World Premiere at Leeds College of Music - Matthew Bourne presents Songs From A Lost Piano

Wednesday 4 February 2009

Eccentric and brilliant, eclectic pianist Matthew Bourne brings Yorkshire’s discarded keyboard gems back to life for three haunting performances and an evocative photographic exhibition.

At the heart of British socialising – whether in the parlour, the pub or the music hall – the piano has played an important part in everyday life. Now increasingly erased from these settings, Songs From a Lost Piano remembers the piano’s influential role in a specially devised project commissioned by Sound and Music.

A three month search for Yorkshire’s most characterful keyboards produced six very different instruments; from a beloved family upright passed down the generations to a legless grand hidden behind a motorbike residing in a Methodist Chapel. These are instruments with a tale to tell, that have experienced the passing of time and born its marks, and that are witnesses to the lives of those who have played, listened and loved them.

Songs from a Lost Piano takes the missing hammers, broken strings and absent keys of six instruments as a rich source of unusual sounds, creating music that conjures the ghosts of their bygone days.  Matthew Bourne will be joined a trio featuring singers Andrew Plummer and Seaming To, to perform newly commissioned music which draws on old music-hall, hymns and domestic music.

Songs From a Lost Piano will also feature an atmospheric photo exhibition of some of the instruments Matthew met on his travels. Taken by young Yorkshire-based photographer Ben McMahon, the images capture the people and the pianos discovered on his search. The photos will be shown as a framed exhibition at Leeds College of Music from mid February.

View a video of Matthew talking about the project on the Yorkshire Evening Post website

The Pianos:

Junk Shop piano (upright), Otley

Discovered in an Otley junk shop, completely hidden, covered in books, videos and dvds, this piano possesses a peculiar sound. It was made in 1908, by Philip Loher, of London. Inside were several labels commemorating prizes won for its “Tricord” design at various exhibitions during the late 19th and early 20th century: National Awards Diplomas 1897 /1899; Industrial Exhibition 1898; Franco-British Exhibition 1908.

Glasshouses Wesleyan Methodist Chapel (grand)

This sad looking grand piano was found way up the top of Nidderdale, in North Yorkshire. It was inside a chapel undergoing refurbishment, and accompanied by a grandfather clock, and two motorbikes leant up against it. It has no legs or lid, the keys don’t move, and its strings are protruding from it like a bowl of manic spaghetti! It was originally housed in the ballroom of the mid-17th century Cockmill Hall near Whitby. The hall was taken over in the mid 60’s by the American Air Force who used it as their Officer’s Mess while they were present at RAF Fylingdales early warning station. The Hall is now run as a rather splendid B&B.

Elsie Smiths’ Piano (upright) Generational Piano, Sepcote village

This well loved instrument was bought brand new in the early 1900’s and has been passed down through the family. Elsie, the current owner is 92, and was given the piano on her 21st birthday by her mother who was given it on her 21st. Although it was found in Harrogate, until very recently, the piano had spent its whole life in the Leicester village of Sepcote. The piano was a focal point for many occasions in the life of the village: weddings, funerals, birthdays and carol services (where some of the carols sung were particular only to Sepcote and the surrounding areas). Some hand written manuscripts of these locally sung carols were found with the piano.

Champion Jack Dupree (upright)

What a find this was, it was discovered, covered in small props and costumes, languishing in a corner, back stage, in the drama department at Calderdale College, Halifax. The piano was used by the New Orleans born blues pianist and singer when he lived in the Ovenden area of Halifax, during the 1960’s and 70’s (it’s a long story). Champion Jack was feted by many in the blues – Fats Domino readily admitted how much he was influenced by the musician. He performed and recorded with many other musicians, such as Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, Chris Barber, Keith Smith, John Mayall and Eric Clapton. 

The Failsworth Mystery (upright)

At the time of going to press, not much is known about this instrument, except to say that it was found in a large mill near the Lancashire / Yorkshire border, in a place absolutely full of curios – a real Aladdins’ Cave of the bizarre and very odd. All we know about it at present is, according to Matthew, “It’s bloody great, the case is in good nick, but the sound…!”

The White Grand at Besbrode (grand)

Again, at the time of going to press, not a great deal known about this piano’s history at present – it’s very large, very white and used to adorn a cocktail lounge. This was unearthed in a piano undertakers room at Besbrode’s Pianos. Leeds – it has a sound that would break anyone’s heart.

Matthew Bourne is no ordinary pianist. He has the ability to play in seemingly any classic jazz style he chooses. In his solo works, for example, he’ll toss in, often humorously, odd bits of percussion or whistle, and samples that might include film soundtracks, romantic ballads or majestic classical works.

Bourne is an original thinker and has the virtuosity to carry out his bold moves with panache. A great champion of British Jazz, which he believes has been vastly underrated, he is one of Britain’s new young jazz hopes. He confronts listeners with the rawness of his music, rather than manipulating them with familiar licks.

Purchase tickets for Songs From A Lost Piano here.

Visit Matt Bourne's website here.