Vinyl Requiem was produced by shinkansen, an independent producing unit set up to help, encourage and provide support for new ideas in the arts. shinkansen works with a range of artists who embrace multi-arts practice.
For Vinyl Requiem, shinkansen and Philip Jeck devised a longterm producing process to facilitate the project’s artistic development and maximise the potential public impact.
The four sections were commissioned by specific venues in Britain and in Europe. Network links made by shinkansen to support the project brought together arts organisations and audiences responsive to new attitudes and activities.
In taking a section, each commissioner has given resources, support and time for the development of Vinyl Requiem – The Full Orchestra contributing to the vinyl debate and generating an international focus for the project.
A research programme took place on the ongoing artistic and marketing development of Vinyl Requiem. Audience perceptions and responses were explored through research around the four sections and general arts-public opinion on the vinyl debate. This research was a pilot project helping to develop and refine the whole producing process of Vinyl Requiem.
Four Sections
These four performances featured different sections of the larger-scale work to be premièred in 1993 as part of the long playing countdown to the death of vinyl.
The Vocal Section
Friday 16 and Saturday 17 November 1990
Voice Over. Purcell Rooms, South Bank, London
The String Section
Public viewing of the work-in-progress took place from Wednesday 20th to Friday 22nd
Performance Friday 22 November 1991
The Tramway, Glasgow
The Brass Section
Installation of work-in-progress
14 – 17 October 1992
Performances
Friday 16 and Saturday 17 October 1992
Congregational Hall, Castle Gate, Nottingham
The Massed Pianos/Percussion Section
Installation of work-in-progress
28 – 31 October 1992
Performances
: Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October 1992
Theater im Kunstlerhaus, Vienna, Austria
Commissioned by…
The Vocal Section by… Voice Over, London, 1990
The String Section by… Tramway, Glasgow, 1991
The Brass Section by… Contemporary Archives for Now ’92, Nottingham, 1992
The Massed Pianos/Percussion Section by… Theaterverein Wien, Vienna, 1992
Finance
Vinyl Requiem received financial support from the Arts Council of Great Britain ‘New Collaborations Fund’, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, London Arts Board ‘Arts Access – Developing New Audiences Fund’, Nottingham City Council, Theaterverein Wien, Tramway and Voice Over.
Future partners were sought to enable the creation, presentation and onwards distribution of Vinyl Requiem – The Full Orchestra
(Thanks to Ghislaine Boddington’s archive)