Arun Ghosh: Spitalfields Suite

The Spitalfields Music Summer Festival, now nearly 40 years old, has grown from a single event, a classical concert intended to save Hawksmoor’s Christ Church from demolition. The programme and related activities have always been deeply rooted in Spitalfields’ history and community; indeed the festival itself is only a part of the charity Spitalfields’ Music’s community work.  

Spitalfields has a long history as a district where new immigrants settle that stretches back to the Huguenots, followed by Jewish, Irish and Bangladeshi families. Clarinettist and composer Arun Ghosh, this year’s Associate Artist, will be investigating the area’s immigrant history in new symphonic poem, Spitalfields Suite , a new commission for this year’s festival. Ghosh intertwines the experiences of the area’s migrant communities – from the Huguenots to the present day – with traditional melodies, found sounds, jazz and folk styles for his first event.

As a jazz composer and performer, Ghosh has established a fine reputation blending the techniques of bop and swing with elements of Indian music. He is perfectly placed to infuse the character of Spitalfields into sound.

How well do you know Spitalfields as a place? How do you define its atmosphere?

I have always loved Spitalfields; it is a thriving, exciting, multicultural and modern area, built upon a rich history of London. Over the years, I have worked and performed in urban clubs such as Vibe Bar and 93 Feet East, community venues such as the Brady and Nazrul Centres, the peaceful Victorian environs of Arnold Circus Bandstand, and the stunning setting of Shoreditch Church. I have always loved being around Brick Lane and its surrounding historical Huguenot streets. It is a wonderful part of London, and it is a real honour to be an Associate Artist of Spitalfields Music.

How can you reflect such diverse cultures as the Huguenots and Bangladeshis in a single piece?

There are many similarities between the two communities. Both communities have shared experiences of persecution and immigration, the ideals of settling in a new land and establishing a strong community, and the parallel industries of weaving and textiles. I have found similarities in the music too; though the musical settings are quite different, there are shared phrases and melodic flows within Huguenot hymns (such as the beautiful arrangements by Goudimel) and Bengali folk music, and we will be exploring and expressing these in my Spitalfields Suite.

What kind of orchestra/band/soloists will be performing your new commission?

We have a beautiful ensemble to perform Spitalfields Suite; it is like a World Chamber Orchestra, comprising some fine musicians I love working with. A string and wind ensemble is augmented by South Asian and Brazilian percussionists, vibraphone and the evocative Indian string instrument, the sarangi. I will be leading the ensemble with clarinet, and will be joined by wonderful World and Jazz musicians including Adriano Adewale (percussion), Jenny Adejayan (cello), Corey Mwamba (vibraphone), Surinder Sandhu (sarangi) and Yasmeen Ahmed (trumpet). Vocal sculptor, Jason Singh will be creating some wonderful sonic textures too.

Does the piece use jazz in any recognisable form? How has your experience as a jazz performer informed your writing?

Spitalfields Suite explores the experiences and stories of the people who have settled in the area, from Huguenots and Irish to Jewish and Bangladeshi immigrants…and beyond. As my jazz and musical composition, philosophy and performance embraces World and folk influences, it is a real joy to be telling these tales with this musical language. Thinking more traditionally, Duke Ellington's suites, Black Brown and Beige and Far East Suite have also been an influence on Spitalfields Suite.

At the heart of this composition is my return to my classical background; Spitalfields Suite is inspired by the ethos of the Symphonic Poems of the late Romantic era. Spitalfields Music Summer Festival is renowned for its dedication to classical music programming, and so I am delighted to be presenting this new work with them.

The communal music-making event at Wilton's music hall seems to have an improvisational element to it. What do you hope to create with this event? How would you like the participants to respond?

I'd love this event, Musical Tales of Tradition and Trade to be a shared musical experience that breaks down all barriers between performers and audience, and all are welcome! We will be playing together, singing together, improvising and vibing together. There will be call and response and group choruses and impromptu music making. Audience members are encouraged to bring instruments and the percussive 'tools of their trade' - wooden spoons, pots and pans, knitting needles…anything! We will be playing some work songs and instrumentals that have been brought to the area from Irish, Huguenot, Jewish and Bangladeshi traditions, and of course the 'old East-End'. Some of these tunes will have featured in Spitalfields Suite, others will be new. Wilton's Music Hall is the perfect venue for this; we'll all be up close and personal, musically acoustic and real!

Arun Ghosh is Associate Artist at Spitalfields Music Summer Festival which runs from 6-21 June. He performs on 7, 12 & 18 June. For more information and tickets please visit www.spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk or call 020 7377 1362