'Descant on Rawthey's Madrigal'
this piece was commissioned by the 2007 Sedbergh Festival of Books and Drama with financial assistance from the Performing Right Society Foundation. it is based on the long 1965 poem 'Briggflatts' by Basil Bunting (1900-1985), a major British modernist poet, which can be found in Bunting's 'Complete Poems', published by Bloodaxe Books, and it is scored for live computer sound and processing, excerpts from 'Briggflatts' performed by a reader, and excerpts from a 1967 reading of the poem by Bunting himself.
Andi and Steve Tomlin perform 'Descant on Rawthey's Madrigal' at Brigflatts, Sedbergh, 2007 (photo: John Rice)
the first performance of the piece was at Brigflatts Meeting House, near Sedbergh, on 8 September 2007 (Bunting's grave is across the lane from the meeting house). the reader was Stephen Tomlin.
I hoped to perform the piece again in 2008, but discussions with promoters came to nothing. it would be nice to do it again - the piece lasts from 45 to 55 minutes, we turn up with all the equipment necessary for a performance in a small- to medium-sized room, and fees, etc. are negotiable. please get in touch if you are interested!