South Shields

The Great North Passion event held today, Good Friday, in Bents Park in South Shields, England involved the telling of the Easter Passion story by collaborating with local artists who were commissioned to transform metal shipping containers into artistic works reflecting many regions and issues from around the northeast. The 60 containers were then placed in the shape of a giant crucifix in the Park where the public were invited to explore the installation and enjoy the occasion.

The hour-long event brought in thousands of spectators to enjoy the show which featured performances by Alexandra Burke.

Bents Park crucifix

Spectators arrive to watch the show

Artwork on one of the shipping containers

Crowds watch the performance

Zororai Gundu from the ‘Women of African Origin’ choir

Watching the event

Reverend Jim Craig

Henry Howard from the Retired Fisherman’s Mission in North Shields

Enjoying the show

Alexandra Burke singing at the event

The ‘Women of African Origin’ choir get ready to sing

Fern Britton and Alexandra Burke

Theo Craig, 8, adds the finishing touches to one of the art installation containers

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Hundreds of spectators crowded onto cliffs in the northeast of England earlier today to watch a musical performance celebrating the foghorn. The event, held at Souter lighthouse in South Shields, England was called ‘Foghorn Requiem’. It was written by Orlando Gough and was performed by three brass bands, an armada of ships that were positioned offshore and the Souter Lighthouse Foghorn. It was conducted and controlled from shore with the ships sounding their foghorns to the musical score. The idea was that the piece of music would would take into account the landscape and the physical distance of sound. The piece was performed live to audiences on the coastal cliffs and played across a space of several miles around Souter Lighthouse.

A woman waits on a hillside at the start of the ‘Foghorn Requiem’

Orlando Gough, the composer of ‘Foghorn Requiem’, poses for a picture in front of Souter Lighthouse

Musicians wait for the start of the ‘Foghorn Requiem’ at Souter Lighthouse in South Shields

Spectators sit and watch the performance of ‘Foghorn Requiem’ at Souter Lighthouse

A woman gets a closer view of the ships out at sea during the performance

An artist paints the scene at the ‘Foghorn Requiem’ in South Shields

Steven Symons, a cornet player with the NASUWT Riverside Band from Chester le Street plays solo at the top of Souter lighthouse during the performance

The DFDS ferry Princess Seaways sits out at sea during the performance of the ‘Foghorn Requiem’

The band plays with musical accompaniment from the foghorns on-board the ships and yachts out at sea during the ‘Foghorn Requiem’

A spectator cups his hands over his ears to catch all the sounds of the foghorns during the performance

The performance of ‘Foghorn Requiem’ at Souter Lighthouse near South Shields

Tag: South Shields

The Great North Passion

The Foghorn’s Lament