Exciting Music, Brilliantly Played

Winter/Spring 2010www.bcmg.org.uk

BCMG

www.bcmg.org.uk

2 Ticket line: 0121 767 4050

Following our season launch concerts in October and the premiere performances of Rumpelstiltskin in November, we are thrilled to bring you the next instalment of our 2009/10 season. In January Oliver Knussen pairs two recent works by striking young composers Helen Grime and Luke Bedford with three 50 year-old pieces which announced the arrival of Peter Maxwell Davies, Harrison Birtwistle and Alexander Goehr. In February we join forces with the EXAUDI vocal ensemble for a Howard Skempton portrait concert, including a large-scale new work for BCMG and our viola soloist Chris Yates.

Our Learning and Participation programme offers a range of additional projects which you can find out about in this brochure. Finally, we welcome the unique excitement of BEAST’s explorations in electronic sound to our concert hall.

I and the BCMG team look forward to welcoming you this season.

Stephen NewbouldBCMG Artistic Director

BCMG CONDUCTED BY OLIVER KNUSSENIncludes 2 past Sound Investment CommissionsMon 25 Jan – 7.30pm Revisit the ‘Manchester composers’—Maxwell Davies, Harrison Birtwistle, Alexander Goehr—and hear two of the newest British voices.

HOWARD SKEMPTON PORTRAIT CONCERTBCMG & EXAUDI conducted by James WeeksSat 27 Feb – 7.30pm The strangely simple and fascinating world of Howard Skempton finds space for a brilliant new composer – Charlie Usher.

BEAST Sat 6 and Sun 7 Mar 2010 – various timesBCMG presents a weekend of music for electronics by BEAST at the CBSO Centre, with a number of concerts across two days.

BCMG FAMILY CONCERTS – SERENADE FOR A SATELLITESun 18 Apr 2010 – 2 performancesBCMG’s annual multi-media Family Concerts return, featuring Bruno Maderna’s Serenade for a Satellite, Luciano Berio’s O King sung by Lore Lixenberg and a new work by Param Vir.

BCMG AND STAN’S CAFE – FAMILIES @ 4 Date and Venue TBC A bite-sized interactive concert for family audiences exploring BCMG’s collaboration with Stan’s Cafe – best suited for children 7 yrs and above.

BCMG AND STAN’S CAFEMon 24 May 2010, MAC Audiences arriving for this new collaboration between BCMG and Birmingham’s innovative theatre company Stan’s Cafe, might ask ‘where’s the theatre?’ To find out, you’ll just have to turn up! Full details will be published shortly.

MUSIC MAZECreative music workshop for 8-11 year olds. FREEand ZIGZAG ENSEMBLECreative music-making for 12 – 15 year olds FREESun 10 Jan 2010, 10am – 2.30pm Sun 7 Feb 2010, 10am – 2.30pm Tue 13 Apr 2010, 10am – 2.30pmMay 2010 – TBCSun 6 June 2010, 10am – 2.30pm

FEEL THE BUZZComposing/improvising workshop for 14 – 18 year olds. Thu 8 & Fri 9 April 2010

BCMG HOST BBC INSPIRE LAB 2010A workshop for young composers aged 12 – 18 year olds. Tues 6 April 2010, 10.30am – 4.30pm

CONTENTS:

BCMG conducted 3 by Oliver Knussen Music Maze and Zigzag

Howard Skempton 4 Portrait Concert Music Maze and Zigzag

BEAST – Sonic Fingerprints 5 BCMG Learning & Participation

How to support us 6

Acknowledgements 7 Mailing list form

Stay connected 8 How to find us

INTRODUCTION TO BCMG WINTER / SPRING 2010

ABOUT BCMGInternationally acclaimed and a proud ambassador for its home city, BCMG is passionately committed to engaging people with the most exciting classical music of our time through pioneering concerts, learning programmes, tours, media projects and audience-building initiatives.

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If you require copies of this leaflet in a different format then please contact Rob Langley: rob@bcmg.org.uk / 0121 616 2619

SEASON OVERVIEW BCMG AT CBSO CENTRE, BIRMINGHAM

Online: www.bcmg.org.uk 3

Tickets: In advance: £14 full price / £8 conc / £5 under 16sOn the door: £15 full price / £9 conc / £6 under 16s(available from 1.5 hours before concert at CBSO Centre) Ticket line 0121 767 4050

Conductor: Oliver Knussen Soloists: Claire Booth (soprano)*Hilary Summers (mezzo)^Christopher Gillett (tenor)†

ProgrammeHarrison Birtwistle: The World is DiscoveredPeter Maxwell Davies: Leopardi Fragments*^Luke Bedford: Good Dream She Has *^† (BCMG Sound Investment commission 2008)Helen Grime: A Cold Spring (BCMG Sound Investment commission 2009)Alexander Goehr: The Deluge *^

Fast rewind. Half a century ago British music was being shaken up by three young Manchester-trained composers, and tonight we hear how. Peter Maxwell Davies, fresh back from studies in Rome, wrote a lustrous setting of poetic fragments by Giacomo Leopardi for two female voices and ensemble, following the example of Alexander Goehr in The Deluge, based on a description by Leonardo. Meanwhile, Harrison Birtwistle, impressed by a Picasso show at the Tate that showed the painter tackling the same subject in multifarious ways, created The World is Discovered.

But this is not all: we also hear how music in this country is being stirred again by new voices. Luke Bedford’s rapturous meditation on Paradise Lost, returns from two years ago, and Helen Grime offers a beautiful instrumental poem.Paul Griffiths

MUSIC MAZE

CREATIVE MUSIC WORKSHOP FOR 8 – 11 YEAR OLDS.

At CBSO Centre, Birmingham Sunday 10 January, 10am-2.30pmIn January’s Music Maze the young people will explore setting words to music inspired by composer Luke Bedford’s Good Dream She Has. This FREE workshop is open to all 8-11 year olds whether you can play an instrument or not.

ZIGZAG ENSEMBLE

CREATIVE MUSIC-MAKING FOR 12 – 15 YEAR OLDS

At CBSO Centre, Birmingham Sunday 10 January, 10am-2.30pmLed by composer Sid Peacock, the workshop explores composing and improvising within an ensemble. Young people need to be able to play a musical instrument and read a little bit of music notation.

BCMG CONDUCTED BY OLIVER KNUSSENAt CBSO Centre, Birmingham Monday 25 January 2010 – 7.30pm

Oliver Knussen

Alexander Goehr Peter Maxwell Davies Harrison Birtwistle

Luke Bedford Helen GrimePlaces for workshops must be booked in advance either through the BCMG website or by calling 0121 616 2616. Booking opens 3 weeks before each workshop.

4 Ticket line: 0121 767 4050

ZIGZAG ENSEMBLE

CREATIVE MUSIC-MAKING FOR 12 – 15 YEAR OLDS

At CBSO Centre, Birmingham, Sunday 7 February, 10am-2.30pmLed by composer Sid Peacock, the workshop explores composing and improvising within an ensemble. Young people need to be able to play a musical instrument and read a little bit of music notation.

MUSIC MAZE

CREATIVE MUSIC WORKSHOP FOR 8 – 11 YEAR OLDS.

At CBSO Centre, Birmingham, Sunday 7 February, 10am-2.30pmIn February’s Music Maze the young people will create a concerto for one of BCMG’s musicians in celebration of composer Howard Skepmton’s new viola concerto which will be premiered in the BCMG concert on Saturday 27 February. This FREE workshop is open to all 8-11 year olds whether you can play an instrument or not.

HOWARD SKEMPTON PORTRAIT CONCERTBCMG & EXAUDI CONDUCTED BY JAMES WEEKS

Tickets: In advance: £14 full price / £8 conc / £5 under 16sOn the door: £15 full price / £9 conc / £6 under 16s(available from 1.5 hours before concert at CBSO Centre) Ticket line 0121 767 4050

Conductor: James Weeks Soloists: Christopher Yates (Viola)* Ulrich Heinen (Cello)+ James Woodrow (Guitar) = EXAUDI Vocal Ensemble ̂

ProgrammeHoward Skempton: Only the sound remains * (Maurice and Sheila Millward commission World Premiere)Charlie Usher: New Work (BCMG Sound Investment commission World Premiere)Howard Skempton: Roundels of the Year ̂ Two Cello Interludes + The Voice of the Spirits ̂ Two Guitar Interludes = Rise Up My Love ̂ He wishes for the cloths of heaven ̂

Howard Skempton’s Ben Somewhen was one of BCMG’s major recent successes, with several further performances and a recording following its 2005 première. Now comes the chance to hear more from this wonderful composer, whose unaffected and absolutely distinctive simplicity opens into rooms you did not know were there. Only the Sound Remains is a new piece for the ensemble;

James Weeks also conducts his EXAUDI Vocal Ensemble in a range of Skempton’s choral pieces.

There is, too, the exciting prospect of a new piece by Charlie Usher, who won the Guardian/BBC Proms Young Composer of the Year competition in 2004. Still in his early twenties, Usher is discovering a rare space of his own, of taut calm and fizzing energy. Paul Griffiths

At CBSO Centre, Birmingham, Saturday 27 February 2010 – 7.30pm

Places for workshops must be booked in advance either through the BCMG website or by calling 0121 616 2616. Booking opens 3 weeks before each workshop.

Online: www.bcmg.org.uk 5

BEAST: SONIC FINGERPRINTS20 YEARS OF empreintes DIGITALes

BCMG is passionate about involving people of all ages in the performance and creation of new music. At the heart of the learning programme are six strands:

• Youngpeopleandnon-professionalsascomposers

• Youngpeopleandnon-professionalsasperformers of contemporary classical music

• Commissioningmusicforyoungandnon-professional musicians

• Youngpeopleasactivelisteners• Deepeningtheunderstandingofthemusic

BCMG performs• Researchanddevelopment

Projects take place in schools, higher education, the community and at CBSO Centre, run by BCMG musicians, workshop leaders, composers and conductors of the highest calibre. The programme has an excellent reputation for innovative projects which blur the edges between learning and professional music-making. BCMG is committed to nurturing reflective practice, and forming long-term partnerships locally, nationally and internationally.

In April 2010 we present our Schools and Family Concerts at CBSO Centre. Running alongside the concerts will be a series of primary school workshops ‘Schools Concerts Plus’ for Year 5 and 6.

We are part of an exciting city-wide Music Partnership Project funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) – Banded About – involving BCMG and five other music organisations from the city. We’ll each work with a secondary school and three of its feeder primary schools to create music-making opportunities.

We are Ensemble in Association at Birmingham University and work with Birmingham Conservatoire providing student composer workshops and seminars and performance opportunities.

Sat 6 Mar: 6.00 pm, 7.30 pm and 9.00 pm (each 1 hour duration)Sun 7 March: 2.00pm (1hr 40 duration)CBSO Centre, Birmingham Tickets:Saturday: 1 ticket for all 3 concerts: £14 (£8 conc; £5 under 16s; £4 students)Sunday: £7 (£5 conc; £3 under 16s; £3 students)To reserve your tickets in advance for collection on the door, please telephone BCMG on 0121 616 2616 or email: info@bcmg.org.uk

BEAST presents a weekend of sonic delight using its spectacular multi-channel sound diffusion system. The two day event celebrates 20 years of empreintes DIGITALes, the Montreal-based CD and DVD label which specialises in acousmatic electroacoustic music and on which many BEAST, British and UK-based composers appear. The performances on Saturday 6 March focus on these composers and their work with empreintes DIGITALes and on Sunday 7 March we whet the appetite for the University’s performances of Stockhausen’s Carré (1959-60) on 18 & 19 March, for four orchestras and choirs, with a performance of his Kontakte, composed at the same time, featuring Canadian duo Luciane Careassi and Eric Bumstead.

FEEL THE BUZZ

COMPOSING / IMPROVISING WORKSHOP FOR 14 – 18 YEAR OLDS

CBSO Centre, Birmingham Thursday 8 (10am-4pm) & Friday 9 (10am-6pm) April 2010 Feel the Buzz is a partnership project with Birmingham Music Service for 14 – 18 year olds led by acomposer and BCMG musicians.There will be two days of workshops on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 April culminating in a performance for friends and family on the evening of Friday 9 April at 5pm.

Feel the Buzz will give participants: a fun environment to make music with other young people, new ways to get started composing and develop your musical ideas, and ideas for GCSE/A level composing. Participants must be able to attend both workshops. BCMG welcomes musicians from all cultural traditions. Places must be booked in advance either online: www.bcmg.org.uk or by calling 0121 616 2616.

BCMG LEARNING & PARTICIPATION

For more information contact Nancy Evans, Learning Manager or Naomi Wellings, Learning Officer on 0121 616 2616 or email nancy@bcmg.org.uk or naomi@bcmg.org.uk

6 Ticket line: 0121 767 4050

BCMG’s prime mission is to commission new works from the most exciting composers of our time. Join the family of Sound Investors and share the thrill of bringing a new piece of music into the world.

I feel so strongly that new music should be supported and all this wonderful work given oxygen. This is an affordable and rewarding way I can help ensure these works of art reach completion and receive the exposure they deserve. Peter Marsh, Sound Investor

Sound Investment is a friendly scheme open to everyone. As a Sound Investor you can:• Support the creation of new music• Attend rehearsals and premieres• Meet composers and performers• Have your name listed in the new work’s scoreThe amount of money we need to raise for each new piece of music is divided into Sound Units of £150 each. We have a range of easy-to-pay methods available, including online payments and direct debit instalments from £15 per month.

Thank you to the Sound Investors who are generously supporting the new commissions by Richard Causton, Vic Hoyland, Simon Holt, David Sawer, Charlie Usher and Michael Wolters this season!

SOUND INVESTMENT SHARE IN MUSIC’S FUTURE

I love BCMG for its breath-taking performances, its commitment to new music, and most of all, for its ambition. Stephen Saltaire, BCMG Chair and member of the BCMG Foundation

The BCMG Foundation exists to help us realise our vision for the future. As a Foundation member you can choose to support BCMG’s work as a whole or a specific area such as: • Ground-breaking learning programmes• Inspiring new performance projects • Ambitious national and international tours• Innovative schemes for reaching new

audiences

Foundation members are invited to special events with our artists and performers during the year. Your donation can start from £250 per year.

During this season the BCMG Foundation needs your help with: Families@4 performances; our collaboration with Stan’s Cafe theatre company for I See With My Eyes Closed; our national tour of David Sawer’s Rumpelstiltskin; and our audience-building work.

Thank you to the BCMG Foundation members currently supporting our work:Core SupportersElisabeth Al-Khalifa, Anonymous, John Christophers, The Holst Foundation, Maurice and Sheila Millward, Stephen SaltaireProject SupportersKiaran Asthana, Alan Cook, Anne P Fletcher, Bernard Samuels, Pamela Williams

BCMG FOUNDATION BUILDING THE FUTURE OF MUSIC

David Sawer

Luke

Bedford

Helen Grime

Dave

Douglas

Judith Weir

Colin

Matthews

David Lang

Harrison

Birtwistle

Mark-

Anthony Turnage

Selected Sound

Investment Commissions

1992 – 2012

LEAVING A LEGACY

Remembering BCMG’s work in your will is a special way to enable music to flourish in the future. A legacy to BCMG means that future generations will have the chance to create and enjoy the most exciting contemporary music of their time. BCMG is a registered charity, no 1001474.

HOW TO SUPPORT US

To find out more about how you can support us please contact Gwendolyn Tietze on 0121 616 2616 email gwendolyn@bcmg.org.uk or register your interest using the form opposite.

Online: www.bcmg.org.uk 7

Many of our projects would not be possible without the generous support of our organisational partners, statutory funders, and grants from charitable trust and foundations. Our particular thanks for supporting us in 2009/10 goes to:

MAILING LIST FORM

Join our e-mail and snail mail lists to receive regular news and updates, concert brochures, and to find out more about BCMG’s Learning and Participation programme, and the various ways to support BCMG’s work.

Details: Title: Name: Address:

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on to other organisations that BCMG believes may be of interest to me

Please detach this form and send it to:Freepost RRAY-KLRC-LUESBCMGCBSO Centre, Berkley StreetBIRMINGHAM, B1 2LFYou don’t need a stamp, but if you do use one it’ll save us postage. Thank you.

The Barber Trust City of Birmingham Orchestral Endowment Fund The Ernest Cook TrustThe Garrick Charitable TrustSound and MusicThe Michael Tippett Musical Foundation

Photographs: Hanya Chlala Arena, John Batten, Adrian Burrows, Betty Freeman, Stephen Parry Donald, Maurice Foxall

Concert notes for Monday 25 January and Saturday 27 February concerts written by Paul Griffiths. Concept and design by D8 www.weared8.com

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

BCMG, CBSO Centre, Berkley Street, Birmingham, B1 2LF

Parking: There is metered parking on all streets around CBSO Centre, which is free after 6pm and on Sundays. There are also car parks at Brindleyplace and Mailbox, both within 5 minutes walk of the Centre.

Facilities for disabled people:CBSO Centre is equipped with adapted toilet facilities, key signposting in Braille and the hall is fitted with an infra-red amplification system. Limited free parking can be arranged on request. Disabled patrons are permitted to bring one companion to BCMG concerts at CBSO Centre free of charge. For further access details please contact BCMG: 0121 616 2616 / info@bcmg.org.uk www.bcmg.org.uk

STAY CONNECTED

WWW.BCMG.ORG.UK

BCMG makes every effort to keep its audience in touch with what is happening both on stage and behind the scenes, with news, reviews, audio and video interviews with composers, conductors, musicians and more.

Keep in touch:

Facebook www.facebook.com/bcmgfans

Twitter www.twitter.com/bcmg

YouTube www.youtube.com/BCMGTV

www.flickr.com/bcmgimages

HOW TO FIND US

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Commercial St

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Granville St

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Five WaysIsland

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Registered charity no: 1001474

Founding Patron: Sir Simon Rattle

Artists-in- Association: Oliver Knussen, Peter Wiegold, John Woolrich

Artistic Director: Stephen Newbould

The cover image refers to Luke Bedford’s Good Dream She Has, inspired by Paradise Lost, in which Satan tempts Eve in the form of a serpent. The image is from a book by Albertus Seba.

visit the store online:

www.bcmg.org.uk/musicstore

BCMG now has a comprehensive collection of contemporary classical music to buy on cd or MP3s to download at our new Amazon aStore, with recordings featuring BCMG and a catalogue of music by composers we work with.

new music new experienceBCMG

At CBSO Centre, Birmingham, Sunday 18 April 1.30pm & 3.30pm (performance lasts around an hour)

Take a thrilling journey through new soundscapes with Birmingham Contemporary Music Group’s Family Concerts at CBSO Centre. Launch off with Bruno Maderna’s Serenade for a Satellite then visit the extraordinary musical worlds of composers Luciano Berio, Param Vir, David Lang, Peter Wiegold and Charlotte Bray. Conducted and presented by Peter Wiegold with some added theatre from the whimsical imagination of Graeme Miller, constellations of BCMG musicians will sparkle with energy and sounds will spin in mobiles across time and space. Come a bit earlier and take part in fun activities in the foyer!

Serenade for a Satellite – a journey in time and space

‘***** More please!’ The Guardian‘the deftness and beauty of the performance kept everyone spellbound ’ Daily Telegraph