Another Michael's TESS story

Hello again and welcome back to the latest d'Blog keeping you up-to-date with all the latest from TESS Central.

In another d'Blog special, we hear from the multi-talented Michael Barker (I know, another Michael!) - actor and singer on the TESS album who will be performing as a postman, gambler, servant and priest as well as taking on high tenor duties in the chorus. Multi-talented indeed. 

So over to you, Michael.

​Back in the summer of 2013, my partner and I had some pretty extensive building work carried out on our house that necessitated our moving out of the property.  Fortunately for us Michael Blore and his partner John came to our rescue and offered us a place to stay for what should have been four to six weeks. As is always the case with such projects the deadline came and went and we ended up staying for more than three months.

This was how I became aware of and involved with TESS. During those long hot summer days and evenings – trust me there were some in 2013 – we would hear melodies escaping from the music room where Michael had shut himself away. Sometimes we could hear the music flowing and coming together beautifully. At other times we could hear Michael struggling to get things to work and occasionally his frustration would be taken out on the piano keyboard. Such is the life of a composer! It must have been made extra hard for Michael, knowing that we were listening to what he was doing and would be constantly quizzing him over dinner as to what he was working on and what section of the show the music we had just heard him working on related to.

'ROLLICKING DANCE'

Michael Barker (r) with TESS album producer Sunim Koria

​I knew Michael could sing and play the piano; what I didn’t know was that this boy could write – and he could write good stuff. Listening to those melodies I could already picture the rolling Wessex countryside, the Christmas market and the rollicking May Day dance. Little did we know the seismic and tragic turn of events that would end that joyful summer of music and laughter; and, returning back to our own home in Leamington, I assumed that that would be the end of TESS.

Thankfully that was not the case and I was thrilled to hear that Michael was continuing with the project – and even more thrilled when he asked if I would be involved with recording some of the ensemble pieces for the album. Of course I would: I didn’t even need to think about it!

Seeing the sheet music with Michael’s arrangements and Michael Davies’s lyrics gave me such a buzz. Michael also provided backing tracks for us to learn our parts before recording. To hear these songs coming to life with full arrangements and harmonies was so exciting it really made me appreciate how much work the two Michaels had put in since those early days of Michael composing from his music room.

Michael Barker recording "Pleasure City" from Act 2

RECORDING DAY

​Then came the recording. I started to feel the pressure. With such a talented cast assembled I didn’t want to be the one to let the side down. Apart from anything else, I’d never recorded any vocals before - let alone been in a recording booth with headphones on. I don’t really read music. Panic was starting to set in! I needn’t have worried. Sunim Koria and Michael B were wonderfully kind and patient and guided me through the whole process. They never showed any hint of frustration, even when I might have had to do five takes on one phrase!

I loved hearing the songs come to life. I’ve still only heard them with either an electronic backing track or piano so can’t wait to hear the full orchestrated 

sound with all the instruments and voices. Both the music and the lyrics have captured the atmosphere of the book and the settings of each scene brilliantly.

I am so grateful to have been a small part of this process and am really looking forward to hearing the finished album. Having been around to witness the early days of the project I can’t wait to see how far TESS can go and really hope to see a fully staged production in the not too distant future.

Thank you for reading and following the progress of TESS. Please feel free to leave a comment. We'd love to hear from you.

Next time on d'Blog... We bring you an exclusive interview with TESS composer Michael Blore.