31. Steve Balsamo Singing “Child in Time”

Steve Balsamo

Steve Balsamo singing “Child in Time”

Vocalist Steve Balsamo singing the Deep Purple classic “Child in Time” during rehearsals in the Nidaros Cathedral.

Steve Balsamo collaborated with Jon Lord during the last years of Jon’s life, singing on many of Jon’s live shows. The only studio recording they got to finish together, was the studio version of “Concerto for Group and Orchestra”, which was released after Jon’s passing in 2012. They were also working on an album of songs, of which only one has been released – the song “All Those Years Ago”, which was released as part of the lavish photo book about Jon Lord, where it also provided the title.

Steve has a formidable vocal range, perfectly able of tackling a challenging song like “Child in Time”.

The concert version of the song, complete with a lenghty Hammond organ solo from Jon and a children’s choir, can be seen and heard here.


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30. Jon Lord During “Child in Time”

Jon Lord

Jon Lord playing the Hammond organ during “Child in Time”

An atmospheric photo of Jon Lord playing the Hammond organ during “Child in Time”, with some of the beautiful stained-glass windows in the Nidaros Cathedral in the background.


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29. Jon Lord Playing the Hammond Organ

Jon Lord

Jon Lord playing the Hammond during “Child in Time”

Jon Lord playing the Hammond organ during “Child in Time”.


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28. Nathalie Lorichs, Steve Balsamo and Torodd Wigum During “Child in Time”

Nathalie Lorichs, Steve Balsamo, Torodd Wigum

Nathalie Lorichs, Steve Balsamo and Torodd Wigum During “Child in Time”

Vocalists Nathalie Lorichs and Steve Balsamo, with conductor Torodd Wigum during “Child in Time“.


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27. Jon Lord playing “Child in Time”

Jon Lord

Jon Lord playing “Child in Time”

Two photos of Jon Lord during “Child in Time”. The orchestral version had the Hammond organ as the leading instrument.


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26. Jon Lord by the Hammond Organ

Jon Lord

Jon Lord playing the Hammond organ during “Child in Time”

A close-up of Jon Lord playing the Hammond organ during “Child in Time“, gesturing / signalling to his fellow musicians with his left hand.


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25. Jon Lord and the Children in Time

Jon Lord with the "Children in Time" choir

Jon Lord with the “Children in Time” choir in the background

Jon Lord plays the Hammond organ during “Child in Time”. In the background, the “Children in Time” choir is seen. Keyboardist Magnus Johansen is also seen on the left hand side in the background.

The “Children in Time” choir was, as the name suggests, gathered for the concert. Conducted by Elen Cath Furunes, the children’s choir was made up of then current and former song students at the Stjørdal school of culture – a municipal cultural offering for school children. Here’s an article about the choir from local newspaper Stjørdalens blad. (And if you, like a surprisingly large percentage of the world’s population, find yourself Norwegianally challenged, Google Translate is your friend.)

This was the first and only time “Child in Time” was performed by Jon with a choir. Jon wrote a totally new choir arrangement for this concert, which the choir received during the same week the concert was performed. They did a wonderful job, as can be seen and heard on the video from the concert.

Conductor Elen is in fact married to another of the unsung heroes of the evening – Terje Craig Furunes, who through his production company Craigtones produced the event. His version of “Smoke on the Water” translated to “nynorsk” during the birthday celebration that preceded the concert was also something to remember for those of lucky enough to be present.


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24. Child in Time

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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23. Jon Lord Getting Ready for New Number

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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22. Jon Lord playing “Pictured Within”

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.)


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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.