Chromesthesia Collection
Chromesthesia is a form of synaesthesia - where people with the condition involuntarily associate letters and numbers with colours. Chromesthesia takes this a stage further to link sounds with colours and is the basis for these three paintings.
John has painted these works while repeatedly listening to the title compositions. He first used this approach to abstracts in 1968, effectively combining his two creative passions. He remembers large paintings created in response to Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra and the Adderley Brothers "Seventy-Four Miles Away"
You can hear the associated music with these three abstracts by clicking the main images or links below. You can then hear examples of the music that inspired these paintings and the conversion of sound to colour, reading the paintings, so to speak, from left to right.
O SACRUM CONVIVIUM
O SACRUM CONVIVIUM
Olivier Messiaen
Messiaen - probably my favourite composer - wrote this short unaccompanied choral work in 1937. It must have sounded very unconventional in those days. I first heard this sung by Worcester Cathedral Choir in the 1980's. It creates a mystical yet earthy atmosphere. The high descending alleluia can be seen in the painting towards the right-hand edge. I suggest the short film of Vox clamantis singing it in St Nicolas Church, Tallinn, Estonia
ETUDE N0.3 opus 10 L'ADIEU
ETUDE N0.3 opus 10 L'ADIEU
Frederic Chopin
This beautiful work is often described as a depiction of the passage of a life. The quiet opening theme of childhood leading through adolescence to all the excitement and activity of middle life - here represented by tumultuous piano passages. As we move through the ageing process there is a remarkably tender, transitional passage before the restatement of the first theme.
I suggest listening to Valentina Lisitsa's evocative performance of this piece.
ROUND MIDNIGHT
'ROUND MIDNIGHT
Thelonius Monk
This diptych is inspired by many performances I have enjoyed - but most recently by young musicians in a Barcelona music group. The St Andreu Jazz Band : Magali Datzira - Voice and string bass. Ignasi Terraza - Piano. Andrea Motis - Trumpet. I've also enjoyed playing this piece over the years.
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