A one-off ‘Alfresco Picnic Promenade’ in the summer of 2012 at St Catherine’s Chapel in Abbotsbury provided the inspiration for a joint venture between BSO Resonate (the education department of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra) and Artsreach, which featured the BSO Resonate Strings and The Freedance Choir, formerly The Chalk Legends Choir. This special community concert titled ‘Water & Stone’ celebrated the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, the culmination of Ben Osborne’s Jurassic Journey project,and the BSO’s Chalk Legends project in Dorset.
The five musicians who make up the BSO Resonate Strings each represent one of the five string sections of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, while The Freedance Choir is comprised of around forty performers from communities around the county.They will be joined by Jim Dvorak on trumpet, Jane Saunders on harp and Ben Stephens on percussion.Directed by Dorset musician and composer Sammy Hurden, this concert features Sammy’s original music from Jurassic Journey, inspired by the Coast, and from other sources, including compositions inspired by Portland itself. There will also be a range of memorable pieces for strings including music by Vivaldi, Holst and Karl Jenkins, as well as a choral piece by Stephen McNeff which he composed for community choirs in Dorset as part of the Chalk Legends project.
The concert in March at St George’s Church on Portland will also feature the second performance of a special composition that Sammy was commissioned to write for her choir, thanks to a generous grant from Johnnie Boden. The piece, titled ‘The Hare & The Harp’ was inspired by a stone carving, believed to have been found in Powerstock, of a hare playing a harp, which now resides in Dorset County Museum. At its premiere last November in a sold-out concert in Powerstock Church it was greeted by a received a rapturous response from the audience.
This concert is promoted by Artsreach and the BSO in liaison with The Churches Conservation Trust,the national charity protecting historic churches at risk,which is responsible for this beautiful historic building.
St George’s Church, Reforne, Portland. Fri 8th March at 8:00pm
Tickets £8, £6 U18s, £25 family of four
Tickets on Portland from Frances Sargents: 07977883187 or Cards & Celebrations, Easton Shopping Centre: 01305 822407. Alternatively contact Artsreach on 01305 269512
Quotes from those involved
“The previous Water & Stone concerts at Durlston Castle and in Powerstock were both brilliant events, and the BSO Resonate Strings are greatly looking forward to this final concert in the series, in another wonderful building, Portland’s superb St George’s Church. With its atmospheric setting and glorious acoustics it’s going to be a joy to perform in.”
Andrew Burn. BSO Head of Education and Ensembles
“We are all very excited about performing on Portland, especially as we get the chance to play and sing The Hare and The Harp again. This was premiered at Powerstock Church in November and so it will be the second performance of a new piece. St Georges Church will be the perfect setting.”
Sammy Hurden. Musician, Composer and Freedance Choir Leader
“St George’s church, with its perfect acoustics and mysterious atmosphere, is the ideal venue for this exciting BSO and Artsreach production. The Churches Conservation Trust is enjoying working with our wonderful island volunteers and the ensemble musicians to stage this musical treat.”
Kim Thompson. Volunteering Officer West, The Churches Conservation Trust
