Saturday 19 October 2013

New Music North West

New Music North West
The Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) and the University of Manchester are presenting New Music North West, the UK's largest festival of new British music, from 26 October to 2 November. The week-long festival takes place mainly at the RNCM and at the university's Martin Harris Centre. There is the opportunity to hear groups such as the BBC Philharmonic, Psappha, Ensemble 10/10 and the House of Bedlam and the Liverpool-born composer Edwin Roxburgh features heavily. The festival includes over 10 world premieres and 24 of the concerts are free.

For the opening weekend MANTIS (Manchester Theatre in Sound) will be presenting a weekend of electro-acoustic concerts.  Works which received their premiere at the RNCM's Sound Histories event at the British Museum in July this year will be receiving their Manchester premieres on the RNCM concourse.

The music of Edwin Roxburgh features in three concerts by the RNCM New Ensemble and Vaganza. Roxburgh is the festival's featured composer and Clark Rundell, the festival director, will also be interviewing him. Roxburgh is also giving a composers masterclass, working on new music by composers and ensembles from the university and the RNCM.

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic's Ensemble 10/10 makes an appearance and includes Ediwn Roxburgh's Serenata along with premieres by Ian Stephens and Benjamin Gatt.

The music of Fabrice Fitch features in concerts by Trio Atem, Trio Aporia and the House of Bedlam, and Fitch's work will also be used in a research forum with Trio Aporia, who play contemporary music on historic instruments.

The BBC Philharmonic, conductor Juanjo Mena, and Psappha will be giving a joint concert which includes music by Philip Grange, David Horne, Joe Duddel and Gordon Crosse. The BBC Philharmonic under Juanjo Mena will be giving a second concert in the festival, featuring the world premiere of Emily Howard's Axon. Psappha will also reappear, in a concert conducted by Nicholas Kok, which features Mark Simpson's Ariel, and premieres by Larry Goves and Nina Whiteman.

One fascinating event is Exploring the North West in which short messages from each composer represented in the festival are played, including audio snippets and personal messages, some professional recorded others done on their own smart phones, offering a rare perspective into contemporary music.

Many of the events are free so there is no excuse. Full information from the festival website.

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