Together with Stevie Wishart I have set up a new organization called Music Relevant. It’s principal aim is to make contemporary classical music more widely relevant to 21st century concerns, in particular through the creation of new works that are inspired either by a political objective, or by art.
Our first project is ‘Europa’ a piece by Stevie Wishart for bass lute, piano, hurdy-gurdy, ‘cello and voices. Here is a brief sample of the first and last movements :
[audio:https://penelopeturner.com/wp-content/2008/11/preludeimmortal-scent.mp3]
Thursday, November 13, 2008
My sister has a knack of getting to the heart of the matter.
We were talking recently about the competitive nature of humans. Of course we are bound to make comparisons – it is unavoidable, and even necessary. However, what she reminded me of was this :
It is important to make the right comparison.
Food for thought.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Obama gewinnt, mein Gott. Für meine Zukunft versorgen.
[audio:https://penelopeturner.com/wp-content/2008/11/obama-gewinnt-mp3-version1.mp3]
This month I will be singing a programme of Renaissance and Baroque music with the Laudantes Consort.
We are providing a musical framework for an exhibition of photographs by Robert Hupka of Michelangelo’s Pietà at the church of the St. Dominic’s International Priory in Brussels.
The central theme of our musical programme is the Stabat Mater, and on three consecutive evenings you will have the opportunity to hear two different settings of this 13th century prayer, one by Palestrina, the other by Domenico Scarlatti.
The Stabat Mater is one of the most famous Latin prayers to have survived since the Middle Ages. It was probably originally intended for private meditation. It begins with a gasp of compassion for Mary’s suffering at the crucifixion of her son, and it ends with a supplication to her to be allowed to share this suffering.
Come and join us for this passionate music on October 23rd, 24th or 25th at the Church of the St. Dominic’s International Priory, Avenue de la Renaissancelaan 40, 1000 Brussels. (The Church is just by the Cinquantenaire/Jubel park and near to metros Mérode and Schuman.)
Monday, September 22, 2008
The famous French baritone, Pierre Bernac, who performed with Poulenc himself at the piano, called ‘Hôtel’ from Banalités the laziest song ever written :
[audio:https://penelopeturner.com/wp-content/2008/09/hotel-by-francis-poulenc-live-recording-230408.mp3]
Banalités is a collection of five poems by Guillaume Apollinaire, set to music by Francis Poulenc. Poulenc was a meticulous composer who remained intrinsically faithful to the poems he set. He met Apolliniare briefly just before the latter’s death and was inspired by the poet’s voice. Through his music he succeeds in expanding and intensifying the very different moods of each of the poems. For example, the indolence of ‘Hôtel’ is followed by the gust of wind that is ‘Fagnes de Wallonie’ :
[audio:https://penelopeturner.com/wp-content/2008/09/fagnes-de-wallonie-by-francis-poulenc-live-recording-230408.mp3]
Click here for more clips.
