Johnny Parry Chamber Orchestra
‘An Anthology of All Things’
Released TBC
Lost Toys Records
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“An artist with a distinctive vision, realised by a sprawling orchestra” The Independent
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“Spectacular!” Time Out
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“Orchestral manoeuvres with a darkly experimental twist” Uncut
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“Intoxicating, complex, cinematic music that builds intricate landscapes of sound” Mojo
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“Entrancing, enchanting and at moments truly exquisite” Clash
‘An Anthology of All Things’ is a project that is as ambitious as it is unconventional. It’s
magnificent, masterful and sweepingly heart-warming and performs a velvety emotional cut and
paste approach. It dares to be huge and expansive but retains a deeply personal core which
carries the intimate, often evocative thoughts and statements that are at times uncomfortable,
innocent, whimsical and on occasions playfully risqué.
An overwhelmingly inviting choral record, Bedford-based composer Johnny Parry brings together
his highly accomplished Chamber Orchestra with Soprano Donna Lennard and the Bedford Arts
Choir for a captivating small town experience that has a far wider resonance.
It is an engaging piece of music that glides through varying emotions whilst drawing in a wide
spectrum of human experiences from the local community. This Saxon town in the East of England
provided the lyrical inspiration for the eight movements on the album; each movement has its own
theme ranging from self appreciation to memories, romance and youthful boundary defiance.
The concept was brought together through a commission by the Bedford Creative Arts which gave
him the opportunity to engage with the local residents and thus forming the Bedford Arts Choir for
a monumental performance of the work in 2012.
All lyrics were donations from the public; these unique responses were collated and pieced
together with the rich and emotive sound of the Johnny Parry Chamber Orchestra which darts from
feelings of desolation, joyousness and commanding dramatic surges. Movement I – Things I Like
About Myself playfully joins the dots from the happiness of the physical body shape and stature to
a blessed voice and the always impressive ability to touch your nose with your tongue - this sets
the scene and tone for the direction the album decides to go in.
Movement II – A Song For Someone consists of individual lines taken from local musicians and
poets which mention people’s names. Taking inspiration from local schools and playgroups
Movement III – Childhood Heroes is a surreal and entertaining journey through an imagination with
no limitations which starkly contrasts to the sometimes harrowing Movement IV – 1942 which
collects memories from the year 1942; rationing, bombs, fire and cake create a very vivid mental
picture of a previous lifetime.
Movement V – Park Benches is both novel and touching and is based around dedications found on
park benches dotted around beauty spots and parks. From the poetic to the cliché and the bizarre
to the racy, all of these make up the endearing Movement VI – Romantic Statement.; Did it hurt
when you fell from heaven? I’m The Emu, you are my Hull! I miss you like the ground! How do you
like your eggs in the morning? All make up this wonderfully warm 9 minute epic.
Movement VII – Enduring Memories From A Film deals with the recollections to those enduring
bite sized incidents from film – removing characters and specifics and only leaving the moment to
describe and finally Movement VIII – Pilgrimage. This reduces down to the mundane basics of
travelling to purely the beginning, the destination and the mode of transport which results in a
powerfully epic finale to the record.
Performed with a 24 piece orchestra and 61 piece choir it shows the ambition of Johnny Parry after
2012s acclaimed ‘Fields & Birds & Things’. An arranger, producer and founder of Lost Toys
Records he has previously played with Mercury prize winner Talvin Singh, revered artist Michael
Nyman, Turner prize winner Martin Creed, Brit winner Beth Orton and BBC Jazz Award winner
Seb Rochford.
For all print enquiries, contact Duncan Clark and Jenna Jones. For online, contact Lee
Puddefoot: duncan@9pr.co.uk / jenna@9pr.co.uk / lee@9pr.co.uk 0207 833 9303
www.johnnyparry.com