Songs of Hope, Wild Woodberry, Inside Out Festival

Songs of Hope audio sound walk, located at Wild Woodbury, Bere Regis. Inside Out festival 20 - 24th September 2023. A song cycle of hope located within a field recorded and sonically manipulated soundscape, including words, songs and music. Contemporary writers have responded to the poem “Hope" is the thing with Feathers by Emily Dickinson. Laura has set the words for voices, piano, instruments and pre-recorded sounds. These musical echoes are presented in an audio walk. Free to access by mobile phone and headphones in specific locations using GPS location software echoes xyz.com (software to be downloaded in advance). The walk will take 40 - 50 minutes. It will be available to access via mobile devices for the duration of the festival. A repeated loop version is available near the wooden carvings at the entrance to the site. Featuring soprano Gweneth Ann Rand and piano by Allyson Devenish. Music by Laura Reid. Words: Ahed Al Hamwi, Katie Colombus, Oge Nwosu, Teresa Howard. Responses to the poem range from the personification of Hope by Ahed Al Hamwi, optimistic reflections recalling images of nature by Teresa Howard and Katie Colombus, to stark realities of sustaining hope in challenging circumstances by Oge Nwosu. Each one has a unique perspective. Age Rating: All ages, but mostly adults. Content Advisory: to see content advisories for Tête à Tête: The Opera Festival 2023 shows, click here. Laura is generously supported by PRS Foundation Composers’ fund.

Produced by Laura Reid