Salomé
Composed for 4 percussion
Percussion 1: Cymbal (and stand); Sistra; Small Triangle; Chikitas; Small Woodlblock; Djembe; Small Floor Totm-tom; Tibetan singing bowl
Percussion 2: Cymbal (and stand); Sistra; Large Triangle; Large Maracas; Castanets; Bongos; Large Floor Tom-tom; Tibetan singing bowl
Percussion 3: Large Tam-tam; Tambourine; Claves; 4 Concert Tom-toms; Orchestral Bass Drum
Percussion 4: Large Tam-tam; Tambourine; Cabasa; 2 Cowbells; Congas; Orchestral Bass Drum
Duration: 73 minutes
Salomé, starring the Russian-born actress Alla Nazimova, is a rarely seen artwork of film history adapted from the controversial Oscar Wilde play with an abundance of sumptuously fantastic visuals.Made in 1923, Salomé loosely follows the biblical story of King Herod and his desire for his young stepdaughter. It is Salomé’s desire for Jokanaan (John the Baptist) that causes her to dance before Herod….Inspired by the sounds of traditional Arabian ensembles, Charlie Barber’s score is performed by four percussionists against a backdrop of pre-recorded vocal settings of psalms sung in Latin and Hebrew.
First performance at New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth on 10 October 2009
with percussionists Nick Baron, James Hulme, Alun Hathaway, Dave Danford
Salomé website
Press
The Guardian, 3 November 2009
South Wales Argus, 4 November 2009
Seen and Heard International review
| 10.10.09 | PORTSMOUTH | New Theatre Royal |
| 14.10.09 | MALVERN | Forum Theatre |
| 17,10.09 | LONDON | Drill Hall |
| 19.10.09 | MILTON KEYNES | The Stables |
| 21.10.09 | PONTARDAWE | Arts Centre |
| 22.10.09 | PWLLHELI | Neuadd Dwyfor |
| 23.10.09 | HOLYHEAD | Ucheldre Centre |
| 27.10.09 | BROMSGROVE | Artrix |
| 28.10.09 | LIVERPOOL | Unity Theatre |
| 29.10.09 | CHESTER | ChristChurch |
| 30.10.09 | BRISTOL | St Georges |
| 03.11.09 | NEWPORT | Riverfront |
| 07.11.09 | CARMARTHEN | Lyric Theatre |
| 12.11.09 | SPALDING | South Holland Centre |
| 13.11.09 | HALESWORTH | The Cut |
| 14.11.09 | COLCHESTER | Lakeside Theatre |
| 28.10.11 | TEWKESBURY | Roses Theatre |
| 29.10.11 | MANCHESTER | Royal Northern College of Music |
| 24.01.12 | MOLD | Clwyd Theatr Cymru |
| 25.01.12 | MOLD | Clwyd Theatr Cymru |
| 26.01.12 | ABERGAVENNY | Borough Theatre |
| 27.01.12 | CARDIGAN | Theatr Mwldan |
| 09.02.12 | LONDON | Southbank Centre, Purcell Room |
| 16.02.12 | LANCASTER | Nuffield Theatre |
| 01.03.12 | SWANSEA | Taliesin Arts Centre |
| 03.03.12 | BRAY | Mermaid Arts Centre, Ireland |
| 05.03.12 | KILKENNY | Watergate Theatre, Ireland |
| 07.03.12 | SLIGO | Hawkes Well Theatre, Ireland |
| 08.03.12 | NEWBRIDGE | Riverbank, Ireland |
| 11.03.12 | TRALEE | Siamsa Tire, Ireland |
| 03.04.12 | CARDIFF | Sherman Cymru |
| 06.07.12 | CHELTENHAM | Music Festival |
| 09.07.12 | LICHFIELD | Festival |
| 21.07.12 | BUXTON | Festival |
| 07.03.18 | LIVERPOOL | Cornerstone Festival |
| 13.03.18 | AMSTERDAM | Muziekgebouw |
| 08.11.19 | SOUTHAMPTON | Turner Sims Concert Hall |
| 16.11.19 | CARDIFF | Wales Millennium Centre |
The Fall of the House of Usher
music for Jean Epstein’s 1928 classic silent horror movie
Version for wind orchestra
picc; 2 fl; 2 ob; 3 cl; b cl; 2 a sax; t sax; b sax; 2 bsn; cbsn
3 tpt; 4 hn; 2 tbn; b tbn; 2 euph; tba
timp; 3 percussion
db
Duration: 70 minutes
Commissioned by Ty Cerdd
The Fall of the House of Usher (France 1928) is probably Jean Epstein’s best-known work in which the quality of the photography evokes comparison with the greatest masterpieces of the German cinema.For this new interpretation, Charlie Barber’s score takes as its starting point musical sketches by Debussy for an uncompleted opera – adding a further twist to the foreboding atmosphere of this classic of early cinema.
First performance at Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen on 13 April 2012 by the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Wales and conducted by Sean O’Neill
| 13.04.12 | CARMARTHEN | Lyric Theatre |
| 14.04.12 | NEWPORT | The Riverfront |
| 15.04.12 | NEATH | Gwyn Hall |
The Fall of the House of Usher website
Version for chamber orchestra
1 fl; 1 ob; 1 b cl; 1 bsn/cbsn
1 hn; 1 tpt; 1 tbn; 1 tba
1 perc
3 vln; 2 vla; 1 vcl; db
First performed by Sound Affairs at Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham on 22 October 2014 with Pedro Lopez Campos (flute), Michele Batani (oboe), Tom Howells (bass clarinet), Bartosz Kwasecki (contrabassoon), Jason Owen Lewis (trumpet), Hugh Sisley (horn), Stephanie Dyer (trombone), Rob Graham-White (tuba), Michael Clark (percussion), Vlad Maistorovici (violin), Christiana Mavron (violin), Javier Garcia Aranda (violin), Niamh Ferris (viola), Alison D’Souza (viola), Alberto Casadei (cello), Ashley John Long (double bass)
| 22.10.14 | NOTTINGHAM | Lakeside Arts Centre |
| 23.10.14 | CARDIFF | Wales Millennium Centre |
| 24.10.14 | ABERYSTWYTH | Arts Centre |
| 28.10.14 | MALVERN | Theatres |
| 30.10.14 | MANCHESTER | Royal Northern College of Music |
| 31.10.14 | BRECON | Theatr Brycheiniog |
| 03.11.14 | LIVERPOOL | Capstone Theatre, Hope University |
| 04.11.14 | CAERNARFON | Galeri |
Further information here
Version for soprano saxophone and string quartet
First performed by the ensemble Entr’acte at Chapter Cinema 1, Cardiff on 26 January 2002 with Simon Stewart (soprano saxophone), Jonathan Burnett (violin), Nicolas Ramirez (violin), Rachel Robson (viola), Sharon McKinley (cello)
| 26.01.02 | CARDIFF | Chapter Cinema |
| 01.02.02 | HARLECH | Theatr Ardudwy |
| 02.02.02 | FISHGUARD | Theatr Gwaun |
| 05.02.02 | LAMPETER | University |
| 08.02.02 | ABERGAVENNY | Melville Theatre, Drama Centre |
| 16.11.19 | BRASOV | Vibrate Festival |
Further information here
Press
“When you watch silent movies with the right live music, you realise that it wasn’t simpy the novelty of moving pictures that brought people into the cinema in their millions. There was real drama and life in these works. Barber works with quintet Entr’acte to feed off the film’s manic obsessions and ratchet up the emotions…Images and music combine to riveting effect.”
John Harrison, The Western Mail, 31 January 2002
Blood of a Poet (Le sang d’un poète)
For four players:
ob, b cl, vln, perc (marimba, bongos)
Duration: 50 minutes
Jean Cocteau’s Le sang d’un poète (Blood of a Poet) (1930) explores the technical capabilities of film to magically transcend time, to capture creativity and to suspend physical laws. One of the true classics of the cinema and a key work of Surrealism, Cocteau’s first film is an aesthetic tour de force consisting of a series of episodes and imaginary events. The strange and disturbing images and trick photography represent Cocteau’s unique view of “the poet’s inner self”. Cocteau’s combination of visual poetry and theatrical camp makes this a rich, fascinating and enigmatic film.
First performance at Chapter Cinema, Cardiff on 28 October 2006
with Nick Williams (oboe), Alison Lambert (bass clarinet), Aibhe Smythe (violin), Hugh Wilkinson (percussion)
| 29.10.06 | CARDIFF | Chapter Arts Centre |
| 01.11.06 | CRANBROOK | Queens Hall |
| 03.11.96 | AMMANFORD | Miners Theatre |
| 04.11.06 | LEICESTER | Phoenix Arts |
| 05.11.06 | NORWICH | Arts Centre |
| 07.11.06 | LLANTWIT MAJOR | St Donats Arts Centre |
| 09.11.06 | ABERYSTWYTH | National Library of Wales |
| 10.11.06 | HOLYHEAD | Ucheldre Centre |
| 15.11.06 | PORTSMOUTH | New Theatre Royal |
| 16.11.06 | SWANSEA | Dylan Thomas Centre |
| 17.11.06 | MOLD | Clwyd Theatr Cymru |
| 18.11.06 | SHEFFIELD | Showroom |
| 19.11.06 | BASINGSTOKE | Central Studio |
| 02.12.06 | LONDON | Barbican Cinema |
Further information, videos and photos here
Moulin Rouge
For four players:
vln, b cl, perc (marimba & bongos), DJ
Duration: 70 minutes
Made in 1928, Moulin Rouge is the story of an eternal love triangle set in the world of entertainment. Though described as “Britain’s first Superfilm”, the overall impression is far from British. Directed by Ewald André Dupont and featuring Russian actress Olga Tschechowa, the elaborate sets and rich shadowy lighting in particular recall the contemporary German cinema.Charlie Barber’s new score – performed by four musicians and DJ – is influenced by both traditional Parisian cabaret and contemporary urban culture.
First performance at Chapter Cinema, Cardiff on 6 November 2004
with Thoby Davis (violin), Steve Moss (bass clarinet), Matthew West (percussion), DJ Jaffa
| 06.11.04 | CARDIFF | Chapter Arts Centre |
| 13.11.04 | HOLYHEAD | Ucheldre Centre |
| 15.11.04 | EDINBURGH | Filmhouse |
| 16.11.04 | GLASGOW | Film Theatre |
| 19.11.04 | TREORCHY | Parc & Dare |
| 20.11.04 | BIRMINGHAM | Midlands Arts Centre |
| 21.11.04 | NOTTINGHAM | Broadway Cinema |
| 23.11.04 | PONTARDAWE | Arts Centre |
| 24.11.04 | ABERYSTWYTH | National Library |
| 25.11.04 | HARLECH | Theatr Ardudwy |
| 26.11.04 | COLWYN BAY | Theatr Colwyn |
| 27.11.04 | SHEFFIELD | Showroom |
| 28.11.04 | LONDON | The Space |
| 01.12.04 | BRISTOL | Cube Cinema |
Further information, videos and photos here
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Charlie Barber 