Poetry and Music
Nightdiver at Haworth (photo: Ian Palmer)
Because of her interest in the connections between poetry and music, Christine Bousfield founded Nightdiver, a poetry jazz group.
Christine is the group's poet. Her husband, John Bousfield, plays and teaches woodwind—particularly improvisation. Gus, their son, is a freelance musician, composer and writer for television and film. Nan, their daughter, sings and plays flute and bass. All four members of the group work on composition whilst Gus arranges the final song/poem.
They all concentrate on the way the language, register and address of a poem can inform musical structure, rhythm, pitch and tone, and try to encourage cross-fertilisation of instruments and voice—allowing the instruments to speak and the speaking voice to sing—in preference to the more traditional voice/ backing hierarchy.
Their performances include appearances at Mind Odyssey (Leeds), The Albert Poets (Huddersfield), Riverlines (York), Ilkley Literature Festival, Bradford Literature Festival, Haworth Literature Festival, and Cheltenham Literature Festival.
In January 2009, James Heselwood took over from Gus (who is snowed-under with work) as Nightdiver's keyboard and guitar player. We performed at the Priestley Theatre, Bradford (January), East Riddlesden Hall (July), Saltaire Festival (September), and Ilkley Literature Festival Fringe (October). We are planning new events. Thanks for all your hard work, James!
Christine was interviewed on East Leeds Community Radio on 30th January 2010, and read two of her recent poems 'To God, as a Quantum Riddler' and 'Hope'.