Festivals & Commissions
Our two music Festivals have very different characters. The Summer Festival in June is the bigger and more eclectic in its programmes and locations. The Winter Festival in December is more intimate and heart-warming for the end of the year. But they have much in common – esteemed professionals perform alongside local people, remarkable venues give events an informal and personal character, programmes are very much of the area, often made by or with our local neighbours – and above all they celebrate music at the heart of Spitalfields. Until 2009 programmed by a series of Artistic Directors, Festivals are now programmed with Artistic Associates whose series of events span the Festivals.
Spitalfields Music has always placed an emphasis on new music, both by commissioning new work and presenting premieres. Alongside our tradition of showcasing early music, our prolific commissioning and championing of new music represents a belief that an art-form must live and constantly re-invent. In 2000 as outgoing Artistic Director, Judith Weir started a New Music Commission Fund to ensure that the charity could commission each year without having to apply for funds.
Recent commissions
2011
James Weeks
The Freedom of the Earth performed by New London Chamber Choir and London Sinfonietta in the Summer Festival at Shoreditch Church
Rolf Hind
Sit Stand Walk performed by CHROMA in the Summer Festival at Shoreditch Church
John Barber and Hazel Gould
We are Shadows performed by 200 local people, members of The Sixteen and other professional musicians in the Summer Festival at Shoreditch Church
2010
The Calling: Sonia Mehta & Nasha Crew
Swirling Passages of Time – A Sufi Journey into East London’s Asian Global
Robin Rimbaud and Sukhdev Sandhu Sighs
Wonders
Max Reinhardt
The Fifth Quarter Performed in the 2010 Summer Festival
2009
Jonathan Dove
Piano Quintet performed by The Schubert Ensemble in the 2009 Summer Festival at Wilton’s Music Hall.
Michael Finnissy
The Transgressive Gospel performed in the 2009 Summer Festival at Wilton’s Music Hall.
2008
Naomi Pinnock
Interference
written for The Curate’s Egg and Melinda Maxwell
Shu Wang
Above the Clouds: Concertino for Orchestra
written for Centre for Young Musicians main centre intermediate Orchestra
2007
Matthew Shlomowitz
Line and Length
written for Calefax
Morgan Hayes
Original Version
performed by Endymion, conducted by Richard Baker
Terry Mann
The Bells of Paradise
(Joint commission with Norfolk & Norwich, Litchfield, Bury St Edmunds Festivals)
2006
Laka D
From the Silence for the Big Sing July 2006
Paddy Cuneen
Emoticons 4 strngs
written for Centre for Young Musicians
Tarik O’Regan
Scattered Rhymes
written for The Orlando Consort and the Joyful Company of Singers
2005
Jonathan Dove
On Spital Fields performed by……
Jonathan Dove
arr. Simon Foxley Christ Church Bells from On Spital Fields
Judith Weir
Vertue
performed by The Cardinall’s Musick, conducted by Andrew Carwood
Artem Vassiliev Duo Concertante
performed by Britten Sinfonia, Paul Watkins, Maxim Rysanov, Kristina Blaumane
2004
Naresh Sohal
Three Songs from Gitanjali
written for Dante Quartet, Sally Silver and Sanju Sahai
Judith Weir
Piano trio two
written for the Florestan Trio
2003
Terry Mann
Umbra Sumus
performed by Trinity Barqoue, Julian Podger and Fretwork
David Knotts
Golden Threads and Silver Strings
written for pupils from Canon Barnett Primary School, Carole Irwin, Matrizia Meier and Julian West
2002
Joseph Phibbs
Ritual Songs and Blessings
Cheryl Frances-Hoad
Memoria performed by the Schubert Ensemble and Nicholas Daniel
Simon Limbrick
Beatspin
2001
Jonathan Dove
Run, shepherds, run!
Tansy Davies
The void in this colour
performed by the Brunel Ensemble, Christopher Sustin and Rolf Hind
2000
Alison Bauld
Pluto
performed by Jane’s Minstrels and Jane Manning
1999
Jonathan Dove
I am the day
Judith Weir
Pieces for Allcomers
Michael Zev
Gordon Song
performed by BCMG, Nicholas Kraemer conductor; City of Birmingham Symphony Youth Chorus, Simon Halsey chorus director; Adrian Partington conductor, Senior Youth Chorus; Rchel Elliott soprano, Charles Daniels tenor
1998
Judith Weir
My Guardian Angel
Claude Debussy orch. Stephen Johns
La Cathedrale engloutie
performed by Winchester Cathedral Choir, David Hill conductor
-do- …Minstrels
Gloucestershire Wassail Arr. Steve Johns
Gabriel Faure arr. Matthew King
Pavane
Matthew King Gethsemane performed by Florilegium
1997
Keith Gifford
The Intrusion
performed by Schidlof Quartet and Lynsey Marsh clarinet
Judith Weir
Piano Concerto
performed by William Howard, piano. BT Scottish Ensemble
Julia Gomelskaya
From the Bottom of the Soul
performed by Yggdrasil Quartet of Aberdeen
David Bedford
A Charm of Blessings performed by Trinity College of Music Chamber Orchestra & Choir, CYM Hackney Saturday Music Centre, Gregory Rose conductor
1996
Martin Butler
Back to ground
performed by BBC Singers, Martyn Hill, John Turner, Jonathan price, Keith Elcombe
Paul Newland
…in the cloud cuckoo valley (a ‘carnaval’)
performed by Plane Dukes Rahman Trio
Paul Newland
_GGAG_ performed by Plane Dukes Rahman Trio
Anthony Payne
Break, break, break
performed by Trinity College Choir, Cambridge
1995
Gerard McBurney
A winter’s walk round Troitse-Lykovo park
performed by Sorrel String Quartet, No Strings Attached and Chi-chi Nwanoku
1994
John Buller
_Mr Purcell’s Maggot _ performed by City of London Sinfonia, Thomas Randle, Mark Elder, Joyful Company of Singers
1993
David Bedford
Touristen Duchau
performed by Jane Manning Jane’s Minstrels
1992
Michael Nyman
Self Laudatory Hymn of Inanna And Her Omnipotence performed by James Bowman, Fretwork
Dominic Muldowney
Golden Moments
performed by Chi-chi Nwanoku and Richard Lester