Cool Fusion

Cecil Sharp House
2 Regent's Park Road, Camden, London NW1 7AY
United Kingdom
http://www.efdss.org

Lambeth Wind Orchestra
Putney Arts Theatre
Coronel Percussion
Cool Fusion Jazz
Cool Fusion Electronica
Mark Pampel (piano)

Cool Fusion is one of the largest voluntary-arts initiatives in the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. It presents a series of four performances of new music and drama in historic London venues, celebrating the Olympics and Paralympics within London's vibrant culture. It is a partnership of London Composers Forum, Colchester New Music and Putney Writers' Circle.

Developed collaboratively by twelve composers and four writers, Cool Fusion uses wind orchestra, percussion ensemble, electronics and actors to weave a narrative of exceptional human endeavour. The performance is framed by historical episodes, from sandals to scandals, chariots to wheelchairs, outside track to winners’ podium. These are interwoven with works exploring the parallels between music and physical culture, in rhythms of pace, endurance, determination and achievement.

Texts and libretti for musical works are contributed by Rita Adam (Four Minute Mile), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Dorando : An Olympic Tale) and Linda Redshaw (Outside Track). Additional non-musical drama pieces are contributed by Marcia Kelson and Dan Clarke.

For the Cecil Sharp House performance, Cool Fusion is running a local outreach project with Kids' Company in Camden, exploring the Cool Fusion's themes through percussion and other art forms. Some of the results will be unveiled at this performance.

This performance and outreach project are supported by public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Mark Garnham : Fanfare for the Olympic Flame (London 2012)
David Arditti : Time and Tide
Cedric Peachey : Gold, Silver & Bronze
Alan Parsons : Fanfare for 2012
Mark Pampel : THE FINAL
Martin Jones : Four Minute Mile
Phil Baker : Triumphal Laurels – Canzona ii from Canzonae Olympiae for Brass Quartet & Timpani
Luca Tieppo : Dorando: An Olympic Tale
Mark Pampel : Against the Odds
Stuart Russell : Distance/Time
Alan Taylor : Episode I from Five Incomplete Episodes
Andy Bungay : Outside Track
Alan Hilton : Olympic Fanfare