Projects

Swimming between shores

Researchers

This is a collaborative composition composed by Merit Ariane Stephanos and Morag Galloway (PhD students) in response to the Terry Holmes Award 2015, of which Merit and Morag are the recipients.

Swimming Between Shores

A woman contemplates her identity through a series of dream-like scenes.

These explore memory, geography, mothers, lovers, chaos, loss, joy and acceptance.

Morag Galloway and Merit Ariane Stephanos have created a piece which aims to weave Arabic and Western musical and literary influences into a emotionally engaging music theatre journey.

Arabic settings and ancient Syriac chants intermingle with western compositional genres and approaches, and words from Arabic women authors and poets sit alongside voices from European women; including texts written by Merit and Morag especially for the piece. These are anchored by texts from Rumi and the Bible.

Merit will be accompanied on stage by a variety of instruments and vocalisations, as well as a pre-recorded and manipulated electronic soundtrack.

Premiere April 29^th in the Spring Festival of New Music http://www.yorkspringfestival.co.uk/2015/

Other projects

Off Grid: The Magic of Microtones

This project brings together ongoing research into the use of microtones from compositional, performance and analytical perspectives.
Words and Music

This project brings together writings and compositions which interrogate the issue of combining words with music. An ongoing series of articles by Roger Marsh, William Brooks and others, addresses the many ways in which composers go beyond conventional word setting routes, exploring significant instances of writers crossing into musical territories and composers composing with words. Articles are linked to related compositions, presented as recordings and videos, with commentaries on collaborative and creative processes.
Player Piano

Player Piano is an interdisciplinary performance created as part of the research project ‘Performance, Subjectivity and Experimentation’, led by Catherine Laws, at the University of York and the Orpheus Research Centre in Music, Ghent.
Edgelands

Roam the Barbican foyers using headphones to experience this free audio journey, which reframes the sounds and sights of the iconic arts centre.
Representing Rehearsal

This research project, led by Catherine Laws (Senior Lecturer in Music), Jon Hook (Lecturer in Interactive Media) and Tom Cornford (Lecturer in Theatre) has been funded by the University of York’s Research Priming Fund.
Expressive Nonverbal Communication in Ensemble Performance

The Expressive Nonverbal Communication in Ensemble Performance network comprises three projects, exploring aspects of how musicians communicate in groups:

Movement and sonic gestures in ensemble performance
Achieving excellence in ensemble singing
Teaching and learning of ensemble communication