The Federation of Children’s Book Groups celebrated their Eleanor Farjeon award in spectacular style on November 9th, with a unique one-day festival at the Birmingham Conservatoire of Music.
David Almond, the latest recipient of the same award, started the day, and other authors appearing were no less starry: Michael Morpurgo and Emma Chichester-Clark! It was a very busy day, but I was very glad to renew my acquaintance with David, who very graciously found time to sit in on one of my events, and to chat afterwards. As for the others, I had to content myself with merely being in the same building… there was no time to find them!
In the morning there was a two hour workshop with 20 children, based on the idea of painting to music. To facilitate this, 7 musicians, and a conductor, were provided by the conservatoire to perform Britten’s suite from The Sword in the Stone (after the classic King Arthur book by T. H. White).
The Merlyn Ensemble, as I christened them, were just wonderful, playing and repeating sections of the suite during the workshop, so the children could become familiar with the enchanting music. I explained the story to give them a context and provided materials so they could paint and draw.
Afterwards, we had to prepare for a public concert!
The concert took place in the Adrian Boult Hall (named after the famous conductor). I read extracts from the book, and painted six sketches to go with the named sections of the suite. This was quite a challange as each only lasts a minute or two, some only a few seconds!
Afterwards, the morning students came on stage and bravely painted collaboratively during a second performance of the suite (without readings this time).
They did a wonderful job, and the audience thoroughly enjoyed their illustrative talents, as well as Dan the conductor and the Merlyn Ensemble. I am so gratefulto them, the participating children, and the wonderful Federation for their help and support, especially Zoe Toft (see her website, Playing by the Book: http://www.playingbythebook.net/), who first invited me.
It was a magical day that Merlyn himself would have been pleased with and a great way to celebrate The Farjeon Award and Britten’s centenary, which falls this month.
There’s more Britten to follow – my final event this year is on Britten’s actual 100th birthday, when I’ll be in London with the Docklands Sinfonia, painting along to the Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes and offering one final performance of my illustrated Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. That’s November 22nd and tickets can be bought here: http://www.docklandssinfonia.co.uk/concerts
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