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Roots / Fusion |
Jean-Pierre Rasle researched, co-wrote and featured on the last Radio 3 World Music series: Singing the Goat, the Music of the Auvergne, 5 programmes broadcast last December and January.
Selected by its production company Heavy Entertainment for the Sony awards, if you missed it, ask the BBC for a repeat.
Jean-Pierre has also completed the brand-new French entry in the latest edition of The Rough Guide to World Music, out now.
The Cock & Bull Band launched their 20th anniversary CD Encore du Vin(gt) -their 7th release- at the Barbican.
A return to their dance roots featuring sleeve notes with new dances, it was the basis for their new show at Sidmouth, Chichester, and Towersey Festivals.
They have a new guitarist Steve Cobham, a new French dance show, and a new agent: Randomband Agency for bookings.
Three of the Cock & Bull Band members now perform an 'unplugged' version of the band's music style as Monsieur Pantin, specialising in French dance music for concerts. They are also available from Randomband Agency or e-mail direct to: Dance & Drones
Jean-Pierre Rasle & the Dancing Drones performed Cornemusiques at St Truiden Medieval Festival (Belgium), and enquiries have also been received from Barcelona and France. |
Jean-Pierre Rasle Solo: Cross-over |
The Piper's Magical Story: the ultimate one-man-band performance:
Rasle sings, acts and plays up to 10 instruments in this costumed version of Cornemusiques, the secret music of France: Brawls, Court pieces, peasant songs and dances give a true atmosphere of the musical life of the time, in a repertoire spanning five centuries. Over 250 performances in France, Belgium, Canada and Great-Britain. Available in English and French for audiences of all ages.
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Jean-Pierre Rasle & the Dancing Drones: Cross-over |
HOW TO EXPERIENCE 850 YEARS OF WILD BAGPIPE MUSIC IN LESS THAN 90 MINUTES!
This is what Jean-Pierre Rasle and the Dancing Drones are offering in:
"CORNEMUSIQUES, The Piper's Magical Story", an outrageous melting pot of musical influences.
Based on the programme commissioned by BBC Radio 3, originally produced by Julian May, and selected for BBC Radio 4 "Pick of the Week" and the BBC World Service, its had its world live premiere at the Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank, London, on Jan. 2 1997.
It features Early, Baroque, Folk, Victorian and New music, with the specially formed Dancing Drones joining the musical forces of members of
Sirinu (Renaissance)
Folies Bergères (Baroque music )
Chalemie (Early music and dance) Cock & Bull Band (Jazz-Folk fusion)
Stocai and The Duellists (Folk dance)
with: Jean-Pierre Rasle, storyteller, bagpipes, voice, shepherd's oboe
and the Dancing Drones:
Matthew Spring, hurdy-gurdy, cittern, piano-accordion,
Sara Stowe, voice, pipe organ, harpsichord,
Pete Lockwood, percussion, saxophone, drums,
Paul Martin, dulcimer, mandocello, banjo,
Vanda Sainsbury, crumhorn, recorders, clarinet, keyboards,
Chris Walshaw, bagpipes, shepherd's oboe
The dazzling interplay of a huge range of instruments will make this a truly unique musical experience, as well as a showcase for little-known aspects of the French music tradition.
Hilarious and thought-provoking readings from contemporary sources will intrigue the ear.
Baroque, Folk and Contemporary music lovers have joined in this celebration of the wide festive appeal of drone music through the centuries!
Contact: DANCE & drones, 171, High St,
STONY STRATFORD, MILTON KEYNES,
Bucks, MK11 1AP, U.K.
Tel: +44 (0)1908566025 |
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Monsieur Pantin: Voices, Strings & Winds |
Soulful songs from France, wild dance instrumentals from Britain and beyond in an intricate interplay of melodies and driving rhythms. A sound ranging from the intimate to the grandiose: the ultimate acoustic combination in a folk and roots extravaganza of an age-old music ideally suited for smaller venues. |
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Cock & Bull Band: Anglo-French Folk-Jazz Fusion |
See separate RandomBand leaflet for details. |
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Dulcians
Cantiga de Santa Maria |
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CORNEMUSIQUES:
How the humble pipes of Pan became the favourite of the Sun-King, before its original masters, the peasants of Berry and Auvergne, claimed it back, and a new generation of pipers made it their own.
In a show peppered with costume changes, outrageous original readings and beautiful melodies, Jean-Pierre Rasle and the Dancing Drones travel back in time:
They take their audience from the Mediaeval court of France and its graceful pavanes, through the Renaissance world of François 1er and Henry VIII, to the baroque excesses and the downfall of the French Kings.
They then embark on a revival journey, from Thomas Hardy's French counterpart George Sand, and her musical friends, Chopin and Liszt, to the songs of the Auvergne made famous by Canteloube.
They conclude on the Parisian post-war fashion for the "Bals-musette" frequented by the likes of Django Rheinhart and Josephine Baker, with the new melodies of today's virtuoso players.
After four years' touring, over 200 sell-out shows and 30,000 spectators in Canada, France, Belgium and the U.K, Jean-Pierre Rasle and the Dancing Drones now present this unique programme in English, aimed at the widest audience, from Arts Centres and Music Clubs to Festivals.
They cross the boundaries of Music and Drama, uniting Early, Baroque, Folk and New Music in a highly visual, fast-moving performance.
This show, featuring 800 years of European music, encompassing elements of theatre as well as many styles of music, dance and song, makes it an ideal presentation for an event with a European theme.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: Sound: 3 microphones with boom stands (+1 radio microphone in larger rooms).
Light: 2 pairs of projectors on stands +1 staffed follow-on spot in larger rooms.
Stage props: 1 clothes rail, 1 hat-stand, 1 large table, 1 chair.
Auditorium: At least 1 aisle with direct (central if possible) access to the stage, or 2 on the side.
REVIEWS: BBC Radio 3 "... Cornemusiques (R3), an enchanting history of the French bagpipe... gorgeous - simultaneously rhythmical, delicate and savage, lament entwined with desire." (Sue Gaisford, The Independent on Sunday)
Edinburgh Festival Fringe "...Jean-Pierre Rasle... with the help of a coat stand of costumes and a draped screen hung with bagpipes, pays homage to France's rich and varied piping traditions in a delightful, off-beat gem of a show... Rasle plays while singing powerfully, with all the moving, timeless simplicity of a real folk performance... there is much tongue-in-cheek courtly stepping and bowing, witty anecdotes and readings... there is also a great deal of lovely music." (The Scotsman)
Beverley Festival "... Jean-Pierre Rasle's one-man show of the history of French pipes... Dramatic, funny, touching, informative and inspiring, it was great stuff and well worth seeing. Festival organisers please note!" (Bagpipe Society News)
On tour solo for the Jeunesses Musicales de France '91-'95: "In the beginning was the pipe... an unusual stage entrance and production surprised the audience and immediately created the right atmosphere... he presented, described and played six different bagpipes in a travel through time... with, for each period highlighted, the appropriate costume, in front of an audience mesmerised by such virtuosity and warmth of communication." (Ouest-France)
RECORD REVIEWS: "Jean-Pierre, as well as being a talented musician, has a wide-ranging knowledge of his subject, and sharing his insights adds enormously to the appreciation of the music... Jean-Pierre is as much at home with formal music as he is with folk. The stately tunes from the sixteenth century Attaignant collection are exquisite... a delightful CD and informative booklet." (Taplas) |
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