Labels sets to music the words on intriguing and distinctive labels placed next to objects in galleries and museums including, so far, the Wallace Collection, British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum and the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
The starting point for each piece of music is the text on an object’s label rather than the actual object itself. Seeking interesting texts to set to music Jonathan is often led into forgotten corners of museums and towards lesser known gems as well as to more celebrated and famous works of art.
Labels reveals the worlds of both creators and curators in a new and absorbing way, allowing us to contemplate objects differently and in more detail than we ordinarily might.
The recordings were made with Kevin Walton on vocals and the composer on piano in the summer of 2013. Engineered and produced by Simon Wallace.
Samples
Hercules. The Wallace Collection. Box wood. Signed by Francesco di Giacomo da Sant' Agata.
The Smokers. David Teniers, the Younger. 1644.
Musical Clock. Design attributed to J C Duplessis.
Panel from a Painted Wall from The British Museum, London. Roman. c. 30 BC.
Human Headed Wingèd Bull and Protective Spirit.Assyrian, c. 710-705 BC.
Stephen Croft, Junior Sir Joshua Reynolds. 1723 - 1792
Garuda, the Devourer. 1800s. Nepal.
A Young Lady Holding a Pug Dog Mid 1740s. Oil on canvas. François Boucher.
Mrs Codrington. C. 1865. Albumen print. Camille Silvy.
Iron Strongbox. The Victoria and Albert Museum, London. 1500 - 1520. Southern Netherlands.
Toilet Service. Designed and made 1925 -1929 by John Paul Cooper.