notes inégales



notes inégales was created by Peter Wiegold and David Purser, devoted equally (or unequally) to improvisation as well as written music, and to devising new work alongside composers/other artists as well as playing contemporary repertoire.

(notes inégales refers to the swung, jazz-like, rhythmic inflections in French baroque music).

The ensemble launched in the Purcell Room in the IF-05 festival in February 2005 performing new works by John Woolrich, Tansy Davies, Morgan Hayes and Peter Wiegold’s ‘Damn Braces’ a 40’ work based on William Blake’s ‘Proverbs of Hell’.

In November 2005 at Union Chapel, London, they launched their ‘HOT- an infernal cabaret’ created with performance poet Murray Lachlan Young.

Murray, dubbed the million pound poet due to his much publicised 1997 record deal with EMI, has been commissioned by: Shakespeare's Globe, MTV, UNHCR and Working Title films. He has collaborated with Nigel Kennedy, Julian Cope and the Pet Shop Boys. He has also worked extensively in radio and television. “Some sort of half bastard verse”. (Lord Tebbitt)

Murray wrote new material for the cabaret and hosted it, reflecting on the dark, the infernal, the underworld all in a jazz-cabaret like presentation

This review well describes the event.

The performance included:

Donatoni’s ‘Hot’ a virtuosic concerto for saxophone and ensemble. It evokes the sound world of 1950s jazz with the solo saxophone combined with muted trumpet and trombone, pizzicato bass, Thelonius Monk-like piano and percussion.

Bitches Brew and Spanish Key from Miles Davis’ classic Bitches Brew album, reworked by Peter Wiegold and Martin Butler.

‘Infernal Airs’, Rameau, arranged by Butler.

Pieces from Wiegold’s ‘Damn braces’ including ‘Drive your cart and your plough over the bones of the dead’ and ‘The lust of the goat is the bounty of God’.

The members of notes inégales are some of the very finest exponents of their instrument in the country.

For information on forthcoming concerts go to notes inégales