Arts Council of Ireland Major Individual Artist Award
Bennett has been awarded, along with three other artists, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Major Individual Artist Award ‘the highest honour bestowed by the body responsible for the development of the arts in the region.’ The award will be used to complete several works over the course of the following year including a new large-scale work ‘Song of the Books’ as detailed below.
‘Song of the Books’
Ed has been working on ‘Song of the Books’ for solo cello, amplified ensemble and electronics. The piece is a co-commission for the Crash Ensemble, Decibel and Kate Ellis (artistic director of the Crash) as soloist. The 30 minute work will receive it’s joint premiere at the New Music Dublin Festival in March with the Crash Ensemble and at Cafe Oto in London on 1st April with Decibel (alongside great music by Laurence Crane, Egidija Medeksatie et al). This work was partially funded by a PRSF Composers Fund Award which will also help us to record the work for a future CD release on NMC in 2020.
‘Famished’ February 7th – Stephen Lawrence Gallery, University of Greenwich, London and ten date tour
‘Famished’ is a new collaborative work with the Irish poet Cherry Smyth and singer Laura Kinsella funded by the Arts Councils of England and Northern Ireland. The work is based on Cherry’s wonderful and moving new book of poetry about the Irish Famine. This concert in Greenwich is the first performance of a live version of the work featuring spoken word and music performed by the three of us. There will be further London performances at the London Irish Centre and Cafe Oto in March followed by an extensive Irish tour taking in the Dublin and Belfast Literary festivals and remote locations throughout the Island. Details of dates are available on Cherry’s website.
CD Release – ‘Togetherness’
Last spring my latest portrait CD ‘Togetherness’ was released with the wonderful Decibel Ensemble on the Diatribe label. The release was marked by a six date UK and Ireland tour with Decibel which was graciously funded by a PRSF Beyond Borders award. The record has received quite a lot of airplay from BBC Radio 3, WNYC New York and from Stuart Maconie on BBC 6 Music.
25th Gaudeamus Young Composers Meeting, The Netherlands
From 24th February – 1st March, Ed will be mentoring for the second time on this course for young composers in the Netherlands.
See Ed Bennett’s website for more details on all.
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Decibel Performances
My wonderful Decibel ensemble are in many ways the nerve centre of my work, a wonderful bunch of musicians who play like their lives depended on it (they’re very nice people as well). Between now and the Summer we have five concerts (some of which I’ve touched upon above) which it would be lovely to see you at if you can make it.
January 19th – BBC Radio 3 ‘Open Ear’ at LSO St. Lukes, LondonFebruary 27th – Gaudeamus Young Composers Meeting, Apeldoorn, the NetherlandsApril 1st – Cafe Oto, LondonApril 2nd – Royal Birmingham ConservatoireApril 4th – Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Ed Bennett ‘Togetherness’ Album Trailer