London Bridge is Broken Down
Mike Westbrook
July 1st 2016 marked the centenary of the start of the Battle of the Somme.
The sixth and final movement of London Bridge is Broken Down, Picardie is a meditation on the horror of War, on the history of the region, on the devastation of the landscape, and its regeneration. Mike Westbrook’s score for a mixed jazz and classical ensemble combines orchestration and improvisation, and encompasses settings of French and English texts, selected and sung by Kate Westbrook. These include the work of poets Rene Arcos, Siegfried Sassoon, Andrée Chedid, and an anonymous 12th Century Picard text.
A Composition for Voice, Jazz Orchestra & Chamber Orchestra
LONDON BRIDGE
WENCESLAS SQUARE
BERLIN WALL
VIENNA
PICARDIE
Texts by Rene Arcos, Wilhelm Busch, Andree Chedid,
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Bernard Lassahn,
Siegfried Sassoon, Kate Westbrook.
WENCESLAS SQUARE
BERLIN WALL
VIENNA
PICARDIE
Texts by Rene Arcos, Wilhelm Busch, Andree Chedid,
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Bernard Lassahn,
Siegfried Sassoon, Kate Westbrook.
Music composed and arranged by Mike Westbrook
Texts written and selected by Kate Westbrook
Musical settings of texts by Mike Westbrook and Kate Westbrook
Music published by Metisse Music, Paris. email: contact@metisse-music.com
Album produced by Fiachra Trench,
Executive Producer Declan Colgan
Album produced by Fiachra Trench,
Executive Producer Declan Colgan
Originally released on Virgin Venture 1988,
Reissued on BGO Records (BGO CD 788)
Digitally remastered with new liner notes by Alyn Shipton
Reissued on BGO Records (BGO CD 788)
Digitally remastered with new liner notes by Alyn Shipton
KATE WESTBROOK
voice, tenor horn
MIKE WESTBROOK
piano
ALEXANDRE MYRAT
conductor
conductor
THE MIKE WESTBROOK ORCHESTRA
Chris Biscoe
alto, soprano &
baritone saxophones,
alto clarinet
baritone saxophones,
alto clarinet
Graham Russell
trumpet, flugelhorn
piccolo trumpet
piccolo trumpet
Peter Whyman
alto & soprano saxophones
clarinet
clarinet
Paul Nieman
trombone, electronics
Brian Godding
guitar
Tony Marsh
drums
Steve Cook
bass guitar
LE SINFONIETTA DE PICARDIE
leader
Constantin Bobesco
leader
Constantin Bobesco
London Bridge Is Broken Down was commisioned by 'Le Temps du Jazz' (Festival International de Jazz d'Amiens) and premiered at La Maison de la Culture, Amiens on 26 May 1987. It was performed again on September 22nd at the MUSICA 87 festival in Strasbourg. The album was recorded for Virgin/Venture, produced by Fiachra Trench, at Studio Pathe Marconi EMI, Paris 7th - 10th December 1987 and released in 1988.
In 1990 the piece was performed with the Docklands Sinfonietta conducted by Rupert Bond, in London on 9th November at St. Anne's Church, Limehouse in the Docklands Jazz Festival, and in Zurich on 10th November at the Zurich Jazz Festival.
Further Information and Booking: admin@westbrookjazz.co.uk
Kate Westbrook
P I C A R D I E
London Bridge is Broken Down
Kate & Mike Westbrook
