Composer Judith Bingham has a keen interest in people and the interactions between them, and when we spoke to her recently about Strange Words she said:
鈥淎s a Londoner, I like thinking about people from the past who might have passed in the street, but not known each other. Two such people were Samuel Johnson, and William Blake. This piece takes three words from Dr Johnson鈥檚 dictionary - Fantasy, Rose and Mystery - and contrasts them with Blake鈥檚 poem about the Phoenix, and his description of witnessing a fairy funeral in his garden.鈥�
Written for solo tenor and solo cello, the two musical lines seamlessly weave around each other creating a wonderful intimacy, yet never truly come together 鈥� it is the ultimate depiction of two strangers passing in the street on similar journeys, yet not knowing each other. With a perfect blend of speech and song the tenor captivatingly portrays the words and stories, creating drama and magic, while the cello adds intensity and atmosphere at every turn.
The alluringly enchanting Strange Words was written for a private party which took place in a Queen Anne house in Kent where Dr Johnson almost certainly stayed. It was commissioned by the wife of the treasurer of the Dr Johnson society, who has a wonderful collection of books about Johnson, including the first edition of the dictionary, which made a star appearance at the premiere.
The premiere of this truly exciting and magical work was given by tenor James Gilchrist, who performs here with our Principal Cellist Alice Neary.
Programme Note 漏 Amy Campbell
