Jesus blood

..
never failed me yet,
never failed me yet,
Jesus’ blood never failed me yet,
there’s one thing I know,
for he loves me so

Gavin Bryars (1972) - based on looped tape recording of a rough sleeper. His landmark piece.

Firth Hall - Sheffield today

the track is based on a looped recording of a rough living( and non-drinking) man singing the above words; he was being interviewed with other rough sleepers as part of a research project in South London.

Aged 80 now his first performance at Firth Hall in Sheffield for 60 years, when he was a university student. Living in the Midlands I saw him in the audience at this event recently   https://www.blipfoto.com/entry/3164594212553360803

A mandatory visit to a fine hostelry beforehand, of course. The snug was the star. The rest a bit too foodie for me.

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Bio
Originally a improvised jazz bassist, he moved to the US in 1966 to work with John Cage. He was later the Head of Music at University of Leicester, and his work seems to be very research / academically driven on subjects such as the Titanic etc. He's worked with Brian Eno, Aphex Twin and experimental turntablist Philip Jeck and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The Tom Waits collaboration version of Jesus' Blood  was also nominated for the Mercury Music Prize!

Gig Review
A particularly bespoke performance with his ensemble but minus the electric guitarist who came down with Covid the day before. So it was two violas, a cello, double bass, grand piano and what appeared to be an electric piano, possibly synthesiser. Informative talks by him during performance breaks.