Exhibition of visual art from the Echoes from Essex project
- Commission from artist and composer Elspeth Manders – “Warley Place” an oil painting reflecting the life of horticulturalist Ellen Willmott
- 5 animated films commissioned from digital artist Jack Cornell to accompany music reflecting different aspects of the lives and work of 5 women scientists from Essex
- The revelation of the artistic talents of mycologist, Gulielma Lister
ART & MUSIC COMMISSION FOR ECHOES FROM ESSEX
For more information see the artist’s website here
“WARLEY PLACE“
a homage to Ellen Willmott and her garden at Warley Place in oils
The canvas traces the transition of Warley Place from a manicured garden, once carefully cared for by Ellen Willmott and her gardeners, to the wilder nature reserve it is today. It uses a polychrome colour palette and imagery from Miss Willmott’s iconic flora to pay homage to her horticulture.
“THE MOON OF HEAVEN”
for acapella vocal quartet
The music explores and celebrates the life of Ellen Willmott. Click the blue button above to listen and for more information about the text, music, and performers click here.
Digital Art Films for “Echoes from Essex”
Margaret Cavendish
Film by Jack Cornell
Music by Frances M Lynch
“Firmament” for solo soprano & tenor viol
Words by Margaret Cavendish from Nature’s Pictures 1671
Performed by the composer with Annabel Malton (tenor viol)
Elizabeth Tollet
Film by Jack Cornell
Music by Imogen Holst (1907–1984)
“Set me as a seal upon thine heart” for five high voices
Words from Song of Songs 8: 6&7
Performed by electric voice theatre singers: Frances M Lynch, Alice Privett (Sops); Simone Ibbett-Brown, Margaret Cameron (Mezzos); David Sheppard (Counter-Tenor)
Beryl Platt
Film by Jack Cornell
Music by Eliza Flower (1803–1846)
“Now pray we for our country” for SATB acapella chorus
Performed by electric voice theatre singers: Alice Privett, Jenny Miller, Simone Ibbett-Brown, Margaret Cameron, David Sheppard, Julian Stocker and Gwion Thomas
Florence Attridge
Film by Jack Cornell
Music by Ethel Smyth (1858 –1944)
“The March of the Women”
arranged for 4 female voices by Frances M Lynch
Words by Cicely Hamilton
Performed by Frances M Lynch
DR ISABELLE RIOU
Film by Jack Cornell
Music by Frances M Lynch
“The Superposition of State”
for pre-recorded speakers, male singers & electronics
Words by Frances M Lynch
Inspired by the work of Dr Isabelle Riou Teledyne e2v
Performed by Jenny Miller & David Sheppard (speakers)
David Sheppard, Julian Stocker & Gwion Thomas (singers)
Gulielma Lister (1860-1949) Mycologist
Selections of artworks by permission of Essex Field Club and Lyme Regis Museum
“A Monograph of the Mycetozoa
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Species in the Herbarium of the British Museum”
Gulielma Lister worked closely with her father on this definitive book about slime moulds. But she was also an independent researcher. After he died she published revised editions – the front page of the 2nd edition is shown below.
The original book only contained black and white line drawings, but her editions included her own wonderful coloured illustrations, some of which you can see below-
Gulielma Lister’s Thesaurus
Gulielma Lister went to High Cliff House on the cliff tops in Lyme Regis with her extended family every summer. She compiled a large scrapbook there, which she called her Thesaurus and the pages below are published here by kind permission of Lyme Regis Museum.
