Portishead’s Adrian Utley is to release Guitar Orchestra In C, a reinterpretation of Terry Riley’s In C on Invada Records.
The album is a live recording of Adrian’s electric guitar orchestra re-interpreting Terry Riley's seminal minimal work at St Georges Hall, Bristol last year.
In C in its original guise consists of 53 musical phrases in C with no fixed duration - which means pieces can vary hugely in length and form.
The guitarist orchestra included PJ Harvey collaborator John Parish and Jim Barr from Portishead’s live band alongside four organs and a bass clarinet.
In a statement, Adrian said: ‘I've been exploring the sonic possibilities of massed guitars for a while now in various contexts from pure noise to the sacred choral music of Arvo Part.
‘So it was interesting to see what would happen if we had 20 electric guitars plus organs playing In C. It is an amazing piece of writing and original thought. A new free idea of organised group playing. The beginnings of what we know as minimalism.’
The orchestra’s core members are expected to tour the piece later this year.
Read a profile interview with John Parish published on M earlier this year. You can also read a feature exploring the Bristol music scene.
The album is a live recording of Adrian’s electric guitar orchestra re-interpreting Terry Riley's seminal minimal work at St Georges Hall, Bristol last year.
In C in its original guise consists of 53 musical phrases in C with no fixed duration - which means pieces can vary hugely in length and form.
The guitarist orchestra included PJ Harvey collaborator John Parish and Jim Barr from Portishead’s live band alongside four organs and a bass clarinet.
In a statement, Adrian said: ‘I've been exploring the sonic possibilities of massed guitars for a while now in various contexts from pure noise to the sacred choral music of Arvo Part.
‘So it was interesting to see what would happen if we had 20 electric guitars plus organs playing In C. It is an amazing piece of writing and original thought. A new free idea of organised group playing. The beginnings of what we know as minimalism.’
The orchestra’s core members are expected to tour the piece later this year.
Read a profile interview with John Parish published on M earlier this year. You can also read a feature exploring the Bristol music scene.
