Music Hall Maestros

That Mesmerising Mendelssohn Tune - commissioned for this year's Camberwell Arts Festival - is Sarah Doyle’s latest animation in response to Camberwell’s magnificent music hall history.  We're delighted to present an online triple bill of these works for Movie Monday.

That Mesmerising Mendelssohn Tune

Mendelssohn wrote the melody 'Camberwell Green' for his piano pieces Songs Without Words when staying with friends in Camberwell. The piece became 'Mendelssohn Rag', also known as 'That Mesmerizing Mendelssohn Tune'. Commissioned for the 2020 Camberwell Arts Festival Sarah created an animation to celebrate the Camberwell Music Hall connection.

This is set to a 4-part choral arrangement written by local composer Jordan Theis, which fits the 1910 Collins and Harlan recording of the song. We invited singers from Camberwell and beyond to create a virtual choir for this animation.

Following In Father's Footsteps

In 1899 Vesta Tilley laid the foundation stone for the Camberwell Palace Of Varieties, which stood at 23-31 Denmark Hill. At this time Camberwell boasted around half a dozen theatres or cinemas. The day she laid the foundation stone she is reported to have said that she would be “delighted to sing the first song in the new Palace of Varieties”*

This film was created as part of Camberwell Arts Festival 2016 “Metamorphosis” project and features a song by the Music Hall star Vesta Tilley. She was one of the foremost musichall acts of her day and started her male impersonation act at the age of only 5 years old. Vesta Tilley personifies metamorphosis, an enduring icon, her influence can still be felt today.

*Quote from the theatrical paper the Era, 8th July, 1899

Chalk Farm to Camberwell Green

This film was created as part of Camberwell Arts Festival “Transported’ project and features a song by the Music Hall star Gertie Millar. Popular in the 1900’s she was once described by Noel Coward "I adore her and in my memory she is clearly the most graceful and charming artiste I have ever seen."

'Transported' combines the idea of travel with the psychological transformations that art can bring about. Reflecting the historic role of the arts in Camberwell, it looks at the capacity of art to transport us, suspend disbelief and generate alternative realities. Making connections and journeys around Camberwell, 'Transported' will draw together the work and ideas of participating artists in order to showcase the local arts scene, engage new audiences in the arts and reflect the cultural diversity of the Camberwell area.

The song Chalk Farm to Camberwell Green was popular in the Music Halls of London in the 1900s, when Camberwell was a go to destination for the two large music halls based there.