A circle in 12 parts

A circle in 12 parts: Virgo

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A combined live audio visual improvisation with contributions and vinyl selection from this years guest Virgo, Anna Sherratt.

“I’m a writer, director, producer and sound designer from Aberystwyth, but currently living in Cardiff. When Jake approached me with his brilliant avant garde project, I was excited but nervous – not knowing quite what to expect. True to my star sign, I am a meticulous planner, but I also love improvisation and chaos, and the creativity that brings. 

In the end, I went with a “Desert Island Discs” approach, taking ideas from where life and music intersect and responding to Jake’s amazing mixing in chatter, spoken word and song. 

It was an honour to take part in such a unique series, and to have a go at making Virgo whatever it happens to be – especially if that’s a bit messier than the stereotype!”

A third half – Layers of live

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Halfway through a third year of a circle in 12 parts.

Thanks again to all the lovely people who have been part of this years series.

I am very excited by the process of making these works and how it has developed this year.
Both visual and sound elements are now being created live, though not necessarily concurrently. Where possible guests have come to my studio and interacted live with the turntables or synths, playing them or their own instruments into the mix. I then have live cameras and recorded video clips, images ready in VJ software to mixin real time with the live audio.
Where we have been working over zoom the audio mix is created and recorded live both ends and both zoom visuals feeds are recorded. I then process those recorded visuals and any other material from my guests to input into a different format for the VJ software where I manipulate and mix all of the visual elements while playing the live recorded audio from earlier.

monoprint circle

A circle in 12 parts: Leo

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A live audio visual improvisation with sounds, images, video and vinyl selection from this years guest Leo, Susan Sluglett.

In the mix are: Louis Armstrong -‘Dream a little Dream of me’; Ella Fitzgerald – ‘Can’t we be friends’; Talking Heads -‘Road to nowhere ‘; Kate Bush – ‘And dream of sheep’; David Bowie – ‘Heroes’;
Nina Simone – ‘To love Somebody’; Earth, Wind and Fire – ‘Let your feelings show’; George Benson -‘Lady love me (one more time)’; Bob Dylan – ‘She belongs to me’; Joni Mitchell – ‘Chinese cafe/unchained melody’; The Smiths – ‘Stretch out and wait’

Paintings by Susan Sluglett https://www.susansluglett.com

Music of the Spheres – The Luminaries

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A circle in 12 parts has a core of vinyl records selected accorded to the sign of the zodiac and planetary ruler. Most of the planets are represented by Holst’s planet suite and I have a number of different orchestral versions in the collection as well as a couple of interesting electronic versions.

For the Moon (Ruling planet of Cancer) I have been playing with a varied selection of records with Moon themed tracks including Moonlight Sonata and Claire de Lune.

There are obviously a lot more Moon themed tracks in the collection, Moon River, Blue Moon, Paper Moon etc but I wanted to avoid vocals and keep the instrumentation similar to the other planets’ tracks.
I also found some Sun themed tracks on vinyl with similar instrumentation to play with for Leo.

A circle in 12 parts: Taurus

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A live audio visual improvisation with images, video and vinyl selection from this years guest Taurus, Maura Hazelden:

An aural & visual dance duet, a reminder of birthdays past, I so enjoyed the immersion in apple blossom. 

It was great to feel a bit creative and to be creative in collaboration. I had thought I might use some of my work in terms of images but somehow it became a personal journey of images from birthdays & my life, some friends…photos of me (I’m not always fond of having my photo taken except in my work!), of a place close to my heart now gone, food and bluebell wood walks for my birthday, and … apple blossom.
 
How have I never made a link between Lily the Pink and my series of works with pink lilies?

I would like to apologise for both of us not realising that soundcloud advertising would slip in, and my lack of speed in silencing it! I might be a Quaker but I don’t endorse Franklin Graham…this is not a love song…

Thank you Jake for the invitation and a creative afternoon with plenty of joy! I am inspired to relook at some of my language/sound work and do some re-creation.

Are baby be beeping…postman puppy rabbits