JON LORD Music To Be Celebrated By Germany’s Philharmonic Orchestra

According to JonLord.org, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Hagen, Germany will celebrate former DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord's music at several of their concerts this year.

Working from plans put in motion early last year, this spring will see the orchestra perform five of Jon's pieces; "The Cathedral At Dawn", a segment of his "Durham Concerto"; "Diguises", released on the "Boom Of The Tingling Strings" album; "From Darkness To Light" in a brand new arrangement for full orchestra; "To Notice Such Things" and "Sarabande".

The dates are as folows:

February 28

Jon Lord: The Cathedral At Dawn

Peter Tschaikowski: Violinkonzert

Dmitri Schostakowitsch: Sinfonie Nr. 9

April 24

Jon Lord: Disguises

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Violinkonzert

Franz Schubert: Sinfonie Nr. 6

May 15

Jon Lord: From Darkness To Light (World premiere of version for large orchestra)

Jean Sibelius: Sinfonie Nr. 5

June 12

Johannes Brahms: Haydn-Variationen

Jon Lord: To Notice Such Things

Johannes Brahms: Violinkonzert

July 6

Jon Lord: Sarabande

All concerts take place at Hagen's Stadthalle, and Jon Lord is not scheduled to appear.

Lord revealed last summer that he was fighting cancer. Jon Lord is recognized for his Hammond organ blues-rock playing and unique sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque forms. He has most famously been a member of DEEP PURPLE, the band he co-founded in 1968. Lord last year received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music from the University of Leicester.

JON LORD Music To Be Celebrated By Germany’s Philharmonic Orchestra

According to JonLord.org, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Hagen, Germany will celebrate former DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord's music at several of their concerts this year.

Working from plans put in motion early last year, this spring will see the orchestra perform five of Jon's pieces; "The Cathedral At Dawn", a segment of his "Durham Concerto"; "Diguises", released on the "Boom Of The Tingling Strings" album; "From Darkness To Light" in a brand new arrangement for full orchestra; "To Notice Such Things" and "Sarabande".

The dates are as folows:

February 28
Jon Lord: The Cathedral At Dawn
Peter Tschaikowski: Violinkonzert
Dmitri Schostakowitsch: Sinfonie Nr. 9

April 24
Jon Lord: Disguises
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Violinkonzert
Franz Schubert: Sinfonie Nr. 6

May 15
Jon Lord: From Darkness To Light (World premiere of version for large orchestra)
Jean Sibelius: Sinfonie Nr. 5

June 12
Johannes Brahms: Haydn-Variationen
Jon Lord: To Notice Such Things
Johannes Brahms: Violinkonzert

July 6
Jon Lord: Sarabande

All concerts take place at Hagen's Stadthalle, and Jon Lord is not scheduled to appear.

Lord revealed last summer that he was fighting cancer.

Jon Lord is recognized for his Hammond organ blues-rock playing and unique sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque
forms. He has most famously been a member of DEEP PURPLE, the band he co-founded in 1968.

Lord last year received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music from the University of Leicester.

Jon Lord/Deep Purple News

Former DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord, who recently revealed that he is fighting cancer, has released the following statement:

"Just a quick line or two from an absolutely overwhelmed, gratified and humbled musician. Your responses to the news of my condition have touched my heart in a way that has truly helped to make my life a better place to be than it had occasionally threatened to become these last few weeks. Your wonderful messages wishing me strength and courage have given me even
more strength and courage — and so much more than you can ever know. I read many of them with tears in my eyes, grateful for this cast-iron proof of the innate goodness of the human being, and grateful to every single one of you for your invaluable support.
This message goes out, too, to all the similarly wonderful folk on other websites whose
support has been equally warm and strong and I want you all to know how
greatly heartened and comforted I am by all this. The treatment continues and I am confident and being supported by my glorious family and an amazing group of friends.

See you soon."

Jon Lord is recognized for his Hammond organ blues-rock playing and unique sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque forms. He has most famously been a member of DEEP PURPLE, the band he co-founded in 1968.

Lord recently received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music from the University of Leicester.

Former DEEP PURPLE Keyboardist JON LORD Diagnosed With Cancer

Former DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord has released the following statement via his official web site, JonLord.org:

"I would like all my friends, followers, fans and fellow travelers to know that I am fighting cancer and will therefore be taking a break from performing while getting the treatment and cure. I shall, of course, be continuing to write music — in my world it just has to be part of the therapy — and I fully expect to be back in good shape next year.

"God bless and see you soon."

Jon Lord is recognized for his Hammond organ blues-rock playing and unique sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque forms. He has most famously been a member of DEEP PURPLE, the band he co-founded in 1968. Lord recently received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music from the University of Leicester.

SOURCE: RNR

Ex-DEEP PURPLE Keyboardist JON LORD Made Honorary Doctor Of Music

According to JonLord.org, former DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord has received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music from the University of Leicester.

"Jon Lord is one of British music's most eclectic and talented instrumentalists. There are no signs of his creative talents abating.”

These words rounded off a detailed account of Jon Lord's musical life that preceded Jon being presented with the Honorary Degree.

"It is humbling to hear your life retold with such accuracy," Lord said in his acceptance speech, where he also spoke fondly of his musical childhood in Leicester.

His first concert was experience was in the same hall where the presentation ceremony was being held.

"I was 6 or 7 years old and heard cutting edge classical stuff performed by the Haley Orchestra; the William Tell Overture, Grieg's Piano Concerto and the New World Symphony.

"It thrilled me and possibly changed things right there," he explained.

Years later in the same hall, he saw Buddy Holly.

"He spun my head around," Lord said. "The love of what Buddy Holly represented and the love of what the Haley Orchestra represented has defined my musical life.

"This town was and still is deep inside my bones, and it's a huge, huge
privilege and an honor to come back here and accept this honorary
degree. My parents — were they alive — would be dancing in the street. I
suspect and hope they're dancing somewhere far more pleasant than
Averill Road [Jon's childhood home]. Thank you and God bless!"

JON LORD Announces Russian Tour With Hungarian DEEP PURPLE Tribute Band CRY FREE

According to JonLord.org, former DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord will perform four concerts in Russia in April, taking in both Moscow and St. Petersburg but also Rostov-on-Don and Krasnodar. The shows will feature Hungarian DEEP PURPLE tribute band CRY FREE, and two different orchestras (depending on the city) as well as singers to be confirmed.

The dates are as follows:

April 12 - Krasnodar, Russia - DI Primiera
April 14 - Rostov-On-Don, Russia - KSK Express
April 17 - St Petersburg, Russia - BKZ Oktyabrskiy Concert Hall
April 20 - Moscow, Russia - Crocus City Hall

Photo below courtesy of JonLord.org

JON LORD To Perform 'Concerto For Group And Orchestra' In Germany

According to JonLord.org, former DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord has confirmed three German concerts, billed as "An Evening With Jon Lord Featuring Concerto For Group And Orchestra."

The dates are as follows:

May 11 - Koblenz, Germany - Sporthalle Oberwerth
May 13 - Frankfurt, Germany - Jahrhunderthalle
May 14 - Stuttgart, Germany - Liederhalle Beethovensaal

JON LORD To Compose Concerto For Hammond And Tympani

According to a posting on the JonLord.org web site, former DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord has been commissioned to compose a concerto for Hammond organ and orchestra and with special parts for tympani. The piece will be premiered with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra with Tom Vissgren on tympani in Oslo, Norway in the spring of 2012. "It is basically a concerto for Hammond and an orchestra with a very virtuoso tympany part," explains Jon Lord.

"Tom Vissgren and I had become acquaintances, and he had asked me if I would write a tympany concerto. I said, 'I am not up to writing a tympany concerto but how about this…'

"I had been thinking for years about writing a Hammond Concerto. Something I could turn up and play as part of a program with an orchestra. It doesn't have to be a program of only my music, just slot me in along next to Mahler and I would be happy. So I thought about that, and told Vissgren that I could write a really virtuoso tympany part to go alongside it. We took the idea to the management of the Oslo Philharmonics and it's now commissioned for the spring of 2012. I'm getting on well with this and it's coming along nicely."

Jon Lord Joins Forces With Violinist ANNA PHOEBE In New Band

Acclaimed violinist extraordinaire Anna Phoebe (JETHRO TULL, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, PAUL RODGERS, ROXY MUSIC) has joined forces with former DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord in a brand new brand. Phoebe writes on her Twitter profile, "I am VERY excited! Now we need a name!"

In a recent installment of her weekly column for U.K.'s Classic Rock magazine, Phoebe stated about Lord, "What a nice, gentle, intelligent, interesting man! We talked seamlessly for over two hours [over lunch] and decided that we have the same approach to music as each other — albeit his experience and sheer genius far outweighing mine! We're hopefully going to get together and have a little play with our instruments and see if our Hammond and violin get on as well as we think they might!"

SOURCE: RNRCOLA

OPETH Members To Perform With JON LORD Of Deep Purple

Former DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord will perform at the Nidarosdomen cathedral in Norway along with The Lord Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Torodd Wigum, on Sunday evening, May 23. Lord will be joined by Martin Axenrot and Martin Mendez of OPETH, with Steve Balsamo, who played and sang the role of Jesus in the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar". Nathalie Lorichs (OPETH's "Coil") will do the female vocals.

Jon Lord has just released a new classical CD, "To Notice Such Things", which will have its Scandinavian premiere at this weekend's event. According to a posting on OPETH's web site, "We will also hear beautiful pieces from his solo career, together with a couple of rearranged DEEP PURPLE songs, including 'Child in Time' with a children's choir for extra goosebumps effect! Definitely a night to remember!"

The lineup for the performance will be as follows:

* Jon Lord - Piano/Organ
* Steve Balsamo - Vocals (Jesus Christ Superstar)
* Nathalie Lorichs - Vocals (Opeth)
* Karina Hanssen - Choir
* Martin Axenrot - Drums (Opeth, female singer on the track Coil)
* Martin Mendez - Bass (Opeth)
* Magnus Johansen - Keyboards (V Before U)
* Lord Chamber Orchestra conducted by Torodd Wigum
* The Choir Children of Time conducted by Elen Cath Furunes

JON LORD's 'Concerto For Group And Orchestra' To Premiere In Scotland

Stevenson College, in a major collaboration with The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, The City of Edinburgh Music School and the Edinburgh Schools Symphony Orchestra, will presents Jon Lord's Concerto for Group and Orchestra on Monday, October 5, 2009 in The Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Ken Thomson, Head of Music and Drama at SCE, has put a Scottish music education marker on the international map by persuading Jon Lord, founder member of DEEP PURPLE, to include this Edinburgh performance in his world wide itinerary.
"This unique collaborative event will feature the virtuosic skills of Stevenson College's finest rock band and the talents of a 100-piece symphony orchestra," says Ken Thomson. The orchestra comprises musicians from The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, The City of Edinburgh Music School and the Edinburgh Schools Symphony Orchestra. Jon visited Stevenson College Edinburgh in February to rehearse the rock band and begin the preparation for this very special event.
"This concert is intended to reveal the exceptional talents of students studying music from school to conservatoire level in Scotland," says Ken Thomson. "It will be a high profile event and an important date in the Scottish music diary."
Grant Kilpatrick, lead guitarist in the SCE rock band, says, "I couldn't believe my eyes when Jon Lord walked into the college. It is a great privilege to perform with him especially in this piece. We all know 'Smoke on The Water' but this is something else!"
The first half of the program will comprise of SCE and RSAMD's jazz band (directed by Ken Thomson), followed by a combined traditional folk music ensemble (directed by Phil Cunningham). Jon Lord will be performing part of the folk session with Phil.
The second half of the programme will feature Jon Lord's Concerto for Group and Orchestra followed by an orchestrated version of his rock anthem "Child in Time" (1969).
Jon Lord will play the Hammond organ, with the rock band.Jon Lord (composer and founder member of DEEP PURPLE) wrote this piece in 1969. The concerto, a fusion of classical and rock styles, was first performed later that year in the Albert Hall, with Malcolm Arnold conducting, featuring DEEP PURPLE and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. It has since been performed regularly throughout the world to great acclaim.
"I am very pleased to be involved with this exciting project," says Jon Lord."I have a strong interest in music education and I am delighted to be invited, as composer and performer, to be part of this very significant event. My Concerto for Group and Orchestra has been performed extensively throughout the world. This will be a Scottish premier for the piece. It will not only expose my classical work to the Scottish concert going public but also, and very importantly, provide a platform to expose the talent of Scotland's finest aspiring musicians."