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'The Origins of Fire'

was an ambitious music and multimedia collaboration commissioned by Epping Forest Arts from the composer Michael Szpakowski and the visual artist Annie Pui Ling Lok. Taking its title from a paraphrase of that of the famous painting of a tuba on fire by the renowned surrealist Rene Magritte, it took the form of a concerto for the UK's leading professional Tuba quartet 'Tubalaté', in conjunction with an orchestra comprising local school and college students, musicians from Epping Forest Band, young musicians from Ongar music school and their families and an ad hoc choral group.


Using material created in conjunction with local primary and secondary school students, Annie Lok created a multimedia projection which was shown simultaeneously with the performance of the four movement concerto.

In the first half of the two concerts featuring the work, which took place at Harlow Playhouse on March 20th and 21st 2002 music especially commissioned for Tubalaté from two other composers with connections to the Epping Forest district, Mat Davidson and Chris Burn were performed. Also featured were a selection of works written by local school students during Tubalaté's three week residency in the area prior to the event. Mat and Chris performed in the work and Mat co-musical directed with Michael.
For further information on participants please follow any of the links in the text above.
To see images and video of the rehearsal process and examples of the artwork created by participants please click on a fiery tuba. To order a copy of the CD ROM commemorating the event mail origins@somedancersandmusicians.com

'The Origins of Fire' was generously funded by East England Arts, The Jack Petchey Foundation, Essex County Council and Ongar Parish Council.