Pictures at an Exhibition

Concert: Pictures at an Exhibition

With lyrics and music newly written and composed by John Cameron, Pictures at an Exhibition 2018 is a new take on the well loved Mussorgsky Suite, but this time taking inspiration from an eclectic choice of more contemporary works.These cover a panoply of styles ranging from Abstract Expressionism, to Surrealism, Oriental to Op-Art to Graffiti Art, with male and female artists from Europe, the Americas and Asia.  And of course the huge difference is that they are choral works, with some lyrics reflecting the feeling of the picture and others telling a back-story.

The variety of artistic styles is matched with a kaleidoscope of musical genres, from ethnic to rock, jazz to rap to acapella choir.  A children’s chor adds to the textures, singing, providing vocal sound effects, even rapping at times.

As with the Mussorgsky, some movements are linked by ‘Promenades’, bu tthis time they are jazz flavoured, with increasingly unsettling time signatures.

The performance will be accompanied by a visual display using film, stills and animation of the pictures selected.  Pictures at an Exhibition 2018 will be complemented by a performance of John’s universally appealing ‘Kes Suite’ woven from themese from his 1969 score.

Two nights – Thursday 28^th March at 7 pm in Brookmead School, and Saturday 30^th March at 7.30 pm in St. Mary’s Church Ivinghoe.

The Beacon Community Choir and Beacon Ensemble will be performing, with the children from Brookmead School Choir, a new piece specially written for us by the well known composer John Cameron, to celebrate our 10^th anniversary as a choir.