Saturday 1 November 2014

LEAP OF DEATH


The 'LEAP OF DEATH' limited edition bookwork/LP is now available for purchase!


It can be ordered at the LEAP OF DEATH project webpage: www.robertstillman.com/leapofdeath.

You can also see/hear the work in digital form here, and link to a free download of the music.

Please see below for project info.

The film 4 Devils was released in 1928 by Fox Film Corporation. Directed by F.W. Murnau (Sunrise, Nosferatu), the circus-themed melodrama was a full-fledged Hollywood production of the late silent era. After its release, the film disappeared, and remains 'lost' to this day. 

85 years later, composer Robert Stillman, writer/printmaker Anna Fewster, and bookbinder Sarah Bryant conjure 4 Devils back into existence with 'Leap of Death', a limited edition bookwork/LP that resurrects the lost film as 'imaginary fragments' of original music, image, and text. 

Drawing inspiration from existing 4 Devils archive materials such as scripts, production stills, and promotional matter, as well as from Les Quatre Diables, the 1890 Herman Bang novella upon which the film script was based, Stillman, Fewster, and Bryant's work reconstitutes the 4 Devils narrative as an impressionistic 'atmosphere' of black-and-white trace monotype images, letterpress text, and through composed music, inviting an interpretive, non-linear experience of Murnau's story-world. 

The bookwork/LP is available in a limited edition of 50 numbered copies, each consisting of one vinyl LP, six booklets, and three posters, collected in a clothbound enclosure.






Leap Bookwork Movie from Robert Stillman on Vimeo.




Friday 9 May 2014

Leap of Death Launch




Many thanks to everyone who participated in the LEAP OF DEATH launch event Tuesday night, and to Sounds New, Arts Council England, and Canterbury Christ Church University for supporting the project. 


The Archaic Future Players: James Maddren, Kit Downes, Theon Cross, Magnus Dearness, Nick Malcolm, Robert Stillman

Thursday 10 April 2014

LEAP OF DEATH bookwork/LP

Work on the LEAP OF DEATH bookwork/LP is in full swing in preparation for the launch event on 6th May at Sounds New festival. Here are some images of work in progress from Anna Fewster's twitter and Sarah Bryant's blog






Sunday 23 March 2014

'Leap of Death'


Much of my past year has been devoted to a project called 'LEAP OF DEATH'- it's a collaboration with printer Anna Fewster and book artist Sarah Bryant, creating a limited edition bookwork/LP in response to the 'lost' 1928 film '4 Devils'. We've been drawing inspiration from the mysterious, fragmented archival remnants of this film (production stills, promotional material, film scripts, etc.) to create an 'impressionistic reconstruction' of its narrative using original music, imagery, and text. 
On 6th May 2014 we will launch the project as part of the Sounds New Contemporary Music Festival. The event will include a performance of 'Leap of Death' by the Archaic Future Players (RS, saxophone; Kit Downes, organ; Nick Malcolm, trumpet; Magnus Dearness, trombone; Theon Cross, tuba; Sean Carpio, drums). The music will be augmented by projections of text and imagery from the bookwork. Before the performance, film scholar Michael Lawrence (Sussex University) will give a short talk. Copies of the bookwork/LP will be on display, and there will be refreshments. 

Click HERE for tickets to the launch event. 

The day before the concert, there will be a printing/bookbinding workshop led by Anna and Sarah at the Sidney Cooper gallery. Click HERE for info and to book a place. 





Sunday 16 February 2014

Winter Light

This week end I'm at the Model art centre in Sligo, Ireland,  participating in a collaborative recording project with artist Mark Garry's as part of his residency there. 

He asked a group of musicians, including  me, Sean Carpio, Eileen Carpio, Karl Him, Nina Hynes, Fabien Leseure, Cillian Murphy Padraig Murphy, Oliver Alcorn, to respond musically to themes in his exhibition, called "A Winter Light". We have been composing and recording in the Model's studio, and will share the work in progress in an open rehearsal Saturday. 

The show is up until April 20th. 



Monday 20 January 2014

DLWP Performance

I'll be playing a one-man band set (with film projections) this Saturday at the De La Warr Pavillion in Bexhill as part of their bi-monthly 'Dear Serge' event, which features lots music, performance, art, and DJs...should be a great day out.

more details HERE
 

Wednesday 15 January 2014

BROADSTAIRS





A while back I told composer Chris Weisman I'd start playing saxophone again if he wrote me something to play- and he sure did- a suite of 18 pieces called 'Broadstairs', written using his 'Nonmusical Patterns'.

I'll be performing the first half of the suite tomorrow at a Free Range event called 'Singles Night'. Second half soon to follow.