Tuesday Jan 26  James Mainwaring and Nikki Franklin (PhD candidates)   4pm Rymer Auditorium

James Mainwaring – Tipping Point – The Earthworm’s Eye View. This composition seminar will focus on my latest PhD project The Earthworm’s Eye View. I will talk about the process of composing and performing with improvising musicians, freely applying language internalised from a wide range of influences and using extended technique and electronics. The band is called Tipping Point and features Matthew Bourne on Fender Rhodes, double bassist Mick Bardon, drummer Joost Hendrickx and myself as saxophonist and composer. As well as demonstrating some of the processes live with notation, I will play audio from our album which the Guardian described as ‘playful, dark, skilful and spontaneous… a surefooted trip across many persuasions in contemporary music.’

Nikki Franklin – Development of the ‘Big Band’ from a compositional perspective

Nikki’s presentation will take you through compositional processes employed by Big Band ensembles from early band-leaders such as Fletcher Henderson & Duke Ellington, through changing trends with the Dedication Orchestra & Kenny Wheeler, onto the diverse styles of Carla Bley, Darcy James Argue and Nikki’s own ensemble, The Spike Orchestra.