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Michael
Morpurgo and Coope Boyes & Simpson
Private
Peaceful: The Concert (NMCD24)
Following the 'Private Peaceful' Concert in Norwich, Oliver King sent us the
following link:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=X2Gx27jRbYo
“Their
songs get under your skin – they oblige you to think past the cliché.”
Michael
Morpurgo
"
powerful coupling of the author's narrations and the impassioned a cappella of
Coope Boyes and Simpson.... The trio’s songs strikingly capture the
camaraderie and cynicism of ordinary men at war” Daily Telegraph
“The
choice of songs is telling and a perfect justification for the No Masters
co-operative, whose stated intent is ‘to support song making and music that
aims to carry forward traditional themes into new works…. Private Peaceful is
a poignant reminder not only of the futility of war, but also how important the
Great War has been in shaping the modern folk canon.” Taplas
Hear Michael and Jim telling Mariella Frostrup about the background to the
making of the new live album on BBC Radio 4, Open Book on Sunday 25 June -
16:00-16:30, repeated Thursday 29 June - 16:00-16:30 For more details or to
listen afterwards click on - http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/openbook/
Private Peaceful:
The Concert is
a first album by master story-teller and former Children’s Laureate, Michael
Morpurgo and Coope Boyes & Simpson. Recorded
live at Ilkley Literature Festival, it captures the atmosphere and inspiration
of their performance of his award winning book.
Michael’s evocative readings are matched and intensified by Coope Boyes &
Simpson’s songs and music, as the story of Tommo Peaceful moves between humour
and tragedy - from childhood in a
Devon
village to the trenches of the Western Front in the First War.
Michael Morpurgo,
the Children's Laureate, and the outstanding acappella trio Coope Boyes and
Simpson have come together to create a new words and music performance based
around Michael's award-winning book, Private Peaceful
Combining Michael's evocative readings with powerful and lyrical songs
and pipe tunes written by Coope Boyes and Simpson for Peace Concerts Passendale,
the piece is inspired by the individual experience of
the First War and the endurance of the human spirit in the face of blind,
monstrous conflict.
Coope Boyes and
Simpson's songs match and intensify the readings as the story of Tommo Peaceful
moves between humour and tragedy. It
is an innovative and profoundly moving performance.
Private
Peaceful - with Michael Morpurgo and Coope Boyes & Simpson
was premiered at The Tron Theatre, Glasgow as part of the 2005 Celtic
Connections festival and was then performed in The
Royal Hall of The Cloth Hall as part of the
Ieper
/
Ypres Festival in
Flanders
.
It will also form part of the programme at Ilkley Literature Festival
2005.
REVIEWS
“This was an early evening
show featuring the English writer Morpurgo reading from his latest book about
two brothers going off to fight in WWI, interspersed with the amazing accapella
vocal stylings of
Barry Coope
,
Jim
Boyes, and Lester Simpson. You want to talk about chilling? The prose was
powerful enough, but when Coope, Boyes and Simpson chimed in with their stellar
harmonies and powerful songcraft, there was hardly a dry eye in the house. These
folks are probably the best accapella singers in
Britain
right now, and just amaze with their tight harmonies and phrasing. A great and
moving show.” Tayberry Music
“Morpurgo's powerful anti-war
tale was buttressed by an a capella trio, Coope, Boyes & Simpson, whose
original songs, also on anti-war themes, blend perfectly with the author's
prose, making for a compelling and unforgettable presentation.” Willard
Manu
s,
Lively Arts
“
an imaginative collaboration between the author reading extracts from the book
alongside an a cappella vocal trio of Coope, Boyes and Simpson…. The
combination of Morpurgo's passionate story telling with music that was both
powerful and poignant produced a memorable performance that was enjoyed by a
full house of adults and children alike. Daniel Jamieson, Morning Star,
25 Jan
2005