Performance. In 2003 the arts organisation Factotum revived a choir that had been founded in the 1950's to sing socialist and experimental music. To understand what they had reincarnated they started a two year process of collecting memories and artifacts of the choirs turbulent history.
An exhibition about the history of an experimental local choir with galactic
ambition and varied talent. A journey through fifty years of musical adventure.
In 2003 the arts organisation Factotum revived a choir that had been founded in the
1950's to sing socialist and experimental music. To understand what they had
reincarnated they started a two year process of collecting memories and artifacts of
the choirs turbulent history. On the 6th October, following a performance by the
current choir, these materials will be presented in an exhibition for the first
time.
The original Factotum choir was nothing if not eclectic, embracing socialism,
satanism, pagan ritualism, folk and psychedelic performance art. Highlights of the
exhibition will include a behind-the-scenes film of rehearsals of their 1985
multimedia performance about Cu'chulann, The Hound of Ulster. Original drawings from
the folk opera, No Joy for Henry, will also be included, as will explosive footage
of their infamous pagan actionist ritual, Die Orgiegeheimnisse, performed in London
in 1971. These documents and many others, including posters, letters, records and
bizarre musical instruments, have been recovered from attics and libraries and in
one case discovered in a hedge. The whole story is engagingly told by those who
experienced the choir first-hand. This is achieved through a mixture of interviews
and contextualising text, bringing this obscure but fascinating period of musical
history to life.
Editors Notes
Factotum is a Belfast based arts organisation, among other activities it publishes
the monthly cultural paper The Vacuum, organises walks, dance events and
exhibitions. The current incarnation of The Factotum Choir performs a variety of
ideologically embarrassing repertoire including Stalinist and corporate songs. For
the opening of the exhibition it will premier its new corporate song for the Project
Arts Centre which is itself celebrating its fortieth anniversary this year.
Fri, October 6, 6,45 pm
Project Arts Centre
39 East Essex Street (Temple Bar) - Dublin