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Wednesday 28 Dec 2011, 13:00 on BBC Radio York, a one-hour documentary:
York Remembers John Barry; Family and friends pay tribute to the York-born film composer.    

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Don Black's long-awaited radio tribute to John Barry is scheduled for Monday 2nd January between 7 and 9 p.m. on BBC Radio 2.

Don remembers his first sighting of "a classy, elegant chap" on Tin Pan Alley, who ate "like a ballerina" and would despatch indebted film producers with his characteristic "Yorkshire bluntness".

On their music collaborations, he remembers Sir Tom Jones fainting after the sustained end note of Thunderball, and a producer's dismissal of the "lousy tune" and "filthy lyrics" of Diamonds Are Forever.

Don tells of artistic differences during rehearsals for Billy Liar, and the complete failure of another musical, The Little Prince And The Aviator, which closed during preview.

He recalls a memorable night at the home of Leslie Bricusse when he, Quincy Jones, Henry Mancini and Burt Bacharach had to break up a fight between Barry and John Phillips of the Mamas and Papas after the composer challenged Phillips to hum something by Mahler!

This tribute is sound-tracked by some of Barry's best loved compositions, including Born Free, Out Of Africa, The Ipcress File, Midnight Cowboy, Dances With Wolves and several of those classic Bond themes.

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Director, writer and producer Bryan Forbes, who collaborated with John Barry on six films, is to be honoured by the British Film Institute.

On 24th January at the NFT, South Bank, London, Bryan will be interviewed about his career after a screening of "Whistle Down The Wind". He will then be presented with a Fellowship, the BFI's highest honour, in recognition of his lengthy and successful career in the business.      

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In line with its 50th anniversary, Hallmark are releasing a CD of "Stringbeat" on the 1st January 2012. Due to an extension of copyright in sound recordings from 50 to 70 years voted in by the European Parliament, which is likely to become law in the UK next year or the year after, the days of new public domain re-issues are numbered. However, this won't prevent future PD releases of music which is *already* out of copyright by the time the law is in force.

The copyright situation is succinctly summed up by David Ades of The Robert Farnon Society in this article.    

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The Camden Society are having a charity auction. Dame Shirley Bassey has donated a doodle of her hand with a 'Gold finger'
Others who have contributed include Yoko Ono, Bardot, Tony Blair, Prime Minister David Cameron, Samantha Fox , Rolf Harris, Jane Bown, Joanna Lumley, Christopher Paolini, Dame Vera Lynn, Pete Best, Klaus Voormann, Will Mellor.

All proceeds from the Charity auction which takes place via ebay on the 20th November will go to Queens Road Day Centre (London), a day service for adults with learning disabilities and multi complex needs.

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Silva Screen have sub-licensed a number of their CD releases to Dutch-based company Music on Vinyl (see news item below), including The Ipcress File.

This special 180 grams audiophile vinyl release comes in a Gatefold sleeve, and at the suggestion of Silva's commercial director, David Stoner, MOV opted to restore the running order that was on the original LP and to have all the dialogue clips as a bonus 7" which comes with the LP.

All the CD booklet notes from Silva's CD have been retained in the gatefold sleeve.

It *should* be possible to order this via your local record shop (if you still have one) or via the usual on-line shops such as Amazon. However, be prepared for an expensive purchase - amazon.co.uk currently offers it for an eye-watering £27.55 - but it should be worth waiting for Silva to stock it themselves.

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An article on the website of The York Press says that "A CONCERT to celebrate the life and music of the late York-born composer John Barry is a sell-out"

More...

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"The Christmas Wine" and "A Christmas Song" premiere in Colombian university concert

Two a cappella pieces written by John Barry will be performed in a choral concert on Wednesday, October 19th, 7:30 pm.
The entrance is free. To acquire tickets, click this link.
The event will take place at the Universidad de los Andes (Lleras auditorium), Bogotá (city), Colombia (country)
The programme will include music by Debussy, Stravinsky, Villa-lobos and Arvo Pärt
The Barry works that were chosen are: "The Christmas Wine" from "The Lion in Winter" and "A Christmas Song" from "The Last Valley".
Program:
Heitor Villalobos - Ave Maria; Maurice Duruflé - Quatre Motets, Op.10; John Barry - The Christmas Wine (from "The Lion in Winter"); John Barry - A Christmas Song (from "The Last Valley"); Igor Stravinsky - Ave Maria, Credo, Pater Noster; Heitor Villa-lobos - Duas Lendas Amerindias em Nheengatu; Arvo Pärt - Magnificat; Claude Debussy - Trois Chansons de Charles d'Orleans
Choir: Los Andes University Chamber Choir
Guest conductor: Alexander Klein

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The Guildford School of Acting (attached to the University of Surrey) are producing the John Barry / Don Black musical "Billy" as part of their 3rd year Musical Theatre. The cast are GSA 3rd year students, about to graduate next sumer, with professional director and designer.
Location: The Ivy Arts Centre, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH 
Dates: November 2, 3, 4, at 7.30pm and November 5 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.
Tickets online from the University's Arts website

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Enterprising Dutch-based company Music on Vinyl has announced the release of The Ipcress File.

This special 180 grams audiophile vinyl release comes in a Gatefold sleeve, and for those who enjoyed the dialogue snippets found on the recent Silva Screen CD, a bonus 7-inch vinyl recording is included in the package.

It *should* be possible to order this via your local record shop (if you still have one) or via the usual on-line shops such as Amazon. However, be prepared for an expensive purchase - amazon.co.uk currently offers it for an eye-watering £27.55!