Lab 25: Harry Matthews

Wednesday 9 October 2019, 12-4, CM105

The fourth season of Open Scores Lab opens with Harry Matthews presenting some recent work that explores the subjectivity of noise pollution. Harry will talk about composed and installed pieces that draw on personal testimony. In the afternoon session we will test some new work using portable speakers.

Harry Matthews: experiencing noise in composed music [12-2pm]

Harry will present his current PhD project on writing compositions using sound recordings that allow listener-participants to reflect upon their audible environment. This work aims to frame occurrences of noise within a musical context and facilitate participants to assess their attitudes towards hearing and making noise. His work addresses the idea that all sound can be noise if it interferes with the process of information retrieval (sonic or otherwise) at any given moment. He will also be talking about his activities as a composer and performer over the last few years.

Harry Matthews is a composer, pianist and musical co-director of OUT-TAKE Ensemble based in Bristol, UK. His work focuses on composing for instruments and field recordings, exploring various methods of listening to human noise. Recent works have been composed for James Saunders, Ben Jameson, OUT-TAKE Ensemble, Ensemble Paramirabo, Juliet Fraser and Leith Hill National Trust. Harry’s current projects include works for Bozzini Quartet, Material and Riot Ensemble. Harry is currently studying for a PhD in Composition with James Saunders at Bath Spa University and with Matthew Shlomowitz at University of Southampton (AHRC Funded by SWW DTP). He completed his BA in Music and MMus in Composition, supervised by Benjamin Oliver and Matthew Shlomowitz at the University of Southampton in 2016/17.

Prototyping [2-4pm]

In the afternoon session we will try out some new ideas for one of Harry’s pieces, using portable speakers and field recordings. Please bring a phone if possible.

You might be interested in …

Lab composers featured in The Wire

Uncategorized

The September issue of The Wire includes an article by Tim Rutherford-Johnson on scores that are brought to life by performers bodies. It includes discussion of work by current and former lab composers Louis d’Heudieres and Luke Nickel.

Read More

Open Scores Lab at summer conferences

Uncategorized

Lab members Matthew Sergeant, Louis d’Heudieres and James Saunders have presented papers at three international conferences so far this summer. James’s paper ‘What’s the point? Balancing purpose and play in rule-based compositions’ was given at the Performing Indeterminacy conference at University of Leeds on 30 June, followed by a performance of his piece sometimes we do […]

Read More

Lab 20: Michael Wolters, James Saunders

Uncategorized

Wednesday 9 January, 12-4pm (CM.107) We focus on play in Lab 20, with visiting composer Michael Wolters considering interdisciplinary approaches that stem from playful approaches to ideas and concepts. In the second half, James Saunders will present some work that deals with playfulness in performance, showing a recent piece and trying out some new ideas. […]

Read More

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *