Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci co-founder, Richard James, joins forces with BBC National Orchestra of Wales to premiere his first orchestral piece on Saturday, 18 November in Pontio, Bangor.
Conducted by John Quirk and broadcast live on BBC Radio Cymru the collaboration will be in two parts. The first half will be original works by Richard James arranged for BBC NOW, with Richard on guitar and piano. The second half will see a world premiere by Richard; a composition of ten separate pieces all connected and interwoven together, written specifically for BBC NOW.
In his first time composing for orchestra, Richard will be working with composer and arranger Seb Goldfinch to create new material based on the relationship between external and internal landscapes, capturing how our environment shapes and forms our thoughts and emotions.
Richard James said “I like the isolated as well as the collaborative experience of creating music, and larger multi art form conceptual projects. I like the process of marrying a singular vision with other people’s ideas to create something bigger than all of us, which hopefully ends with the creation of exciting, visceral, engaging and interesting work”
Written during the late summer of 2017, the new composition is influenced and inspired by living and walking amongst the rural, urban and coastal landscapes of South and West Wales. It is a sub conscious and instinctive response to these environments, creating part abstract and part linear instrumental music, exploring the relationships and effects these landscapes have on Richard’s own emotions and thoughts through everyday life.
Artist Angharad Van Rijswijk, who worked with Richard last year on a sound art piece for BBC Radio 3 Late Junction, will produce two pieces of original visual art to accompany the work.
The support act for the gig will be Iwan Huws from Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog, who performs material from his first solo album.
BBC National Orchestra of Wales performs Richard James’ world premiere on Saturday 18 November at Pontio, Bangor [8pm]. For further information and tickets https://pontio.co.uk/Online/d17Richard
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