A musical journey across the globe
The score, composed by Bournemouth resident and Music Hub partner, Stefan Defilet, was specially commissioned as the centrepiece event for the anniversary. Drawing on the Jules Verne novel as inspiration the message is one of hope communicated through the international language of music and the friendships it can create.
Arranged for instrumentalists of all abilities the score, centred around a recurring musical motif, transports the players and the audience on an epic musical journey embarking from the British Isles, and featuring ‘stopovers’ in Spain, the Balkans, Senegal, Israel, China and India, before arriving at its final destination in Latin America to bring the show to a carnival-style finale.
During the creative process Stefan undertook to consult with, and work alongside musicians either from or familiar with the musical traditions of the areas visited. The score shifts in emphasis and dynamics across the 8 movements, from Celtic jigs and Klezmer rhythms to the Balearic pulse of Spain, communicating musical moods that shift seamlessly from the reflective to the triumphant as the journey concludes.
Each movement lasts around 9 minutes totalling a show time of approximately 85 mins, performed in two parts with a 30-minute interval. The performance will be conducted by Lee Marchant and will also feature members of the Westbourne Orchestra, which Stefan leads.
On the evening of the 12th of July, the orchestra will be joined on stage by guest musicians, some of whom worked with the composer to develop the score. They include Ricky Romain and Udit Pankhania performing a tabla and sitar duet, Josh Doughty on the kora with Cheikh Diop on djembes, Royal College undergraduate Lon Fon on the enchanting gaohu, and local musicians Mike Potts taking principal trumpet, and John Edwards on classical guitar.