Grace Ndiritu: In Conversation
posted 11 Oct 2017
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Pierre Henry: The Liverpool Mass
- Sat, 13 May 2017
- 7.00 PM - 10.00 PM
- Location: Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
- Tickets: £10/£7
Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker will introduce Pierre Henry’s The Liverpool Mass, presented by Bluecoat at the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King.
Doors at 7pm for a 7.30pm start, so please arrive in good time.
This pioneering work was developed by acclaimed composer Henry for the Cathedral’s inaugural mass in 1967. However, Henry was unable to complete it in time, and another work was substituted.
Now, 50 years on, in a unique collaboration between the French composer and Bluecoat, the piece – structured as a traditional Catholic mass – will be staged in full at the Cathedral, in an immersive and memorable experience.
Pierre Henry is known worldwide for developing electronic music through musique concrète, a form of composition using electronically treated natural sounds. His influential music has been sampled by many artists over the years, including Fatboy Slim, and his Psyché Rock was the inspiration for the theme tune of Matt Groening’s Futurama.
Consisting of six movements - Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei and Communion - the work interprets the traditional mass through recitation of its texts, accompanied by musical instruments 'treated' by Henry to produce a haunting yet uplifting composition, fitting for the ceremonial and celebratory occasion of the Cathedral's inauguration
With a sound design created especially for the space using 40 speakers arranged around its circumference, The Liverpool Mass will be presented as a live mix by Henry’s collaborator Thierry Balasse. The programme also includes Paris-based contemporary electronic sound designers Vincent Epplay and Samon Takahashi.
The evening programme will begin with a set by Vincent Epplay and Samon Takahashi, made in response to Henry's music in this special Liverpool setting. These Paris-based contemporary electronic sound designers produce original compositions and film soundtracks, as well as interpreting the work of others, including English-Australian composer Tristram Cary. 21st century successors to musique concrète pioneers Pierre Henry and Pierre Schaeffer, their music embraces electroacoustic and more electronic forms such as 'krautrock' and groove.
There will be an official limited edition programme available on the night, plus a special edition poster adapted from the original record cover for the 1970 release of Pierre Henry: Messe de Liverpool. Unfortunately we will be unable to take card payments on the night, so cash will be necessary.
You will be able to collect your tickets from Bluecoat up until 6pm on Fri 12 May. If you are not able to collect in advance, tickets will also be available for collection on the day of the event from 6:30pm at the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.
Additional tickets will be available on the evening.
Group bookings of 10+ are eligible for a concessions rate of £7 per ticket.
Please note that tickets are no longer availble online but will be available on the door from 6pm tonight.
The Compagnie Inouïe-Thierry Balasse is resident company at the National Scenes du Jura, in Eastern France, as part of the 2016-2017 national project « Artists across the land ». It is supported by the Regional Authorities of Ile de France and is a National Company recognisaed by the French Ministry of Culture. It also receives support from the Regional Authorities of Val-de-Marne. By kind permission of Pierre Henry and SonRé.
Diaphonique, a franco-british contemporary music fund supported by the Institute Fran?ais, the SACEM, the Bureau export de la musique, the British Council and Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication
Pierre Henry: The Liverpool Mass is presented in partnership with The Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. Liverpool City Council has part funded the project as part of 67-17: 50 Summers of Love; a season of events and performances inspired by the golden anniversary of the Summer of Love between 12 April and 3 September 2017.
When is it on?
- May 13, 2017, 7:30 pm - May 13, 2017, 9:30 pm