A pioneering digital music performance created and performed by disabled musicians for second Cryptic Nights of 2019
Cryptic Nights and Drake Music Scotland invite audiences to experience a musical performance presented and created by disabled musicians, giving a dynamic glimpse into inclusive technology, composition and performance in the 21st century.
Drake Music Scotland’s Digital Orchestra sees musicians pioneering innovative new ways of making music with laptops, iPads, digital synthesizers and wearable technology. In this performance, musicians from the orchestra will showcase a selection of this technology, which will be explored from multiple perspectives using live camera capture.
Throughout the evening, each work will be ‘unpacked’ with insightful discussions about how this technology is bridging gaps and enabling musicians to have physical control over their playing that would not be possible at this level using traditional instruments.
The iPad Quartet are Clare Johnston (Composer & Performer), Erin O’Neill, Steven Thornton and Emma Clark. Kris Halpin performs on MiMu gloves, laptop and Electric Guitar.
The event is the second Cryptic Nights of 2019, a regular series of events presented by Cryptic which nurtures emerging artists (over 270 since 2009) in the development and presentation of work that crosses creative boundaries with live music, visual and sonic art, film and new media. Previous participants in Cryptic Nights have included Anna Meredith, Raydale Dower, Oliver Coates, James Houston, Mark Lyken, Rachel MacLean, Rory Middleton, Yann Seznec, Gail Sneddon and Robbie Thomson. Cryptic is the internationally-renowned Glasgow-based producing house which this year, celebrates 25 years of ‘ravishing the senses’.
Comment
Pete Sparkes, Artistic Director of Drake Music Scotland said: “We are delighted to be presenting two significant works of new music for new instruments, composed and performed by Clare Johnston with her iPad Quartet and Kris Halpin on MiMu Gloves and electric guitar. Dyskinetic is a mesmerising solo performed on electric guitar, and MiMu Gloves – ‘revolutionising the way we make music through movement’. iPad Quartet takes ideas and structures from classical music, specifically the string quartet and reimagines them for iPad with access to all the sonic variety and control that music technology can enable. Whimsical titles such as Theme & Tribulations, Keep it Together (Don’t Fall Apart) and Confugued promise a rich, curious and unpredictable journey. Drake Music Scotland is thrilled to be collaborating with Cryptic Nights to challenge perceptions of musical instruments – these brilliant performers have music at their fingertips and will have audiences in the palm of their hands.”
Composer and performer Clare Johnston said: “The iPad Quartet is a traditional quartet reimagined for modern instruments. The ubiquitous touch screen is transformed into an instrument shaped by and for the players, on which their fingertips dance to create new music with a fresh and distinctive voice.”
Cathie Boyd, Artistic Director of Cryptic said: “Cryptic are delighted to be able to work with our PRS for Music Foundation Talent Development Partner, Drake Music Scotland. Their pioneering composers and musicians present ambitious works which push the boundaries of how the body and technology can interact to create beautiful and profoundly moving soundscapes.”
Listings Info
Cryptic Nights: iPad Quartet & Kris Halpin
Thursday 2 May // 20.00 // £10 / £7 conc.
Box Office: 0141 352 4900 // cca-glasgow.com
About Drake Music Scotland
Drake Music Scotland is the nation’s leading arts organisation providing music making opportunities for people with disabilities. Our expertise in inclusive music technology and specialist teaching methods support people of all ages and a wide range of disabilities to play, learn and compose music independently.
Developing out of the Drake Research Project founded in England by Adele Drake in 1988, Drake Music Scotland became a separate charitable organisation in 1997 and since then, has worked with over 13,000 children and adults across Scotland.
Our biggest achievements to date include setting up Inclusive Classroom, our flagship education programme for special and mainstream schools, implementation of our acclaimed training and CPD programme, our innovative developments in technology, and the introduction of Figurenotes.
About Cryptic Nights
Recognising the need for a regular, supportive platform for emerging Scottish based artists with fresh ideas, Cryptic launched Cryptic Nights in 2009 and has to date presented over 270 artists in partnership with the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) in Glasgow.
Crossing creative boundaries with live music, visual and sonic art, film and new media, Cryptic Nights presents a selection of the highest quality emerging talent to inspire, invigorate and excite audiences across the UK.
About Cryptic
Cryptic is a Glasgow based internationally-renowned producing art house, presenting today’s most imaginative, innovative artists whilst also nurturing the creative talent of tomorrow. We create memorable experiences that engage and inspire our audiences, ‘ravishing the senses’ with multi-media performances that fuse music, sonic and visual art.
In 2019, Cryptic celebrates 25 years of ‘ravishing the senses.’
This video was compiled with the help of the Invideo team.
