Vocal River, The Skill and Spirit of Improvisation by Rhiannon. Pictured are the book, exercise cards and select interior pages. Cover design, card front design: Steven Parke; Book Design, Interior Illustrations: Susan Mangan; Photography: Jan Watson
Her show was staged in a vast white pavilion built on the banks of the Seine, close by the Alexandre Trois bridge.In an impassioned note left on the seats, Dame Vivienne spoke of the importance of learning from the past, of respecting the planet, and securing the future.And, in a Paris season when both Nicolas Ghesquière at Balenciaga, and Christophe Decarnin at Balmain, have reached back to punk, Westwood, the high priestess of the punk movement, ignored it.Her inspirations, instead, touched on Tutankhamen, Inca priestesses, Henri Matisse, Japanese ‘Noh’ theatre, Comedia dell’Arte, and the ballet.As the music switched from Rachmaninov to Scottish folk tunes, these references gave rise to many of Westwood’s best-loved silhouettes: cleavage-bodices, with swathed shoulders, allied to ruched,bunched long skirts, or a perky mini, in a tapestry-floral. Pale metallic tartan taffeta was used for bloused dresses with wide belts and a train; and a floral ballgown, with fishtail-skirt, was cinched with a belt stamped with the word ‘fragile’.
This story of Rhiannon’s passionate commitment to music, especially vocal improvisation, takes us through the twists and turns of her life – from a young girl discovering singing on her family’s Missouri River farm, to internationally acclaimed artist, and full circle as she combines farming and art on Hawaii Island.