PROJECTS AND COMMISSIONS
Some examples of recent commissions are featured below. For more information or to enquire about commissions and projects, email Aidan on contact[a]aidanjolly.com.
For more examples of project work, look at the archives.
RIDGE HILL - A Peoples' History (2008)
Produced with artist Sophie Mackreth. An oral history project that looks at the heritage of Ridge Hill, an estate just north of the town of Stalybridge – this is now available as an interactive DVD and book. The people of the estate tell the story of the area in their own words, and both book and DVD link in with a local heritage trail. The area is famous for, amongst other things, the Stalybridge Old Band (founded in 1809), and a number of radical dialect poets such as Samuel Laycock and Sam Hill. It also has (probably) the oldest Working Men's Institute in the country (1861). No wonder people are proud of living there...copies of the DVD and book are available - please email me for details.
Cross Your Heart (2008)
In 2008 I toured as the Musical Director, Song Writer/Composer and Musician for ‘Cross Your Heart', by Janys Chambers. This play, commissioned by the Cheshire Rural Touring Network used the same techniques as ‘The Maize Field’ to portray the lives and concerns of young people living in the less glamourous parts of Cheshire. A group of young people were fully involved in developing all aspects of the production. The process was documented by film maker Lucia Cuevas, and will soon be available on DVD.
On Common Ground (2007)
In 2007 Aidan was the musical director and composer for the Community Play 'On Common Ground'. Written by Caroline Small, directed by Phil Coggins, and devised by more than 20 local people, it told the story of the 1932 Kinder Mass Trespass and examined its relevance to modern issues of land use around the world. It was performed in New Mills Arts Theatre in June 2007, with live music from a nine piece band.The project was commissioned by the Kinder Trespass 75 committee and managed by High Peak Community Arts, and was featured on BBC1 (Countryfile) and BBC Radio 4 (Open Country).
The Grindleford Audio Trail (2007)
Commissioned by Moors For The Future, this 25 minute audio trail explores the geology and industrial archeaology in sound, story, poem and song, of a beautiful part of the Peak District near Sheffield. It was recommended in the Guardian newspaper's Great Outdoors guide, and can be downloaded FREE from: www.moorsforthefuture.org.uk/mftf/audio_trails/grindleford.htm
to hear a brief excerpt click here: Ghost Of A River (Excerpt) (912KB)
Dandelion (2007)
Dandelion is an 'illustrated song cycle' on DVD that grew from a project with the Wear Purple Arts Project in Cheshire. Created with film-maker Heather James and musician on placement Dave Dove, the DVD contains six 'songs of experience' mixed with elders talking about work, changing values in society, the relationship between young and old, marriage, the changing role of women and the meaning of memory as you grow older. It includes guest performances from Jilah Bakhshayesh and Lis Murphy.
to hear a brief excerpt click here: Punch And Judy (excerpt) (1.19Mb)
The War Road - young people talk to survivors of wars (2006)
The War Road is a collaboration with year 9 students at Glossopdale
College in the High Peak of Derbyshire. Over six months Aidan and the students worked together, researching the subject, learning how to interview people, and then turning the interviews into songs. These were woven together with the edited interviews to create an impressionistic account of the experience of warfare, seen from many different view points.The students asked some fundamental questions - what are the underlying causes of wars? What are the costs of wars? Can war ever be fought for just reasons? And most importantly, how can we turn away from the War Road? The songs include veterans singing popular soldiers' songs, and a collaboration with Jean from Manchester based Congolese band Britannia Rumba - to hear a brief excerpt click here: Diamonds and Blood (excerpt) (1Mb)
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