*
banner

Lane leads listeners through Darkest Night...

Composer Liz Lane has linked up with Cory cornet star Tom Hutchinson and friends for a very different compositional experience

Liz Lane
  'Darkest Night' sees a number of different creative talents work together

Composer Liz Lane has been busy during the lockdown period by becoming involved in two major projects which have recently culminated in a collaboration with Cory principal cornet Tom Hutchinson.

Bluebird

The first has seen her team up with international soprano Belinda Evans to spearhead an initiative called 'Bluebird'.

It has resulted in a series of miniature songs inspired by the words of Carole Bent who promised herself during the current Coronavirus Pandemic lockdown that she would 'look up' each day to admire the beauty of the sky, the birds, the bees, the sun, the rain and the stars and even the occasional vapour trail left by a plane.

'Look Up', 'Bluebird Adagio', 'Sounds', 'Bird of Paradise' and 'Tree of Life' capture the feelings and observations in music with words by poets such as Jennifer Henderson, Norman Bissell and a lockdown film collaboration with animator Gary Andrews and his two children.

Darkest Night

The sixth in the Bluebird series is called 'Darkest Night', which Liz wrote at the request of colleague Aga Serugo Lugo from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance in London for an equally inventive Twitter project entitled, #SetOperaFree, becoming the first part of a mini-opera called 'The Party's Over' based on a game of consequence.

That sees 30 composers from around the globe write a 2 minute aria — each leading on from each other to make a series of 10 arias to make up 20 minute free-thought improvised mini-operas.

It works by seeing the first composer takes a subject matter of their choice and write their short aria. The next composer takes on the consequences and adds their own aria to move the libretto storyline along — and in a completely new direction if they want.

A further nine arias later and the mini-opera should reach its denouement — one that could take a multitude of pathways along its course.

Huge success

Launched on the weekend, 'Darkest Night' has already been a huge success, with Liz teaming up with singer Belinda Evans, lyricist Andy Rashleigh, illustrator and video creator Gary Andrews and Tom Hutchinson.

Liz told 4BR: "I met online with Tom and we experimented with some of the cornet ideas (listen out for 'a musical twig snaps'); Belinda recorded first and Tom added his playing. I had used lockdown to learn some basic audio and video editing so pieced together the two parts before handing audio over to Gary to create the most beautiful illustration and video.

It was a very different compositional experience, knowing that I had to take into account editing two parts together of people who had never met and rehearsed, and also that as Belinda lives in a London flat, she was often restricted as to when she could record!

'Darkest Night' has already been a huge success, with Liz teaming up with singer Belinda Evans, lyricist Andy Rashleigh, illustrator and video creator Gary Andrews and Tom Hutchinson4BR

Response

Liz added: "We are thrilled with the response to 'Darkest Night' which to date has received over 4.4K views on Twitter and 1.8K on Facebook.

We also have exciting plans and ideas for more Bluebirds, including working with an Open University music group in Blaenau Gwent and a canal trust. If anyone has any collaborations they'd like to suggest, please do get in touch!"

Find out more


facebook.com/bluebirdcollaborative
https://twitter.com/bluebirdcollab/status/1279374468226396160?s=21

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Fjord

Echoes of the fjord to be heard in Stavanger

April 3 • The Gala Concert at the forthcoming European Championships in Stavanger will evoke the folk music sounds of the fjords with a brass band twist.


Andrea Price

Andrea Price appointed to Kapitol Music Panel

April 3 • The critically acclaimed musician joins the Kapitol Music Panel to help select future Regional and National test-pieces.


SEWBBA

Welsh bands urged to attend Safeguarding seminar

April 2 • A special Safeguarding Training Seminar is to be hosted by the South East Wales Brass Band Association this weekend, with bands urged to attend.


Cheltenham

Cheltenham National Final schedule announced.

April 2 • The weekend of the 13th and 14th September will see 75 bands take to the stage.


Hathersage Band - Hathersage Village Spring Concert

Saturday 5 April • Hathersage Methodist Church, Main Road, Hathersage S32 1BB


Bilton Silver Rugby Band - Bilton Silver at the Musicals

Saturday 5 April • St Andrew's Church, Rugby CV21 3PT


Rushden Town Band - Hope Spring Concert

Saturday 5 April • Hope Methodist Church, Linnets Lane, Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire NN10 8DE


Regent Hall Concerts - The Central Band of the Royal Air Force

Friday 25 April • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London. . W1C2DJ


Newstead Brass - Under Gaia

Saturday 26 April • Mansfield Palace Theatre. Leeming Street . Mansfield. Nottinghamshire NG18 1NG


Putney and Wimbledon Brass Band

April 3 • Putney & Wimbledon Brass Band is on the rise! We're off to Cheltenham for the 3rd year running and will be promoted to the 2nd Section. We need YOU to help us go even further! We play ambitious music under a great conductor and are a very sociable bunch.


Simon Langton Brass

April 1 • Due to forced retirement - Simon Langton Brass (Conductor Keith Demetriou Twyman) has a vacancy for an experienced back row cornet player. Position is negotiable as is a willingness to share your experience with our next generation of cornet players!


Ibstock Brick Brass

April 1 • Midlands Area Champions IBB have an opening for a full-time Tuba player (position negotiable) . . Ambitious and enjoying a varied concert/contest program, IBB are looking forward to the third section finals 2025. Rehearsals Mon/Thu in Coalville, M1 J22


Howard J Evans

MA (Dist), Mus.B (hons), ARCM (hons), LRAM, LTCL, PGCE
Conductor, composer, arranger, tutor and pianist


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd