{ drawing by Bono, click to enlarge }
The Irish Hospice Foundation has announced the publication of ‘Peter & The Wolf’ on 1st October 2003
Described as “A modern take on the classic Prokofiev children’s tale”, Peter & The Wolf was adapted for the Friday-Seezer ensemble by Gavin Friday and Maurice Seezer. Using instruments such as the accordion, the banjo and the mandolin, Gavin and Maurice have produced a clever and humorous take on the much-loved original. The enhanced CD is presented with a 64-page cloth-bound book illustrated by U2’s Bono, with help from his daughters Jordan and Eve.
Peter and the Wolf is an original composition, not a book set to music. The Russian composer Prokoviev wrote the story of Peter and the Wolf when in 1935 he was asked to compose a work for The Moscow Theatre for Children.
Gavin Friday first performed the piece with the RIAM orchestra in November 2000. Gavin Friday and the Irish Hospice Foundation developed an idea to rework the old classic in order to raise funds to aid hospice care both at home and abroad. The Friday-Seezer Ensemble recorded the music for the Irish Hospice Foundation in May 2002, after which Bono was asked to illustrate the accompanying book.
Read on for more info and pictures.
The Friday-Seezer Ensemble consists of multi-wind instrumentalist Renaud Pion (Hector Zazou, Dead Can Dance), drummer Michael Blair (Lou Reed, Tom Waits), cellist Julia Palmer, guitarist Des Moore (Secret Garden, Sinead O’Connor, Riverdance), bass player Gareth Hughes and flutist Catriona Ryan.
Gavin and Maurice have recorded three studio albums together and have also contributed to and written score for a number of film soundtracks including In the Name of the Father, The Boxer, Romeo & Juliet, Moulin Rouge and ‘In America’ the new Jim Sheridan film for Fox Searchlight pictures.
A not-for-profit organisation, The Irish Hospice Foundation promotes the hospice philosophy and supports the development of hospice and palliative care for the seriously ill.
The Foundation has previously produced two other very successful fundraising items in Ireland: Art Pack – a pack of playing cards designed by 54 Irish artists, and The Whoseday Book, a diary featuring the work of 366 artists, writers and personalities. Together, the two projects have raised in excess of € 4 million.
The Peter & The Wolf book/CD is the first Irish Hospice Foundation project to be published outside Ireland. The 16 original illustrations by U2’s Bono and his two daughters Jordan and Eve will form a touring exhibition to coincide with the book’s publication. The exhibition dates are:
- Ireland: 1-3 October at City Hall, Dublin
- The UK: 6-8 October at Christie’s, King Street, London
- The US: 13-15 October at Christie’s, Los Angeles and 20-21 November at Christie’s, Rockefeller Plaza, New York.
The original artworks will be auctioned by Christies, New York, on 20-21 November 2003. All funds raised from the project will be administered by the Irish Hospice Foundation to aid hospice care in Ireland and internationally.
Friday/Seezer ensemble photographed by Neil Gavin.
Bono photographed by Perry Ogden.
U2LOG, do you have the full interview from the news item below?? pretty please?? :o)
U2LOG, do you have the full interview from the news item below?? pretty please?? :o)
Wow nice pics of Bono painting and Gavin singing. This childrens book is going to kick serious butt. Why didn’t they have books like this when I was a kid? I had to settle for Curious George 😉
Wow nice pics of Bono painting and Gavin singing. This childrens book is going to kick serious butt. Why didn’t they have books like this when I was a kid? I had to settle for Curious George 😉
cool!! great pics too 🙂
cool!! great pics too 🙂
where can i order the “limited edition” – at the amazon-link at u2log.com or this this another version? thanks! $14 for a book with cd, thats what i call cheap!
where can i order the “limited edition” – at the amazon-link at u2log.com or this this another version? thanks! $14 for a book with cd, thats what i call cheap!
I’m looking forward to it, too. Got a 1 year old at home who’s growing up in the U2 world. She loves the “POP” blow-up lemon;-)
Didn’t Bono once make light of singers who want to paint? I know…it’s a kids book and Bono is a famous “doodler”, but I’m throwin’ it out there. Anyone recall?
I’m looking forward to it, too. Got a 1 year old at home who’s growing up in the U2 world. She loves the “POP” blow-up lemon;-)
Didn’t Bono once make light of singers who want to paint? I know…it’s a kids book and Bono is a famous “doodler”, but I’m throwin’ it out there. Anyone recall?
John, there’s a bit of confusion re: the alleged two versions. Irish hospice says there’s one version, Gav claims there are too. He’s on his hols now, should return shortly and will probably be in touch next week or so. I’ll get to the bottom of this. 🙂
John, there’s a bit of confusion re: the alleged two versions. Irish hospice says there’s one version, Gav claims there are too. He’s on his hols now, should return shortly and will probably be in touch next week or so. I’ll get to the bottom of this. 🙂
vonb, thank for the info! i will wait some days with my order 🙂
vonb, thank for the info! i will wait some days with my order 🙂
I think they are referencing the “classic” version of the book, don’t think that there are two “new” versions.
Just a thought unconfirmed…
I think they are referencing the “classic” version of the book, don’t think that there are two “new” versions.
Just a thought unconfirmed…
That’s not what the confusions is about. There is no ‘classic’ book. This is probably the first.
There is supposed to be a ‘deluxe’ boxed set and a plain version. The story is, order soon and get a deluxe version. However, it seems like places like Amazon are selling a ‘plain’ version (as their descriptions do not mention a boxed set) and the publishers, Bloomsbury are selling the boxed set.
The best thing is probably to wait until the official website opens – this one’s run by the Irish Hospice themselves (and built by DigiCC, Seb Clayton’s place). That way, ALL the money goes to the charity. Of course, it may be a bit more expensive ordering from Ireland.
Anyway, as I said, I’ll do my best to sort this a.s.a.p.
That’s not what the confusions is about. There is no ‘classic’ book. This is probably the first.
There is supposed to be a ‘deluxe’ boxed set and a plain version. The story is, order soon and get a deluxe version. However, it seems like places like Amazon are selling a ‘plain’ version (as their descriptions do not mention a boxed set) and the publishers, Bloomsbury are selling the boxed set.
The best thing is probably to wait until the official website opens – this one’s run by the Irish Hospice themselves (and built by DigiCC, Seb Clayton’s place). That way, ALL the money goes to the charity. Of course, it may be a bit more expensive ordering from Ireland.
Anyway, as I said, I’ll do my best to sort this a.s.a.p.
coolio artwork, very recognizable hand. very autobiographical. got the amount of hair right too. 😉
coolio artwork, very recognizable hand. very autobiographical. got the amount of hair right too. 😉
it’s a quite from your web-site>>
A modern take on the classic Prokofiev children’s tale, Peter & The Wolf has been recorded by former Virgin Prune Gavin Friday and his long-time musical collaborator Maurice Seezer.
I errored by saying book instead of tale…appologies…yeesh!
it’s a quite from your web-site>>
A modern take on the classic Prokofiev children’s tale, Peter & The Wolf has been recorded by former Virgin Prune Gavin Friday and his long-time musical collaborator Maurice Seezer.
I errored by saying book instead of tale…appologies…yeesh!
HELP!!!!!!!!1 i know this is off topic but i am in need of someone who has a lot of the rare mp3’s and recordings on mp3’s that have been hosted on different fan sites, all of my u2 mp3’s got deleted, and that means a bunch of really rare ones, so i need somebodys help, i am willing to pay 20 bucks for somebody to put these on cd and any others please e-mail me at umaarm@yahoo.com for a list and vonb if u want to take my post off i understand but just i’d try cuz this is making me go insane!
HELP!!!!!!!!1 i know this is off topic but i am in need of someone who has a lot of the rare mp3’s and recordings on mp3’s that have been hosted on different fan sites, all of my u2 mp3’s got deleted, and that means a bunch of really rare ones, so i need somebodys help, i am willing to pay 20 bucks for somebody to put these on cd and any others please e-mail me at umaarm@yahoo.com for a list and vonb if u want to take my post off i understand but just i’d try cuz this is making me go insane!
“i know this is off topic but…”
The number one dreaded sentence for moderators.
“i know this is off topic but…”
The number one dreaded sentence for moderators.
Please note I rewrote this post after reading the nonsense the Sunday Mirror published today. *bangs head against wall*
Please note I rewrote this post after reading the nonsense the Sunday Mirror published today. *bangs head against wall*