People who like to take part in Heath Street services which feature the organ are always pleased when it is Bill Carslake in the organ loft, putting our instrument through its paces and often treating us to complex and wonderful improvised pieces at the end of services. It is a great pity that now Bill spends much more time in Ireland than London, this is becoming quite infrequent. But most of us don’t know that playing the organ is only a part of Bill’s musical life. For example, he has been the Music Director of Imperial College Sinfonietta until very recently and is Artistic Director of St Albans Symphony Orchestra, and more. Last month, to celebrate Sinfonietta's 25th anniversary but also mark the end of Bill’s 12 years with them, the orchestra, plus extra forces provided by former students, played the first performance of his composition Carrownagappul. It was part of a longer concert, and while Bill conducted Sibelius and Moberg works, the founding conductor Daniel Capps came back to conduct Bill’s piece and lead tributes to Bill’s long period with the orchestra. The new piece is utterly fascinating. It's for solo marimba, solo timpani, symphony orchestra and off-stage band (oh yes, and a jawbone). Bill says: “Carrownagappul ('place of the horse') is a big raised bog in County Galway, Ireland ('raised' meaning slightly dome-shaped). It's a protected site and has some of the most pristine raised bog habitat in Europe. It's in a healthy state thanks to restoration work (over 3000 dams!) and community involvement. A video www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPXxIxnplq8 really takes you there. The project is part of a national raised bog restoration project (www.raisedbogs.ie). I had a great time camping on the bog for a week last summer with permission from the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the local Interpretative Centre. I was also very lucky to meet and learn from the photographer Tina Claffey, who is kindly sharing some of her stunning macro-lens photographs to feature in the posters and programme.” The word 'bog' can sound dark and dead, but a restored bog like this one teems with life and colour and sound – birds, animals, butterflies and other insects, a huge variety of plants – all adapted to a unique habitat. Moreover, a well-functioning bog like this one contributes to environmental health and sustainability by capturing a high level of carbon. This complex beauty and strength was conveyed in Bill’s music and the evident pleasure the performers took in it. There was one dark moment while Bill was explaining a few points before we heard the music: the musician who was to play the donkey’s jawbone managed to shatter it in her demonstration. The audience was shocked but a little hysterical too. I learned later it was an authentic Peruvian jawbone lent by John-Henry Baker – too sad for words – but since then Bill has found an authentic Peruvian replacement and John-Henry and his family will be happy to accept it.
Gaynor Humphreys