Isolation Songbook
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, 2018 CMF Artist and mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston has inspired an amazing collection of composers and poets to channel their creativity into a tangible, positive response to this time of chaos and change.
March 2020 saw the complete shutdown of the performing industries triggering Helen to make music at home with her husband-to-be (also a singer) - something that they rarely had time for in their normal day- to-day lives. As the weeks went by they continued to find more music that they could perform together and this caused an idea to spring to Helen's mind - 'What if we had a set of songs that were written in isolation, because of isolation, to be performed in isolation?' And the Isolation Songbook was born! Helen put out a call on social media with a great response managing to draw together a total of 15 composers and poets creating compositions for this fantastic idea.
Compositions in the project include Ben Rowarth’s setting of AA Milne’s ‘The King’s Breakfast’, Heloise Werner's composition for Ali Lewis’ ‘The Orange Vendor’, and new works by Owain Park, Richard Barnard, Nathan Dearden and James Davy.
Helen will premiere the entirely new 'Isolation Songbook' on Wednesday 29th July at 6pm as part of the CMF Live series broadcast from the St Pancras Clock Tower via the CMF YouTube Channel (link embedded). She will be performing with baritone Michael Craddock and pianist Alexander Soares.
Composer Nathan Dearden says:
“I have had such a special time writing this song, as it is probably one of the only things I have created in lockdown that I am happy with and has got me back into the swing of writing again. Unlike many who may have found lockdown to be a place of solace to be able to focus on their art, I have found it to be the opposite. So super thrilled to have had this special project to work towards, in such lovely, 'virtual' company and working with Katharine's gorgeous writing.”
Futher information about the project can be found: www.helencharlston.com/isolation-songbook
City Music Foundation commenced a series of free, live broadcasted 'socially distanced' concerts in June 2020 - providing a shared experience which everyone has so desperately missed since March. The connection between audience and performer as they witness a never-again moment of creation and risk can only be perceived live. Our events stream on YouTube every Wednesday at 6pm broadcast live St Pancras Clock Tower, and you can see and hear the performances in real time via any suitable device with good speakers including a smart TV.
City Music Foundation would like to thank owners of the Clock Tower for allowing CMF to use the venue