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Backstage
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St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex UK
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What Does It Really Mean to Be a... |
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Amber Alchemy |
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Artists include: Ritz & Wesson (Bryan Ritz and Nigel Wesson), Mosaic Orchestra and the World Mosaic of Sound; Gavin Beckwith, Richard Ellin, Michael & Geraldine Cleaver
Albums:
'Shakespeare Resonances' by an Amber Ensemble - Bryan Ritz, Gavin Beckwith, Nigel Wesson, Richard Ellin, Michael and Geraldine Cleaver (2024) See below
'Wisdom of the Heart' by Ritz & Wesson (2022)
'Open' by Bryan Ritz (2023)
'5+2' by Mosaic Orchestra (2020)
'The Liberty Sessions' by Ritz & Wesson (2018)
'Phoenix in Silver' by Ritz & Wesson (2015)
'A Musical: What Does It Really Mean to Be a Human?' by The World Mosaic of Sound (2016)
'Autumn' by Nigel Wesson (2015)
Spectrum States by Mosaic Orchestra (2004)
About 'Shakespeare Resonances'
By An Amber Ensemble
'Shakespeare Resonances'. This special collaboration (see track listing below) contains thirteen original, contemporary instrumentals and songs. Six instrumentals open the album followed by seven tracks that contain some of Shakespeare’s most poetic, well-known, and insightful prose. The quality of some of the compositions has been reviewed previously in the music press as being ‘splendidly ambitious Early Music-tinged’ and the five highly experienced musicians, working together for this project as An Amber Ensemble, ensure an eclectic, beautifully played and entertaining album. The inspiration for the music and songs has been drawn from Shakespeare’s plays The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Richard II, Cymbeline, Henry VIII, The Merchant of Venice, and Timon of Athens. The selection of seven songs in the second part of the album may be particularly interesting to anyone who has yet to fully discover the colossal and rich heritage contained in Shakespeare’s thirty-six published plays. If you are listening to the album from the start and in sequence; Part One comprises all the instrumental tracks and Part Two, the songs.
Musicians
Bryan Ritz – All Vocals, Guitar and Synth Pads and Producer
Gavin Beckwith – Guitars, Bass, Violin, Viola, Whistle, Orchestrations and Engineer
Nigel Wesson – Guitar
Richard Ellin - Guitar
Michael Cleaver and Geraldine Cleaver – Classical Guitar and Bass Ukulele
Reviews
'Splendidly ambitious Early Music-tinged that includes poetry from Shakespeare's The Life of King Henry VIII' (R2 Magazine)
'The music has a haunting quality ' (John, London Youth Symphony Orchestra)
'Expansive and yet settling music, beautiful chord sequences' (Michelle, NZ)
'Rich and uplifting melodies' (Graham, Surrey)
'Thank you for the great music' (Anne, Hertfordshire)
Track Listing
Instrumentals
1. Amber Resonance – Nigel guitar; Gavin violin and viola; Bryan synth; composed by Nigel.
2. Courtly Dance – Bryan guitar, drum, and synth; Gavin violin and viola; composed by Bryan.
3. Orpheus Overture – Bryan and Nigel guitar; Gavin orchestra programming; composed by Bryan.
4. Simple Harmonies – Michael guitar; Geraldine ukelele; Gavin violin, viola, and cello; Bryan synth; composed by Michael and Geraldine.
5. The Way of the Rose – Richard guitar; Bryan synth; composed by Richard.
6. Amber Alchemy – Bryan rhythm guitar and synth; Gavin bass, lead electric and acoustic guitars; composed by Bryan.
Songs and Prose
7. Our Revels Now Are Ended – Bryan guitar and vocal; Gavin violin/viola; Shakespeare prose; composed by Bryan.
8. This Royal Seat of Kings - Bryan guitar and vocal and synth; Gavin orchestra programming, recorder; Shakespeare prose; composed by Bryan.
9. Fear No More - Bryan rhythm guitar, vocal and synth; Gavin bass, lead electric and acoustic guitars ; Shakespeare prose; composed by Bryan.
10. Unseen and Yet Seeing - Bryan guitar and vocal and synth; Gavin bass, lead electric guitar; composed by Bryan and Nigel.
11. Quality of Mercy - Michael guitar; Geraldine ukelele; Bryan vocal and synth; Shakespeare prose; composed by Michael and Geraldine
12. The Sun’s a Thief - Richard guitar; Bryan vocal and synth; Shakespeare prose; composed by Richard.
13. The Song of Orpheus - Bryan guitar and vocal; Nigel guitar; Gavin orchestra programming; Shakespeare prose; composed by Bryan.
About Ritz & Wesson
Bryan Ritz and Nigel Wesson were part of the folk movement based around the clubs and pubs of London that hosted a burgeoning live music scene.
They met at Bunjies Folk Cellar in Litchfield Street Soho, one of the three key venues on the circuit along with Cousins and the Troubadour. Nigel had the Saturday night residency and hosted floor spots from artists such as Al Stewart, John Martyn, Donovan, Roy Harper and Gordon Giltrap.
After recording demos in 1970 with Island/Muff Winwood and with Bill Leader/Leader Records they went on to other careers. They met up again via My Space and recorded two albums in Hertfordshire before both moved to East Sussex and a further album and more live performances.
You can also find us on Spotify as ‘Bryan Ritz’ or ‘Nigel Wesson.’
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| Bryan Ritz | ||
| Shakespeare Resonances A | ||
| © 2024 Bryan Ritz | ||
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| Bryan Ritz | ||
| Open | ||
| © 2023 Bryan Ritz | ||
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| Ritz & Wesson | ||
| She's Moving On | ||
| © 2023 Ritz & Wesson | ||
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| Ritz & Wesson | ||
| Waiting for You | ||
| © 2022 Ritz & Wesson | ||
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| Ritz & Wesson | ||
| Wisdom of the Heart | ||
| © 2022 Ritz & Wesson | ||
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| Mosaic Orchestra | ||
| Spectrum States | ||
| © 2004 Mosaic Orchestra | ||
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| Mosaic Orchestra | ||
| From Dawn to Dusk | ||
| © 2009 Mosaic Orchestra | ||
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| Mosaic Orchestra | ||
| 5+2 | ||
| © 2020 Mosaic Orchestra | ||
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| Ritz & Wesson | ||
| The Liberty Sessions | ||
| © 2018 Backstage | ||
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| The World Mosaic of Sound | ||
| What Does It Really Mean | ||
| © 2015 The World Mosaic o | ||
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| Nigel Wesson | ||
| Autumn | ||
| © 2014 Nigel Wesson | ||
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| Ritz & Wesson | ||
| Phoenix in Silver | ||
| © 2015 Backstage | ||
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