A live broadcast featuring some gorgeous music by George Crumb, alongside the world premiere of the digital version of Alex Groves’ new piece.

Sometimes, things don’t go to plan.

Earlier this season, Manchester Collective commissioned rising star Alex Groves to write us a brand new work for violin, cello and electronics, which was to feature as part of a bigger programme built around George Crumb’s masterpiece: Vox Balaenae, or Voice of the Whale. The Crumb is a dramatic work – players perform the piece wearing masks, under a blue light, evoking a set of moving and surreal undersea sounds. Furthermore, together with Oxford Contemporary Music we had arranged a special world premiere – a performance of the show in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History… underneath a set of giant whale skeletons. It was to be the ultimate new music experience: secret cinema meets Finding Nemo, by way of Manchester Collective.

Of course, none of this ended up happening.

This Saturday, we tell the story of this programme that never was – our live broadcast features some gorgeous music by George Crumb, alongside the world premiere of the digital version of Alex Groves’ new piece. In addition, we’ll be speaking to Alex and Music Director Rakhi Singh, digging into the process of commissioning a major work of new music. Thrillingly, there will also be a section on the anatomy and background of these magnificent creatures (whales), complete with an anatomically incorrect plush toy whale for the purpose of demonstration, and presented by Mark Carnall, Collections Manager at the Museum of Natural History.

Truly, what more could one ask for?

 

PROGRAMME

George Crumb - Sonata for Solo Cello: Toccata
Alex Groves - Curve Form (St Endellion)
George Crumb - Black Angels (Excerpts)
Arvo Part - Spiegel im Spiegel

Plus a demonstration by Mark Carnall, Collections Manager at Oxford University Museum of Natural History