Loved putting together this project for Poole Audi. Originally the soundtrack was going to pre-recorded, but in the end it ended up being easier (and more fun!) to perform it live… You can just about see me in the middle. In total we had 8 projectors laid out across the showroom, all dynamically triggered by me as I performed the music.
The concept was the Elements of Audi. The History. The Design. The Engineering. The Experience. The Passion. The Emotion.
Wonderful to be asked to return to St John’s Heatherlands as part of the 60th Anniversary of their Pre-School. As part of this, I was asked to write a nursery rhyme for the children to sing (which they did last summer!) – and then we put on a special performance of Songs Of The Light this winter.
As well as the music, I had a series of filmed open conversations with local residents to explore the local community. These conversations were projected and displayed out at various stages of the performance.
Joining me for this performance was Stephanie Liney on recorder and poet Peter John Cooper.
The concert includes highlights from Richard’s previous project in Salisbury Cathedral which was featured by BBC News, The Times, Daily Mail & Sky News.
“I’m really looking forward to this as there have been some very exciting developments in our technology over the last 6 months.
We have our brand new wireless film projection system that we’ll be trialing publicly for the first time. Essentially it allows us to wirelessly put film & digital content onto any screen within a 400 metre radius, all syncronised to music…
But the real trick has been to make all of our projections adapt to a live scenario. That means that as a performer, I am completely free and in command of all of the music, lights AND film projections! As an artist, that’s so exciting as the new possibilities are endless – it’s like opening up an entirely new world!”
Richard McLester
The new CD Songs Of The Light is finally here! Written to be performed as the launch of the art installation The Light, the songs follow the journey of the mythical figure Sulac as he goes in search of the light.
The cd booklet contains all of the words to the music, as well as photos from the launch of The Light in Poole, Dorset.
All of the music has been written and recorded by Richard McLester. St Peter’s Parkstone Parish Choir & Treble Soloist Zach Bullock appear on The Lowly Candle Flame (Track 10). The CD also includes songs such as Stars (Lead Me On) and Escape From The Flood.
All money raised from CD Sales will go directly back into the ongoing project “The Light” to help put on future community events, and fund workshops & mentoring sessions for those who get involved.
In 2015, artist Richard McLester and a small team designed a 4 metre globe called The Light. The installation hung in Poole Dolphin Shopping Centre over the Christmas period.
The Light was launched with a concert performance of Songs Of The Light – led by Richard McLester performing with a community choir conducted by Sam Hanson put together especially for the event.
During the event, a series of interviews with local community members was projected onto the globe.
Under film director Jordi Robert, the event was captured on film. Conical Sphere Media have since been editing the footage.
The result is a short film which tells the story of the performance & journey in 2015. The film includes The Lowly Candleflame – one of the highlights of Songs Of The Light – which features St Peter’s Parkstone Choir and members of the Wessex Youth Orchestra.
It’s a chance to see more of the community interviews, relive the performance and look forward to taking The Light to more communities.
In the weeks leading up to the 2016 production, Richard McLester re-scored and produced the hymn Be Thou My Vision to make an uplifting finale to the drama.
Soprano vocals are sung by Shannen Knutsen, a soprano soloist from the University of Winchester.
If you don’t get the chance to come to any of the live performances, or would like a keep-sake from the production, you can download the mp3 file below.
