Tag / composer

by trondjs

24. Child in Time

Jon Lord playing the intro to “Child in Time”. Conductor Torodd Wigum leading the orchestra in the background.

Jon Lord playing intro to "Child in Time"

Jon Lord playing the intro to “Child in Time”. Conductor Torodd Wigum leading the orchestra in the background.

Such a mighty moment. Jon Lord has moved from the grand piano to his “weapon of choice” in his days as a member of what was one of the biggest rock bands in the world during the 1970’s.

Starting to play on the Hammond organ, the opening chords – G – G – Am – from Deep Purple’s epic song “Child in Time“ from equally legendary 1970 album “Deep Purple in Rock“ from 1970.

What can I say? Being able to stand a couple of meters away as Jon played THAT intro, surely was an emotional moment for an old fan.

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No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.

by trondjs

23. Jon Lord Getting Ready for New Number

Jon Lord is getting ready for a new number, moving from the grand piano to the Hammond organ.

Jon Lord diptych

Jon Lord takes the sheet music, then communicates with conductor.

Jon Lord takes the sheet music from the grand piano, then communicates with the conductor as they’re getting ready for a new number.
It’s a number where Jon will be using the Hammond organ in the background extensively.

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No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.

by trondjs

22. Jon Lord playing “Pictured Within”

Jon Lord playing “Pictured Within” on the grand piano.

Jon Lord

Jon Lord playing “Pictured Within” on the grand piano.

Jon Lord playing “Pictured Within“ on the grand piano.

(Click the link above to see the video from the concert from the “Trondheim Experiment” webpage.)

All Material: © Copyright Trond J. Strøm. All Rights Reserved.

No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.

by trondjs

20. Jon Lord, Nathalie Lorichs, Steve Balsamo

Jon Lord, and singers Nathalie Lorichs and Steve Balsamo, about to play “Pictured Within”.

Jon Lord, Nathalie Lorichs, Steve Balsamo

From the left: Jon Lord, and singers Nathalie Lorichs and Steve Balsamo, about to play “Pictured Within”

As they’re launching into “Pictured Within”, the vocalists start to appear on stage.

The song was orginally recorded with Jon’s friend Miller Anderson singing. For this concert, Welsh vocalist Steve Balsamo was the main male vocalist. Steve had worked a lot with Jon the last years prior to this concert. They were working on an album of songs at the time, this sadly was never to be completed.
Swedish vocalist Nathalie Lorichs is the daughter of Christer Lorichs, a long time friend of Jon, so I think it’s safe to say she’s been raised on Jon’s music. She is also Martin Axenrot’s partner.

We’ll be seeing more of both of them in the coming posts.

All Material: © Copyright Trond J. Strøm. All Rights Reserved.

No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.

by trondjs

19. Pictured Within

Jon Lord with the sheet music for “Pictured Within” in front of him. Keyboardist Magnus Johansen in the background.

Jon Lord, Magnus Johansen

Jon Lord with the sheet music for “Pictured Within” in front of him. Keyboardist Magnus Johansen in the background.

About to begin the rehearsals for another number, Jon Lord sits at the grand piano with the sheet music in front of him. Keyboardist Magnus Johansen in the background.

In this photo the focal plane also is on the sheet music itself, so at least I (having access to the full size files and being able to zoom in to 100 %) can read what it says.
“Pictured Within“.

As conductor and friend Paul Mann writes on the notes for the score on the official Jon Lord page:

“Edward Elgar dedicated his Enigma Variations, a series of musical character sketches, ‘to my friends pictured within’, and it is from this that Jon took the title of his 1997 album.

The intensely elegiac nature of the album as a whole taps into that same peculiarly English vein of melancholy which Jon so loved about his great musical ancestor. As with its companion, Evening Song, Pictured Within contains clear references to Enigma’s most celebrated movement, Nimrod, and while the motivic resemblances may be subconscious, it is certainly no coincidence that Jon chose to reflect Elgar’s paean to the love of friends and family in his own very personal music.”

(Read the full text here.)

The album for which “Pictured Within” was the title track was released in 1998. Jon was still a member of Deep Purple, but none knew at the time that he had recorded his final studio album with the band. “Pictured Within” was Jon’s first work involving orchestral music since “Sarabande“ in 1976 and his first solo album since “Before I Forget” from 1982.

The album being mainly instrumental, the title track and two songs written with and sung by Sam Brown were the exceptions. The title track reflects the contemplative nature of the music.

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No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.

by trondjs

18. Sharing a Smile

Torodd Wigum, conductor, shares a smile with Jon Lord between two numbers.

Conductor Torodd WIgum and Jon Lord smiliing between numbers

Torodd WIgum, conductor, shares a smile with Jon Lord between two numbers.

A beautiful moment captured between two numbers at the rehearsals. Conductor Torodd Wigum and Jon Lord sharing a smile over some comment I’ve forgotten. Some of the orchestra members are seen joining in, too.

From people who were closer to the process leading up to the concert than me, I’ve been told that there was much admiration and respect between the orchestra and the composer – from both sides – as well an overall highly joyfull spirit.

And yes – those of you who have liked and follow this blog’s Facebook page, might recognize this photo as the header photo. Now you get to see the whole photo.

All Material: © Copyright Trond J. Strøm. All Rights Reserved.

No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.

by trondjs

17. A Different Viewpoint

Moving around to the back of the stage for a different viewpoint, on this photo we see Jon Lord, Magnus Johansen, Martín Méndez and Martin Axenrot from a new angle.

Jon Lord, Magnus Johansen, Martín Méndez, Martin Axenrot

Jon Lord, Magnus Johansen, Martín Méndez, Martin Axenrot seen from the back of the stage.

I was moving around to the back of the stage for a different view here. I think this was during the closing notes of “Gigue“, the wonderful track from Jon Lord’s “Sarabande“ album from 1976.

Photographically speaking, this is the contrast to photo 15 in this blog. This photo has the focus nailed on Jon himself at the other side of the stage. Taken at full aperture on the tele zoom I was using (f/2.8), the shallow depth of field is visible in that only Jon is truly sharp here. Bassist Martín Méndez is not quite focus, while Magnus Johansen on keyboards and drummer Martin Axenrot are slightly blurry. This adds to the feeling of depth and presence in the photo.

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No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.

by trondjs

16. Jon Lord

Jon Lord.

Jon Lord

Jon Lord in profile by the grand piano, sheet music in front of him.

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No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.

by trondjs

15. Should it Stay or Should it Go?

Jon Lord with Magnus Johansen in the background

Jon Lord with Magnus Johansen in the background

Jon Lord with Magnus Johansen in the background

I’m in two minds about this photo, showing Jon Lord at the front, his right hand on the keyboard of the Hammond organ, with keyboard player Magnus Johansen at the back, his gaze focused on Jon.

The composition of the photo is just great. But there’s one problem – the focus isn’t quite right. The keyboard on the Hammond organ and Jon’s hand is pin sharp, but sadly both Jon and Magnus are slightly out of focus.

Dilemma.

I like the composition of the photo very much, with Jon playing the Hammond organ, and Magnus keeping a close eye on him. But neither of them are in focus. One of them should have been.

So – what do you think? Should I use this photo in the photo book, despite it not being perfect when it comes to focus point – or should I leave it out?

The fact that Jon is playing the Hammond, indicates that this is during rehearsals for “Gigue“, another wonderful track from Jon’s 1976 “Sarabande” album.

As far as I can remember, they rehearsed “Bourée” and “Gigue” back to back, although being separted in the actual consert.

Anyway: Feedback is appreciated!
Should I keep this photo in the book, despite it not being techinically perfect (both musicians seen properly are slightly out of focus). Still I feel the scene is portraied beautifully.

Comments are more than welcome on this one!

All Material: © Copyright Trond J. Strøm. All Rights Reserved.

No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.

by trondjs

13. Jon Lord and Two Martins

Jon Lord, Martín Méndez and Martin Axenrot

Jon Lord, Martín Méndez and Martin Axenrot

Jon Lord by the grand piano, Martín Méndez on the bass and Martin Axenrot on the drums in the background. First violinist Ellen Samdal can be seen on the right side.

All Material: © Copyright Trond J. Strøm. All Rights Reserved.

No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.