“Usually, what (children) are hearing is drum machines and Dr. Dre or heavy-metal guitars,” he says via telephone from Dublin. What he and Seezer wanted to do is show “there’s a few other instruments out there.” Gavin talks to USA Today. Check the right hand column for an additional real audio excerpt from the phone interview.
Topic: Peter and the Wolf
Wolf on Lyric FM, Gavin and Maurice on Mystery Train
Tonight on Lyric FM in Ireland, a one-hour documentary about Peter and the Wolf on October 31st, at 7pm. Both Gavin and Maurice are interviewed. Lyric FM broadcast in Ireland and online.
Gavin and Maurice appeared on John Kelly’s Mystery Train tonight at 8pm to talk about and play some of the In America soundtrack on the Mystery Train (archive) before heading off to the RTE TV studios for the Late Late Show’s Tribute to Jim Sheridan.
Three tracks off the soundtrack were played: ‘Mr American Dream’, ‘Time Enough For Tears’ and ‘All Our Troubles Have Flown Away.’ They discussed the difference in approach between their scores for previous Jim Sheridan films and the current one. Sheridan wanted a lighter approach to counter balance the heavier themes of the film. Kelly asked Gavin and Maurice what they had to do to get Andrea Corr to do the vocal for the song. They answered: “Lock her in the toilet.”
At the end of the 20 minute section Kelly kindly invited asked Gavin and Maurice to return to the show to play their favourite records.
An Evening at Christie’s
U2 fan describes the invitation only Peter and the Wolf reception at Christie’s in L.A (October 14, 2003): An Evening at Christie’s.
“After a while, a lovely Irishwoman was introduced. It turns out she’s the President of the Irish Hospice Foundation. She gave a lovely speech telling the story of how Gavin got involved with the project. Then she told of how Bono came over to her house with the girls one Saturday, and did all the drawings that day! He had some studies prepared (which were hung at Christie’s also), but he did most of the actual illustrating that single Saturday. She said this was filmed, and it’s on the CD. Then she introduced Gavin. He came to the mic and charmed the daylights out of everyone in the room! He told a story about a loved man; a man so loved that everyone thinks he’s God. That man is called Bono. Then he told of a man so dark and dangerous that everyone thinks he’s the devil; that man is called Gavin. He talked about his involvement with the project, and how the money will be distributed from the sales of the booklet and CD. The money from the sales of the CD and booklet set will go to hospice care in the country where the CD was purchased.”
Pictures (thumbnails) at Wire Images.
Ordering Peter and the Wolf in your local bookstore
No credit card? Get your local bookstore to order the Peter and the Wolf boxed set from Bloomsbury. Details as follows:
Peter & The Wolf
by Gavin Friday, Maurice Seezer, and Bono
publishers: Bloomsbury
ISBN 0747570604
Audio CD on Hardback, boxed set 64 pages.
(Dutch book shops have the set listed at € 26,50.)
Dublin launch of Wolf exhibition
The exhibition of Bono’s illustrations for Gavin Friday and Maurice Seezer’s Peter and the Wolf project is launched officially in Dublin today. The paintings had been on show in Dublin’s City Hall since October 1. They will be at Christie’s in London, October 6-8 and will travel to the USA after that. (schedule)
Late late wolf
Gavin will be on RTE’s Late Late Show tonight to promote ‘Peter and the Wolf’.
Irish Hospice Foundation presents ‘Peter and the Wolf’
The Irish Hospice Foundation is delighted to announce the publication of ‘Peter & The Wolf’ on 1st October 2003.
Described as “A modern take on the classic Prokofiev children’s tale”, Peter & The Wolf was adapted for the Friday-Seezer ensemble by Gavin Friday and Maurice Seezer. Using instruments such as the accordion, the banjo and the mandolin, Gavin and Maurice have produced a clever and humorous take on the much-loved original. The enhanced CD is presented with a 64-page cloth-bound book illustrated by U2′s Bono, with help from his daughters Jordan and Eve.
Peter and the Wolf is an original composition, not a book set to music. The Russian composer Prokoviev wrote the story of Peter and the Wolf when in 1935 he was asked to compose a work for The Moscow Theatre for Children.
Gavin Friday first performed the piece with the RIAM orchestra in November 2000. Gavin Friday and the Irish Hospice Foundation developed an idea to rework the old classic in order to raise funds to aid hospice care both at home and abroad. The Friday-Seezer Ensemble recorded the music for the Irish Hospice Foundation in May 2002, after which Bono was asked to illustrate the accompanying book.
The Friday-Seezer Ensemble consists of multi-wind instrumentalist Renaud Pion (Hector Zazou, Dead Can Dance), drummer Michael Blair (Lou Reed, Tom Waits), cellist Julia Palmer, guitarist Des Moore (Secret Garden, Sinead O’Connor, Riverdance), bass player Gareth Hughes and flutist Catriona Ryan.
A not-for-profit organisation, The Irish Hospice Foundation promotes the hospice philosophy and supports the development of hospice and palliative care for the seriously ill.
The Peter & The Wolf book/CD is the first Irish Hospice Foundation project to be published outside Ireland. The 16 original illustrations by U2′s Bono and his two daughters Jordan and Eve will form a touring exhibition to coincide with the book’s publication. The exhibition dates are:
- Ireland: 1-3 October at City Hall, Dublin
- The UK: 6-8 October at Christie’s, King Street, London
- The US: 13-15 October at Christie’s, Los Angeles and 20-21 November at
- Christie’s, Rockefeller Plaza, New York.
The original artworks will be auctioned by Christies, New York, on 20-21 November 2003. All funds raised from the project will be administered by the Irish Hospice Foundation to aid hospice care in Ireland and internationally.
Friday/Seezer ensemble photographed by Neil Gavin.
Bono photographed by Perry Ogden.
Order Peter and the Wolf from Amazon
The Peter and the Wolf set can now be pre-ordered from Amazon.co.uk as well as Amazon.com. Please note that ordering directly from the Irish Hospice Foundation ensures more money goes into the charity. Details to follow.
Amazon.com have added an editorial review to their listing:
“Since its premiere in 1936, Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf has become a classic beloved by generations of children and adults. For this enchanting new version of the story, Bono and his childhood friend Gavin Friday have collaborated on a stunning boxed set that includes a clothbound book and enhanced CD. The beautifully produced hardback book contains 64 pages of Bono’s original paintings-with help from his daughters Jordan and Eve-to illustrate the story. And the enhanced CD features a fresh and funny rendition of the musical score, narrated in a sly and hilarious reading by Gavin Friday and performed by the Seezer Ensemble. Royalties from the project will benefit the Irish Hospice Foundation.”
