North West New Music Projects...bringing new music to new audiences.

 

This festival is presented by North West New Music Projects in association with the University of Manchester.

North West New Music Projects is a non-profit organisation for the promotion of new music in Manchester and the North West region.

It seeks to generate works from both younger and established composers and to use the resources and performing talent of the region as far as possible.

NWNMP now presents its second Harpsichordfest, the first having achieved national acclaim in 2004.

Comprising of three contemporary music programmes and a composition workshop, Harpsichordfest 2006 showcases the harpsichord in diverse combinations, from the pioneering pairing of harpsichord and jazz electric guitar, to concertos for harpsichord and strings, to music for multiple harpsichords with electro-acoustics.

A new piece for two harpsichords has been commissioned from celebrated British composer Graham Fitkin, and in his 70th birthday year, Steve Reich has authorised Piano Phase (1967) to be given its first United Kingdom performance on two harpsichords.

Several other premieres by British composers are programmed alongside Concertos by Gorecki and de Falla, and leading lights Maggie Cole and Jane Chapman head an impressive cast of players, most of whom specialise in the performance of contemporary music.