In My CD Case: Gavin Fitzpatrick

In my CD case...

April 27th 2002: Gavin Fitzpatrick
Second in the series: Gavin Fitzpatrick has danced with Scottish Ballet, ENB, Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, created the role of Marley in Christopher Hampson's A Christmas Carol, and is currently appearing in ENB's Swan Lake. A keen guitarist and composer, Gavin presents the musical inspirations in his CD case...

CD: Instrumental
Artist: Nick Harper
Sangral: Cat No.SGCD099

I was recently asked by Daniel Jones at English National Ballet to write a piece of music for his new choreography. I suggested something folk-orientated, but as it has been done to death, and the fact that I'm not a folk guitarist, could I do it in a different way (could I blag it more like!!). This CD was already a favourite of mine and I could use this project as a flimsy excuse just to play it to death. It's filled with beautifully crafted instrumental songs for one guitar; it does take its roots from folk but it's more orchestral in structure. There's also one vocal song on the end called Instrumental ! So, using these structures as a key to what I heard in my head for dance I set about writing...

CD: An introduction to...Bert Jansch
Artist: Bert Jansch
Castle Pie: Cat No.PIESD270

To create the sounds I wanted I had to learn a new technique, that of finger picking. Oooerrr. I'm more of a plucky kinda guy really. This CD was great in helping me learn the technique because not only is it littered with complicated, original picking styles and weird tunings, it's also largely in odd time signatures. Plus, it's just a great collection of songs from a folk genius. (Another flimsy excuse!!)

CD: The Great Ballets
Composer: Stravinsky
Phillips Cat No.438 350-2

This CD contains Firebird, Petrushka, Rite of Spring AND Apollo!! What more could you ask for? I've always loved Firebird and as I'm a lover of strange time signatures he is the man. Oh yes. I've only danced one of the pieces, and that was Rite of Spring (MacMillan). Fantastic to be on stage with all that sound, I think Black Sabbath would be envious of the darkness and heaviness of it! There isn't much funkier than the Infernal dance of all Kashchei's subjects from Firebird and those fat chords in Apollo are just too much!!

CD: Welcome to Sky Valley
Artist: Kyuss
Elektra: Cat No.61571-2

A CD bought in Australia when on tour with ENB and used much since. A quite heavy but ingenious mix of discordant rock, searing melodies, aggression and great song writing. I'm a big fan of guitarist and writer Josh Homme: he's prolific to say the least, with up to 3 bands touring, writing and releasing at once! Very versatile as well, with some of the best pop tunes I've heard for a long time. I carry my Mini-disc everywhere with me, and this is the one that's often in there when warming up for class or performance.

CD: Happy Sad
Artist: Tim Buckley
Elektra: Cat No.7559-74045-2

Used for the opposite reasons as Kyuss, this CD is beautiful for relaxing and calming down after a show or when trying to snooze at the end of the day. A folk troubadour from the 60's, very influenced by freeform jazz and the Avant Garde. He had a wonderful voice which could go off on melodic tangents that were just mind boggling, sometimes as if he were singing in tongues, others almost like a mantra. Wonderful stuff that has been everywhere with me. Sadly Tim Buckley died at a young age with this and Starsailor being his best works.

CD: Blues Breakers
Artist: John Mayall with Eric Clapton
Deram: Cat No.800 086-2

I suppose the reason I started playing the guitar, way back in the day, was Eric Clapton. My dad gave me The Yarbirds and Cream when I was about 8 or 9, and for a long time I didn't listen to anything else until I got my hands on this. White boy blues at its very, very best. I think at one point I knew it just about note for note, but I would always prefer to listen to it rather than play it. To me it was never so much the notes that were played with this sort of music, but the way they were played. I remember having trouble distinguishing between the guitar sound of Clapton and what I thought was a voice, it is so earthy and rich. So, as I can't sing and would dearly love to be able to, this is the blueprint to what I want to make a guitar sound like. Something like that anyway!

CD: Grace
Artist: Jeff Buckley
Colombia: Cat No.465928 2

Son of Tim with an astounding voice. This CD and this artist, to me, conjures up everything that I have said about the above silver discs. As near to perfect as you can get. Enough said.

Last updated Saturday, April 27, 2002 6:12 PM

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In My CD Case... is an occasional feature where dance teachers, choreographers and others open their vinyl CD cases, spill the contents, and say why they simply wouldn't be without what's in there. Master Index More CD cases: Gavin Fitzpatrick Cassa Pancho Your Name Could Be Here: If you'd like to contribute to In My CD Case, write to cd@jsmusic.org.uk	In my CD case...
	April 27th 2002: Gavin Fitzpatrick Second in the series: Gavin Fitzpatrick has danced with Scottish Ballet, ENB, Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, created the role of Marley in Christopher Hampson's A Christmas Carol, and is currently appearing in ENB's Swan Lake. A keen guitarist and composer, Gavin presents the musical inspirations in his CD case... CD: Instrumental Artist: Nick Harper Sangral: Cat No.SGCD099 I was recently asked by Daniel Jones at English National Ballet to write a piece of music for his new choreography. I suggested something folk-orientated, but as it has been done to death, and the fact that I'm not a folk guitarist, could I do it in a different way (could I blag it more like!!). This CD was already a favourite of mine and I could use this project as a flimsy excuse just to play it to death. It's filled with beautifully crafted instrumental songs for one guitar; it does take its roots from folk but it's more orchestral in structure. There's also one vocal song on the end called Instrumental ! So, using these structures as a key to what I heard in my head for dance I set about writing... CD: An introduction to...Bert Jansch Artist: Bert Jansch Castle Pie: Cat No.PIESD270 To create the sounds I wanted I had to learn a new technique, that of finger picking. Oooerrr. I'm more of a plucky kinda guy really. This CD was great in helping me learn the technique because not only is it littered with complicated, original picking styles and weird tunings, it's also largely in odd time signatures. Plus, it's just a great collection of songs from a folk genius. (Another flimsy excuse!!) CD: The Great Ballets Composer: Stravinsky Phillips Cat No.438 350-2 This CD contains Firebird, Petrushka, Rite of Spring AND Apollo!! What more could you ask for? I've always loved Firebird and as I'm a lover of strange time signatures he is the man. Oh yes. I've only danced one of the pieces, and that was Rite of Spring (MacMillan). Fantastic to be on stage with all that sound, I think Black Sabbath would be envious of the darkness and heaviness of it! There isn't much funkier than the Infernal dance of all Kashchei's subjects from Firebird and those fat chords in Apollo are just too much!! CD: Welcome to Sky Valley Artist: Kyuss Elektra: Cat No.61571-2 A CD bought in Australia when on tour with ENB and used much since. A quite heavy but ingenious mix of discordant rock, searing melodies, aggression and great song writing. I'm a big fan of guitarist and writer Josh Homme: he's prolific to say the least, with up to 3 bands touring, writing and releasing at once! Very versatile as well, with some of the best pop tunes I've heard for a long time. I carry my Mini-disc everywhere with me, and this is the one that's often in there when warming up for class or performance. CD: Happy Sad Artist: Tim Buckley Elektra: Cat No.7559-74045-2 Used for the opposite reasons as Kyuss, this CD is beautiful for relaxing and calming down after a show or when trying to snooze at the end of the day. A folk troubadour from the 60's, very influenced by freeform jazz and the Avant Garde. He had a wonderful voice which could go off on melodic tangents that were just mind boggling, sometimes as if he were singing in tongues, others almost like a mantra. Wonderful stuff that has been everywhere with me. Sadly Tim Buckley died at a young age with this and Starsailor being his best works. CD: Blues Breakers Artist: John Mayall with Eric Clapton Deram: Cat No.800 086-2 I suppose the reason I started playing the guitar, way back in the day, was Eric Clapton. My dad gave me The Yarbirds and Cream when I was about 8 or 9, and for a long time I didn't listen to anything else until I got my hands on this. White boy blues at its very, very best. I think at one point I knew it just about note for note, but I would always prefer to listen to it rather than play it. To me it was never so much the notes that were played with this sort of music, but the way they were played. I remember having trouble distinguishing between the guitar sound of Clapton and what I thought was a voice, it is so earthy and rich. So, as I can't sing and would dearly love to be able to, this is the blueprint to what I want to make a guitar sound like. Something like that anyway! CD: Grace Artist: Jeff Buckley Colombia: Cat No.465928 2 Son of Tim with an astounding voice. This CD and this artist, to me, conjures up everything that I have said about the above silver discs. As near to perfect as you can get. Enough said. © Gavin Fitzpatrick April 2002 Last updated Saturday, April 27, 2002 6:12 PM