The Harbour Symphony has been happening annually in St. John's since 1983. Artists participating in the Sound Symposium compose pieces that are played by the boats in the harbour. When I asked Von Bark if he would write a post about the piece he composed with Marlene Creates he told me he didn't want to blow to his own horn. Then he sent me his notes:
The artists are: Marlene Creates & Von Bark
The title is: Variations on Two Themes by Arvo Pärt
The total running time is two minutes, approximately.
Notes on Variations on Two Themes by Arvo Pärt
Arvo Pärt is an Estonian Composer known for his austere choral and instrumental works often presented in a Renaissance style. Current audiences might best know his music used in movie soundtracks, such as in the recent film: ‘There will be Blood’.
This composition for The Harbour Symphony is a crude interpretation of two pieces from the ‘Arbos’ album released in 1986 on the ECM record label, dedicated to the memory of film director Andrej Tarkowskij.
The first variation is loosely based upon the piece ‘Arbos’, for brass octet and percussion. The uncharictaristic blaring trombones in the original might suit the foghorns of The Harbour Symphony somewhat. The time-frame from the original is modified somewhat. This piece was later arranged for 8 recorders and 3 triangles.
The second variation is loosely based upon ‘Pari Intervallo’, a contemplative solo piece for pipe organ.
We were there to hear it last Saturday, and it sounded great. The harbour is really beautiful and the sounds of the horns swell into it. There were about 4 boats participating, and one that VB believes was improvising along for the heck of it.
Some of us hope for audio.
Our techs are working on it. Don't you like the nice boat pictures?
Is the famous Signal Hill in those photos (I've never been there)
I've also never seen Andrei Rublev. We'll have to do a Tarkovski, Tarkowski, Tarkovskij, Tarkovsky film night.
Found a boat picture for you. Did you see this when you were there?
Yes, I do like the nice boat pictures, particularly the first one.
It was like that, only with 20 breaching whales.
I just looked up Signal Hill and in the second picture you seem to be on it.
my friend sundar told me all about arvo part, there is something v. nordic/gothic about his work, works beatuifully for signal hill.
We were on signal hill for three of the 1st, 2nd and 4th shots. We heard Pierre-Yves Martel's composition from up there. It was really lovely, but too windy for recording so we listened to Von Bark and Creates from down in the bay (3rd shot).
this in from Rob, thanks Rob!
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The Harbour Symphony has been happening annually in St. John's since 1983. Artists participating in the Sound Symposium compose pieces that are played by the boats in the harbour. When I asked Von Bark if he would write a post about the piece he composed with Marlene Creates he told me he didn't want to blow to his own horn. Then he sent me his notes: We were there to hear it last Saturday, and it sounded great. The harbour is really beautiful and the sounds of the horns swell into it. There were about 4 boats participating, and one that VB believes was improvising along for the heck of it.
- sally mckay 7-12-2008 3:20 pm
Some of us hope for audio.
- M.Jean 7-12-2008 5:47 pm
Our techs are working on it. Don't you like the nice boat pictures?
- sally mckay 7-12-2008 5:50 pm
Is the famous Signal Hill in those photos (I've never been there)
- L.M. 7-12-2008 6:27 pm
I've also never seen Andrei Rublev. We'll have to do a Tarkovski, Tarkowski, Tarkovskij, Tarkovsky film night.
- L.M. 7-12-2008 6:29 pm
Found a boat picture for you. Did you see this when you were there?
- L.M. 7-12-2008 7:08 pm
Yes, I do like the nice boat pictures, particularly the first one.
- M.Jean 7-12-2008 8:41 pm
It was like that, only with 20 breaching whales.
- joester (guest) 7-13-2008 12:40 am
I just looked up Signal Hill and in the second picture you seem to be on it.
- L.M. 7-13-2008 7:10 am
my friend sundar told me all about arvo part, there is something v. nordic/gothic about his work, works beatuifully for signal hill.
- anthony (guest) 7-13-2008 10:49 pm
We were on signal hill for three of the 1st, 2nd and 4th shots. We heard Pierre-Yves Martel's composition from up there. It was really lovely, but too windy for recording so we listened to Von Bark and Creates from down in the bay (3rd shot).
- sally mckay 7-14-2008 2:38 am
this in from Rob, thanks Rob!
- sally mckay 7-14-2008 3:08 am