The concert celebrates the re-opening of St. Mary’s Lowgate, after major refurbishments, as an important local venue for the arts.

EAE has had a long association with St Mary’s, including its artistic director, John Stead being commissioned on two occasions to celebrate the re-hanging of the bells (Music for Bells and Spaces) and an exhibition/installation of multi-cultural angelic forms. ( … another Mighty Angel … ).

The concert comprises diverse works that the ensemble wanted to explore and present, with the overall idea of contemplation – of time, childhood, memory, sound, resonance, nature – of moments …

The concert title refers to the instruments played, recorded and transformed – bells, gongs, piano and ‘cello.

The day is ‘enveloped’ with an immersive surround-sound gong installation by John Stead called FIBO 144 – the title refers to the Fibonacci series which is used to create the work.

In the late morning the seminal work MORTUOS PLANGO VIVOS VOCO by the internationally acclaimed composer Jonathan Harvey is performed, and after a short break a performance of CHILDREN’S SONGS by Chick Corea ( numbers 1 – 10 before lunch and numbers 11 – 20 after lunch – check programme for timings ).

The sound installation FIBO 144 continues throughout the afternoon until 16.30. In the late afternoon another acousmatic work for bells and metallic percussion – A DREAM OF NUMBERS by John Stead is also performed ( check programme for timings ).

The church re-opens at 18.15 and the day of music concludes with an early evening concert, beginning at 18.30 with two works for piano John Cage’s IN A LANDSCAPE and the beautiful PALAIS DE MARI by Morton Feldman. After a short interval the day finishes with the first performance of DUET 1 for ‘cello and live electronics by John Stead.

DUET 1 for cello and computer

(first performance) – 2023

Performers:

Piano: Nigel Bartram and Stanislaw Hansel 

Cello: Nigel Bartram

Electronics and diffusion: John Stead

Production: John Howes and Gavin Kauffman

Duet – clip 1

Duet – clip 2

Duet – clip 3

Dream of Numbers for 8ch. tape

(first performance) – 2021

EAE would like to especially thank the Churchwardens Hilary Newton, Olga Li La-Vigars, and the Organist and Choirmaster Patrick Plunkett for their kindness and support for this concert.

J.S. 2023

St. Marys, Lowgate, Hull HU1 1EJ

Date: Tuesday 28th. March 2023

Times: 11.00 – 16.30 and 18.15pm – 20.30

Refreshments available

Admission: Free

As with our recent concert series ‘The Natural Worldʼ in the churches of Holderness last year, our policy is to offer contemporary music at the lowest cost, or free at a time when our horizons need lifting and the need for cultural sustenance is even more essential.

For this day of music, we kindly ask that donations are made to the church – thank you.