The Blue Scar (2019)
The Blue Scar was a 1949 British drama film, directed by documentary filmmaker Jill Craigie and featured a musical score written by Welsh composer Grace Williams.
The movie was set in a Welsh village where the mine has recently been nationalised. It was filmed in a makeshift studio in the disused Electric Theatre cinema, Port Talbot, and on location in the village of Aber/Blaengwynfi. The Blue Scar was the first film to feature a musical score composed by a female, and directed by the first female director in the film industry. |
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The Project
The Blue Scar is an iconic film, and hugely important in terms of both the history of the upper Afan Valley and pioneering female achievement. This project seeks, on the film's 70th anniversary, to give new life to this iconic work, through screenings of the movie, accompanied by live performance of the score .
The Blue Scar is an iconic film, and hugely important in terms of both the history of the upper Afan Valley and pioneering female achievement. This project seeks, on the film's 70th anniversary, to give new life to this iconic work, through screenings of the movie, accompanied by live performance of the score .
Music
The musical score for the film is held in the Grace Williams collection at the National Library of Wales. Lewis-Merthyr Band have approached the Welsh composer Christopher Painter, Oriana Publications, re: orchestration of the soundtrack for brass band, a medium closely associated with the mining industry of course, and also full reconstruction of the original orchestral score. The band have the full support of Grace Williams' family in this endeavour.
The musical score for the film is held in the Grace Williams collection at the National Library of Wales. Lewis-Merthyr Band have approached the Welsh composer Christopher Painter, Oriana Publications, re: orchestration of the soundtrack for brass band, a medium closely associated with the mining industry of course, and also full reconstruction of the original orchestral score. The band have the full support of Grace Williams' family in this endeavour.
Performances
It is proposed, during the film's 70th anniversary year, to undertake the premiere of the new orchestration for brass at Rhondda's Park & Dare Theatre, the venue closest to which the location filming was undertaken, with a further performance at Port Talbot's Princess Royal Theatre.
Following the premiere performances, it is then proposed to offer the performance to touring venues throughout 2019 and beyond.
It is proposed, during the film's 70th anniversary year, to undertake the premiere of the new orchestration for brass at Rhondda's Park & Dare Theatre, the venue closest to which the location filming was undertaken, with a further performance at Port Talbot's Princess Royal Theatre.
Following the premiere performances, it is then proposed to offer the performance to touring venues throughout 2019 and beyond.
Additional Material
2005 saw the film and live music project "Brass Tracks" premiere at the Welsh Brass Arts Festival. The project also saw further performances at Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea; Leicestershire's Loughborough Town Hall and The Welfare, Ystradgynlais, and again at the Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl, Borough Theatre, Abergavenny , and at BBC Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff in 2012.
In addition to full screenings of The Blue Scar with live music, it is proposed to reduce the film to a c.45 minute edit, to form the second act of a performance, the first act of which would feature scores for brass by silent movie expert Paul Shallcross, set to the films of Welsh silent film pioneer William Haggar, together with selections of popular familiar movie scores.
Further information on the original Brass Tracks project can be found at www.croberts100.com/brass-tracks
2005 saw the film and live music project "Brass Tracks" premiere at the Welsh Brass Arts Festival. The project also saw further performances at Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea; Leicestershire's Loughborough Town Hall and The Welfare, Ystradgynlais, and again at the Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl, Borough Theatre, Abergavenny , and at BBC Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff in 2012.
In addition to full screenings of The Blue Scar with live music, it is proposed to reduce the film to a c.45 minute edit, to form the second act of a performance, the first act of which would feature scores for brass by silent movie expert Paul Shallcross, set to the films of Welsh silent film pioneer William Haggar, together with selections of popular familiar movie scores.
Further information on the original Brass Tracks project can be found at www.croberts100.com/brass-tracks