Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Kathryn Waters
T: 01934 830059
E: kw@sound-world.org
Leading composers from around the world unite to support Bristol’s “excellent” musicians.
Sound World, the Bristol charity supported by Dame Evelyn Glennie and Armando Iannucci, is supporting freelance musicians who have been hit hard by the lockdown. Closures to venues, recording studios and schools have led to loss of livelihoods, but Sound World aim to create something positive out the crisis and, with the help of some of the world’s leading composers, they are doing just that.
The project was devised by Julian Leeks (Bristol based composer and Sound World director) and involves the composers writing new music in support of their performing colleagues. The pieces will be recorded at home, in lockdown, before the individual parts are edited and mixed for online release. The composers have waived their fees and Sound World is running the project on an entirely voluntary basis.
Dr. Leeks explains, “This is a tough time for freelancers and these are people who, through their talent and generosity of spirit, have contributed a great deal to what we do. Most are regulars with the Bristol Ensemble and play a huge part in the region’s musical life. So it seemed natural that we should try to support them.
“But this isn’t about charitable handouts. The project creates proper, paid recording work funded by public donations, and it gets the musicians doing what they do best – making great music. It’s also an opportunity for our best local musicians to work with some of the world’s best composers. It will help financially, but I hope it will also make the lockdown a bit easier to get through.”
Sound World have succeeded in getting a remarkable line up of composers involved, including Steve Reich (known as “America’s greatest living composer”), Dame Evelyn Glennie, Nico Muhly and Gavin Bryars. Dame Evelyn says, “As a Patron and supporter of the valuable work of Sound World, I am delighted to be participating in their project by writing a short piece called ‘The Grace of Silence’ for Vibraphone & Piano”, while renowned US composer Nico Muhly, in a personal video message, spoke about the “excellent musicians” of the Bristol Ensemble and urged people to support this “great project”.
The performer fees are being funded by public donations raised via a crowd funding campaign in support of the project at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/musicians- coronavirus-fund. Exclusive, pre-release recordings of all the pieces will be made available on this page as they are completed.
ENDS
For further information about the project, please email Kathryn at kw@sound-world.org.
Twitter: @SoundWorld_UK Facebook: @SoundWorldUK Web.: sound-world.org
Images: https://sound-world.org/photos/
Editor’s notes:
Audio of the new pieces will be made available to those broadcasters who wish to use it.
About Sound World:
Sound World is a new music and education charity born out of the successful non-profit organisation New Music in the South West. Our mission statement is Great Music for Everyone.
EVENTS & COMMISSIONS
We are committed to promoting concerts and commissions of the highest quality and taking them beyond the traditional concert going audience to communities who wouldn’t otherwise have access to great live music.
EDUCATION
We believe that music’s declining status within the educational system is completely at odds with the wealth of academic research demonstrating its broad social, cognitive and developmental benefits.
We aim to ensure that all children, regardless of background, have access to these benefits and have the opportunity and support to flourish.
PATRONS
Dame Evelyn Glennie CH, DBE
Armando Iannucci OBE
Prof. John Pickard
For more information please visit sound-world.org