Sounds New -

Posted on: 13th May 2012

Well, it’s 3.45pm and the final session has just finished here at the Gulbenkian Theatre in the Worldwide Musical Mother’s Day celebrations here at Sounds New.

The foyer of the theatre has been thronging with art-workshops, face-painting and wandering school theatre performers throughout the day, whilst inside the theatre auditorium children and families have been introduced to instruments of the orchestra and the wonderful weirdness of Merlin’s Tale, a capella choral singing, modern dance and Minimalism and big band jazz.

Fronted in engagingly jocular fashion by Peter Cook, the Festival's Education Project Manager, the day began at midday with an a capella choir in a selection of choral-pops, including The Mermaid’s Tale, Teddy Bear’s Picnic and even Finzi’s My Spirit Sang All Day. Next came students of the Christchurch University Orchestra, briskly conducted by Daniel Glavin, who burst into a riotous rendition of the suite from Pirates of the Caribbean (to the great delight of many of the children in the audience), Fnug for ensemble and growling and singing tuba, delivered with great charisma by Liam Bradbury-Sparvell; composer John Perfect then took up the baton to lead four soloists and the ensemble through the story of Merlin’s Tale, which saw epic mock-battles out in the theatre seating between tuba and bass clarinet. Glavin then resumed control for a romp through the theme tune to Wallace and Gromit to conclude what had been a very entertaining, crowd-pleasing session.

The third instalment saw dancers from Dance Warehouse take to the stage, including a rendition of the last section of Steve Reich’s New York Counterpoint with live clarinet and recorded backing in Reich’s typical tapestry of interlocking lines; the last session has just seen chaps from Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys and a handful of guest players in ‘Big Brand New,’ conducted by Peter Cook, a mixture of big band and junk instruments that was last seen entertaining shoppers in Whitefriars in town last Saturday.

It’s been a vibrant, relaxed and family-friendly day, with the Gulbenkian abuzz with lots of creativity, and young children finding out about and responding to music and dance, and exploring what today’s music (whether it’s blockbuster film soundtracks or multi-track Minimalism) is all about. And, after all, that’s what Sounds New is all about as well.

We’ll be back here again tonight for a concert featuring Julian Joseph. Stay tuned...

Posted by Daniel Harding

Posted on: 11th May 2012

The University of Kent’s Gulbenkian Theatre will be bursting with music, art, face-painting and more on Sunday 13 May, to celebrate Worldwide Mother’s Day as part of Sounds New this year.

From 11am to 3.30pm, Musical Mother’s Day will include performances on the hour, every hour, including art and drama workshops, song, dance, instrumental music, flowery fun, food and more, in an event that will please youngsters of all ages!

From 12pm at regular intervals throughout the day, events will feature Canterbury Christ Church Chamber Orchestra, Canterbury Youth Music Big Band, Wide-Eyed Theatre, Dance Warehouse and Simon Langton Girls School dancers and much, much more!

In the afternoon, eminent British jazz pianist Julian Joseph will lead a jazz workshop, prior to his trio’s evening concert later on.

The event is free to children and £5 for adults. More details here: come and join the fun!

Posted by Daniel Harding.

Posted on: 11th May 2012

The ‘Curious Curator’ project returns to Sounds New once more this year.

One of the festival’s education projects, students from Canterbury College are using the Sounds New Festival programme as inspiration for their own imaginative work in either 2- or 3-D, and will curating an exhibition of their responses to the festival from this Saturday.

Organised by Peter Cook, the venue for this year’s project is the former ‘Discovery Centre’ shop in the Marlowe Arcade, Whitefriars, which will house the exhibition.

The exhibition runs from Saturday 12 to Tuesday 15 May and is open from 10am to 4pm.

Admission is free: drop in and explore the range of exhibits:  bring your curiosity…

Posted by Daniel Harding.

Posted on: 29th Apr 2012

Starting next Friday, there is once more a host of free events occurring as part of Sounds New.

Friday 4 May, musician and author David Toop appears in discussion at the Sidney Cooper Gallery on the High Street at 3pm as part of Open Ear 2012. An hour later, also at the Sidney Cooper Gallery, Salvage! Open Ear 2012 sees a melange of electronics, music and dance with students from the Music Technology course at Christchurch University and Dancers from the Folkestone Dance Company.

Sunday 6 May, 2.30-4.30pm: Sounds New Choral Day at Augustine Hall presents a gathering of choirs from around the county, working with composer Paul Patterson on a selection of contemporary choral pieces, which is free to attend.

Thanks to the Cavatina Ticket Scheme, under-25 year-olds can enjoy free tickets to the following:

• Ensemble MidVest on Sunday 6 May at St Gregory’s Centre for Music;
• Sprite!, a lunchtime concert on Monday 7 May with a recital of music for flute and piano;
• the Arditti Quartet concert also on Monday 7 May:

The same day sees a free Poetry Workshop, exploring sequence and pattern in writing poetry, at the University of Kent from 2-4pm.

Children can go free to the celebration of worldwide Mother’s Day at the Gulbenkian Theatre on Sunday 13 May, a feast of art, music, dance and more (adults £5).

Starting on 9 May and running until the end of the festival, ‘Curious Curator’ is open exhibition of artwork inspired by the Sounds New Festival, taking place in the former ‘Discovery Centre’ shop in the Marlowe Arcade, the exhibition is open from 10am until 4 pm ( more about ‘Curious Curator’ in a separate feature here on the blog anon.

Finally, there’s Open Mic: Curate your own Space! on Monday 14 May at St Gregory’s Centre for Music, as composers and creators present new works in spaces around the venue – with no boundaries!

Don’t forget: every single concert is free to under-sixteen year-olds, provided they’re accompanied by a paying adult: a terrific opportunity for young people to engage with music of today, and perhaps be inspired to become the performers, composers and audiences of tomorrow!

We’re committed to introducing an ever-widening circle to the excitement and challenges of contemporary music, and to some of the best performers both nationally and internationally. See the website for full details: music to your ears...

With thanks to all our sponsors and supporters, who help to make the provision of free events at the festival possible.

Posted by Daniel Harding.

Posted on: 18th Apr 2012

This year, the education arm of Sounds New presents ‘All for One,’ a series of three concerts at St Peter’s Methodist Church, Canterbury, which brings new music to children and families, along with fun and a few surprises!

The series kicks off on May 4 with Merlin’s Tale, a brand new work for seated audience by composer John Perfect. Groups will prepare short passages of music to be performed on the day together with the composer and Peter Cook, Sounds New’s education project leader. Both performers and audience take part, acting as music-makers and listeners all together, in what promises to be an interesting occasion!

The second concert on May 8 is a load of junk – literally! – as it involves instruments made from junk and ‘idiophones,’ instruments which vibrate. Performers involved in this event will also receive free tickets to the Joby Burgess concert with Powerplant, an exciting event in which master-percussionist Joby will be performing on similar instruments himself.

The third and final concert, part of the Sounds New Roadshow on Thursday 10 May, features Christchurch University students performing pieces with extended techniques by contemporary composers. This will be an entertaining look at how instruments are ingeniously used by composers and performers with new tricks to fantastic effect: prepare to be amazed!

Later there's a day of creative mayhem on Sunday 13 May, as Sounds New celebrates worldwide Mother's Day at the Gulbenkian Theatre with music, drama, art and more: details about that event to follow.

Sounds New offers opportunities for people of any age, background or ability to explore music through performance, listening and composition, and this is your opportunity to take part!  These three concerts are aimed at younger people but we also encourage friends, family and the general public to come too and enjoy new music. And costing only £1 per person, this is a terrific opportunity to find out how new music can be exciting, fun, and a wonderful chance to participate.

See all the educational and outreach events at Sounds New online here.

For more details, or to take part, contact Peter Cook at petercook@soundsnew.org.uk and see how children and families can be excited by new music too...