Joanna Bates - RAMP
Rural Arts Music Production (RAMP)
Biography
I studied at the Coventry School of Music and achieved an Associateship to the London College of Music - joint 1st instruments were voice and oboe and we all had to play piano to a good standard. I got disillusioned with the ‘classical only’ policy so prevalent in days gone by and deferred a place at the Birmingham Conservatoire (played an original piece in the audition) to join a Birmingham band - ”Quill” - which had a big following and roadies! Still has the following – not sure about the roadies!
In 1986, I had a publishing deal with RCA/Arista to write pop songs although I was classically trained. I write in many different genres but I now find the classical grounding invaluable when writing for TV. I know exactly where to voice an oboe and what instrumentation to use for particular effects. In the 1990s I missed classical performance and so joined The Aldwyn Consort – a high calibre choir based in Malvern who regularly perform at the Malvern Fringe. We sang in many different languages including Hebrew and Russian. In 1995 I wrote “CELT” (in 3 months) for inclusion in ‘The Musical of the Year’ 1996. “Only in The Stillness Of The Night” won through to the final in ‘Best Song’ category out of in international field of more than 2,500 songs. I didn’t win but did get a special mention in BASCA news. In 2001 I was commissioned to write music for Red Kite Theatre and have been writing for them ever since. In 2003, “Zephyrana’s Song” was performed at Baskerville Hall by children of Clyro, Church in Wales School. The piece is a Welsh language aid with main characters representing Earth, Air Fire & Water. ‘The Rhaeadr’ is a song which tells of the water cylce and how a drop of water can travel the globe in it’s many forms.
2006 has been a busy year as I have written for TV and had 5 tracks included on a CD for the little known Cosmology and Anthropological market. The style brief was: ‘Egyptian Adiemus’ and it was exciting as I performed the vocals. I’m currently working on music for the website of an international company.
List of Work
TV
"My Horror Home” (2006) Discovery Channel – classical instrumentation with a touch of Danny Elfman.
Other
“This Land” (2004) A four-part hymn for Male Voice Choir performed in 2004 in association with The Hay Festival.
“Hush Now” (2004) A carol for children or choirs which was entered into the CBSO carol competition of that year. (They gave it to a 9-year old!)
“Zephyrana’s Song” (2003) Musical Drama for children. An Eco-friendly theme with Welsh character names to aid in the teaching of the Welsh language in English speaking schools in Wales.
“Love That Man” (2001) An unashamed pop song for the County/mainstream market. The song is the finale in “The Apple Sisters” – a community piece by Red Kite Theatre who commissioned me to write one song but I ended up doing six! It was performed in 2001.
“CELT” (1995) Musical Drama which was performed at Brecon Theatre in June 2005. Sue Best directed – ex RSC with Sharon Lamb (set designer) who had worked at The Leeds Playhouse with Cameron Mackintosh. Two lead roles were superbly filled by members of the Academy of Musical Theatre Wales.
I’m currently writing music for inclusion in a baby health care pack, which will have a very small eco footprint with materials sourced from Wales.
Samples
1) My Horror Home - Discovery Channel
2) The Wayfarer's Song - CELT
Contact
t: 01497 851361
e: joannabates@ramp4music.demon.co.uk
