MaltaToday | 27 April 2008 |

.
CULTURE | Sunday, 27 April 2008

Acoustic reveries

Born in 1948 in Kent, Gordon Giltrap has established an accomplished career as a guitarist, achieving popular success in the 70s with the release of Perilous Journey and playing alongside heavyweights such as Brian May, Rick Wakeman, Midge Ure, Martin Taylor and Cliff Richard, in the West End musical Heathcliff. The hard-working musician, who will be playing at the Manoel Theatre on May 6, speaks to Teodor Reljic about his career

When did you first discover that music was your calling and how did you proceed? Were you encouraged to pursue it by your parents and your peers?
When I was eight, a boy down the road showed me his acoustic guitar. I just strummed it and knew that I wanted to make that sound. My parents bought me a plastic guitar with four strings and Elvis on the headstock. My mum bought me my first guitar when I was 12 and I spent a lot of time trying to work out what to do with two extra strings! I was certainly encouraged by my mother but not so much by my father - in fact it was an ongoing battle to convince him I had a real talent for music. He understood in the end...Bless him!

Why were you drawn to the acoustic guitar in particular?
It wasn't necessarily the acoustic guitar to start with, it was any guitar, I just loved the look and sound of it. It was only in my late teens that I felt that the acoustic guitar was my real calling.

How did it feel like to achieve mainstream fame once Perilous Journey was released, and how do you look on those days now?
It was totally unexpected, and I really couldn't take it seriously, especially being cast in the role of a rock/pop star. My heart always was and always will be in the acoustic guitar, it was and will remain my last love. As good as those early albums were, I feel that the music I have written since then has more depth and substance to it. I wasn't really a happy person during that heady rock star period. It was probably because my personal life was on a rocky footing.

How do you go about composing a song? Have you got any specific rituals or starting-points that you keep coming back to?
No rituals at all, I just play the guitar until a melodic idea appears and then I try to follow where it leads. I basically try to sing where I think the next section should come, and then before I know it, I have a completed piece. Having said this, it can take me months to complete a tune, I agonise over minute details!

Some of your work was inspired by William Blake and The Pre-Raphelites. Could you talk a bit about the way literature and painting can influence music, and the way this transfer from one artform to another happens?
For me, music should create images, and should have colour to it, so it's obvious that the visual arts should be related to the aural arts. It has been this way for as far back as I can remember, but it really all started to come together with my 1976 album Visionary.

On a related note, what seems to be a reliable source of inspiration to you these days? Are there any particular musicians that you keep coming back to?
My problem is that most of my time is spent writing music, and in all honesty, finding the time to listen is a luxury and like most people, I listen to music in the car. I still have a great fondness for the music that influenced me in those early days, particularly the early music of Bert Jansch, and I'm delighted to say that Bert is still a good personal friend, in fact he attended my 60th birthday celebrations recently. It was a joy to see him there.

Is there anything about Malta that you're specifically looking forward to experiencing, apart from the concert?
My wife and I rarely travel abroad so this is a wonderful opportunity to visit an island which was awarded the George Cross by King George Vl in April of 1942. We hope to be able to take in some of that history in particular and of the island in general.

Performance starts at 20:00. Courtesy of Masquerade Theatre Company. Ticket prices range from €10 to €25. Book at 21246389, bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt
www.giltrap.co.uk, www.myspace.com/gordongiltrap, www.masquerademalta.com


Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below.
Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.

Search:



MALTATODAY
BUSINESSTODAY

What's on

NIGHTLIFE

April 30
Rasta - The Reggae Party
A reggae party at Liquid Club, San Gwann. Will feature a unique Bob Marley session, marking the anniversary of the musician's death in May 1981. Tickets are €5 from hotline 99449161. Buy two tickets and get a third free. Tickets at the door are at €6 each.

May 3
Espionage
The next Espionage party, held at Tigullio, St Julian's, will boast two music rooms: 60s mod sounds, RnB, punk, spi-fi, soundtracks and freakbeat as spun by Job and M Vella and another room of House Swing from Owen Jay and Dave Brown. Tickets from Juuls at €6.

THEATRE

April 25 - 27
Bad Jazz
The MADC presents a provocative new comedy by Robert Farquhar - which satirises modern theatre and the eager young hopefuls desperate to become its new stars - at the MADC playhouse. Directed by Wesley Ellul, the cast includes Angelica Coppini, Graham Arnold, Keith Pavia, David Ellul Mercer, Maxine Calleja Urry and Chris Agius Burke. More information and booking from: bookings@madc.biz, www.madc.biz and www.theatricalconspiracy.com.

Last performance today
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
Teatru Qroqq presents a theatrical adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic at St James Cavalier, produced by Isabelle Gatt and directed by Marcelle Theuma. The performance starts at 19:00. Tickets are at €8.50. Book by calling 21223200.

May 2 - 4
Medea
Du' Theatre Group present an all-female, Maltese rendition - using Oliver Friggieri's translation - of the classic Euripides play at the MITP, St Christopher’s Street, Valletta. The cast includes Simone Spiteri, Franica Pulis, Kristjana Casha, Magda van Kuilenburg, Victoria Vella with Domenic Dimech as Jason. The actors are also accompanied by a live musical ensemble led by Tim Ellis, who is also the composer, along with Chris Cini Antoine Zammit and Gilbert Micallef. Performances start at 20:00. Tickets are at €10, with a special offer for students on premiere night (€8). Bookings from St James Cavalier: 21223216, 21223200, boxoffice@sjcav.org.

MUSIC

Tonight
Kartridge
The band Kartridge will be playing at Simon's Pub Music Festival tonight at 20:45. Simon's Pub can be found in Depiro Street, Sliema. More information at www.simonspubmalta.com

May 2
Celimene Daudet
French pianist Celimene Daudet will be performing at the Manoel Theatre at 20:00. Book at 21246389/21247451 or www.teatrumanoel.com.mt

May 6
Gordon Giltrap at Manoel Theatre
Veteran guitarist Gordon Giltrap, who has worked and collaborated with many great names from rock musicians including Brian May, Rick Wakeman, Midge Ure, Martin Taylor, Raymond Burley and Cliff Richard will be performing at the Manoel Theatre, 20:00, courtesy of Masquerade Theatre Company. Ticket prices range from €10 to €25. Book at 21246389, bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt

EXHIBITIONS

April 25
Mirror of Life
A collective exhibition of paintings at the National Museum of Natural History, Vilhena Palace, Mdina. Free Entrance. Open Monday to Friday from 08.00 - 17.00 (Last Admission 16.30).

Until April 30
Perception
Exhibition of paintings by Robert Farrugia at Juuls Bar, St Julian’s. Sponsored by Marsovin.

Until April 30
De-Coding Beauty
An exhibition of sketches and paintings by George Scicluna at the Parliamentary Secreteriat for Tourism, Auberge D’Italie, Merchants Street, Valletta. The works selected will be a showcase of the artist’s gradual development.

May 3 – 31

Ben Maile
Ben Maile (b.1922) exhibits for the first time in Malta. An internationally known painter whose art sits in the collections of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II and other important persons is exhibiting his latest collection of oils, watercolours and drawings including Maltese scenes at Le Méridien St Julian’s Hotel & Spa Lobby and Ku dé Ta Lounge bar. The exhibit will be on display round the clock in the Lobby.
Brought to you by Exposed Art: 99292488, lily@exposedart.com

May 3 - June 15
Art From Within
Traveling collective exhibition of Art Brut paintings at the St James Cavalier Upper Galleries. The project originated at the Haus der Kunstler in Gugging, Austria, as part of the 'Kunst Von Innen' (Art from within) project. The exhibition is commissioned by the Ministry of European and International Affairs.

May 7 - 31
Let me light up your life
Exhibition of paintings by Ljupco Samardziski at B'Art Gallery, 39 Amery Street, Sliema. The Macedonian artist(b.1947) will once again exhibit abstract work inspired by music, this time orbiting around King Solomon Burke's Together we Will Light Up the World. Open Monday-Thursday from 16:00 to 19:00 and Fridays from 16:00 to 19:00 and 21:00 to 11:30.

Until May 7
Ivan Saliba at 2_22
An exhibition of digital artwork by Ivan Saliba at 2_22, Valletta, entitled +=-. Saliba showcases seven detailed illustrations portraying momentary snapshots of magical actions. Glowing stardust, simulated texture and the power of light all form part of this abstract interaction.

Until May 18
Lifescapes
An exhibition of paintings by Jeni Caruana at Heritage Malta Head Office, Valletta. Free Entrance. Open Monday to Friday from 08.00 - 17.00 (Last Admission 16.30).

Until May 28
Ix- u jien
Exhibition of paintings by Dustin Cauchi at the Loggia, National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta. Open from 09:00 until 17:00 (last admission at 16:30). The opening will also serve as a launch for Francesca Mangion’s book, which will feature illustrations by the artist.

Until May 4
Visage
An exhibition of drawings, etchings, oils and sculpture by Jesmond Vassallo and Francesco Astiaso Garcia at the Contemporary Room, National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta. Open Monday to Sunday from 09.00 - 17.00 (Last admission 16.30.)

Until May 11
The Human Figure
Exhibition of paintings and drawings by Patrick Dalli at the Main Hall, St James Cavalier. The exhibition showcases work executed over the past 16 months and centers on the artist’s concern with the human figure as a subject.

May 12 - June 1
ArtLinks 2008
Exhibition by student from 11 participating secondary schools, held at Lorenzo Gafa’ Secondary School, Vittoriosa. Open from 08:30 to 14:00 between May 12 -29; open all day on May 30, 31 and until noon on June 1.

QUIZ NIGHTS

Sundays
Quiz Nights held at Ciao Frà, Xemxija. Entrance next to Beachaven. Every Thursday at 21:00, tables team up to fill in a self-completion quiz pack of 40 general knowledge and current affairs questions. Winners receive Lm10 discount off their bill and a bottle of bubbly (both winners and runners-up). Participation fee Lm1. Reservations call: 99458567.

FESTIVAL

May 10 and 11
Earth Garden Festival
A festival of music and art at the National Park, Ta Qali from 14:00 onwards. Featuring reggae, tribal music and more. Entrance to the 'Open Village' is free. Tickets to the GO Concert featuring Sigmund Mifsud are at €24 and can be purchased from www.maltaticket.com and ticket hotline 2149 4297. Discounted €15 tickets per concert are available for all registered GO Mobile customers as from 4 April 2008 (Each GO Mobile customer is entitled up to two discounted tickets). Ticket available from all outlets of: Victoria Gozo, Baystreet, Sliema, Embassy Valletta, Pavi and MIA The GO Music Concert starts at 20.30. www.earthgarden.com.mt

 


 


Copyright © MediaToday Co. Ltd, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016, Malta, Europe
Managing editor Saviour Balzan | Tel. ++356 21382741 | Fax: ++356 21385075 | Email