Barrage (group)

This article is about the band. For other uses, see Barrage (disambiguation).
Barrage
Background information
Origin Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Genres Canadian fiddle
Jazz
World music
Celtic
Bluegrass
Rock
Pop
Calypso
Latin
Klezmer
Traditional
Folk
Years active 1996 (1996)–2012[1]
Website barrage.org/index_home.html

Barrage was a violin-based, modern worldbeat ensemble based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.[2] The group employed a blend of eclectic violin music with high-energy physical choreography during their performances.[3] They released several albums, and their filmed concert specials have been featured on television networks around the world.[4]

Barrage played a diverse mix of material from a wide variety of genres, including Celtic, Swing, Bluegrass, Jazz, Rock, Calypso, Pop, Canadian fiddle and Latin, as well as contemporary versions of traditional material from countries including China, Ukraine, and India.[5][6]

The group released a statement via Twitter on May 9, 2012 that they were suspending their performance and touring schedule indefinitely, effectively disbanding.[1] In November 2015, the producers of Barrage launched a new project called "Barrage8", a string octet that is loosely based on the original Barrage concept.[7]

History

Barrage began as a musical entertainment concept created in Calgary, Alberta in 1996 by musicians Dean Marshall and John Crozman. Together with Jana Wyber, Brian Hanson, and Anthony Moore, they formed Barrage's executive production and creative team, known as "5 to 1 Entertainments".[8] Dean Marshall served as the group's musical director, composer, and arranger.[9]

Barrage originally consisted of seven violinists, along with a four piece backline made up of bass guitar, acoustic/electric guitar, drum set and percussion. In its early days, Barrage's performances concentrated solely on experimenting and exploring new musical ideas. The group initially gained attention for pushing the violin's musical boundaries in their attempts to change the public's general perception of what is considered acceptable music to be played using the instrument. The seven violinists began incorporating choreography and several forms of dance into their shows while playing the violin at the same time, thus creating unique visuals to match the various music styles they were performing. Barrage quickly evolved into a hybrid cross between a theatrical music production and a musical ensemble show.[9][10]

A second cast of Barrage was created by 5 to 1 Entertainments in 2001 and was based in London, England. For a short time, two entirely different casts of Barrage were touring and performing the same show in different parts of the world simultaneously. The two casts were later amalgamated, reverting to a single, eleven member Canada-based cast.[9]

In 2006, Barrage added a major educational component to their show format and touring schedule, and frequently worked in American schools with their "Energize Your Strings!" program.[11]

Tours

Barrage embarked on three major concert tours during their existence, namely "A Violin Sings, A Fiddle Dances", "Vagabond Tales", and "High Strung".[12] These tours each spanned several years in length, and collectively played to audiences in 27 countries across Asia, Central America, Europe, North America, and Oceania,.[12] The group also frequently toured regionally in North America and Europe using the self-titled "'Barrage" show name.[13]

Barrage occasionally performed as a semi-permanent resident show at Epcot in Walt Disney World Florida, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California, and Chime-Long Paradise in Guangzhou, China.[14]

Media

Barrage released five studio albums, one live album, one greatest hits album and two concert DVDs.

They group released their first album, Live in Europe in 1998, recorded live at multiple venues during Barrage's tour of Europe that year.[15] Their self-titled album Barrage, released in 2000, was the group's first studio album.[16] Barrage's second studio album Vagabond Tales was released in 2003 in conjunction with the launch of the group's Vagabond Tales tour, containing many of the songs that were featured in the show.[17] In 2008, Barrage released Scrapbook, a greatest hits album containing popular and well known songs from the group's shows and previous recordings.[18] Also in 2008, Barrage's third studio album "High Strung" was released, containing music performed by Barrage during their "High Strung" tour.[19] Winter's Tale was released in 2009 containing a collaboration with Danish vocalist Stig Rossen.[20] In 2011, the group released its last studio album titled Soundtrack of the World.[21]

Barrage released two concert DVD's, The World on Stage (1999) and Vagabond Tales (2003),[22][23] both of which were broadcast as prime-time concert specials on the PBS network in the United States.[24] A documentary titled "Dig a Little Deeper" was broadcast in Canada on CBC in 2005.[25]

Cast

The cast of Barrage was a group of young professional musicians from a variety of musical backgrounds. Barrage was made up of several different musicians throughout its history, each of whom were specifically selected for the group through worldwide auditions. The musicians came from Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, New Zealand, and the United States, and included violinists Miranda Mulholland, Mitchell Grobb, and Kiana Weber.[26]

Discography

Filmography

References

  1. 1 2 "Barrage (@BarrageMusic) | Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  2. ↑ Demalon, Tom. "Barrage | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  3. ↑ "A Barrage of music and dance: Canadian performance troupe brings 'Soundtrack of the World' to Maryville". The Daily Times. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  4. ↑ About the show
  5. ↑ Martinez, Sergio (2011-07-16). "Fiddle Barrage: Is That An Orchestra?". socal.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  6. ↑ Belanger, Joe (2011-12-06). "String fling | Music | Entertainment | London Free Press". The London Free Press. Lfpress.com. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  7. ↑ "barrage8". barrage8. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  8. ↑ Design and Production: Steve Nowlon. "Barrage - Back Stage - The Creators". Barrage.ca. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  9. 1 2 3 "Barrage Is a Force for Fiddling". www.allthingsstrings.com. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  10. ↑ Design and Production: Steve Nowlon. "Barrage - Official Home". Barrage.ca. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  11. ↑ Design and Production: Steve Nowlon (2010-09-20). "Barrage - Educational". Barrage.ca. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  12. 1 2 JOE BELANGER, The London Free Press (2011-12-06). "String fling | Music | Entertainment | London Free Press". Lfpress.com. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  13. ↑ "Barrage Tour Dates – Barrage Concert Dates and Tickets". Songkick. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  14. ↑ Kaz Liput and John Frost. "Barrage at Disneyland". Laughingplace.com. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
  15. ↑ On Tour with Barrage - Live in Europe, retrieved 2015-11-24
  16. ↑ Live in Europe Album Information
  17. ↑ "Vagabond Tales - Barrage". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  18. ↑ "Barrage (4) - Scrapbook". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  19. ↑ "Barrage High Strung". www.lamiradatheatre.com. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  20. ↑ "Stig Rossens uofficielle fanside - Årets Julekoncert med Stig Rossen i Portalen". www.olinerne.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  21. ↑ "Barrage Unleashes 'Soundtrack of the World'". CasperJournal.com. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  22. ↑ "Music in Motion: Barrage: The World On Stage DVD". www.musicmotion.com. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  23. ↑ "Music in Motion: BARRAGE: Vagabond Tales DVD". www.musicmotion.com. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  24. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/333861/Barrage-Vagabond-Tales/overview
  25. ↑ "CBC.ca - Program Guide - Programs". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  26. ↑ Lisa L. LaCamera. "International Sensation Barrage Electrifies the Stage with a Visual and Aural Extravaganza". My Wolf Trap. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
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