Free Range Orchestra
Evolution
These new Free Range Orchestra pieces were recorded between September 2022, and January 2023 during live performances in Canterbury, Kent. Instruments and voices including standard brass, woodwind and strings as well as two theremins, laptops, found objects, and an electronium have been recorded using various setups in differing spaces, from coffee shop to concert hall.
Featuring 28 different players, these final mixes capture the feel of the live performances, and air shades of the orchestra's evolution.
The title of the album, and much of the progression you will hear through these works, represents fresh ways of listening and responding, developed in part within a workshop led by Maggie Nicols in November 2022.
Although not regular FRO players, we
Connections
The Free-Range Orchestra is a collective of musicians, dancers, and poets with a shared love of improvisation and experimentation that evolved from Canterbury’s award-winning Free-Range series of adventurous music and combined arts events.
FRO performances combine the uncompromisingly anarchic with a celebration of creativity and community. The orchestra meets regularly and have performed at festivals and venues across Kent, including Turner Contemporary, WinterSound (CCCU), Profound Sound and Folkestone Triennial.
Connections was recorded in two sessions at the Colyer-Fergusson Hall at the University of Kent. The first was in May 2021 with pieces directed by David Leahy, Anna Braithwaite. The second, in July 2021 to a full house public performance with special guest Evan Parker(saxes). These events were made possible by grant funding from the Arts Council England.
Performers:
Anna Braithwaite: voice
Dan Herbert: laptop
Daniel Cano: trumpet
David Leahy: double bass
Jack Hues: electric guitar
Johanne-Bryce Hodgson: electronics/saw/voice
Kat Peddie: voice/poetry
Kit Slawson: percussion
Lawrence Fletcher: bass clarinet
Maureen Wolloshin: oboe/cor anglais
Murray Smith: bass guitar
Nadia Bailey: violin
Neil Sloman: tenor sax
Panos Ghikas: viola/electronics
Paul Cheneour: flutes
Peter Cook: alto sax
Richard Armstrong-Sealand: theremin
Sean Williams: modular synth
Sam Bailey: keyboard
Tim Long: objects/voice
Tim Slawson: tenor sax
William Burrows: voice/electronics
Will Glanfield: alto clarinet
Special Guest: Evan Parker Saxophones
Recorded live at: Colyer-Fergusson Hall
Recordists: Sean Williams & Dan Herbert
Production: Sean Williams & Paul Cheneour
Editing, mixing, mastering: Sean Williams Studios
Artwork & Design: Russell Burden
have included Maggie's duet with Tim Fletcher (playing Lol Coxhill's Cracklebox) allowing Maggie's voice to be heard in all its clarity.All the music was improvised in the moment except for initial structure for two pieces.
1. Vula Viel support: Arrival
Venue: Fruitworks Co-working, 29th September 2022
William Burroughs, Sean Williams, Neil Sloman, Daniel Cano, Paul Cheneour, Anna
Braithwaite, Daniel Herbert, Johane-Bryce Hodgson, Murray Smith, Kat Peddie, Peter Cook,
Lawrence Fletcher, Richard Armstrong-Cripps
2. Vula Viel support: Departure
As above
3. Maggie Nicols small group A
Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Concert Hall, 19th November 2022
Maggie Nicols, Anna Braithwaite, Eleanor Mountford, Tim Armstrong, Peter Cook, Paul
Cheneour, Cassie de St Croix and Amy Haynes
4. Maggie Nicols small group B
Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Concert Hall, 19th November 2022
Jack Hues, Tim Long, Daniel Cano, Daniel Herbert, Neil Sloman, Sean Williams
5. Maggie & Tim
Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Concert Hall, 19th November 2022
Maggie Nicols, Tim Fletcher duo
6. Wintersound 2023
Venue: St Gregory's Centre for Music, 21st January 2023
Nadia Bailey, Sean Williams, Neil Sloman, Paul Cheneour, Maureen Wolloshin, Daniel Herbert,
Anna Braithwaite, Murray Smith, Kat Peddie, Peter Cook, Roddy Skeaping, Kristin
Fredericksson, Panos Ghikas, Tim Long, Eleanor Mountford, Craig Gell, Nick Wyver, Tim
Armstrong, Les Wilson
1. Vula Viel support: Arrival 7:54
2. Vula Viel support: Departure 14:56
3. Maggie Nicols small group A 3:23
4. Maggie Nicols small group B 5:18
5. Maggie & Tim 3:37
6. Wintersound 2023 25:13
Total Time: 60: 35
1-2 recorded by Sam Bailey, 3-6 recorded by Sean Williams.
Mixed and mastered by Sean Williams.