Bret Battey inaugural lecture, Wed. March 14th, 5:30pm HA 0.08

DMUtalks: Generative Audio-visual Composition: Dialoguing with Complex Systems -
An inaugural lecture by Professor Bret Battey

Wednesday March 14th 2018, 5:30pm, Hugh Aston Building 0.08

In this lecture Professor Battey will describe aspects of his multidisciplinary approach to creating audio-visual compositions. He applies algorithmic means to humanistic ends - seeking to create complex but coherent audio-visual flows, which he links to a Buddhist sense of impermanence. This involves a process of coding and dialoguing with unpredictable algorithms to discover and develop new artistic potentials.

The talk will include discussion of his new OptiNelder visual-effect system, which involves animating the processes of Nelder-Mead optimization (used by mathematicians to find solutions to complex, multi-variable problems that cannot be addressed by solving equations). He will also discuss his Nodewebba software, which networks iterative-function pattern generators to give rise to emergent musical or visual behaviours. The talk will also serve as a prelude to his 50th-birthday retrospective concert in PACE 1 on April 11.

The evening will begin with refreshments from 5.30pm, with the talk beginning at 6.00pm. A drinks reception and canapés will be available following the lecture.

For further information please contact the events office on (0116) 250 6066 or email eventsoffice@dmu.ac.uk

Hugh Aston Building 0.08
Start time 5:30pm
Free entry

Reminder: "Bringing New Music to New Audiences" Conference deadline 15th March

Reminder: "Bringing New Music to New Audiences" Conference deadline is on 15 March
- Note: this is also an "Organised Sound" call

‘Bringing New Music to New Audiences’ International Conference
Music, Technology and Innovation Research Centre,
De Montfort University, Leicester UK
21-23 September 2018

‘Bringing New Music to New Audiences’ is a three-day international conference which is intended to bring together community artists and other musicians, educators, animateurs, specialists within music and other cultural organisations, government policy representatives and representatives from cross-cultural projects who are involved with initiatives related to the conference title. Of course, project participants, non-academics and others are most welcome.

By ‘new music’ what is meant is original innovative works of music, including the sonic arts, which largely reside outside of the commercial sector. The goal is to share and debate different forms of good practice relating to how new music can be used as the means of engaging with new communities and ways through which new music can reach underrepresented communities.

The conference will focus on a selection of community arts and pedagogical initiatives related to participation and community-action. It will offer diverse workshops and performances and introduce conference participants to a wide range of programmes within this area. Subjects will include, but not be limited to:
• Educational initiatives
• Working with community organisations
• The musical equivalent of public art
• Interculturalism
• Ways of effectively and robustly measuring/evaluating impact and research projects regarding the above.

The project website, under construction, can be found at http://www.interfaces.dmu.ac.uk. This conference forms part of the ‘Interfaces’ Creative European project (www.interfacesnetwork.eu<http://www.interfacesnetwork.eu>). It is related to the ‘Bringing New Music to New Audiences’ resource site www.interfaces.dmu.ac.uk/hub<http://www.interfaces.dmu.ac.uk/hub> – currently under construction and to be announced shortly – which is to offer information regarding good practice in outreach initiatives around the globe. All interested parties are welcome to send their work to that hub at any time once made available.

Invited speakers will include Susanna Eastburn, currently Chief Executive of Sound and Music (UK).

Selected papers will be published in a thematic issue focused on this conference in Organised Sound (Cambridge University Press).

Conference fees will be: £60 / £30 (students and those on a lower income) for all three days, £25 / £12.50 for one day.

The deadline for proposals (papers, workshops, demonstrations, sharings/performances) is 15 March 2018. Papers are to be of 20’ duration with 10’ for questions and discussion. Proposals for workshops, demonstrations and sharing of project work/performances will indicate how much time these would last and the technical infrastructure needed in terms of their presentation. Proposals should include a title and extended abstract of up to 1500 words as well as a CV/Bio (two pages maximum) including relevant publications, projects, works or equivalent.

Submissions and general queries should be sent to the conference coordinator, Leigh Landy: llandy@dmu.ac.uk<mailto:llandy@dmu.ac.uk>.


John Young's "Magnetic Resonance" in London

MTI Prof. John Young's latest, "Magnetic Resonance", for Magnetic Resonator Piano and electronics, is being performed on Monday March 5th in London, fresh off its spectacular premiere in Birmingham last week:

https://cafeoto.co.uk/events/magnetic-string-resonance-xenia-pestova/

'Electronic Frequencies' focus on MTI now online

'Electronic Frequencies', on Amsterdam radio Concertzender, recently dedicated a program to composers from MTI,  which is now online and available for listening:

https://www.concertzender.nl/programma/electronic_frequencies_432874/

Works by John Young, James Andean, Mike Blow, Robin Parmar, Virginie Viel, & Neal Spowage.

'Electronic Frequencies': Program dedicated to MTI on Amsterdam 'Concertzender' radio

This Wednesday, February 28th, Amsterdam's Concertzender radio will be presenting a one-hour program dedicated to works by the MTI:

https://www.concertzender.nl/programma/electronic_frequencies_432874/

Works by James Andean, Mike Blow, Robin Parmar, Virginie Viel, Neal Spowage, & John Young. Starts 23:00.

Simon Emmerson 'portrait concert', City University, Tues. Feb. 20th

On Tuesday February 20th, City University London is hosting a portrait concert of composer and electronic music pioneer, MTI Prof. Simon Emmerson!

https://www.city.ac.uk/events/2018/february/simon-emmerson

SIMON EMMERSON: MEMORY MACHINE
Simon Emmerson (electronics), with Carla Rees (flutes) and Philip Mead (piano)

7.00pm - 8.30pm Tuesday 20th February 2018
Performance Space, College Building, City University of London, St John Street, London

Programme:
Simon Emmerson: Spirit of ’76 (1976)
Simon Emmerson: Microvariations 2 (2015)
Simon Emmerson: Solo flute quartet (Premiere)
Simon Emmerson: Memory Machine (2010)

A portrait concert of composer and electronic music pioneer Simon Emmerson, who founded and directed City’s sound studios for thirty years. The concert will include the first performance of Solo Flute Quartet, a new work for Carla Rees, and Microvariations 2, written for and performed by Philip Mead. Spirit of ’76 for flute and electronics is a piece composed while a PhD student at City of which Carla recently gave a 40th birthday performance. This live electronic music is contrasted with a ‘concert installation’, Memory Machine, a studio work that plays on our memory of places, spaces and music heard as if through the opening and closing of doors in a ‘memory theatre’ (after Frances Yates).

Two premieres of new works by MTI Prof. John Young

John Young, Professor of Composition, will have two works premiered in the forthcoming week:

Magnetic Resonance (2017) on 20 February at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.  This work for magnetic resonator piano and 8 channel electroacoustic sounds is a collaboration with Xenia Pestova (University of Nottingham) and Andrew McPherson (Queen Mary University of London).

http://www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire/events-calendar/midday-music-20-2-18

Spirit (2018) for orchestra and electroacoustic sounds, on 24 February.  This commission from the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (New Zealand) celebrates the orchestra’s 60th anniversary.

https://www.cso.co.nz/lamb-hayward-masterworks-eroica
https://www.cso.co.nz/news/1516591721-q-composer-john-young