New Music Weekend

Open Workshop – ‘Meadow’

Create a sonic meadow and sing the wind in this special interactive workshop inspired by the natural world, with composer James Weeks. All voices and instruments, any level, welcome!

Book free tickets for this event.

Concert: Riot Ensemble – ‘Changing Light’

Sarah Dacey (soprano); Marie Schreer (violin); Naomi Pinnock: Vestige; Marie Schreer: new work; Ashkan Behzadi: az hoosh mi…; Bent Sorensen - Six Songs; Salina Fisher - Hikari; Sarah Dacey - new work; Kaija Saariaho - Changing Light; Eric Egan - new work

From Ashkan Behzadi’s captivating homage to the ecstasy of love to the enchanting music of the late Kaija Saariaho, join Riot Ensemble’s Sarah Dacey and Marie Schreer as they meander through light and silhouette, sound and silence, sensation and memory.

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Concert: Plus-Minus Ensemble 1 – ‘Musical Intelligence’

Zhuoer Zhou: Mark Knoop becomes a Tree (2024)
Michael Finnissy: M.I. Musical Intelligence (2023)

London’s legendary Plus Minus Ensemble presents two pieces: the young composer Zhouer Zhou imagines a fantastical scenario, while Michael Finnissy’s polemical new work questions the limits of AI.

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Pre-concert talk: David Lumsdaine, Durham, and the Big Meeting

with James Weeks, Nicola LeFanu and others

A discussion of the life, work and Durham career of David Lumsdaine (1931-2024), composer, teacher, electroacoustic pioneer and founder of MUSICON.

Book tickets for this event (included in the weekend pass).

Concert: David Lumsdaine: Big Meeting (1971-8)

We are proud to present a playing of this classic electroacoustic work, made in Durham’s Electronic Music Studio and collaging recordings of Durham’s Big Meeting (Miners’ Gala) from the 1970s.

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Sound Walk

Open your ears to the sonic landscape of Durham’s riverbank, pausing to listen underwater through the hydrophones of sound artist David de la Haye.

This event is free and unticketed - just turn up.

Concert: Plus-Minus Ensemble 2 – The Journey

Laurence Crane: Cobbled Section After Cobbled Section (2016/2021)
Cassandra Miller: Traveller Song (2017-18)

Two works evoking the journey: Crane’s moving panels and bumpy textures are followed by Miller’s overwriting of an Italian cartier's folksong.

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Workshop: Plus-Minus Ensemble

Listen to work in progress by Masters and PhD students from Durham University.

This event is free and unticketed - just turn up.