Ex-rocker's purple passion (From The Northern Echo)
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Ex-rocker's purple passion
9:19am Saturday 20th October 2007 in Search
CITY PREMIERE: Jon Lord during rehearsals for tonigh's performance, in Durham Cathedral
THE world premiere of a piece of classical music written by an international rock star is being held in the North-East today.
Durham Concerto was created by Deep Purple's former keyboard player, Jon Lord, to promote Durham and its university around the world.
It will be performed by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra to an audience of 800 in Durham Cathedral.
The event, one of the highlights of Durham University's 175th anniversary celebrations, is being recorded for broadcast by the radio station Classic FM.
The concerto paints a musical picture of a day in the life of Durham, and has seven movements with musical influences including jazz, ragtime, rock, and even Northumbrian folk music, featuring an old miners' lament.
Lord, 65, has written acclaimed classical music pieces throughout his career and describes this musical genre as his first love.
He first visited Durham when commissioned for the project six years ago, after leaving Deep Purple to take up classical music composition full time.
He said: "When I first visited Durham, I was hugely impressed with all aspects of the city, especially the cathedral and the castle college, where the students live, eat and sleep.
"I view myself as a painter of pictures, and I have given a very personal, idealised view of Durham in this piece.
"Durham spoke to me very strongly, and I just hope some of the passion I felt for the city and its wonderful cathedral will come across."
Lord is one of four soloists at the premiere, and will play the Hammond organ. Others include Northumbrian pipe player Kathryn Tickell.
A CD has been recorded and will be available online soon, and in the shops in January.
University Chancellor, the writer Bill Bryson, has described the concerto as "terribly exciting, not just for the university but for music fans everywhere".
Durham University vice-chancellor, Professor Chris Higgins, is a Durham graduate who trained as a classical violinist before taking up an academic career.
He said: "The Durham Concerto captures everything that is special about Durham and the university - the heritage of scholarship and education, sense of community and place, and long musical traditions.
"It is a fitting celebration for our 175th anniversary which can be shared by music lovers around the world."
