composers, performers or pieces, please e-mail hear.and.now@bbc.co.uk
