- soundfestival will run over two weekends in October 2020 and January 2021.
- Hybrid model of live socially-distanced performances and digital events
- Focus on the Horn confirmed
- sound has been offering a range of digital opportunities during lock-down
New music incubator, sound, has confirmed today (insert date) that soundfestival will go ahead in a hybrid model, including public performances and digital events, with the festival running over two weekends. The first weekend will be in late October 2020 (Thursday 22 - Sunday 25) with the second at the end of January 2021 (Thursday 28 – Sunday 31).
“I am pleased to announce today that we will stage the next soundfestival in October 2020 and January 2021” says Director Fiona Robertson. “Our firm hope is to be able to present socially-distanced public performances and events including appearances by international artists and ensembles. However, we will also be harnessing the opportunities offered by digital technology to offer a rich and varied programme even if all the public events ultimately prove impossible to stage.”
Over the last three years soundfestival has been giving a platform to “endangered” instruments with showcases to date focussing on the bassoon, the viola, and the oboe. It was confirmed today that this commitment will continue in the next edition of the festival.
“In the next edition of soundfestival we will have a focus on the horn as part of our programme showcasing endangered instruments,” adds Fiona Robertson. “We are planning a wide-ranging programme including a community Horn participation project which will hopefully combine digital rehearsals and a public performance, as well as a range of other performances featuring the horn.”
During the coronavirus lock down sound has been offering a wide programme of digital events and opportunities under the banner Discover, explore and create new music @ home.
A commission for young freelance composers who are currently not in regular employment saw the creation of four new works for live online performance by the ten musicians of Aberdeen’s New Music ensemble, Any Enemy, each performing from their own homes across Zoom. The compositions by Rufus Isabel Elliot, Rylan Gleave, Lisa Robertson and Aidan Teplitzky were premiered online at the end of June and can now be enjoyed via the sound website.
A monthly composition project for musicians “aged from 11 to 111” has been created by composer and sound artist Duncan Chapman with a version devised specifically for composers aged 11 to 18. Fully-resourced packs have been provided specifically to try in the safe space of people’s homes with each one containing inspiration, exercises and step-by-step guidance.
Meanwhile, composer Pete Stollery has been building a world-wide Covid-19 sound map with recorded soundscapes submitted from across the globe, and musicians have been sharing recommended new music playlists in a fortnightly soundcast.
“Covid-19 has been, and continues to be, a huge challenge for the art world,” says Fiona Robertson, “Throughout lock down we have aimed to give new music a platform and support young composers through our digital projects. We are now looking forward to staging an exciting festival that will give audiences that chance to experience a rich array of public performances as well as to engage with new music digitally.”
Details of the soundfestival programme will be released in the coming weeks.
For press enquiries please contact Lesley Booth: 07799 414 474 / lesley@newcenturypr.com
