Chris Coe has written to tell me more about her latest project based on traditional song, mentioned at
the November meeting
“I’ve been given a Research and Development grant by Yorkshire Arts to develop “The Wife of Usher’s
Well” into a visual piece of multi-media performance. I’ve already done most of the ballad research re
different versions and their story lines, decoding the symbolism etc and it really is a wonderful, rich story.
I’m in the process now of “sketch-book” work…..pulling together the images in my head into a way of
combining video, soundscape (melodic and abstract), sung text extended by written text, and sculptural
pieces/costume etc. to fit and film in landscape. In other words, it’s a project that could well utilise all my
skills and trainings and more! The funding is from “Combined Arts”, as the final performance could be a
live presentation.
I’m working with Debbie Middleton, a writer and performer, John Adams (of course!) as sound specialist,
Lucy Adams as dance/movement to camera consultant,(as it’s her degree specialism), and Barry
Callaghan as film-making specialist. I’m really excited at having the chance to combine ideas with such a
skilled team. This section of the work maps out the ideas for interpretation of the ballad, and the next bid
for funding will be to actually make the piece.
I’ve been singing it since Ray Fisher gave me the words in the late 60s, and it was the first ballad that I
ever recorded. (On “Open the Door and Let Us In ” for Bill Leader in 1971.) I didn’t understand it until Lucy
left home 3 years ago. It’s quite clearly a warning to parents not to use (misuse) parental power in order
to keep children tied to them and the Home. They’re on elastic! If you try to bind them to you, you lose
them altogether.
So many of these ballads are full of “timeless wisdom”, and it’s interesting to analyse them and pick out
the bits that still address human problems, and those that have become anachronistic. A huge body of
work.”
