Special Projects

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1985 - 1989

 
1985
  FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD
by Thomas Hardy. Orchard Theatre. Adapted by Sally Hedges. Directed by Nigel Bryant.
Arranged and taught some traditional songs and dances and composed some songs in traditional style. Some recorded music, with self, recorder/flute, and oboe.
  THE IRISH RM
Channel Four TV Series. Based on the books by Somerville and Ros.
Contributed to the soundtrack of several episodes, playing in Irish squeezebox style music by Nick Bicat.
  MUSIC ALL THE WAY
BBC Radio 2. Produced by Ray Harvey.
Asked to form a special band to record segments for a weekly medley programme of all kinds of light popular music. Recorded ten items with acoustic lead instruments and rock rhythm section, all traditional tunes. The only folk music to have been featured in this series.
  SHROPSHIRE
Film for the British Tourist Association. Make by Priory Films.
Chose and performed traditional music and songs for this 20 minute travelogue.
  THE SHIP BUILDER
Edinburgh Community Project. Directed by Taffy Thomas.
MD'd this community version of Bob Pegg's song-drama, involving rehearsing and leading a five piece band, several amateur and professional singers and a children's choir, as well as accompanying the modern dance element in this production on the banks of the Firth of Forth in the open air.
  LOOKING NOSTALGIA SHOW
The Vic.
A compilation show of scenes and songs from 23 years of the Vic's productions. Directed by Peter Cheeseman and Chris Martin.
JK taught the actors and a Yorkshire sword dance.
   
1986
  MOBY DICK
by Herman Melville. Dramatised by Peter Terson. Orchard Theatre.
Directed by Nigel Bryant.

Arranged traditional sea songs and shanties for the cast and composed and recorded incidental music, with synthesiser effects.
  TWELFTH NIGHT
by William Shakespeare. Orchard Theatre. Directed by Nigel Bryant.
Composed completely original Greek-style melodies and incidental music. Partly performed live by the company, part recorded with saxophone and guitar.
  The New Victoria Theatre
The New Vic
opens in North Staffordshire. JK is the first person to step onto the stage at the opening ceremony.
  SOUTH SHROPSHIRE JUNIOR SCHOOLS MUSIC FESTIVAL
JK wrote 'The Arbor Tree Song' for the pupils of Hopesay School as their solo contribution. It's been sung every year since as part of the annual Tree Dressing Ceremony in Aston-on-Clun.
  SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER
by Oliver Goldsmith. Directed by Peter Cheeseman. The New Vic.
Arranged and rehearsed traditional country dances and songs, including danced scene changes, and recorded the music.
  A TRIP TO SCARBOROUGH
by Alan Ayckbourn. Directed by Peter Cheeseman. The New Vic.
Choreographed final dance, which had to pass from minuet to foxtrot to jiving.
 
1987
  FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD
by Thomas Hardy, dramatised by Sally Hedges. The New Vic. Directed by Chris Martin.
A reprise of the work for the 1985 production for Orchard Theatre. Choosing and teaching traditional songs, with a little dancing.
  TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES
by Thomas Hardy, adapted by Sally Hedges. Directed by Nigel Bryant. Orchard Theatre.
Some traditional songs and dances to arrange and teach, but also extensive recorded score of original themes as incidental music.
  CANALS
Film for the British Tourist Association made by Priory Films.
Chose and adapted traditional songs and music for this short travelogue.
  THE TRANSPORTS
by Peter Bellamy. Portsmouth Arts Festival. Directed by Taffy Thomas.
A new arrangement of the 1983 re-scoring of Peter Bellamy's folk opera, this time in ten-day run using costumed singers, three modern dancers and a traditional-style dance group. Arranged parts, appeared and MD'd the show.
  A STUDY IN SCARLET
by Sir Athur Conan Doyle. The New Vic. Adapted and directed by Chris Martin.
Composed and recorded a Victorian-style concertina score of incidental music for this Sherlock Holmes story.
  THE TEMPEST
by William Shakespeare. The New Vic. Directed by Alec Bell.
Choreographed the central masque sequence to an abstract musical score by Steven Edwards.
  THE CONCERTINA MAN
by Tim Laycock. BBC Radio 2.
Played and sang in Tim Laycock's 'Little History of the Squeezebox' for 'Folk on 2'.
 
1988
  SONG OF HIAWATHA
by Henry Longfellow. The New Vic. Adapted and Directed by Chris Martin.
Researched and re-created genuine Native American songs and dances for this new version of Longfellow's poem. Composed some songs and an extensive amount of stylised movement to give a true impression of American Indian culture, resulting in total involvement in the rehearsals.
  TOM JONES
by Henry Fielding, dramatised by Andrew Wickes. The New Vic. Directed by Peter Cheeseman.
Arranged and rehearsed traditional songs, composed some in that style, created choreography and recorded the incidental music.
  THE TRANSPORTS
by Peter Bellamy. Directed by Phillip MacKenzie.
An Australian production by the Monaro Folk Music Society, using JK's new arrangements from the 1987 Portsmouth Arts Festival.
  GASLIGHT
The New Vic. Directed by Chris Martin.
Composed and recorded a concertina score of incidental music in the style of Stockhausen for this heavy melodrama
  THE DAY AFTER THE FAIR
Marches Theatre Company.
Collaborated in recording a score of traditional tunes as incidental music.
  COLD COMFORT FARM
by Sally Hedges, based on the novel by Stella Gibbons. Orchard Theatre.
Composed songs in mock operatic style, for up to five parts, for a new version of this comedy classic.
  MOTHER EARTH
Central TV.
Commissioned to compose a song for Bishop's Castle school for a joint geography/ religious studies project. Filmed performing with the pupils and used as a centrepiece for a Central TV schools programme.
  OPUS POCUS
Published by Dragonfly Music.
Tune-book including a selection of traditional tunes from JK's repertoire and a huge number of his own compositions in traditional style. Remained in print for about seven years.
  A CHRISTMAS CAROL
by Charles Dickens, adapted by Andrew Wickes. The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. Directed by Claire Venables with Phil Clark.
Arranged and rehearsed traditional carols for the company in up to four-part harmony, plus choreography.
 
1989
  WUTHERING HEIGHTS
by Emily Bronte. The New Vic. Adapted and directed by Chris Martin.
Recorded a sparse concertina score of traditional tunes.
  ROMEO AND JULIET
by William Shakespeare. The New Vic. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Chose and arranged traditional Italian music for this nineteenth century version, with live music by the cast, MD'd and also created the dances.
  MERLIN AND THE SLEEPING KING
by Nigel Bryant. The New Vic. Directed by Rob Swain.
Composed high medieval score of incidental music to accompany ceremonial, fights, monsters, dragons, etc.
  THE SHEPHERD'S PLAY
BBC Radio. Directed by Nigel Bryant.
An excerpt from the Mystery Cycle. Arranged and rehearsed traditional songs with the actors, composed plainchant song for the angel, recorded incidental music.
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