In Focus: The Climate Agenda
Wed 1 – Thu 2 May 2024
In Focus: The Climate Agenda
This year we’re taking an in-depth look at the relationship we have with the planet we live on, asking ourselves what role could, and should, musicians and creative artists have in response to the climate emergency?
Part of The Future is Green, our In Focus: The Climate Agenda takes place across two days. Students and guests from Riot Ensemble will delve into the connection between music and climate change through contemporary chamber works by a range of composers, including a focus on the music of Seattle-based composer-activist Gabriella Smith. We’re also excited to host the world première of a new commission by RNCM alum Asteryth Sloane, alongside new works by our students.
Experience powerful activism, breath-taking landscapes, and poignant reflections on our planet’s fragility.
Wed 1 May / 7.30pm / RNCM Concert Hall
RNCM Brand New Orchestra
Our innovative Brand New Orchestra takes to the stage to perform new orchestral works by our composition students alongside a performance of Gabriella Smith’s Tumblebird Contrails.
Reflecting on her inspiration for the piece, Gabriella points to a single moment when she was sat on the sand at the edge of the ocean, taking in the soundscape that surrounded her.
Programme to include:
Gabriella Smith Tumblebird Contrails *
+ New works by RNCM Students
Connor Lyster *, Benjamin Voce, Felicity Cliffe, Alexander Rebetge conductors
RNCM Brand New Orchestra
Thu 2 May / 1.15pm / RNCM Concert Hall
Carrot Revolution!
Part of The Future is Green, our In Focus: The Climate Agenda takes place across two days. Our students will delve into the connection between music and climate change through contemporary chamber works by a range of composers. We’re also including new works by our students, past and present.
Experience powerful activism, breath-taking landscapes, and poignant reflections on our planet’s fragility.
Celebrating the spirit of fresh perspectives, Gabriella Smith’s Carrot Revolution is all about finding new contexts for old things and ideas. A new work by student composer Gloria Xia then makes way for Hans Abrahamsen’s musical portrayal of American writer David Thoreau’s pioneering time living in the woods. The afternoon closes with a movement from Bryce Dessner’s Impermanence ballet suite, which explores the juxtaposition between beauty and destruction, taking inspiration from the tragedy of the Australian bush fires of 2019-20.
Gabriella Smith Carrot Revolution for string quartet
Gloria Xia New work for wind quintet
Hans Abrahamsen Walden (Woodwind Quartet No 2)
Bryce Dessner Pulsing for string quartet
Student Musicians from RNCM
Thu 2 May / 6pm / Carole Nash Recital Room
Endless Space
Part of The Future is Green, our In Focus: The Climate Agenda takes place across two days. Our students will delve into the connection between music and climate change through contemporary chamber works by a range of composers. We’re also including new works by our students, past and present.
Experience powerful activism, breath-taking landscapes, and poignant reflections on our planet’s fragility.
A journey through Americana, ice mountains and melting glaciers, and the perils of uranium mines, leads to Nico Muhly’s poignant Endless Space. His work is a striking reminder of the vulnerability of our times and the uncertainty that lies ahead.
Gabriella Smith Loop the Fractal Hold of Rain for two guitars
John Luther Adams Nunataks for solo piano
Emily Dunbar New work for solo piano
Peter Maxwell Davies Yellow Cake Revue (extracts) for voice and piano
Peter Maxwell Davies Farewell to Stromness for two guitars
Nico Muhly Endless Space for soprano and piano
Student Musicians from RNCM
Thu 2 May / 7.30pm / RNCM Concert Hall
Riot Ensemble and RNCM New Ensemble
Part of The Future is Green, our In Focus: The Climate Agenda takes place across two days. Our students will delve into the connection between music and climate change through contemporary chamber works by a range of composers. We’re also including new works by our students, past and present.
Experience powerful activism, breath-taking landscapes, and poignant reflections on our planet’s fragility.
This final event in our focus opens with the RNCM New Ensemble performing ecomusic from various composers including new works from RNCM composition student Joe Bloom and a commission by RNCM alum Asteryth Sloane.
For the second half we’re delighted to welcome the trailblazing Riot Ensemble, a group who have made a name for themselves connecting people with contemporary music. They will perform two new works by our students which they have recently been workshopping, alongside the final work by Gabriella Smith, and they will be joined by guest flautist Kathryn Williams for the world première of Benjamin Graves’ Rindik, a work that takes inspiration from protected marine areas in Indonesia.
Gabriella Smith Maré for mixed ensemble
Cheryl Frances-Hoad The Whole Earth Dances for mixed ensemble
Joe Bloom New work for mixed ensemble
Asteryth Sloane New commission for mixed ensemble
Mark Heron, Maria Carbosa conductors
RNCM New Ensemble
–
Gabriella Smith Anthozoa *
Benjamin Graves Rindik (world première) ^
+ New works by RNCM Students *
Josephine Korda, Andreas Asiikkis, Matteo Dal Maso conductors
Kathryn Williams flute ^
Riot Ensemble: *
John Garner violin, Louise McMonagle cello, Adam Swayne piano, Sam Wilson percussion
