Ode to Sausage (Dog) for basset horn and narrator – 4′
Performed by Jon Iles and Sarah Watts. Music and lyrics by Núria Bonet.
Back to Music – composition and performance project
The Back to Music project enabled disabled musicians to return to instrumental performance through technical and musical support. It grew out of Charlotte Storey’s desire to play the saxophone again after her professional career was ended by an accident which left her without the use of her right shoulder. We built a saxophone stand and exoskeleton which enables Charlotte to play a comeback concert on 29 November 2020. A student band (Harriet Drury, William McCormack, James Uzzell, Sophie Corwood, Eleisha Milverton) supported Charlotte through the process of returning to playing while she also mentored them to professional standard.Additionally, the project resulted in the build of a bespoke electronic keyboard for a musician with muscular dystrophy. This was built by a 3rd year student as part of their Music Technology dissertation.
Finally, I wrote two pieces for the ensemble. The piece ‘Pain’ used an interview with Charlotte on the topic of pain, which I used to write a piece for synthesiser and tape.
The project was documented in film by Louis Goldman. Technical support was provided by Andy Harman, Mel Le Bars, Rebecca Perkins, Arron Tyler and Naomi Green. Academic support was provided by Ed Braund.
Back to Music was generously supported by an Arts Council National Lottery Grant.
The project was mentioned in the Plymouth Herald.
Below, find the final performance and a Q&A with the participants.
