In July 2018, 15 of the North West’s most exciting up-and-coming artists came together to create new music with James Redwood and John Barber from experimental avant-pop band Firefly Burning.
From the life of a whale to the black winged moths of Manchester, the group took inspiration from the incredible collections at Manchester Museum to create six original tracks in just five days.
For the final show they were joined by the full Firefly Burning 5-piece for an intimate show in the magical setting of the Living Worlds and Nature's Library.
"I learnt new ways of making music that had never even crossed my mind before. This has allowed me to be more creative in my solo work. I’ve already seen the improvement between songs I wrote before vs. after the residency."
Anna Korbel, multi-instrumentalist
Have a listen
Press play on the music created on Music at the Museum.
About the tracks
Storm Shattered
Inspired by the museum's collection of Scrimshaw, this piece explores the whaling industry, through the eyes of the whalers and the whales.
Bones of a Whale’s Tale
There is a whale skeleton hanging above you in the Living Worlds and Nature's Library. This song tells its story. How had he gotten to the museum? What is he feeling? We can only guess...
Mummify the Earth
Written thinking about human destruction and Earth's decay. This tune questions the role of a museum, and our relationship with the past and the future.
Cosmic Rift
A piece that plays with rhythm in interplanetary ways.
Mothsong
Inspired by the story of the black winged moths in Manchester that evolved to have white wings after the Clean Air Act caused all the surfaces they hide on to lighten. Mothsong follows the journey of a moth through the harsh and aggressive industrial revolution into a time of fresh air, peace and quiet.
Living Worlds
A riff-based piece that plays with phasing techniques to make euphoric pulsing textures.
"It was so liberating to have a week to create music for the sake of creating music and enjoying ourselves."
Georgia Gage from indie-folk band The Deep Blue
James Redwood conducting
Credits
A huge thanks and congratulations to the artists:
Adee Lifshitz, Andy Adams, Anna Korbel, Arthur Hutchinson, Billy Graham, Bonnie Schwartz, Eddie McAlpine, George Garside, Georgia Gage, Kieran Murphy, Maisie Murray, Molly Sunderland, Nadia Eskandari, Pete Shaw and Sam Baxter.
With thanks to:
James Redwood, John Barber, Sam Glazer, Jack Ross and Bea Hankey (Firefly Burning).
Photos by Perry Brandon Leach.
Film by Slant Media.
Music at the Museum was kindly supported by Manchester Museum, Youth Music, Arts Council England, GMCA and Manchester City Council.
