In collaboration with the City of London, Nonclassical presents 66 Days – a digital multimedia project marking 400 years since the Mayflower sailed to America. Each of our Associate Composers are working with a collaborator to present audio-visual works exploring the themes of journeys, migration and cultural identities.
Nonclassical Associate Composer Dan Samsa and his chosen collaborator violist Alison D’Souza show us a glimpse of their creative process.
Dan and Alison’s work explores migration and the rich melting pot of cultural identities in South East London, using traditional American folk tunes alongside 360º sound recordings on Deptford High Street.
Read more about their concept >>>
“We spent the (market) day recording a short motif each hour on the hour using a 360 mic and camera. Alison played the melody of the memorable line “This land was made for you and me” from the song ‘This Land is Your Land’. Each time we recorded Alison moved around the mic a few degrees representing each hour of the clock. The recording process will be finished once we have a recording from every hour of the 24hr day. Then we’ll begin the editing process.”
About the artists
DAN SAMSA
South East London composer, performer, producer and DJ Dan Samsa is particularly fascinated with connecting his classical music experience with his deep connection to London’s diverse music scene. As a DJ, he’s performed at leading UK nightclubs and has supported international acts, including DJ Yoda and The Scratch Perverts. He is currently curating the London360 festival where he’ll be debuting his second album, featuring a 360 sound system, brass ensembles, vocalists, drums, piano and drum machine.
ALISON D'SOUZA
Alison completed her undergraduate degree at the Royal College of Music in 2009 and then her MA at the Royal Academy of Music in 2011 studying under Martin Outram. Since graduating Alison has been juggling an exciting schedule of freelance opportunities and musical projects as an orchestral and chamber music player. Touring to India with Anglo Indian music productions for a new Bollywood film release and again on an orchestra tour for a private Indian wedding in Udaipur. She won a place on 'Chipping Campden Academy Festival orchestra' and in the same year performed with the British Heritage orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall. Alison sailed the Med several times with different cruise lines as part of ‘Graffiti Classics’ company (a high energy live performance and dance comedy show). Alison has also played several times with Multi-Story orchestra who perform and rehearse in Peckham car park as well as touring local primary schools to introduce and captivate young audiences to classical music. In 2019 Alison travelled to Dublin to play with RTE Symphony Orchestra. She plays in various opera productions out of London including Winslow and Bampton Opera festival. Alison has played with Welsh National Opera where she was on trial and also performs and tours with all the ballet orchestras including Birmingham Royal Ballet, Northern Ballet and English National Ballet. She regularly plays for the Nutcracker season at the Coliseum and is in and out of the Royal Opera House and Sadlers Wells with London and San Francisco ballet companies. She also played with West-African Jazz style ‘Engines orchestra’ playing alongside jazz guitar soloist Femi Temowo and his band; recent performances have been at Ronnie Scott’s. Alison regularly performs with her band ‘The Little Unsaid’ recent winners of the Steve Reid Innovation Award for boundary-pushing new music creators at many big music festivals including Glastonbury, Wilderness, Secret Garden Party and Larmer Tree. The band has recently been signed to Reveal Records following tours to Holland and Germany for the second time at the end of 2016. The band regularly tour around the UK and have just released a new album called ‘Atomise.’ Most recently Alison has enjoyed performing with various orchestras and ensembles at top venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Somerset House and also regular ‘candlelight’ concerts at St Martin in the Field’s. She has also been involved in recording sessions and performances with London Contemporary Orchestra for the Hollywood blockbuster film ‘Assassin’s Creed’ and both latest Alien film and latest Matrix film at Air and Abbey Road Studios. Alison also performed in the premiere of Phantom Thread at the Royal Festival Hall earlier this year with the LCO and toured around the UK with live performances of ‘There Will be Blood.’ Last Autumn Alison played as part of a small LCO chamber ensemble on a collaborative project with spoken word artist and activist ‘Moor Mother’ touring to Europe with their final performance in London.
The four 66 Days commissions will be premiered online on Wed 16 September via Nonclassical’s YouTube channel, marking the date that the Mayflower arrived in America.
Commissioned by the City of London Corporation and in partnership with Mayflower 400 UK and Our City Together.
Watch the works created by our Associate Composers with collaborators for the 66 Days project.