A 3-Day Musical Showcase - New Music Biennial 🎵 in Coventry

 

NEW MUSIC BIENNIAL COVENTRY CATHEDRAL, DRAPERS' HALL AND HMV EMPIRE FRI 22 - SUN 24 APR FREE Curious about chamber opera, jazz, folk, classical or electronic?  New Music Biennial is your chance to sample a range of musical styles and learn more from the artists who composed them.  With each venue a short walk from each other, you can enjoy lots of new music in a short space of time - and it's all free to attend.

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HOW IT WORKS

Each performance lasts for one hour. Within this hour, you will hear a 15-minute piece, followed by a Q&A with the composer or artist, then you'll hear the 15-minute piece again. You'll gain a greater appreciation of the work and the artistic intention behind it.

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FEATURED PERFORMANCE

DOUBLE BILL: "HANDSFREE" BY ANNA MEREDITH, "MIGHTY RIVER" BY ERROLLYN WALLEN Sun 24 Apr, 7.30pm - 9.15pm Coventry Cathedral Bold, brilliant, brave: join the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain as hundreds of musicians animate the music of two iconic British women and change your experience of the concert performance through their passionate commitment.

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FULL PROGRAMME

FRIDAY 22 APRIL "BREATHLINES" ARMONICO CONSORT, TOBY YOUNG 5.30pm, Coventry Cathedral. Sitting between concerto and meditation, reflecting on the relationships between body, breath and being. "URBAN BIRDS" BY ARLENE SIERRA 6.30pm, Drapers' Hall. Bringing together three international soloists who specialise in new music for piano plus electronics. “ILLUSIONS” BY PHILIP VENABLES AND DAVID HOYLE 8pm, HMV Empire. Venables’ brash musical style combines with Hoyle’s vibrant, direct and uncompromising performance art. PAUL PURGAS 9.30pm, Coventry Cathedral. A new commission exploring the past and future of analogue tape composition.

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SATURDAY 23 APRIL "13 VICES" BY BRIAN IRVINE AND JENNIFER WALSHE 12pm, Drapers' Hall. Melting boundaries between theatre, poetry and contemporary music. "SPLIT THE AIR" BY MARTIN GREEN 1.30pm, Coventry Cathedral. Ivor Novello winning composer Martin Green immerses himself into the world of brass bands. “SKIP DASH FLOW” BY JASON YARDE 3.30pm, Drapers' Hall. A fantastic blend of world rhythms, stylish melodies, exuberant soloing and one enormous load of fun. NEW WORK BY RAKHI SINGH, VESSEL & NYX: ELECTRONIC DRONE CHOIR 5pm, HMV Empire. A new work for vocal ensemble, electronics and violin exploring Danish poet Inger Christensen’s masterpiece ‘It’. "TOWARDS RENEWAL” BBC CONCERT ORCHESTRA, PHILIP HERBERT 6pm, Coventry Cathedral. A new piece commissioned by the BBC Concert Orchestra. “THE MOON HAS BECOME” BY YAZZ AHMED 7.30pm, Drapers' Hall. A surround-sound sonic artwork and performed live by an 11-piece ensemble. "THE POWER AND THE GLORY" BBC CONCERT ORCHESTRA BY GAZELLE TWIN 9pm, Coventry Cathedral. Bringing a blend of traditional musical concepts and futuristic pop to a full symphony orchestra. "BOG BODY" BY KEELEY FORSYTH 10pm, HMV Empire. A powerful, innovative audio-visual performance piece.

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SUNDAY 24 APRIL   "BETHIA" BY DANIEL ELMS 12pm, HMV Empire. Includes the carillon bells of Hull Minster, a male choir and a kaleidoscopic collage of film. "THE CROSSING" BY ROOPA PANESAR 1.30pm, Drapers' Hall. Created by eminent sitarist Roopa Panesar with pianist Al MacSween and sound designer Camilo Tirado. "FROM THE VESTRY" BY COBY SEY 3pm, HMV Empire. South East London musical polymath Coby Sey joins forces with the London Contemporary Orchestra. "SHE WHO" JESSICA CURRY AND NATIONAL YOUTH CHAMBER CHOIR 5pm, Drapers' Hall. The National Youth Chamber Choir of Great Britain perform their commission by BAFTA award winner Jessica Curry. AFRODEUTSCHE 6.30pm, HMV Empire. A bold new work representing the cutting edge of Manchester’s cultural and musical language. DOUBLE BILL: "HANDSFREE" BY ANNA MEREDITH, "MIGHTY RIVER" BY ERROLLYN WALLEN 7.30pm, Coventry Cathedral. Hundreds of musicians animate the music of two iconic British women. "365" BY AIDAN O'ROURKE AND KIT DOWNS 9pm, Drapers' Hall.  Intertwining tunes with the words that inspired them. A series of fleeting, vivid vignettes.

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GOOD TO KNOW

All performances are seated There will be bag searches at every venue Bags should not be larger than a sheet of A4 No professional camera equipment No flash photography No late admittance No food or alcohol brought into the premises

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Presented in partnership with PRS Foundation, Southbank Centre, BBC Radio 3 and NMC Recordings with support from Arts Council of England, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Paul Hamlyn Foundation.