sound festival 2016 reveals composer in residence

Published: 18 Aug 2016

John De Simone to be sound’s first composer in residence announced as acclaimed new music festival unveils 2016 programme.

John, who studied at Louis Andriessen's renowned composition department at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, will create new work for the 2016, 2017 and 2018 festivals beginning with a piece that will be premiered in a concert alongside Andriessen’s seminal De Staat. Performed by Red Note, I Solisti del Vento (Belgium) and Song Circus (Norway) the programme will be performed at soundfestival, in Belgium and in The Netherlands.

“We are pleased to confirm that John De Simone is to be our first composer in residence,” says Fiona Robertson, Director of sound. “Commissions are at the heart of new music and sound has always been committed to working with and where possible commissioning new work from Scottish and international composers. Through the composer in residence initiative we will be able to develop a much deeper musical relationship with one composer. We are excited to set out on this fascinating journey together.”

A Scottish-Italian composer, whose grandfather John MacCormick was instrumental in the founding of the Scottish National Party, John De Simone is also director of Ensemble Thing, which he founded in 2004 which has become one of leading new music groups in Scotland.

“I am absolutely delighted to be offered the opportunity to be sound’s composer in residence for the next three years,” says De Simone. “In addition to writing music I am looking forward to taking an active role in sound throughout the duration and in particular with the community that sound supports and is supported by. “

“I welcome the opportunity that the residency offers to develop a significant body of work. Having the time and space to develop a practice is a rare opportunity for any composer. I’m looking forward to reflecting and innovating, through writing for new modes, collaborations and instrumental combinations.”

The 12th annual celebration of new music will run from 20 October - 6 November 2016 in venues across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Highlights of the festival include:

• Celebrations of work of two of the great 20th century composers, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (four specially commissioned pieces to be performed on the opening night of the festival by Rolf Hind) and Pierre Boulez (a day long event on 5 November including a screening of Roger Graef’s film Who is Pierre Boulez).
• The world première of a new work by Graham Fitkin for string quartet and harp to be performed by Ruth Wall and the Sacconi Quartet and as well as the Scottish premiere of his work Disco, a 1970s disco-inspired “song cycle” for soprano backed by three countertenors. Ruth Wall will also be premiering pieces for clasarch by Sally Beamish and Snorri Sigfús Birgisson (commissioned by sound for the Aberdeen Harp Project).

• A Discovery Day in partnership with the Aberdeen Science Centre exploring the science of sound which will be led by composers and sound artists Pete Stollery, Duncan Chapman and Bill Thompson.
• A new work by David Hudry co-commissioned by sound as part of its ongoing relationship with Clermont Ferrand’s Musiques Demésurées festival. It will be performed by Tana Quartet on 29 October as part of a four-day celebration of contemporary string quartet writing.

Several of the works to be premiered at the 2016 festival have been commissioned through sound’s soundbytes initiative which enables more people to be actively involved in the commissioning of new music.

Alan Morrison, Head of Music at Creative Scotland, said: “sound is a brilliant example of creative excellence and community engagement, innovation and experimentation, and this year's programme promises to deliver a one of the strongest festivals to date. Not only does sound make an important contribution to commissioning new work that resonates throughout Scotland and internationally, it also plays an important role within the cultural infrastructure of Aberdeen and the North East.”

For the full programme visit www.sound-scotland.co.uk.

For further information, images and interviews contact: Lesley Booth 0779 941 4474 lesley@newcenturypr.com.

Notes for Editors

Soundbytes, which is modeled on Birmingham Contemporary Music Group’s sound investment programme, will both help sound to commission new work from established and emerging composers, and to develop a closer relationship between musicians and audiences. Each soundbyte costs £120, (just £10 a month) with the total cost of each new work divided by 120 to give the number of soundbytes available for purchase for that commission. People can buy as few or as many as they wish, and can either select to purchase soundbytes for specific works or buy general soundbytes which sound can use flexibly. Three inaugural commissions supported through the soundbytes scheme will be premiered at the 2016 sound Festival. Graham Fitkin has written a piece for string quartet and harp which will be performed by the acclaimed harpist, Ruth Wall; a new work to complement Louis Andriessen's De Staat, will be performed by sound’s Associate Ensemble, Red Note together with two international ensembles; and Sally Beamish has written a new piece for clarsach for The Aberdeen Harp Book.

David Fennessy who was initially commissioned to write a new work to be performed alongside Louis Andriessen's De Staat, was unfortunately unable to write the piece.

sound collaborates with a network of local, national and international organisations, working in partnership to promote new music events during the festival and throughout the year. The 2016 network includes Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums, Aberdeen Chamber Music Concerts, Aberdeen Festivals, Aberdeen Jazz Festival, Aberdeen Performing Arts, Aberdeen Science Centre, Belmont Filmhouse, Citymoves, Cults Parish Church, DanceLive, Friends of Forgue Kirk, Glenbuchat Village Hall, Grampian Hospital Arts Trust, Gray’s School of Art, Inverurie Music, Jazz at the Blue Lamp, The Lemon Tree, Museums Lunchbreak Concerts, Musiques Démesurées, New Music Scotland, Newton Dee Community, Portsoy Salmon Bothy, St Andrew’s Cathedral, St Nicholas Kirk, Red Note Ensemble, Robert Gordon University, Seventeen, SHMU, Sound and Music, Techfest, University of Aberdeen, Woodend Barn and Woodend Music Society.

The festival has been made possible with support from the National Lottery through Creative Scotland’s Open Project Fund, PRSF Talent Development, Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Diaphonique, RVW Trust, The Hinrichsen Foundation, The Fenton Arts Trust, Hugh Fraser Foundation, The Astor of Hever Trust, The Aberdeen Endowments Trust, The David and June Gordon Memorial Trust and Woodend Barn.

Media Partners for the 2016 festival are: The List and shmu.