Listen & Watch

An excerpt from Anna Meredith's axeman, which features on the 5th CD in the London Sinfonietta's Jerwood Series, released 16th June 2009.

Anna says:

"When a friend asked me to write a piece for solo bassoon I was a bit stuck as I like the bassoon but always found it a bit too dignified somehow. After a few drinks and an experimental session with electric guitar pedals we decided the way forward was to unleash the bassoon from its rock closet and try and write a piece that made the bassoon sound as much like a 1980s guitar-god as possible."

The piece was performed by London Sinfonietta's very own rock god, Principal bassoon John Orford, and recorded live by BBC Radio on 14 November 2008 at Kings Place, London, with the kind permission of the Kings Place Music Foundation.

John Orford bassoon