Donna McKevitt
Encyclopedia
Donna McKevitt is an English composer based in London. She studied viola with Gustav Clarkson and voice with Linda Hirst and gained a BA Hons in music at Kingston Polytechnic.
She was a member of Miranda Sex Garden
between 1991 and 1994 recording Iris
, Suspiria
and Fairytales of Slavery
with them for Mute Records
and touring Japan, The States and Europe.
She began a collaboration with Greg Roberts
of Dreadzone
going on to write, sing and play on their albums Second Light
and Biological Radio
with Virgin Records
.
While touring and recording full time Donna set some of Maya Angelou
's poems for voice, trumpet and double bass and in 1993, after contributing to the soundtrack of Derek Jarman
's last film Blue
, she began work on 'Translucence'. These settings of Jarman's poems were recorded for Warner Classics in 1997 by Andrew Keener and featured the voices of Michael Chance
and Melanie Pappenheim
. "A work of haunting and unpretentious beauty", 'Translucence' has been performed by the original ensemble at Columbia University (broadcast live on WNYC Radio), at The City of London Festival and at Tate Modern. It has also been performed at The Edinburgh Festival and in Boston, Tokyo, Sydney and Zurich by other ensembles.
In 2000 Donna moved to Sarajevo where she continued writing, producing settings of poetry by Paul Celan
, e.e cummings, Ben Okri and later, in collaboration with film maker Chris Briggs, work by Pablo Neruda
. 'Love Songs for Michael', the settings of three Michaelangelo sonnets for Michael Chance and lutist Nigel North
, were commissioned and performed at The Radovljica Festival in Slovenia in 2000.
Donna is a member of the band The Mabuses
and composer for the photographer Emma Summerton contributing film scores and soundtracks for the fashion house Bodyamr, London and Paris Fashion Week, Jaeger and Italian Vogue.
July 2010 saw the release of 'This is what I wanted to give you' a collaboration with The Cesarians
' drummer and poet Jan Noble and the beginning of a new song cycle from McKevitt. The debut album by 'McKevitt & Noble' is due to be released this Autumn with a live preview of the work at this year's East End Film Festival
on May 2nd.
She was a member of Miranda Sex Garden
Miranda Sex Garden
Miranda Sex Garden were a music group from London, England. Formed in 1990, they were originally a trio of madrigal singers. Their first album, Madra , was entirely a cappella, with the songs all based on traditional English verse...
between 1991 and 1994 recording Iris
Iris (EP)
Iris is Miranda Sex Garden's second release, and first EP.-Track listing:#"Lovely Joan" – 2:40#"Falling" – 5:39#"Fear" – 7:07#"Blue Light" – 6:30#"Iris" – 7:18...
, Suspiria
Suspiria (Miranda Sex Garden album)
Suspiria is Miranda Sex Garden's third release, and second album. It saw them moving further into the sounds of darkwave and gothic rock.-Track listing:#"Ardera Sempre" – 4:52#"Open Eyes" – 6:30#"Sunshine" – 5:28#"Distance" – 3:22#"Play" – 4:16...
and Fairytales of Slavery
Fairytales of Slavery
Fairytales of Slavery is the penultimate release by Miranda Sex Garden, issued on Mute Records in June 1994. Produced in part by Alexander Hacke of Einstürzende Neubauten, the album blends a great number of elements of different genres, including but not limited to gothic rock, darkwave,...
with them for Mute Records
Mute Records
Mute is an independent record label based in the UK. It was founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller and featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure and Fad Gadget.-Beginnings:...
and touring Japan, The States and Europe.
She began a collaboration with Greg Roberts
Greg Roberts (musician)
Greg Roberts is a British rock drummer. He was part of Big Audio Dynamite, who had a No. 11 UK hit single with 'E=MC2', from 1984–1989....
of Dreadzone
Dreadzone
Dreadzone are a British band whose music is an eclectic fusion of dub, reggae, techno, folk and rock. They have so far produced six studio albums and two live albums.-Career:...
going on to write, sing and play on their albums Second Light
Second Light
Second Light is the second album by the British band Dreadzone. It was released on Virgin Records in 1995...
and Biological Radio
Biological Radio
The term "Biological Radio" is also used by Russian scientists to mean telepathy.Biological Radio is the third album by the British band Dreadzone, released in 1997 by Virgin Records...
with Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
.
While touring and recording full time Donna set some of Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou is an American author and poet who has been called "America's most visible black female autobiographer" by scholar Joanne M. Braxton. She is best known for her series of six autobiographical volumes, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first and most highly...
's poems for voice, trumpet and double bass and in 1993, after contributing to the soundtrack of Derek Jarman
Derek Jarman
Michael Derek Elworthy Jarman was an English film director, stage designer, diarist, artist, gardener and author.-Life:...
's last film Blue
Blue (1993 film)
Blue is the twelfth and final feature film by director Derek Jarman, released four months before his death from AIDS-related complications...
, she began work on 'Translucence'. These settings of Jarman's poems were recorded for Warner Classics in 1997 by Andrew Keener and featured the voices of Michael Chance
Michael Chance
Michael Chance CBE is an English countertenor.Chance was born in Penn, Buckinghamshire, into a musical family. After growing up as a chorister he attended Eton College, Berkshire, and later King's College, Cambridge...
and Melanie Pappenheim
Melanie Pappenheim
Melanie Pappenheim is an English soprano singer and composer, notable for her vocal work with various British cross-disciplinary composers, with avant-garde theatre companies and on soundtracks .-Contemporary music:Pappenheim is a frequent collaborator with contemporary composer-performers Simon...
. "A work of haunting and unpretentious beauty", 'Translucence' has been performed by the original ensemble at Columbia University (broadcast live on WNYC Radio), at The City of London Festival and at Tate Modern. It has also been performed at The Edinburgh Festival and in Boston, Tokyo, Sydney and Zurich by other ensembles.
In 2000 Donna moved to Sarajevo where she continued writing, producing settings of poetry by Paul Celan
Paul Celan
Paul Celan was a poet and translator...
, e.e cummings, Ben Okri and later, in collaboration with film maker Chris Briggs, work by Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda was the pen name and, later, legal name of the Chilean poet, diplomat and politician Neftalí Ricardo Reyes Basoalto. He chose his pen name after Czech poet Jan Neruda....
. 'Love Songs for Michael', the settings of three Michaelangelo sonnets for Michael Chance and lutist Nigel North
Nigel North
Nigel North is an English lutenist and guitarist.-Student days:He studied guitar on a scholarship to the junior department of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama , taking up the lute in 1969, at the age of 15. He maintains he was more or less self-taught on the instrument...
, were commissioned and performed at The Radovljica Festival in Slovenia in 2000.
Donna is a member of the band The Mabuses
The Mabuses
The Mabuses is a band which formed in London in 1991 and released three albums to considerable critical acclaim. Led by the enigmatic Kim Fahy, the Mabuses offer music which mixes pop sensibilities with more esoteric concerns such as film and literature. The name "Mabuses" is a tribute to the Fritz...
and composer for the photographer Emma Summerton contributing film scores and soundtracks for the fashion house Bodyamr, London and Paris Fashion Week, Jaeger and Italian Vogue.
July 2010 saw the release of 'This is what I wanted to give you' a collaboration with The Cesarians
The Cesarians
The Cesarians are a London-based group consisting of singer Charlie Finke, pianist Justine Armatage, drummer Jan Noble and an all woman wind section...
' drummer and poet Jan Noble and the beginning of a new song cycle from McKevitt. The debut album by 'McKevitt & Noble' is due to be released this Autumn with a live preview of the work at this year's East End Film Festival
East End Film Festival
The East End Film Festival is one of the biggest film festivals in London. Taking place annually in various venues throughout East London, the festival "showcases hot new talent and homegrown films alongside larger independent releases and special events, informing and inspiring a new generation of...
on May 2nd.
Discography
- Iris with Miranda Sex GardenMiranda Sex GardenMiranda Sex Garden were a music group from London, England. Formed in 1990, they were originally a trio of madrigal singers. Their first album, Madra , was entirely a cappella, with the songs all based on traditional English verse...
, 1992, Mute Records - Suspiria with Miranda Sex GardenMiranda Sex GardenMiranda Sex Garden were a music group from London, England. Formed in 1990, they were originally a trio of madrigal singers. Their first album, Madra , was entirely a cappella, with the songs all based on traditional English verse...
, 1993, Mute Records - Fairytales of Slavery with Miranda Sex GardenMiranda Sex GardenMiranda Sex Garden were a music group from London, England. Formed in 1990, they were originally a trio of madrigal singers. Their first album, Madra , was entirely a cappella, with the songs all based on traditional English verse...
, 1993, Mute Records - Second Light with DreadzoneDreadzoneDreadzone are a British band whose music is an eclectic fusion of dub, reggae, techno, folk and rock. They have so far produced six studio albums and two live albums.-Career:...
, 1995 , Virgin Records - Earth Angel (single) with DreadzoneDreadzoneDreadzone are a British band whose music is an eclectic fusion of dub, reggae, techno, folk and rock. They have so far produced six studio albums and two live albums.-Career:...
, 1997, Virgin Records - Biological Radio with DreadzoneDreadzoneDreadzone are a British band whose music is an eclectic fusion of dub, reggae, techno, folk and rock. They have so far produced six studio albums and two live albums.-Career:...
, 1997, Virgin Records - Translucence Jarman/McKevitt, 1998, Warner Classics
- Translucence Jarman/McKevitt, 2004, Dharma Records
- This is what I wanted to give you (single) McKevitt & Noble, 2010, Not Your Average Type
- This is a Bucket (single) McKevitt & Noble, 2010, Not Your Average Type
External links
- Official website
- [ Donna McKevitt] at Allmusic