DVD (A0318) / CD (A0319) Invention & Alchemy

DVD coverCD coverInvention & Alchemy
Deborah Henson-Conant
The Grand Rapids Symphony
David Lockington, Conductor

You are about to take a journey into the mind of Deborah Henson-Conant, a mind where stories meet music, invention meets alchemy and a whole symphony orchestra can transform a Mexican street band into a sultry musical harem in a split second. A collection of musical short stories for voice, electric harp, symphony orchestra ... and your imagination.

Buy this DVD / CD   

DVD: £19.95 + p&p
CD: £13.00
+p&p
   

Deborah Henson-Conant profile page with index of recordings and compositions

Audio Samples & Track Listings

Invention & Alchemy CD Track Listing
01. Baroque Flamenco 10. * Kitchen Waltz
02. * Blues Story 11. Merceditas
03. Way you are Blues 12. * 1001 Stories
04. * Man in the moon 13. 996
05. The Nightingale 14. * A Birthday Moment
06. * Salinger & Burns 15. Congratulations (You made it this far)
07. Catcher in the Rye 16. Thanks Giving
08. * Stress Analysis 17. The Garbageman
09. Danger Zone * = companion stories for the tunes that follow them

DVD Video Clip

 

DVD/CD Further Information

“Invention & Alchemy” was created first and foremost as a DVD. It was filmed in hi-definition with multiple cameras during three days of live performances. With an Emmy-winning director, Grammy-winning sound engineers, an irrepressible star, a celebrated and multi-talented conductor, award-winning composer, and an exuberant and masterful orchestra, “Invention & Alchemy” breaks the barrier between music video, PBS-type broadcast and narrative film. The 13 titles fit together like a collection of short stories, with Henson-Conant as narrator, tour guide and musical inventor.

The CD is a companion disc. Created to play like a radio play, the CD allows you to bring the DVD experience with you wherever you go and includes most, but not all, of the scenes from the DVD. Unlike a standard music album, it's not just a collection of musical numbers, but a series of stories told in words and music. The DVD includes all the music and stories from the CD plus the following bonus features:

• An 18-minute Behind-the-Scenes movie by Rick DiGregorio

• 12 “White Rabbit” Clips – Interactive links that allow viewers to slip through ‘rabbit holes’ in the program, go behind-the-scenes and learn about the pieces' specific techniques and back-stories.

• Additional tracks, including:

• “Healing the Waters” - an intimate ballet created especially for this DVD by Gordon Pierce-Schmidt, creative director of the acclaimed Grand Rapids Ballet company
• “Nataliana” for solo harp (it’s used under the credits in the DVD)


ABOUT "INVENTION & ALCHEMY" & ITS INVENTOR:

Deborah Henson-Conant has been called many things – the “wild woman” of the harp by Doc Severinsen, “a combination of Leonard Bernstein, Steven Tyler, and Xena the Warrior Princess” by Ed Siegel of The Boston Globe, and “Innovative, ground-breaking, boundary-pushing, flat-out brilliant!” by the Sonoma County Independent. However, no label fits Deborah Henson-Conant better than her very own name – herself – the essential “her.”

Ever since she put a classical instrument on the map in the jazz field with her unique, custom-built, strap-on electric harp, Henson-Conant has been forging a path for musicians striving to not merely represent their instrument, but finding a way to make their instrument represent themselves – who they are. She has managed to chip away the connotations that the harp is simply a classical instrument and she is simply a classical musician and reach some little, tiny thing inside that is “her,” and she has found a way to build that back up to the tour-de-force talent she is today. Now she and her craft can be something other than what they’ve always been. Something magical. A new idea. Something like nothing you’ve ever seen before.

All of these notions of innovation, creativity and rebirth are alive in her DVD, "Invention & Alchemy" – a revolutionary endeavor that takes the beauty of classical music, warps it with daring nuances of the blues, flamenco and even a Mexican street band and then enlivens it with storytelling and an exuberant theatricality. Nowhere else will you see an entire orchestra in stark white lab coats or a stage transform into a set piece from 1001 Arabian Nights and a renowned conductor become a vengeful Sultan. The DVD gives a whole new meaning to crossover classical.

Deborah Henson-Conant is the writer of the stories, the music, the lyrics and the orchestrations. It all truly comes from one woman’s mind. With the seed of a musical idea, Henson-Conant collaborated with the Grand Rapids Symphony to bring it bursting to life. Each piece garners its power from the integration – the alchemy – of the orchestra and the solo performer. With the help of a brilliant conductor, an Emmy-winning director and a Grammy-winning sound engineer and producer, each aspect of the DVD – the orchestra, lighting, direction, camera work – becomes the living, breathing body of a single, irrepressible soul.

Yes, "Invention & Alchemy" may only be a DVD, but it stands for every person with an idea; every person who wants to tell a story. Deborah Henson-Conant has a story to tell. The Grand Rapids Symphony becomes her world – the emblem of the world that lets each person become who they want to be; who they’re meant to be. The you inside of us all.

Mike Belcher 2006

DVD / CD Credits

Produced by Jonathan Wyner
Recorded and mixed by Tom Bates at M-Works Studios
Mastered by M-Works Studios - Cambridge, MA
Recorded live November 2005

Show All

Below is a composite of the "Credit Roll" and "Credit Page" from the DVD. These are the names you'll see at the end of the DVD "as the credits roll." The words "Title Cards," "2nd Card," etc. below refer to the "cards" that remain stationary on the screen for a few seconds before the main credits "roll" down the screen. This list was updated in July 2006 to reflect some corrections and additions made after the first printing of the DVDs.

 

TITLE CARDS
Title Card
Original Stories, Music, Lyrics & Orchestrations
by Deborah Henson-Conant
2nd Card
Creative Production by
Deborah Henson-Conant and Jonathan Wyner
3rd Card
This project made possible by
Peter Wege
4th Card
Executive Producer
Jonathan Wyner
5th Card
Directed by
Bob Comiskey
6th Card
Audio Director
Jonathan Wyner, M Works Studios
7th Card
Recorded and Mixed by
Tom Bates
8th Card
Television Production produced by Dan Frank and Moody Street Pictures
9th Card
Edited by
David Bigelow

ROLLING CREDITS
STARRING:

Deborah Henson-Conant
David Lockington, Conductor

THE GRAND RAPIDS SYMPHONY:
David Lockington, Music Director
John Varineau, Associate Conductor
VIOLIN
James Crawford, Concertmaster
Christina Fong, Associate Concertmaster
David Prudon, Assistant Concertmaster
Eric Tanner, Principal 2nd
Steven Brook, Assistant Principal 2nd
Susan Bailey
Haijin Choi
Sunny Cirlin
Megan Crawford
Lenore D’Haem
James Eppinga
Caroline Freihofer
Christine Golden
Gene Hahn
Lawrence Herzberg
Sterling Jenkins
Patricia Kates
Adam Liebert
Christopher Martin
Diane McElfish
Linda Nelson
Joshua Schlachter
Collette VandenBerg
David Wheeler
VIOLA
Leslie Van Becker, Principal
Barbara Corbato, Assistant Principal
Elizabeth Lepak
Mary Jane Miller
Kristen Shoup
Heather Storeng
Olga Ziabrikova
Andrew Pool
CELLO
Nancy Steltmann, Principal
Alicia Eppinga, Assistant Principal
Vladimir Babin
Karen Krummel
David Peshlakai
Lorene Turkalo
Dawn Van Ark
Steven VanRavenswaay
BASS
Joseph Conyers, Principal
Thomas Erickson, Assistant Principal
Michael Crawford
Kevin Flannery
David Gould
Leo Hazen
Peter Spring
FLUTE
Christopher Kantner, Principal
Ruth Bylsma, Assistant Principal
Judith Kemph
PICCOLO
Judith Kemph
OBOE
Ellen Sherman, Principal
Alexander Miller, Assistant Principal
ENGLISH HORN
Kathleen Gomez
CLARINET
Suzanna Dennis Bratton, Principal
Michael Kornacki, Assistant Principal
BASSOON
Martha Bowman, Principal
Chip King, Assistant Principal
CONTRABASSOON
John Clapp
HORN
Richard Britsch, Principal
Erich Peterson, Assistant Principal
Margaret Gage
Kevin Warren
Paul Austin
TRUMPET
Michael Bowman, Principal
Charley Lea, Assistant Principal
Jared Tunison
Mark Thompson
TROMBONE
John Meyer, Principal
Daniel Mattson, Assistant Principal
BASS TROMBONE
Robert Ward
TUBA
Monty Burch, Principal
TIMPANI
David Gross, Principal
David Hall, Assistant Principal
PERCUSSION
William Vits, Principal
David Hall, Assistant Principal
Eric Sooy
Greg Secor
HARP
Elizabeth Wooster, Principal
KEYBOARD
Deborah Gross, Principal

SPECIAL APPEARANCES:
“Healing the Waters” Dancers: Gaiane Akopian & Akop Akopian
“Healing the Waters” Clarinet: John Varineau
“996” Conductor: John Varineau
“Danger Zone” L Von Hopper and “996” Sultan’s Assistant: Jonathan Wyner
“Danger Zone” Lab Monitor: John Clapp

MOODY STREET PICTURES
Executive Producers: John MacNeil
Michael Yip
Online Editor: David Bigelow
Behind-The-Scenes Director/Editor: Rick DiGregorio
Assistant Director: Rod Lindheim
Technical Director: Bill Francis
Score Reader: Justin Locke
Lighting Design: Real World Lighting, Inc.
Robert Peterson
Monica Rose
Tom Clener
Michelle Griezmer
Camera: Rick DiGregorio
Josh Enrico
Mark Helton
Mark Henderson
Neil Kirby
Gary Metcalf
Michael Porta
Casey Stormes
Jib Operator/Camera: Peter Dingle
Engineer-in-Charge: Les Bartel
Shader and Engineer: Tom Cooper
Tape Operator: John Tangney
Behind-The-Scenes Sound: Jay Round
Behind-The-Scenes Lighting: Casey Stormes
Production Assistants: Matt Valinski
James Baetens
Nick Eppinga
Mastering/Audio Post Production: Jonathan Wyner
Audio Recording Assistants: Rich Swoveland
Ryan Wert
Additional Audio Engineering: Matt Azevedo
Chris Zembower
CBC Premier Mobile Video Truck: MVP Mobile Productions
A Division of CanWest MediaWorks Inc.
Operations Manager: Bruce Whiteford
Engineers: Scott Snyder
Dan Connors
Mobile Audio: Brett Manion
Manager of Sales: Bill Graham
Mobile Video Truck Support: Brian Powers
PMTV, Producers Management Television
Location Production Support: Sam Ramos - Mediatrex, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI
White Rabbits Director/Editor: Ian Brownell

Creative Consultants: Leland Faulkner
Karen Montanaro
Still Photographer: Dianne Carroll Burdick
Costume Design: Amy Whitten
Make-up: Kim Ricketts
Seamstress: Karon Yee

Golden Cage Music Staff and Crew:

Shara Dunn
Mary Roy
Catharine David
Mike Shays
Rachel Postma
Lindsay Kleinjans
Linda Crane
Margaux Stocker
Jushea Rose
Deborah Ferragamo
Rachel Rausch
Zoë Wyner
Leah Wyner
Benjamin Wyner
Ms. Henson-Conant’s Harp Tech: Olivia Coates
Insurance: Brewer & Lord LLC
Legal: Maggie Lange

GRAND RAPIDS SYMPHONY ADMINISTRATION
Melia Tourangeau, President
OPERATIONS
Roger D. Nelson, Vice President & General Manager
Kathy Rohlman, Production Manager
John Clapp, Personnel Manager
Kathleen Gomez, Librarian
Robert Burrows, Stage Manager
Joseph Herdegen, Production Assistant
Lenore D'Haem, Assistant Librarian
Steven Brook, Timekeeper
DEVELOPMENT
Diane Lobbestael, Vice President for Development
Heather Harraman Rodgers, Director of the Annual Fund
Marisa DenBoer, Donor Relations Manager
Christina DeVos, Manager of Special Events
Evette Pittman, Volunteer Manager
FINANCE
Daniel S. Jonkman, Vice President for Finance and Human Resources
Nathan Parnell, Office Manager & Receptionist
Ellen Hillary, Accountant
Debra Lehmann, Finance Assistant
MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS
Karen L. Mueller, Vice President for Marketing and Public Relations
Toni Richter, Visual Communications Manager
Carol Tanis, Public Relations Manager
Kristy Hanson, Marketing Manager
Jacalyn Huizenga, Marketing Assistant
Sara Walker, Advertising Sales Representative
TICKET SALES & CUSTOMER SERVICE
Celeste Stefaneck Dyehouse, Director of Ticketing Operations
Susan Markosky, Ticket Services Specialist
Tonya Butler, Senior Customer Service Representative
Theresa Kopp, Customer Service Representative
Carol Vereecke, Customer Service Representative

GRAND RAPIDS BALLET
Gordon Peirce Schmidt, Artistic Director and Choreographer
Laura Schwenk-Berman, Associate Artistic Director
Misty Kolk, Marketing Manager
Dancers: Gaiane Akopian & Akop Akopian

DEVOS PERFORMANCE HALL
Andrew Kursch, Stage Manager
David “Dansir” McCollough, Sound Engineer
Matthew Taylor, Head Electrician
Richard Claypool, Head Carpenter

DVD AUTHORING
DVD LABS
Bert Foster
Roger Talkov
Perry Paolantonio

SPECIAL THANKS:
Bill Ryberg
Shure Incorporated
Les Arnold / Parsons Audio
Michael Grace / Grace Design
Mickey Houlihan / Wind Over The Earth Audio
Jim Flynn Rentals, NYC
Chuck and Stella Royce / Royce Rolls Company
St. Cecilia Music Society, Grand Rapids, MI
IATSE Local 26
“Merceditas” commissioned by Joel Garnier (CAMAC Harps)
“Baroque Flamenco” orchestral version commissioned by Bernard & Billi Marcus
Marc Abrahams and the “Annals of Improbable Research”
Patrick Dougal and PRD Harp Services

THE WEGE FOUNDATION
and Peter Wege’s office:
Ellen Satterlee, Wege Foundation Executive Director
and the entire staff of The Wege Foundation

CAMAC HARPS
Jakez Francois and all the craftsmen, builders, and staff at CAMAC Harps

SAINT MARY’S HEALTHCARE in GRAND RAPIDS
For the loan of 80 lab coats for “Danger Zone”

THE ROYCE ROLLS COMPANY
for the loan of the “Danger Zone” bucket and mop

AMWAY GRAND PLAZA HOTEL in GRAND RAPIDS
Joseph Tomaselli, President
Brenda Gardner, Executive Assistant
Richard Keye, General Service Manager
And all the people on the staff who made
this gracious hotel truly feel like home.

A VERY SPECIAL THANKS
to our FRIENDS, FAMILY, NEIGHBORS and FANS
who gave invaluable feedback time and again
throughout the 18 months it took to complete this project, including:
Mercedes Gómez Benet
Jonathon Conant
Gloria Hodes
Fredrick Stewart
Celeste Cumming
Gunnar Madsen
Peter Barnes
Dave Langford
Maria Royce Hesse
Allen Newman
Judy Minot
Scott Schillin
Anna Huckabee Tull
Lyon & Healy Harps
Lila & Jerry Hochberg
Paul Angelli
Thomas Geraty
Stuart Walker
Tony Kahn
Leland Stein
The Regent Theatre (Arlington, MA)
Arlington Center for the Arts
To Zoë Wyner, Leah Wyner and Benjamin Wyner
Thanks for ALL of your support!
And to all the folks in GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN
Including the nearly 6,000 people who
attended the live shows in November 2005
that were taped for this DVD.
Thank you Peter Wege – for all you’ve brought to this world,
this symphony, and to our lives.
- Deborah Henson-Conant & Jonathan Wyner, May 2006

ADDITIONAL THANKS, CREDITS & INFO:
GOLDEN CAGE MUSIC, INC.
Deborah Henson-Conant’s Office
www.HipHarp.com

M-WORKS MASTERING
www.m-works.com

MOODY STREET PICTURES
www.moodystreetpictures.com

CAMAC HARPS
www.camac-harps.com

HEALING OUR WATERS
www.healingourwaters.org

GRAND RAPIDS BALLET
www.grballet.com

GRAND RAPIDS SYMPHONY
www.GRSymphony.org

THE ROYCE ROLLS COMPANY
www.RoyceRolls.net

AMWAY GRAND PLAZA HOTEL
www.AmwayGrand.com

LYON & HEALY HARPS
www.lyonhealy.com

THE MUSICIANS & TECHS IN THE “MAQUETTE”
CONCERT TESTS OF THIS SHOW:
1st Maquette - May 2005 - Regent Theatre - Arlington, MA
Steven Lipsitt and members of the Boston Classical Orchestra
Tom Dube (audio)
2nd Maquette - September 2005 - Arlington Center for the Arts - Arlington, MA
David Lockington (Conductor / Cello)
Karen Montanaro (Dance / Choreography)
Emily Senturia (Associate Conductor / Violin)
Tera Gorsett (Violin) - Lauren Gage (Viola)
Joanna Morrison (Cello) - Logan Coale (Double Bass)
Jennifer Hazel (Flute) - Ryan Yure (Clarinet)
Jonathan Wyner (Tuba / French Horn / Bubbles)
Robert Schulz (Percussion / Timpani)
Patrick Keating (audio) – Seaghan MacKay (lights)
Shelly Frost - Harp Tech

“WHITE RABBITS”
"White Rabbits" main footage directed by Ian Brownell; shot at Regent Theatre, Arlington, MA. White Rabbits also include behind-the-scenes footage by Rick DiGregorio and footage from the concert program. Danger Zone artwork by David Omar White. Still photos by Dianne Carroll Burdick.“

BEHIND-the-SCENES”
"Behind-the-Scenes" footage by Rick DiGregorio, includes footage from rehearsals, interviews and the concert program. Thanks to everyone who agreed to be interviewed and filmed for this segement.

DEBORAH’s CAMAC HARPS
The harps Deborah uses for this recording are the 30-string solid-body electric harp (the “Baby Blue” and the electro-acoustic concert grand (the “Big Blue”). Both were designed and built for her by CAMAC Harps.
The harps were expertly regulated by Patrick Dougal of PRD Harp Services.

For an updated version of this thanks and credits list
and more information,
visit:
www.HipHarp.com

 

Artist & Album Information

Title: Invention & Alchemy
Artist: Deborah Henson-Conant
Grand Rapids Symphony
Instruments: Harp and Orchestra
Genre: Contemporary
Format: DVD / CD
Our Ref: A0318 (DVD) & A0319 (CD)
MCPS: GC-06-002-CD
Label: Golden Cage Music
Year: 2006
Origin: USA