Sinfonia is part of a new project: to explore composing out of the historical.

It will involve compositions, performances and interviews with composers, bands and other musicians interested in the field.

Sinfonia by Ed Hughes (Prof of composition, Sussex) reaches back into the world of fifteenth century English composers. Like his composition teachers, Michael Finnissy and Robin Holloway, he is interested in musical history and responding to it through creative re-readings.

Sinfonia is in six short movements and scored for a large instrumental ensemble (17 instruments), but one that is not as big as an orchestra. In essence, five of the movements are portraits of pre-existing works by early English composers, with a sixth which is free-form. These are not arrangements; these are homages which turn into something new and different. The originals were vocal compositions, written down in musical notation between about 1400 and 1600. The new pieces go further than arrangements and incorporate modern twists and spins, reflecting all sorts of influences and interests, many derived from the influence of modern composers and some from Hughes's work with film (rhythmic clashes in moving images, superimpositions, and sharp contrasts).

This is the first performance of Sinfonia and it will be performed live by the New Music Players. Further information here.

By: Edward Hughes
Last updated: Tuesday, 25 September 2018