The Uses of Poetry
The Uses of Poetry is a suite of Poemusic - an original blend of poetry and music of significant variety. In style it could be called 'English World Music' - poetry performance, not performance poetry.
The suite is a narrative, like a movie in sound. It illustrates why and how poetry gets written - the uses of poetry from the poet's viewpoint - and what the important influences are. The narrative contains this within a 'cycle' of writing, featuring centrally the story of a relationship with a muse, tracing how its impact beautifully deforms the profile and trajectory of the work.
The story is told 'in flashback' with the mood overall following the highs and lows of the relationship and the writing cycle. It is set in and around an intimate cabaret café but with other locations - the US Mid-West, Chicago, Florida and the English coast and countryside interpreted through memory. At the centre is a 'performance within a performance'.
The elements of Poemusic - read poetry, singing, music, narrative and ambient sounds twine like filaments to wire the charge and direction of the story.
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John Powls is a published poet with five books of his work in print. He is a regular performer of his work at major literary festivals and exhibitions in the UK and America, often working with musicians, painters and photographers. His work has been broadcast on TV and radio. This latest project – 'The Uses Of Poetry' - is a CD of 'poemusic' as a partner in 2050 with singer songwriter, Hilary Harwood.
Hilary Harwood began her performing career as a singer and actress , often in stage musicals. She worked as a session singer for the BBC has sung with a number of big bands and smaller jazz groups. She performed both as a soloist with guitar and fronted her own three piece ensemble. She has made many recordings over the years. As well as her strong track record as a performer she is a very successful as a songwriter . Her with her songs have having been covered by a number of major artists.
Alan Danson contributes a number of original compositions to 'The Uses Of Poetry' as well arranging Hilary's music, being musical director and co-producer of the CD. Alan studied horn, piano and orchestration at the Royal Academy of Music, London. His work as a composer and arranger spans the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC and London Fashion Week. His compositions, including jazz and works for chamber and full symphony orchestras, have premiered at the Purcell Room and Queen Elizabeth Hall and at Salzburg, Dartington and Edinburgh Festivals.
Click here to visit Alan's website.
Thomas Johansen 's work has involved artistes as diverse as R&B singer Kevin Lyttle, Faye Tozer of pop band Steps and rock group Wheatus as well as up and coming bands like "Boy Kill Boy" and "Special Needs". He also composes music for television. He records, mixes and masters at his Crouch Hill Studios in North London."