June 1999   Hoxton Hall New Music Days Since the demise of Pierre AudiÕs Almeida Festival thereÕs been a creeping consensus in LondonÕs contemporary music scene. It could be summed up as Ôanything goes - as long as itÕs not too challengingÕ. ItÕs not that the difficult and the experimental have literally vanished - rather that theyÕre squeezed in the cracks between the minimalists and their poppy of romantic offshoots, and soft-edged, new-Age syntheses full of a vaguely Eastern promise. So itÕs entirely fitting that the New Music Days in Hoxton Hall should kick off on July 2 with Vinko Globokar, the composer/trombonist whoÕs ploughed his own modernist furrow in serene disregard for fashion for the past thirty years. The same day thereÕs an even more vehemently unfashionable event - a performance in one concert of Kurt SchwitterÕs extraordinary sound-poem Ur-sonata, and Japan, one of StockhausenÕs ÔintuitiveÕ pieces. These concerts will remind us of something the anti-modernists havenÕt noticed; namely that it can be fun, even funny. And it can have a graceful wit, as Bruno MadernaÕs marvellous Serenata per Un Satellite proves - thatÕs being played the next day. Other major post-war figures whoÕve somehow never made it in Britain will be featured - Castiglione on July 11, Sciarrino on July 9. All this might make the Hoxton New Music Days sound like an exercise in nostalgia, conducted in a building redolent of past glories (Hoxton Hall is an early Victorian temperance hall that later became a Music Hall). But artistic director John Woolrich is a far too shrewd a programmer to fall into that trap. In fact the New Music Days are as much a showcase of new talent as a tribute to the vanishing experimental exuberance of the 60s. Works by ten composers under 30 will be performed during the 10 day event; six of them will be created in a one day workshop led by Peter Wiegold on July 3rd, the others will be premi�red the following day. Nor is there that sense you sometimes get in new music festivals of a perverse, rather self-defeating emphasis on the obscure and neglected - indeed Woolrich has been careful to join hands with names that the non new-music buff (and the PR people) might recognise. The London Sinfonietta (well, part of it anyway) appears on July 3rd; thereÕs a Thomas Ad�s portrait on July 11th. Stravinsky, Nyman, Birtwistle, Ligeti, Andriessen and Madness all make brief appearances. And for those who find all the musical names unfamiliar, Anish KapoorÕs will bring a sudden jolt of recognition; heÕs one of several artists whoÕve created new works in response to a musical event. ItÕs a programme as rich in strategic cunning as in idealism - letÕs hope the public rises to its challenge. Ivan Hewett Hoxton New Music Days (2-11 July 1999) is presented in association with Almeida Opera. Full details on 0171 359 4404 The monthly listings magazine new notes is essential reading for composers, performers, and everyone interested in what's new in new music. In its printed version new notes reaches over 5,000 contemporary music enthusiasts in the UK and around the world. If you promote new music events you should advertise them in new notes. Single concert listings are just £60+VAT. The magazine also features ads for festivals, composer competitions, recordings and more. new notes also features monthly articles on issues at the forefront of new music special offers on CDs, tickets, scores and books for spnm members information about forthcoming spnm events a free classified section for spnm members' non-trade ads. For full details on advertising or inserting leaflets in new notes please contact the Editor Rachel Duncombe: e-mail telephone fax

Event listings for this month   Previous articles: May 1999 Bath International Music Festival is 50. April 1999 Who is Georges Aperghis? March 1999 On frost, birth and death February 1999 Keeping busy... January 1999 Now that's what I call contemporary! December 1998 Forty years of madness? November 1998 To plug in or not to plug in? October 1998 No, honestly it is a cello September 1998 Composing for film July/August 1998 New music on old instruments June 1998 Blue sheep of record companies May 1998 spnm looks to the future April 1998 New Music 98 in Manchester