CALL FOR NEW WORKS

LARKIN I

As part of a strategy to encourage more people to engage with Larkin's work, Hull Sinfonietta is working with the University of Hull's Department of Drama and Music and the Royal Musical Association.

The works are to be written for voice, clarinet and piano; voice and electronics; or fixed media.

The deadline for submission of scores is FRIDAY 14 OCTOBER 2011.

Works are to be presented at the Postgraduate Research Students’ Conference, 5-7 January 2012.

A workshop showcasing five selected works will include run-throughs of each work followed by discussion and modification. An official concert performance of these works will take place later in the conference.

Performers

Sarah Leonard (soprano)
Sarah has worked with many leading composers and has over 30 recorded performances to her name. Her voice features on TV and film in the series credits of Silent Witness and in Nyman’s soundtrack for Greenaway’s Prospero’s Books.

Colin Blamey (clarinet/bass clarinet)
Colin is a member of the award-winning Fell Clarinet Quartet, is principal clarinet for the National Festival Orchestra, has two CDs on the Delphian label and one on the Naxos label and has featured on tour with Katherine Jenkins.

Jonathan Gooing (piano)
Jonathan, 1999 ISM/Yamaha Birmingham Accompanist of the Year and former Senior Lecturer at Bishop Grosseteste University College, has accompanied such leading musicians as Jean Rigby and Roderick Williams.

All of these performers are part of the Hull Sinfonietta team.

Composer Dr Rob Mackay will oversee the use of electronics.

Composers are asked to respond to the poetry of Philip Larkin. Whilst it is clear in the Call for New Works that the composers are responsible for copyright permissions relating to the use of Larkin’s texts in their work, we are endeavouring to assist the permissions process. The works for fixed media are distinct from the rest in that they are open in scope (i.e. the Larkin connection is desirable rather than essential).

Past Projects

The Ursula Vaughan Williams Project

Funded by the Ursula Vaughan Williams Charitable Trust and the PRS for Music Foundation

In 2009-10 Dr Tsang commissioned and performed (with Sarah Leonard) twelve new songs in association with Hull Sinfonietta at events in Hull and Beverley.  More information »

Many of these songs (all settings of texts by Ursula Vaughan Williams) were published later in 2010 by University of York Music Press, alongside contributions by other leading composers in the anthology Finding Ursula Vaughan Williams (ed. Lee Tsang and Philip Venables) more information ».

The Music is but Momentary (Consolation) [Crossing Continents]

The Hull Sinfonietta commission The Music is but Momentary (Consolation) by Richard Tsang was part of the Crossing Continents project.

The first performance featured Chin King (guzheng) as soloist and was recorded live on 12 February 2010, Middleton Hall, Hull.

This work has since been expanded for larger orchestra and performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic. The commission was generously supported by the CASH Music Fund and the PRS for Music Foundation.

More information »

JumblyLear Settings

A Hull Sinfonietta production in association with Creative Partnerships, Andrew Marvell Business and Enterprise College, Arts Council England, PRS for Music Foundation, Studio Mejo and Salmon Grove Studios

Written, directed and produced by Lee Tsang; animation directed by Rozi Fuller, music by Alastair Borthwick.

A tripartite, 40-minute animated music-film based on texts by Edward Lear.

The various stages of this project date back to 2004, with the film premiering with live music in Hull in 2009. Later screenings took place at the International Bradford Animation Festival 2009 and BBC Hull Big Screen. A further screening is scheduled to take place in Hong Kong in 2013.

More information »