CMF Artist Joseph Shiner celebrates Roald Dahl

CMF Artist and clarinettist, Joseph Shiner with his Magnard Ensemble present Paul Patterson’s Revolting Rhymes and Marvellous Music in Roald Dahl’s centenary year.

As a CMF Artist, Joseph is able to complete a specific project of his choosing with the support of CMF. The result of this endeavour has been Revolting Rhymes and Marvellous Music. As part of the 100^th anniversary celebrations of the birth of Roald Dahl, the Magnard Ensemble is joined by actress Rebecca Kenny to tour XX UK festivals from 14 May 2016, bringing to life the stories of Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs as imagined by Dahl in his collection of 1982 poems Revolting Rhymes.

The music has been adapted especially for the Ensemble by one of the leading British composers, Paul Patterson, from his orchestral works of the same name. The programme is completed by Martin Butler’s setting of Dahl’s collection of poems, Dirty Beasts.

A day of workshops, discussions and performances on 1 June at the Camden Forge, London serves as a launch for the project. In the morning, the Magnard Ensemble will host a family workshop, drawing on the work of Patterson and Butler, to encourage families to delve further into Roald Dahl’s characters and create their own works for wind and percussion. The afternoon sees a discussion of the development of the music with both composers, as well as Donald Sturrock, head of Roald Dahl Music. The launch day is completed with a full performance of both works.

Many of the dates on the tour carry a similar format with workshops and opportunities for crafts. A series of education events compliment the tour, both in local schools and arts organisations, using the works as the basis for compositional workshops, education sessions and children’s concerts.

The Magnard Ensemble have recorded Revolting Rhymes and Marvellous Music, due for release on 18^th September 2016, on Orchid Classics. It is the first time chamber arrangements of Patterson’s settings of Dahl’s work have been recorded and will form the centrepiece of a disc.

Please see below for performance listings and for more information click here.

Listings

• Saturday 14 May Gambier Parry Hall, Higham, Carducci Festival, 11:30am – Tickets here
• Tuesday 31 May The Drill Hall, Hereford, Hay Festival, 10:00 – Tickets here
• Project launch Wednesday 1 June, Camden Forge 11am-4.00pm – Tickets here
• Friday 23 June, St Nicholas Church, Chipping Norton, Dean & Chadlington Summer Festival, 1:30pm – Tickets here
• Saturday 2 July, Thaxted Parish Church, Thaxted Festival, 11am – Tickets here
• Friday 15 July, Jam on the Marsh, Marsh Academy Theatre, 2pm – Tickets here
• Friday 23 – Friday 30 September, MusicFest Aberystwyth – More info here
• September 21 – 22, Penarth Pavilion – Tickets here
• Saturday 22 – Sunday 23 October, Wells Cathedral School – More info here
• Sunday 27 November, National Centre for Early Music, 2:30pm – More info here