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The Word For It Now

by Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra

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These two works commissioned by Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra explore words and a loss of control, with a central role for the voice.

'A Bit in the Air' is a collaboration between artist Cath Keay and GIO's Graeme Wilson. Keay's sculpture 'Hung Sentence' consists of 116 extruded letters in fired porcelain, spelling out a quote from a female patient in Laing & Esterson's book 'Sanity, Madness & The Family'. Suspended in frames, the ceramic letters are played percussively by five orchestra members. The orchestra improvises in 'families' around a succession of vocalists, each drawing on words from the women in the book to shape what the speak, sing or play.

'A Peculiar Slumber' is Wilson's response to the theatricality of the CCA space in which GIO regularly rehearses and performs. The piece consists of two different strategies using texts on theatre by the extraordinary Swiss writer Robert Walser. In the first part the orchestra tracks the quicksilver hyperbole and escalating calamity of 'Response to a Request'. The second part builds through a sequence of improvised duets expressing the contradictory character descriptions in 'The Theatre: A Dream'.

credits

released November 30, 2017

On 'A Bit in the Air':

Maggie Nicols, Cliona Cassidy, Lindsay Duncanson, Cath Keay, Nicola MacDonald (voice)
Marek Gabrysch, Rick Bamford, Stuart Brown, Una MacGlone, Fritz Welch (ceramic sculpture)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Franziska Schroeder (soprano saxophone)
Raymond MacDonald (alto saxophone)
Jim McEwan, Graeme Wilson (tenor saxophone)
Sue McKenzie (baritone saxophone)
Emma Roche (flute)
Robert Henderson (trumpet)
Sam Beagles (bass trombone)
Ken Slaven (violin and other instruments)
Atzi Muramatsu (cello)
Armin Sturm (double bass)
Owen Green, Adam Linson, Gerry Rossi (electronics)
George Burt, Neil Davidson, Kyalo Searle-Mbullu, Jer Reid (guitar)
Catriona McKay (clarsach)

On 'A Peculiar Slumber':

Maggie Nicols, Cliona Cassidy (voice)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Sarah Gail Brand, Chris Barclay, Nicole McNeilly (trombone)
Gino Robair*, Rick Bamford, Stuart Brown (drums & percussion)
Arnaud Riviére, Gerry Rossi (electronics)
Johanna Varner**, Peter Nicholson (cello)
Andy Champion, Una MacGlone (double bass)
Nikki Moran* (viola)
Emma Roche, Liene Rozite (flute)
Robert Henderson (trumpet)
Sue MacKenzie (soprano & baritone saxophone)
Raymond MacDonald (alto saxophone)
Graeme Wilson (tenor & baritone saxophone)
George Burt, Neil Davison (guitar)
Armin Sturm (bass guitar)
Jim McEwan (keyboard)

*Part I only **Part II only

Thanks to:
All guests at GIOfests VI & VIII who took part in these recordings: Maggie Nicols, Marilyn Crispell, Gino Robair, Sarah Gail Brand, Arnaud Rivére, Johanna Varner, Andy Champion, Owen Green, Marek Gabrysch, Lindsay Duncanson, Rick for amplifying ceramics, Gabriele Heller for introduction to the work of Robert Walser; Creative Scotland; all at CCA Glasgow; Alex at Crimson Glow.

Recorded at CCA Glasgow by Gus Stirrat.
Track 1 live at GIOfest VIII, November 2015
Track 2 live at GIOfest VI, November 2013
Tracks 3-7 November 2013
Mixed and mastered by Owen Green
Produced by Graeme Wilson and Owen Green
Cover photography: Alex Woodward (www.crimsonglow.co.uk)
Inner photography: Cath Keay

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Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra Glasgow, UK

Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra is a large improvising ensemble of around 20 musicians from diverse artistic backgrounds. They perform across the UK and Europe, host an annual festival of improvisation and run regular events.

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