classical music – Sound World

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The John Pickard interview

Today’s episode is one of the bonus episodes featuring full length versions of the interviews recorded the main strand of A land without music?

Our guest is a Bristol based Burnley born composer John Pickard. John’s works includes six symphonies, two concertos, songs, chamber pieces and six string quartets.

His orchestral piece The Flight of Icarus was described by the San Francisco Chronicle as “…a contender for the most exciting première of the year” and The Times commented that “his orchestral mastery is total”.

Written and presented by Julian Leeks.
Produced by Sound World

News

Podcast Ep.9 Music in education Pt.3

In episode nine of A land without music? our guests discuss the practical issues of teaching music including timetable pressure, the allocation of scarce resources and the multiplicity of genres competing for our attention.

With guests Hilary Dunford, Peter Flach, Daniel Kidane, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Guy Guerrini, Sadie Harrison, Ingrid McLean, Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason & John Pickard.

Written and presented by Julian Leeks.
Produced by Sound World

News

Podcast: Nico Muhly interview

Today’s episode is the third of our bonus episodes featuring the full length interviews that we recorded for the main strand of A land without music?

Our guest, Nico Muhly, is an American composer whose wide ranging work includes orchestral and chamber music, operas, songs and music for film and TV. Since his early days as an archivist for Philip Glass he has worked with many of the worlds major orchestras and opera companies as well as musicians such as Sofjan Steven’s, Bryce Dessner and Björk.

Written and presented by Julian Leeks
Produced by Sound World

News

A land without music? Why we made the series.

Episode six is a special short episode made in response to emails we’ve received asking about the motivating factors behind the making of A land without music?

Those who have heard earlier episodes will be aware that we believe music in the UK is in poor and declining health. In this episode we look at the evidence that led us to have these concerns.

Please send comments or suggestions to info@sound-world.org or post to our Facebook page SoundWorldUK.

A land without music? is written and presented by Julian Leeks

Produced by Sound World.

News

Episode 4 of A land without music? Music in…

In episode four of A land without music? our guests talk about what music education brings to children. Musicians will instinctively understand the huge social and developmental benefits of music; how it helps confidence and well-being; how it promotes engagement with the outside world and improves communication skills. Crucially, we hear how music can be an antidote to the stresses and pressures of the modern world.

But it’s not just musicians…

Prof Daisy Fancourt has been at the forefront of research in this area for over a decade and we hear from her how this isn’t just a matter of perception or anecdotal evidence, it’s verifiable scientific fact.

With guests Sally Beamish, Daisy Fancourt, Peter Flach, Jess Gillam, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Guy Guerrini, Sadie Harrison, Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason & Ingrid McLean.

Written and presented by Julian Leeks.

News

Sound World @ the Fringe

Sunday, 23rd July. St Peter’s, Shaftesbury.

We are very excited to announce the first performance of our new band Sound World will be on the final night of the Shaftesbury Fringe Festival. The band will perform an exciting jazz/blues influence set, including the world premières of two Sound World commissions.

Plain Blue/s : Coleridge-Taylor Parkinson
Perpetual Motion : Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson
April (world première) : Sally Beamish
HOLO : Charlotte Harding
The Neglected Child : Judith Bingham
Klezmer DanceDhipli Zyia : Iannis Xenakis
Fantasy : Jorg Widmann
The Grace of Silence (world première) : Evelyn Glennie
Dancing With the Shadow : Eleanor Alberga
2 Coyotes: 1 : Magnus Lindberg
Duo : Jessie Montgomery

Sound World are:
George Blakesley – clarinet
George Owen – cello
Harriet Riley – percussion
Ricardo Brown Roger – violin
Alex Wilson – piano

Please CLICK HERE to order tickets online.

News

John Pickard – 30 years of music.

A concert and reception at Bristol University’s Victoria Rooms today celebrated John Pickard’s 30 years in the Music Dept.

Michael Ellison (mostly hidden) gives a few well chosen words in honour of his long standing colleague

A programme of contrasts included the tragic and moving The Gardener of Aleppo, the playful 3 Chicken Studies and the riveting Verlaine Songs – brilliantly realised by soprano Emma Tring and the Bristol Ensemble.

John is one of the UK’s finest composers and we’re delighted to have him as one of Sound World’s patrons.

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Young Composers’ Prize: winner announced

We are delighted to announce that the winner of this year’s Sound World Young Composers’ Prize is Jasper Eaglesfield. The shortlist of 3 pieces was performed by the Bristol Ensemble under John Pickard at Sunday’s Beyond The Menagerie… concert at St. George’s, Bristol.

John Pickard, Jasper Eaglesfield and Julian Leeks

Julian Leeks, Sound World Director said, “All of the shortlisted pieces were great and the feedback from the audience about them has been absolutely fantastic. But Jasper’s piece was really quite special and he’s a worthy winner of the competition.”

“I’m sure he’ll go on to do great things and we’ll all follow his progress with interest.”

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#SoundWorldSounds

It’s with great pleasure that we welcome Sir James MacMillan as our second contributor to our recommendations page Sound World Sounds. His choice, Martyrs – Gaelic Psalm from the islands of NW Scotland. Its extraordinary combination of the individual and the congregational has a transcendental beauty unlike anything we have ever heard before.

To hear James’ recommendation click here and please feel free to leave a comment.

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Young Composers’ Competition

2018 winner Katie Bunney with Sound World patron John Pickard and Director Julian Leeks

We’re pleased to announce the 2019 Sound World Young Composers’ Prize. Free to enter and open to school age composers from across the UK, it’s a great opportunity for young composers to have their work played by professional musicians at a major, high-profile concert. For more info please click here.