Talking Heads

Music for the Highveld

Lullabies - Talking Heads Lullabies
We have video-interviewed a number of the Lullabies musicians and those involved with producing the concert. The videos play in Windows Media Player - choose "high speed" if you have an ADSL, Cable, ISDN or Network connection to the Internet - or choose "low-speed" if you have a dial-up modem connection. Mac Users can download the Windows Media Player from the Microsoft site. The Programme Producer
	Iain Cameron Lullabies Concert Programme Producer. Iain works on training strategy for the automotive industry. He writes and records in a "Downtown" style drawing on jazz and other 20th century music from the USA. He came up with the idea for the Lullabies concert and has drawn together composers and musicians to produce a programme of lullabies in a range of styles - township, blues, folk, jazz, lieder, chanson and choral. Iain explains the background to the Lullabies concert. High Speed Low Speed
The Musicians
	Paul Wheeler Lullabye Composer and Musician In the late 1960s Paul Wheeler was one of a group of British singer-songwriters which included his friends Nick Drake and John Martyn (who recorded Paul's song 'Give Us a RIng'). Many of those early songs can be heard on his CD 'Rain Over The Island'. For the last 25 years, Paul's work as a communication trainer with international companies has influenced his music and lyrics, as can be heard on the CDs 'Seachanges' and 'Red Blues'. For more information about Paul, see Rain Over the Island: http://www.algonet.se/~iguana/DRAKE/PW.html Click here for a sample of Paul's lullabye. Paul describes his background and his music interests. High Speed Low Speed Paul talks about his current music-making. High Speed Low Speed Paul describes how he came to participate in the Lullabies concert and his choice of Lullabye. High Speed Low Speed

	Meridian Lullabye Composers and Musicians Meridian are based around the driving chordal work of Richard Jones (accordion), the intricate melodic lines of Chris Walshaw (pipes/whistles/flutes) and the rhythm 'n' groove harmonies of Anna Tabbush (fiddle/flute). Anna, raised in the tradition, also sings and adds vocal lines. Meridian play excellent arrangements of marvellous tunes & compelling songs for concerts & Euro-dances and provide the glorious sound of '... raw folk energy, laced with finesse ...' Click here for a sample of Meridian's lullabye. Meridian describe their background and their music interests. High Speed Low Speed Meridian describe their current music-making. High Speed Low Speed Meridian describe how they came to participate in the Lullabies concert and their choice of Lullabye. High Speed Low Speed Meridian introduce their instruments and play a short piece. High Speed Low Speed More details of Meridian at www.meridianfolk.co.uk

	Simon Prager Lullabye Composer and Musician Simon Prager (Vocal and Guitar) was a member of the ‘South London Blues Mafia’ which grew up around the late Queen of the Blues - Joanne Kelly. He performed and recorded extensively with Ace harmonica player Steve Rye and Boogie Pianist Bob Hall as ‘The All Star Medicine Show’. He has also appeared on British Blues compilation albums along with the likes of Albert Lee, Eric Clapton and Rod Stewart! Simon’s ‘up front’ style is influenced by Rev Gary Davis, Brownie McGhee and Blind Blake and his repertoire ranges from Ragtime, Jazz and Country Blues through to Vaudeville and Music Hall. Simon describes his background and his music interests. High Speed Low Speed Simon describes his current music-making. High Speed Low Speed Simon describes how he came to participate in the Lullabies concert and his choice of Lullabye. High Speed Low Speed Simon plays a short piece High Speed Low Speed

	Cathy Bell Lullabye Musician Soprano Cathy Bell has just finished an MPhil in Medieval Literature at Cambridge University, where she also read English as an undergraduate, was a Choral Exhibitioner at Gonville and Caius College and was heavily involved in the music scene both as a singer and cellist. Now in Oxford, she is doing as much singing as possible while working for a charity. She hopes to continue her singing studies at music college in the near future. Cathy describes her background and her music interests. High Speed Low Speed Cathy describes how she came to participate in the concert and her choice of Lullabye. High Speed Low Speed

	Gilbert Isbin Lullabye Composer and Musician Belgian acoustic guitarist Gilbert Isbin's early influences, from classical, to jazz, blues, ethnic and freeform music, has ultimately contributed to his now distinctive and refined style. Gilbert Isbin has recorded 13 albums, which have been highly acclaimed by the international music press. He played concerts all over Europe and in Los Angeles (USA) and has collaborated and/or recorded with American and European players, such as Cameron Brown, Joe Fonda, Jeff Gauthier, Ernst Reijseger, Iain Cameron, Paul Wheeler and Sandor Szabo. Find out more about Gilbert on the following web-sites: The Guitar Circle: http://www.theguitarcircle.com/composers.aspx The Gilbert Isbin Group: http://www.sonicbids.com/GilbertIsbinGroup and http://users.pandora.be/gilbert.isbin .. and click here to listen to a sample of his Lullabye. Note: the following interviews were conducted by phone call to Belgium - the sound quality is not brilliant!! Gilbert describes his background and his music interests. All Speeds Gilbert talks about his current music-making. All Speeds Gilbert describes how he came to participate in the Lullabies concert and his choice of Lullabye. All Speeds

	Charles Alexander Lullabye Composer and Musician Charles Alexander is active on the London jazz scene. He is author of three books about the guitar and teaches jazz guitar. He is a pioneer jazz educator and founder of Jazzwise Magazine. Andy Robinson, who started out as a trombonist, plays the 7-string guitar. His guitar playing can be heard in several National Theatre and RSC shows. They have performed as a guitar duo for over 15 years. Charles describes his background and music interests. High Speed Low Speed Charles talks about the music scene in and around St Martin-in-the-Fields. High Speed Low Speed Charles talks about Jazzwise magazine and and his Jazz Summer School. High Speed Low Speed Charles describes his current music-making. High Speed Low Speed Charles describes how he came to participate in the Lullabies concert and his choice of Lullabye. High Speed Low Speed

	Steven Wray Lullabye Musician Steven Wray premières Andrew Keeling's "Caela" for solo piano at the Lullabies concert. Steven read music at Oxford and attended masterclasses in Salzburg and Vienna. He has performed frequently in Europe in solo recitals, chamber music and concerts, featuring in festivals and various radio networks. It was in contemporary music that he made his London debut for the Park Lane Group. He has collaborated with a number of composers internationally and has many first performances and several premiere recordings to his credit. Reviews of his last CD describe him as a "commanding and sensitive artist" whose playing is "technically brilliant, engaging both the mind and the heart". He is currently performing a series of piano recitals "Romantic Generations" at the Warehouse, London, SE1 - see www.romanticgenerations.com More info about Steven at http://www.stevenwray.com Steven describes his background and his music interests. High Speed Low Speed Steven describes his future recitals. High Speed Low Speed Steven plays the opening of his lullabye and describes how he came to participate in the Lullabies concert. High Speed Low Speed

	Nick Danks Lullabye Musician Nick Danks is currently the Director of Music at St Martin-in-the-Fields. His background is in organ and piano playing and he also conducts the choir of St Martin's. Nick will be conducting the St Martin’s choir in the performance of two lullabies by Roxanna Panufnik and Judith Weir. Nick describes his background and his music interests. High Speed Low Speed Nick talks about current music-making at St Martins. High Speed Low Speed Nick describes how he and the St Martin's choir came to participate in the Lullabies concert. High Speed Low Speed
The Bishop Simeon Trust

	Tricia Sibbons Vice-Chair, Bishop Simeon Trust Tricia has been working in Africa, particularly South Africa for over 10 years. In the last four years the impact of HIV-AIDS on the poorest communities has been a major part of her work and she has been involved in community and education work to support communities own efforts to deal with the crisis HIV-AIDS is causing. She has been a member of St Martin in the Fields church for 20 years, and a trustee of the Bishop Simeon Trust since 1991. This is the fourth concert she has been involved in organising to support work in South Africa. For a day job, Tricia consults in the charity sector around business strategy and development, and was trained at London University (Msc) and Ashridge Management College. Tricia gives a short history of the Bishop Simeon Trust. High Speed Low Speed

	Stuart Craig Director, Bishop Simeon Trust Stuart lived and worked in Southern Africa from 1991 to 1997 and spent three of those years in Johannesburg, heading VSO's programme in South Africa, under which a number of the volunteers were placed in Soweto and Alexandra townships. For the last four years he has been working for a disability organisation in Uganda, and joined the Bishop Simeon Trust as its first full time director in May 2004. Stuart explains the Bishop Simeon Trust's direction and activities. High Speed Low Speed

	About the Bishop Simeon Trust This short video illustrates some of the Bishop Simeon Trust's work. High Speed Low Speed