Illustration by Helen Temperley 2020
'The Butcher Baronet' is Gary's epic Folk Rock Opera about the mysterious and legendary 17th Century historical figure John Duck (a.k.a "Durham's Dick Wittington").
The project began as a collaboration between Gary and his partner illustrator Helen Temperley. In late 2018, Helen delivered a series of art workshops in County Durham, drawing on the legend of John Duck for its theme. Attending the workshops, Gary was inspired to write a couple of songs about John Duck to add to Helen's initial trial artwork. These two songs soon became half-a-dozen and suddenly the ball was rolling on another collaborative creative venture.
Then, call it coincidence, fate or serendipity, within a few days Gary received a call from his friend Paul Stainthorpe, Founder and Director at multi-award-winning film company Lone Pine Pictures, to arrange a meeting at none other than the John Duck pub in Durham City, for a catch up and to discuss possible future collaborations.
The pair had first met when Paul approached Gary for permission to use The Whisky Priests song 'Ballad of the Little Count' (based on the life of the famous historical figure Count Józef Boruwłaski) as the end credits theme song to Lone Pine Pictures' previous award-winning film 'The Little Count' (a documentary exploring the myth and the legend of the self-same character).
Helen's initial illustration © 2018
Illustration by Helen Temperley © 2019
Paul had purposely chosen the John Duck pub as the place to meet, in order to offer Gary the commission to write a new theme song for his next film, a second documentary exploring the myth and the legend of a historical Durham figure, this time, who else but John Duck?!
Gary took great delight in telling Paul that Helen and he had already been developing their own John Duck project and that he therefore already had a selection of songs available that might just fit the bill! Meanwhile, Paul commissioned Helen (also in attendance at the meeting) to provide artwork for the film's promotional material.
Everything was slotting into place neatly as though it was simply meant to be!
In June 2018, Gary and Helen were filmed by Lone Pine Pictures at the John Duck pub, for inclusion in the 'Butcher Baronet' documentary. Helen was interviewed about her illustrations and Gary performed a couple of songs, accompanied by his musical partner at the time and fellow ex-Whisky Priest Mick Tyas (R.I.P.).
Meanwhile, Gary, in the space of just one month, had developed his vision into a collection of around 30 songs and tunes, telling the entire tale of John Duck in the form of a folk rock opera titled 'The Butcher Baronet'.
Gary's eponymous song 'The Butcher Baronet' was chosen to serve as the end credits theme for the Lone Pine Pictures film and it was subsequently released as a download single...
Lone Pine Pictures' documentary film 'The Butcher Baronet' premiered to an enthusiastic full house at the Gala Theatre & Cinema in Durham City on 28th October 2019, going on to win a series of international awards.
Gary, Paul and Helen standing in front of the promotional banner featuring Helen's illustration of John Duck
at the premiere of Lone Pine Pictures' 'The Butcher Baronet'
at the Gala Theatre & Cinema, Durham City, 28th October 2019.
Gary is now looking forward to completing his current recording commitments - Northern Grit, Nellie's Temple, and Gary Miller's Big Picture - after which he intends to begin the process of recording 'The Butcher Baronet' in its entirety and to unleashing it into the public domain.
The Songs
'Duck's Overture' [Instrumental]
'The Butcher Baronet (A Tourist's Guide)'
'Dunholm-Dunelm-Durham'
'The Wanderer'
'City of Dreams'
'Go Away!'
'The Flesh Hewers'
'In the House of Heslop'
'My Butcher Boy'
'Merrily Danced The Butcher's Wife' [Instrumental]
'Flesh and Bone''
'Cast Out'
'Wade the Water'
'Shiny Thing'
'John's Jacobus (Inscription)'
'Golden Journey: Through Air / Over Water / To Earth / On Fire' [Instrumental]
'The Beer Token'
'A Man of Property'
'Old Duck's Main'
'Old Duck's Rant' [Instrumental]
'Taking up Alms'
'Now I Dream'
'Fortune Weaver'
'Elementary (Turn, Turn Again)'
'Hold on'
'Top of the Hill'
'Rolling On (A Hymn for John and Ann)'
'Behind the Wall'
'We Don't Talk About Him 'Round Here!'
'The Man, The Myth, The Legend?'
'Here's to You, John Duck!'
'Duck's Overture' [Reprise]
City of Dreams
CITY OF DREAMS
Far and wide I wandered
In search of my City of Dreams
I crossed the Browney River
By its gladsome, babbling streams
I plucked a flower at Maiden's Bower
Its yellows and its creams
Shone like gold and silver
As I reached my City of Dreams
Footsore and weary
I entered my City of Dreams
But a spring was in my step
I was full of hopes and schemes
I heard voices on the breeze
Their whispers rose to screams
"Grab every opportunity
In this City of Dreams"
Oh City of Dreams
May your colours and your themes
Fill the canvas of my mind
Layered in endless seams
City of Dreams
I've come here with nothing
I've got nothing left to lose
So take me as I am
It's up to you to choose
I've got so much to offer
How can you refuse?
The spirit of Cuthbert guiding me
Through this City of Dreams
To the many questions in my heart
He answered me in reams
I entered the Cathedral
And beneath its mighty beams
I gave thanks for my deliverance
Unto my City of Dreams
Oh City of Dreams
Where sunlight gleams
Upon those who through struggle
Perseverance redeems
City of Dreams
Oh City of Dreams
May your colours and your themes
Fill the canvas of my mind
Wrapped in endless seams
City of Dreams
(Gary Miller)