Peter Rose and Anne Conlon
Encyclopedia
Peter Rose and Anne Conlon (words) are award-winning writers best known for their environmental musicals for children. They were both teachers in Lancashire
, UK for the majority of their creative achievements and most of their works have been written specially for St Augustine's RC High School
, Billington
, at the time Peter Rose was their head of music.
The Kestrel Song won them the 1982 BBC Pebble Mill - WWF Sounds Natural competition which brought the writers to the attention of Ivan Hattingh, Head of Development at WWF
-UK at the time. Shortly after this, Ivan Hattingh called the writers and asked them to write an extended musical, similar to The Kestrel Song, but about the Amazon
Rainforest
. Although looking like an impossible task, they accepted and penned the first half of Yanomamo (1983) which described the beauties of the Amazon rainforest. By the second half, which contrasts the lighter first, the writers explore the human problems that existed in the Amazon basin at the time, and ask strong questions about western attitudes to tribal societies and our role in protecting such important and sensitive natural balances.
Yanomamo is a 90-minute work for chorus, soloists, narrator and stage band and the original production, performed by the choir and musicians of St. Augustine’s RC High School, was narrated by Sir David Attenborough and premiered at the Royal Institute
, London
before appearing at the Edinburgh Festival
. They later performed Yanomamo in America, narrated by Sting, which was recorded for television and later broadcast (on Easter Sunday, 1989)on Channel 4 under the title of Song of the Forest. The TV version was commercially released by WWF. Since its publication the musical has seen performances by thousands of children throughout the world. This interest was also helped by the inclusion of Yanomamo as part of the BBC
Radio Music Workshop series for schools (1991), including a short dramatic script specially written for the series by Anne. After the TV adaption was broadcast, the school was officially recognised when two of the young soloists were presented to the Duke of Edinburgh and presented with the Ford Europoean Conservation Award in the Royal Opera House
, Covent Garden
.
Peter and Anne’s next collaboration was in 1985 with Daughters of Pendle. This fully dramatic musical explores 16th century witchcraft in Lancashire, and was first performed by St. Augustine’s RC High School. The show is currently unpublished.
After the highly successful Yanomamo, Ivan Hattingh commissioned Peter and Anne to write another musical, outlining the severe problems of migration from the countryside to the cities in developing countries. African Jigsaw (1986) was written and first performed by the choir and musicians of St. Augustine’s RC High School at the Barbican Concert Hall, London, narrated by actress Mary Miller and winning a Henry Ford Conservation Award2. African Jisaw was also performed by the school at the Royal Festival Hall
in 1987, this time with Sir Charles Groves
and the Philharmonic Orchestra at a Royal Gala charity performance for the homeless. Again, this musical is a 90 minute work for chorus, soloists, narrator and stage band. African Jigsaw was later transmitted as a Splash Special by ITV
in 1987, and also part of the ITV Middle English series. Anne Conlon’s narration explores the thoughts of one central character; an African mother who has stayed in the countryside whilst her son has started a new life for himself in the city.
Three years later saw Peter and Anne’s third WWF commission, Ocean World (1990). This time they focused on the problems that threaten the existence of the sea. Ocean World tells the story of a female humpback whale
as she journeys to her northern feeding grounds. We are with her at the birth to her first calf, and along her journey we meet other creatures of the deep who have their own problems to contend with. Ocean World premiered at the Royal Festival Hall by the choir and musicians of St. Augustine’s RC High School and was narrated by Sir David Attenborough. A television version, currently available from WWF-UK, was made and transmitted in 1991 as part of Channel 4’s Fragile Earth series. The work follows the same pattern as their previous WWF commissions, and is a 90-minute work for chorus, soloists, narrator and stage band.
Peter and Anne are also known for writing work with a Christian message. In 1987, they were commissioned to write a Harvest Festival Anthem - "Care for your World" which was performed on BBC's Songs of Praise
. Two years later, in March 1989 their hymns were featured in a Daily Service on BBC Radio 4
.
Peter and Anne didn’t collaborate after this until 1996, with the publication of their hymn book Hymns for a Caring World, and their fourth WWF-UK commission Arabica, inspired by a conference Anne attended about world economics. Arabica is a musical about the coffee industry and the people that are involved in the growing, producing and selling of it. This was premiered at the Queen Elizabeth Hall
, London by the choir and musicians of St. Augustine’s RC High School and narrated by actor Burt Caesar. Arabica is arguably the most musically complex of their shows, and most controversial, and has never been broadcast.
There was question whether Peter and Anne would write another large-scale musical after Arabica, but in 2000 they wrote Song of Creation to celebrate the millennium. Song of Creation, unlike their WWF musicals, was written for the catholic charity CAFOD
, and premiered at the Royal Festival Hall
, London. However, they kept their regular blueprint of writing for chorus, soloists, narrator and stage band. The original production of Song of Creation was narrated by Mary Miller, who also narrated their African Jigsaw in 1986.
By contrast to their WWF musicals, Song of Creation has no story as such, yet explores the wonders of creation and of human initiative, at the same time addressing the question of human responsibility for this human drive. Effectively, Peter Rose and Anne Conlon’s latest work completes their cycle of environmental musicals by exploring the whole of the world in which we live; the natural balances that occur (which are also explored particularly in Yanomamo with regards to the Rainforest), and the linking together of Western and Developing cultures (which is a theme that runs throughout their work, especially in African Jigsaw).
2009 saw premiers of two new works by Peter Rose and Anne Conlon. The first, commissioned by Children's International Voices of Enfield, is a smaller piece, Caledonian Shadows, and was performed in London on Sunday 15 March. The second work is a full-length WWF-Commission, One Sun, One World and was performed at the Royal Albert Hall
at the end of the year.
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, UK for the majority of their creative achievements and most of their works have been written specially for St Augustine's RC High School
St Augustine's RC High School
St Augustine's RC High School is a mixed 11-16 oversubscribed comprehensive school in Billington, Lancashire, England. St Augustine's has a large catchment area of 10 primary schools.-History:The school opened in 1963 originally intaking 450 pupils...
, Billington
Billington
Billington may refer to:*Billington, Bedfordshire, a small parish in England*Billington, Lancashire, a larger village in England*The Billington Food Group , a sugar company in both the US and UK...
, at the time Peter Rose was their head of music.
Notable works
Peter and Anne’s first collaboration was The Conversion Job (1980-1); a currently unpublished musical which told the story of Augustine and his monks as they tried to convert Britain to Christianity. This was first performed at St. Augustine’s RC High School. Their second collaboration was the choral piece The Kestrel Song (1982), which was later published by their publishers Josef Weinberger (1995). This pieces describes
“the thoughts of a kestrelKestrelThe name kestrel, is given to several different members of the falcon genus, Falco. Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behaviour which is to hover at a height of around over open country and swoop down on prey, usually small mammals, lizards or large insects...
as it hovers above the motorway… From the safety of the sky, the Kestrel watches "all the madness of these men rushing blindly onwards". The fog descends, but the traffic rushes on, until the inevitable disaster happens1”
The Kestrel Song won them the 1982 BBC Pebble Mill - WWF Sounds Natural competition which brought the writers to the attention of Ivan Hattingh, Head of Development at WWF
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
-UK at the time. Shortly after this, Ivan Hattingh called the writers and asked them to write an extended musical, similar to The Kestrel Song, but about the Amazon
Amazon Basin
The Amazon Basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries that drains an area of about , or roughly 40 percent of South America. The basin is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela...
Rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
. Although looking like an impossible task, they accepted and penned the first half of Yanomamo (1983) which described the beauties of the Amazon rainforest. By the second half, which contrasts the lighter first, the writers explore the human problems that existed in the Amazon basin at the time, and ask strong questions about western attitudes to tribal societies and our role in protecting such important and sensitive natural balances.
Yanomamo is a 90-minute work for chorus, soloists, narrator and stage band and the original production, performed by the choir and musicians of St. Augustine’s RC High School, was narrated by Sir David Attenborough and premiered at the Royal Institute
Royal institute
Royal Institute may refer to the following, among other institutions:* Royal Institute of Technology* Royal Institute of British Architects* Royal National Institute of Blind People* Royal Institute of Thailand* Royal Archaeological Institute...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
before appearing at the Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
. They later performed Yanomamo in America, narrated by Sting, which was recorded for television and later broadcast (on Easter Sunday, 1989)on Channel 4 under the title of Song of the Forest. The TV version was commercially released by WWF. Since its publication the musical has seen performances by thousands of children throughout the world. This interest was also helped by the inclusion of Yanomamo as part of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Radio Music Workshop series for schools (1991), including a short dramatic script specially written for the series by Anne. After the TV adaption was broadcast, the school was officially recognised when two of the young soloists were presented to the Duke of Edinburgh and presented with the Ford Europoean Conservation Award in the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
, Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
.
Peter and Anne’s next collaboration was in 1985 with Daughters of Pendle. This fully dramatic musical explores 16th century witchcraft in Lancashire, and was first performed by St. Augustine’s RC High School. The show is currently unpublished.
After the highly successful Yanomamo, Ivan Hattingh commissioned Peter and Anne to write another musical, outlining the severe problems of migration from the countryside to the cities in developing countries. African Jigsaw (1986) was written and first performed by the choir and musicians of St. Augustine’s RC High School at the Barbican Concert Hall, London, narrated by actress Mary Miller and winning a Henry Ford Conservation Award2. African Jisaw was also performed by the school at the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
in 1987, this time with Sir Charles Groves
Charles Groves
Sir Charles Barnard Groves CBE was an English conductor. He was known for the breadth of his repertoire and for encouraging contemporary composers and young conductors....
and the Philharmonic Orchestra at a Royal Gala charity performance for the homeless. Again, this musical is a 90 minute work for chorus, soloists, narrator and stage band. African Jigsaw was later transmitted as a Splash Special by ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
in 1987, and also part of the ITV Middle English series. Anne Conlon’s narration explores the thoughts of one central character; an African mother who has stayed in the countryside whilst her son has started a new life for himself in the city.
Three years later saw Peter and Anne’s third WWF commission, Ocean World (1990). This time they focused on the problems that threaten the existence of the sea. Ocean World tells the story of a female humpback whale
Humpback Whale
The humpback whale is a species of baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from and weigh approximately . The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with unusually long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. It is an acrobatic animal, often breaching and slapping the...
as she journeys to her northern feeding grounds. We are with her at the birth to her first calf, and along her journey we meet other creatures of the deep who have their own problems to contend with. Ocean World premiered at the Royal Festival Hall by the choir and musicians of St. Augustine’s RC High School and was narrated by Sir David Attenborough. A television version, currently available from WWF-UK, was made and transmitted in 1991 as part of Channel 4’s Fragile Earth series. The work follows the same pattern as their previous WWF commissions, and is a 90-minute work for chorus, soloists, narrator and stage band.
Peter and Anne are also known for writing work with a Christian message. In 1987, they were commissioned to write a Harvest Festival Anthem - "Care for your World" which was performed on BBC's Songs of Praise
Songs of Praise
Songs of Praise is a BBC Television programme based around traditional Christian hymns. It is a widely watched and long-running religious television programme, one of the few peak-time free-to-air religious programmes in Europe Songs of Praise is a BBC Television programme based around traditional...
. Two years later, in March 1989 their hymns were featured in a Daily Service on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
.
Peter and Anne didn’t collaborate after this until 1996, with the publication of their hymn book Hymns for a Caring World, and their fourth WWF-UK commission Arabica, inspired by a conference Anne attended about world economics. Arabica is a musical about the coffee industry and the people that are involved in the growing, producing and selling of it. This was premiered at the Queen Elizabeth Hall
Queen Elizabeth Hall
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is a music venue on the South Bank in London, United Kingdom that hosts daily classical, jazz, and avant-garde music and dance performances. The QEH forms part of Southbank Centre arts complex and stands alongside the Royal Festival Hall, which was built for the Festival...
, London by the choir and musicians of St. Augustine’s RC High School and narrated by actor Burt Caesar. Arabica is arguably the most musically complex of their shows, and most controversial, and has never been broadcast.
There was question whether Peter and Anne would write another large-scale musical after Arabica, but in 2000 they wrote Song of Creation to celebrate the millennium. Song of Creation, unlike their WWF musicals, was written for the catholic charity CAFOD
CAFOD
The Catholic Agency For Overseas Development, previously known as the Catholic Fund for Overseas Development, is a United Kingdom-based international aid agency working to alleviate poverty and suffering in developing. It is funded by the Catholic community in England and Wales, the UK government...
, and premiered at the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
, London. However, they kept their regular blueprint of writing for chorus, soloists, narrator and stage band. The original production of Song of Creation was narrated by Mary Miller, who also narrated their African Jigsaw in 1986.
By contrast to their WWF musicals, Song of Creation has no story as such, yet explores the wonders of creation and of human initiative, at the same time addressing the question of human responsibility for this human drive. Effectively, Peter Rose and Anne Conlon’s latest work completes their cycle of environmental musicals by exploring the whole of the world in which we live; the natural balances that occur (which are also explored particularly in Yanomamo with regards to the Rainforest), and the linking together of Western and Developing cultures (which is a theme that runs throughout their work, especially in African Jigsaw).
2009 saw premiers of two new works by Peter Rose and Anne Conlon. The first, commissioned by Children's International Voices of Enfield, is a smaller piece, Caledonian Shadows, and was performed in London on Sunday 15 March. The second work is a full-length WWF-Commission, One Sun, One World and was performed at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
at the end of the year.
External links
- http://www.roseconlonmusic.co.uk
- http://www.josef-weinberger.com/weinberger/rep/afrjig.html