ONE AND SIXPENCE FOR A PLECTRUM (allegedly tortoiseshell)
With so much material, a lot of time is taken up just deciding what to use in these short sequences. I’m not so much looking to present things in a factual way, more to make something that encapsulates the essence. Also trying to not overly intellectualise my approach so I can leave some head space to add magic. One thing I am aware of though is that what I have taken away with me is a bit like 21st century soul capturing…and that I’d better make sure I proceed with respect but not timidity.
This last video sketch features 2 members of the Hartbeats who I filmed on a number of occasions. It’s not really possible to do justice to their story in 3 minutes but, in a way, the form is very appropriate. I’m almost seeing it like making a version of what might be a 78 or a 45 single.
The best songs often encapsulate a mood or conjure an insight into another world without being overly specific. It’s like analysing the words to a song and discovering that the meaning lies within the spaces between…only making sense when performed.
I have been thinking that as these sketches loop in the gallery I should intersperse each occurrence with other ‘single takes’ of speech so the experience has an element of the ‘ongoing’. The sketches are encapsulations of intensity and put alongside more freeform speech they should reflect the way time experientially expands and contracts. Each viewing would then be unique; with repetition but no obvious conclusion.
On another subject… I have found a female singer yay hey! who is both the right age and has a lovely evocative delivery, so now have two very talented vocalists for my bigband song. This coming Tuesday I head back to Hartlepool, with guitar on the back seat this time, to run through how they will work together. It’s great when a plan appears to be coming together…phew >>
whisper#6 The Hartbeats
