Composition II
with Ruth Montgomery, BSL storyteller Layla Fitzgerald-Woolfe and violinist Sophie Wiseman
“…music was composed by using the movement, speed, rhythmic agility, and expression of the Sign Language ….”
This project focuses on composing music which relates to Sign Language. 11 year old Layla Fitzgerald-Woolfe – who was born into a Deaf family and is a native user of British Sign Language – wrote a story named The Twilight Thief. She then performed it in British Sign Language in front of the camera. In this music story (subtitles are included), you will see how Layla shifts seamlessly and naturally between the characters of the thief, the beefeaters, and the guards. She also effectively changes the scene between the inside and outside of the Tower of London, describing in detail the stealing of the Queen’s crown. Layla’s signing of the story is highly intellectual, and is full of wit and abstract concepts.
Ruth then used Layla’s story to compose a piece for solo violin, also shown in the video. It is important to note that the music was composed by using the movement, speed, rhythmic agility, and expression of the Sign Language – not the other way around.
The score was then performed by Sophie Wiseman, a 12 year old deaf violinist studying at the prestigious Wells Cathedral School. She watched Layla’s every movement to match the timing and rhythm on her violin.
