Sacred Selections was conceived as a series of three pipe organ recitals featuring experimental transcriptions of ‘tracks’ chosen by fans from different underground music scenes. For YARMONICS, the recitals have been condensed into a single performance consisting of a reduced number of scores. These will be played on a virtual Hauptwerk sound system installed in Great Yarmouth Minster whilst its historic organ is undergoing restoration.

Performed by: Martyn Marshall (Director of Music, Great Yarmouth Minster)

Transcribed for the organ by: Paul Ayres (Happy Hardcore) and Andrew Macintosh (Northern Soul and Black Metal)

Music selected by: Ali Duff, Tam McClymont, Alan Watson, John Barrett, DJ Sy, Bruno Frenguelli, Grim Reality and Dan Hunt.

Yvonne Baker               ……………………………           You Didn’t Say a Word

Martha Starr                 ……………………………           No Part Time Love for Me

Dean Parrish                 ……………………………           I’m on My Way

Bang!                           ……………………………           Shooting Star

Sy & Demo                   ……………………………           Stay With Me

Hopscotch                    ……………………………           Midnight Express

Bathory                         ……………………………           Blood Fire Death

Cradle of Filth               ……………………………           Dusk and Her Embrace

Northern Soul

Used to describe the genre of Black American Soul music listened to in hops and small clubs in the north of England in the mid 1960s, Northern Soul has become one of the longest running scenes in the history of modern British music. During the 1970s, obscure records with strong vocals and fast beats packed dance-floors at all-night venues across the country. Northern Soul has continued to survive due to the passion of ‘Soulies’ throughout the UK, and faith in a dance culture that refuses to die.

Happy Hardcore

With its mix of celebratory, uplifting tunes based around hectic breakbeats and rapid pace, Happy Hardcore creates an infectious energy that harks back to the golden era of UK Rave. This eclectic choice of anthemic tracks spans almost a decade - from the memorable riffs of Midnight Express by Hopscotch, to the Trance influences of Sy and Demo’s Stay With Me.

Black Metal

Built on the rise of extreme Metal in the 1980s, Black Metal combines brooding lyrics with a brutal musical approach. British Thrash pioneers Venom, lay claim to having coined the moniker in 1982 with the release of their album, Black Metal. Since then, the genre has expanded beyond its underground roots and proved itself to be one of the most progressive and important additions to the Metal fraternity.

The Organ, Great Yarmouth Minster

The organ was purchased from St. Mary the Boltons Church, Kensington, London in 1959 following the near destruction of Great Yarmouth Minster during WWII. This was installed by the John Compton Organ Company, but built in 1876 by William Hill, an eminent organ builder of the Victorian era. The instrument has three manuals and over 3,100 pipes. It’s striking style Gothic case was decorated in 1961 in gold and colour, and was donated by the Freemasons of Norfolk as a peace memorial and thanksgiving.

Sacred Selections was commissioned by Dundee Contemporary Arts, and supported by the Royal College of Organists. With additional assistance expanding transcriptions from Temple Bar Gallery (Ireland), Kunsthalle Fridericianum (Germany) and YARMONICS.

Special thanks to: Martyn Marshall, Great Yarmouth Minster, Paul Ayres, Andrew Macintosh, John Riley, Stuart Muir and William Whitehead.

Matt Stokes explores notions of collectivity and shared purpose through inquiry into the situations and beliefs that shape people’s lives and identities. Music - its history, subcultures and socio-political effects - has long been a central focus in his work. Employing extensive research processes, his projects often evolve into films, installations and events. These outcomes hold collaboration at the centre of their formation, and by working closely with tight-knit communities, Stokes seeks to celebrate the groups involved, alongside challenging assumptions about alternative ways of living.

Solo exhibitions include Site Gallery, Sheffield (UK); Matt’s Gallery, London (UK); Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporaneo, Seville (Spain); De Hallen, Haarlem (Netherlands); Kunsthalle Fridericianum, Kassel (Germany) and Arthouse, Austin (USA). Recent group presentations include Storage, Seoul (South Korea); IMT Gallery, London (UK), M HKA, Antwerp (Belgium) and We The People Are The Work, a citywide project in Plymouth (UK).

Sacred Selections at Great Yarmouth minster was filmed by Kaavous Clayton and recorded and edited by Oliver Payne.

workplacegallery.co.uk/artists/21-matt-stokes/overview/

gtyarmouthminster.org