Ilan Volkov's initiative: the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra's annual celebration of New and Experimental Music, encouraging composers not often associated with orchestral Music to create new works for orchestral forces. And offering for me the most enticing work thus far presented in the New Music Show - the premiere of Christian Wolff's Old Shoe, New Shoe. Wolff is one of the keenest Musical intellects around, and I find his Music provocative, playful, and involving. I've never managed to get as enthused by Jennifer Walshe's Music, and am often bewildered by the praise it evokes in others, many of whom Musicians I admire and whose opinions I respect - which is why I keep listening to it, in the hope that the penny might drop. And I've heard very little of Andrew Hamilton's work, so cannot really comment on it. So - a work by a composer I greatly admire; a work by a composer I wish I admired more; and a work by a composer I don't really know: sounds an ideal programme for me.
And Programme commun, for harpsichord and tape from 1972 by Luc Ferrari (1929-2005) played by Mahan Esfahani - and a feature on a new work by Czech-born, New York-based composer Lucie Vitkova (b1985), a large-scale environmental installation work which the composer performed four times during the weekend of the festival. (And her PhD research was focussed on Christian Wolff's work, so a neat link with the orchestral concert.)
Andrew Hamilton (b1977): c (UK Premiere)
Jennifer Walshe(b1974): The Site Of An Investigation (UK Premiere) [with the Composer (vocals)]
Christian Wolff (b1934): Old Shoe, New Shoe (World Premiere) [with Joey Baron (jazz drums) & Robyn Schulkowsky (percussion)]
BBCSSO/Volkov (the Festival programme suggests a different running order - Wolff, Walshe, Hamilton - but that might have been altered on the night). All performed on Saturday, 4th May this year. Kate Molleson presents.
And Programme commun, for harpsichord and tape from 1972 by Luc Ferrari (1929-2005) played by Mahan Esfahani - and a feature on a new work by Czech-born, New York-based composer Lucie Vitkova (b1985), a large-scale environmental installation work which the composer performed four times during the weekend of the festival. (And her PhD research was focussed on Christian Wolff's work, so a neat link with the orchestral concert.)
Andrew Hamilton (b1977): c (UK Premiere)
Jennifer Walshe(b1974): The Site Of An Investigation (UK Premiere) [with the Composer (vocals)]
Christian Wolff (b1934): Old Shoe, New Shoe (World Premiere) [with Joey Baron (jazz drums) & Robyn Schulkowsky (percussion)]
BBCSSO/Volkov (the Festival programme suggests a different running order - Wolff, Walshe, Hamilton - but that might have been altered on the night). All performed on Saturday, 4th May this year. Kate Molleson presents.
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