Islands of the North, by Jessica Danz

Islands of the North

by Jessica Danz

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jwilkinsonarts Sublime work, speaks to me of open spaces, stormy skies, wild seas and the passing of people. I shall enjoy painting whilst listening to this.

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	1.	Prologue 03:53
	2.	The Midnight Sun 04:42
	3.	Water 04:54
	4.	Fishing Grounds 08:03
	5.	Ice 02:25
	6.	Burning Bright 05:43
	7.	North 03:06
	8.	The Sea 07:25
	9.	Safe Harbour 02:53
	10.	Epilogue 04:52

about

Danz moved to the Isle of Lewis in mid-2016, after a year of travelling and exploring a series of northern islands including the Faroe Islands, Orkney, and the Outer Hebrides. The following year she was commissioned by An Lanntair arts centre to create a live piano score for a showing of Loftur Guðmundsson's 1925 Icelandic documentary 'Ísland í lifandi myndum' (Iceland in Moving Pictures). Depicting scenes of farming, fishing and city life, through to the spectacular waterfalls and dramatic oceans of Iceland, the film shows the strong relationship between Scandinavia and the Outer Hebrides.
The work was premiered at the 2017 Faclan Festival, and in 2018 an installation version was included in the exhibition SSA & VAS at the Royal Scottish Academy, in collaboration with An Lanntair and the National Film Archive of Iceland.

Danz revised the score in 2018 to create a full length solo piano suite, which she recorded at Black Bay Studio on the Isle of Great Bernera. Black Bay was once an old fish processing factory, now transformed into a state-of-the-art recording studio situated on the edge of a working harbour. The work was performed on a beautiful Bechstein piano (circa 1930), and the album aims to capture a sound that celebrates the unique character of the instrument as well as evoking something of the silent film era.

"The two years I spent living and working in the Outer Hebrides were an immensely valuable time for creative introspection and exploration. Experiencing life on these northern islands was a powerful beginning to a new era of my life on the other side of the world, and 'Islands of the North' is strongly influenced by the experience of living and travelling in these places where the sea and the weather are ever-present, powerful forces." - Jessica Danz

credits

released September 29, 2019

All tracks written & performed by Jessica Danz
Recording, mixing & mastering by Pete Fletcher
Recorded at Black Bay Studio, Isle of Great Bernera, Outer Hebrides

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about

Jessica Danz Australia

Jessica Danz is an award-winning performer & composer. Known for her haunting songwriting, she brings together classical and folk elements in an experimental, virtuosic style.

jessicadanz.com

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