The Magna Carta Song Story

An artistic collaboration of music art and literature, exploring the historic document, Magna Carta, legacy and 800th anniversary 1215 - 2015.

The Magna Carta Song Story
A vibrant, enthralling multimedia experience that celebrates the origins and legacy of Magna Carta. Magna Carta Song Story is a dramatic synthesis of animation, digital artistry and photography with newly composed poetry and texts, set to specially commissioned choral music rooted in the medieval tradition. Located in the heart of the medieval city of Hereford, Magna Ca

rta Song Story will transport visitors back in time to reveal the origins and significance of Magna Carta – a 1217 copy of which is kept in Hereford, along with the only copy of the King’s Writ - while a series of set piece events in the city aims to reinforce its relevance to us all today. Magna Carta Song Story is suitable for all ages and interests but should appeal particularly to those with a love of choral and instrumental music, our Island’s history, and the latest in digital photography. Highlights will include:
● A digital animation recreating Hereford Castle. Destroyed in the 1650s, the castle will be re-imagined as it was at the time of King John using animation, digital photography and medieval artefacts from Herford Museum’s collection.
● Original choral music rooted in the medieval tradition. World premieres of the music will be performed by acclaimed groups including Academia Musica and the Hereford Police Choir alongside local schools. The city’s Gilbert Consort will perform a new work using its collection of original period instruments.
● A live event in the heart of Hereford. Featuring pageantry, performance and a giant screening of the Song Story animation.
● Singing kings. Medieval artefacts from Hereford’s museum will be brought to life using animation - see Plantagenet Kings depicted on coins of the time bursting into song. The work is a collaboration between three highly respected artists – digital artist, Jason Hodges; writer / performer Catherine Gilling; and composer, Randolph Alexander. The exhibition will open at Hereford Library & Museum in Broad Street, Hereford on Friday 8th May. On Saturday 13th June, there will be a major Magna Carta event which will take over High Town in the city and involve Herefordshire schools and local people in a colourful pageant and lively celebration of what Magna Carta means today. The exhibition will continue in Hereford until Monday 6th July when it will move on with a series of workshops around the county and then to other venues including Gloucester Castle in 2016.

07/07/2022

WALENTY PYTEL on MIDLANDS TODAY Midlands Today's broadcast heralding Fugue Visions book, Walenty Pytel: Life | Art | Sculpture.Based in Ross on Wye, Herefordshire, Walenty at 81, continues ...

20/08/2021

A five year old Walenty Pytel escaped the N**i occupation of Poland and arrived in Herefordshire after the Second World War and started a new life in Leominster. Since the early 1960’s Pytel has built a reputation as a pioneer in steel sculpture of birds and animals.
His large scale corporate commissions include:
Bulmers Cider Ltd, The Woodpecker, 1969
Houses of Parliament, The Jubilee Fountain, 1977
J.C.B , The Fosser, 1979
Birmingham International Airport, Take Off!, 1985

In 2017 Fugue Visions was commissioned by the Pytel family to produce a film and a book to celebrate the work of this prolific Herefordshire artist.

The book is a limited edition of 2000 and is a hard back, H 3 x L 30 x w 25 cm and 288 pages with over 300 black and white and colour photographs.
The book WALENTY PYTEL: Life | Art | Sculpture is sold by Fugue Visions on www.amazon.co.uk
Also available at:
Wyebridge Interiors , 26 High Street, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 1DS
Hereford Tourism Centre
Leominster Tourism Centre
Rossiters Books, Ross-on-Wye

Jason Hodges
Digital artist, Fugue Visions

20/08/2021

This animation is a revision of the 2017 Forest and Castle — added during the first covid lockdown . The running theme throughout the animation—trees and forests. The first part is a depiction of royal hunting rights and land management. The second part references Hereford Castle and is in connection with the Magna Carta clause concerning the acquisition of timber for building castles. The animation was made with the support of Hereford Museum Collections and H.A.R.C (HEREFORD ARCHIVE RECORD CENTRE)
The stag tile is a medieval church tile excavated in Hereford city and is the inspiration for the red animated character— the ruined church at Llanwarne, Herefordshire, is featured in this sequence.

Jason Hodges

07/09/2017

RHYTHM ON THE RIVER – SAT 9th SEPTEMBER 2017

On Saturday 9th September from 10am, the Left Bank Complex in Hereford will come alive with music as Fugue Visions hosts ‘Rhythm on the River’ - an exciting new event to celebrate the end of the Summer! Free admission for performances and open workshops. Come along and experience an eclectic musical mix, from well-known Jazz Standards to original Hip Hop tunes to Latin grooves that are sure to get you dancing. In addition to vibrant local talent, including Terence Rowberry, ‘El Squid and the Locks’, ‘Greg Thomas Jazz Band’, ‘Wye Valley Jazz’ and students and young people from across the county, award-winning groups ‘Donkey Zoo’ and ‘Rap Club’ from London will be joining us to make the event extra special. After the performances are finished, stick around for an open ‘Jam Session’ (curated by Donkey Zoo from around 5.00pm till late), where you will be encouraged to play and sing along. We look forward to seeing you there.
😎

27/06/2015

The final week of our exhibition at Hereford Museum Gallery, this trailer is made from video footage filmed on the opening night.

Next year we will take the exhibition to Gloucester City Museum, scheduled for March - July 2016. We shall be adding new music, poetry and animation for Gloucester which promises to be a bigger show.
We would to thank those who took part in the project and visitors to the Hereford exhibition and hope you can make it for Gloucester next year.

22/04/2015

This is a slide show and recording of Hereford Sixth Form choir Academia Musica for the Magna Carta Song Story. Recorded at Belmont Abbey, Hereford.

The song text explores the theme of the Church and how it relates Magna Carta.

21/04/2015

New clip from the video installation for the Magna Carta Song Story featuring the children from St Richard's choir.

14/11/2014

A test animation of a King John silver penny, courtesy of Hereford Museum Collections; singing an extract from The Magna Carta Song Story ........the king's response to his rebelious barons.

08/08/2014

The first promo trailer for our exhibition celebrating the famous document Magna Carta. The music composed by Randolph Alexander and lyrics by Catherine Gilling.

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