Following the release of the debut album, I had the wonderful opportunity in February to record 3 of the pieces with the Northern Film Orchestra in Stoller Hall, Manchester. Hearing your own music played back to you by such wonderful musicians was an incredibly moving experience. I truly felt like I had broken into heaven. Thank you to Alexander Proudlock, Melvin Tay and all the musicians on the day who contributed with their brilliant performances.

You can now watch a video of the performance at https://youtu.be/wqp6Dvi608I

As Nature Returns (Northern Film Orchestra version)

This composition was inspired by a series of photographs taken by Helena Whitten at an abandoned hotel, crumbling into neglect.

The strange thing about the cover picture is that I overlooked it many many times when scanning through Helena's work, almost as if it had concealed itself amidst the other images. When I did chance upon it however, the power of the image really resonated with me.

The character crouched behind the door lingers in the mind long after you have stopped looking at the photograph. Who is she? Why is she there? Who is she hiding from? are all questions that remain unanswered but inspire an endless chain of possible narratives.

We also commissioned a truly amazing video by Stefania Buzatu. She specialises in the infinite zoom technique and and she deployed this with Helena's photos to remarkable effect.

Head over to our YouTube channel to watch it in full

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK5JgdmxKPI

Love and Light

Richard

All That Is Concealed

This is the key piece for the forthcoming album ‘Stories in Slow Light. It was inspired by a photograph taken by Helena Whitten at Poltimore House in Devon which depicts a solitary figure in front of an oval frame where a mirror used to be.

The track evokes the memory of our ancestors and imagines all the living souls who have passed in front of the now long gone mirror. The protagonist appears to be channelling these spirits out of the ancient walls of the house, at times contorted by the energy flowing through her and then flowing with serenity.

The piece was recorded at Swallow Studios in Smallwood and features members of the string section of the Northern Film Orchestra. 

The video for ‘The Empty Mirror’ was shot on location at Poltimore House but this time dancer and choreographer Kristine Berget reprises Helena’s role from the photograph and we follow her as she moves around the rooms and hallways of the crumbling mansion.

The video can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdQ92f0XSpA

The Empty Mirror (Strings) Studio Version

I am currently collaborating with artist and photographer Helena Whitten and this is the first fruit of our work together.

Helena uses the technique of slow-shutter exposure to capture the beauty and fragility of life in unexpected places. 

"The events and figures in her photos are almost living and breathing, they want to persist in the present and into the future. But the paradox of slow-shutter work is that these figures, with their disappearing arms, legs and heads, inescapably become ethereal and ghostlike, barely there and slipping away.

This photograph was taken at Hestercombe House and is titled, "Beyond the Frame".

A remarkable video for this piece has also been created by Timon Mahony and is available on my YouTube channel

https://youtu.be/8jQAf3rfYiM

The video itself was made using only the above photograph as raw material and guides the viewer on a microscopic inspection of that one frame throughout the whole 3 and a half minutes of the track.

To see more of Helena's stunning photography and our collaboration, follow our Instagram accounts:

www.instagram.com/helewhitty/
www.instagram.com/giftsfromcrows/

Beyond The Frame (Studio Version)

Fragments Of Light (Orchestral)

A Persistent Dream (Orchestral)

This piece was originally composed for solo piano and explores the way in which our subconscious minds influence our waking lives. A persistent dream can be a positive hope but also a fear or an omen. This version was arranged for 2 cellos, piano and double bass and tends towards the latter mood.

In many cultures across the world, birds of the corvid family such as ravens and crows have long been signifiers of loss and foreboding, and yet their symbolism is complex. As talking birds they can also represent prophecy and insight connecting the material world with that of the spirits.

Johanna's beautiful image perfectly captures this mythological interpretation and I am delighted to present her work as the cover art for the new release.

The orchestral version of the track is also now available on all streaming platforms.

A Persistent Dream (Ambient)

03 - Beyond The Frame (Trio Rework) Mastered

Ever since I was a child I have always been profoundly aware of the changing of the seasons. Each one has its own unique characteristic that is completely elusive until you are actually there experiencing it.

Whilst we might talk about the golden colours of autumn, it still takes our breath away when October comes around. But summer too is shocking in its intensity and seemingly even more so as we get older.

I have mostly written for voices over the years and find the melding of words to melodies an exquisite combination. The human voice is the instrument that we most readily respond to, most deeply feel its emotional charge.

The remarkable photograph is the work of Swedish photographer Johanna Ronn. As soon as I saw the way she captured the light I just knew I would have to ask her to collaborate with me on this release. After reaching out to Johanna and sharing the demo recording, she set about shooting straight away and this photo is the beautiful outcome.

This version of 'The Unimaginable Brightness of Summer' was recorded at Swallow Studios in Smallwood with the help of Andy Blythe and is available on all streaming platforms.

The Unimaginable Brightness Of Summer (Studio Version)

This song is based on an original idea by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser. Sadly it was never finished or properly recorded in his lifetime. Bethany and I thought that the song deserved to be completed and so we set out to do just that.

The full band version of this song can be found on Bethany's SC profile:

https://soundcloud.com/bethanygraceuk/all-flowers-in-time-bend-towards-the-sun

This version is the Acoustic Mix.

There were so many great performances from the musicians involved that we really thought it would be great to really hear the quieter instruments in their own setting. Not only does it give yet another take on the song but it also allows you to really hear the beautiful vocals once again.

We hope you enjoy it as much as we did making it.

All Flowers In Time (Acoustic Mix) Collab with Bethany Grace

I am currently collaborating with artist and photographer Helena Whitten and this is the first fruit of our work together.

Helena uses the technique of slow-shutter exposure to capture the beauty and fragility of life in unexpected places. In her own words, "When the shutter on a camera is left open, there is the opportunity to capture a substantial segment of time. The action is then trapped in a two-dimensional image and can be viewed in its entirety, in an instant. The shutter rises like the curtain on a stage. A drama is played out and then the curtain falls. In that time, I see an opportunity to tell a story."

"The events and figures are almost living and breathing, they want to persist in the present and into the future. But the paradox of slow-shutter work is that these figures, with their disappearing arms, legs and heads, inescapably become ethereal and ghostlike, barely there and slipping away.

This photograph was taken at Hestercombe House and is titled, "Beyond the Frame".

To see more of Helena's stunning photography and our collaboration, follow our Instagram accounts:

https://www.instagram.com/helewhitty/
https://www.instagram.com/giftsfromcrows/

Beyond The Frame

Richard Laurence is a composer of neoclassical and ambient piano music with a colourful background in post-rock and electronic studio projects.

Working under the name, ‘Gifts From Crows’, Laurence released his debut album, “Holding a Thought Forever”, in February 2021, a hauntingly beautiful collection of piano instrumentals augmented with samples, electronics and string arrangements. 

This was followed by a solo piano composition, ‘A Resolution’ which was released on Piano Day 2021 and also the E.P. ‘Northern Film Orchestra Sessions Vol. I’ which featured 3 tracks from the album arranged for a 20 piece ensemble recorded at Stoller Hall in Manchester.

The 2nd Gifts From Crows album, ‘Stories in Slow Light’ is a collaboration between composer Richard Laurence and photographer Helena Whitten. The project consists of 12 compositions all inspired by and composed around the themes depicted in Helena’s photographs. The album, along with 4 accompanying videos will be released progressively between now and February 2022.

The music of Gifts From Crows has been featured in Headphone Commute, Stationary Travels, York Calling, Music Dances When You Sleep and CutCommon Magazine. It has also been played on Classic FM, Scala Radio, Jorvik Radio and featured on the official Spotify playlist, Classical New Releases.

Gifts From Crows

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