![]() | |
![]() |
![]() |
Index Page | Prior Record | Next Record |
Film ID | ACE124 |
Article | |
Title | Pastorale. Music/Theatre by Trevor Wishart |
Series | |
Part | |
Date | 1982 |
Director | David Hutt |
Production Company | Thread Cross Films |
Synopsis | Experimental British composer, Trevor Wishart (b.1936), takes a humorous, critical look at Creation myths, and the problems of free will and determinism. |
Minutes | 42 min |
Choreographer | |
Full synopsis |
ACE124.2 (00:00:00 - 00:06:38) Trees and mist. God saying, “And in the beginning I created all this. I don’t seem to spend much time down there these days, but occasionally I do get requests, and I’ve just received an official invitation from a Mr Trevor Wishart, an experimental composer. Apparently, he wants me to make a personal appearance in what he describes as a musical version of the creation story. I can see that I shall have to find out more about Mr Wishart and his little project – and this means a visit to England – to York. Ah, yes, there we are. Now, let’s see what Mr Wishart has to say for himself in his application for my presence, shall we? Ah, yes. Pastorale. For flute, tuba, a Skinner box cum mechanical clock, four stuffed birds and a stuffed fox; thunder, lightning, rain; deus ex machina; magician’s vanishing cabinet, etc. A recasting of the Kyrie for Bach’s Mass in B Minor for mechanical clock with automated figures, animated in the style of a seventeenth century opera concerning the creation of the world as told in Genesis, viewed as a laboratory experiment in a Skinner box, after the ideas of the behaviourist psychologist B F Skinner as described in his novel, Walden II.” God is not impressed by his first sight of Trevor Wishart’s house. Trevor Wishart talks about parallels he saw between Skinner’s novel, Walden Two (1948), and the story of Adam and Eve, and how he thought of parodying Skinner’s idea by setting it in the context of the original myth. God arrives at his door, watches Wishart building a box and continues reads the description of the piece. God creating. Brings Adam and Eve from a cabinet. Wishart’s VO explaining why he wanted “to cast God as a magician”. God’s VO suggests looking at earlier versions of the creation. ACE124.3 (00:06:38 - 00:14:24) ACE124.4 (00:14:24 - 00:22:41) ACE124.5 (00:22:41 - 00:32:00) ACE124.6 (00:32:00 - 00:42:23) |
Full credits | God/Skinner, Mick Banks; Musicians: Kate Lukas (flute), Melvyn Poore (tuba); Pastorale set operators Peter Coleman, Martin Mayes; Observers Tom Endrich, Susie Mackenzie, Ian Nichols Peter Warham; Conjuring tricks by Sonny Hayes; Ducks trained by Bert Smart Pastorale set built & designed by Trevor Wishart. The producers would like to thank the following for their help in making this film: Harwood Estate, University of York, University of Leeds, AV Dept., Newby Hall, Ripon, Abbey House Museum, Leeds, Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, Georgian Theatre, Richmond, Stuart Gordon, Rupert Powell, British Events Theatre Company. Script David Hutt, Trevor Wishart; Script consultant Peter Coleman; Wardrobe Aideen Morgan; Production assistant Chloe Summers; Transport Kevin Downes; Sound recordist Tony Yeadon; Dubbing Mixer Andrew Nelson; Film Editor Pip Heywood; Assistant film editor Peter Lawrence; Photography Richard Ganniclifft; Assistant cameraman Nick Dance; Executive producer Rodney Wilson; Producer David Lascelles; Director David Hutt. A Thread Cross Films production. © Arts Council of Great Britain 1982. |
Watch segments |
ACE124.2 (00:00:00 - 00:06:38) ACE124.3 (00:06:38 - 00:14:24) ACE124.4 (00:14:24 - 00:22:41) ACE124.5 (00:22:41 - 00:32:00) ACE124.6 (00:32:00 - 00:42:23) |
Watch movie |
Created by the School of Informatics, University of Westminster Accessibility statement |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Copyright 2007 Arts on Film Archive For all copy right enquires please contact Arts Council England |