Thankyou TALKS PERFORMANCES FILMS WORKSHOPS NETWORKING
“FolkestoneNewMusicisan oasisofmusicalwonderment…A placetoexperiencenewand uniquethought-forms-inthe shapeofup-close,refreshing,and mind-provokingliveconcertsperformedbythebestnewmusic proponentsofourtime. Encountersofthiskindare becomingmoreandmorerarein theUK.Inadditiontoexceptional, refinedmusicmaking,thereare plentifulopportunitiestohear experimentalsessions,new collaborations,andworksin progress.Artisttalksand discussionsrevealsomeofthe fascinatingandhiddenaspectsof thecreativeprocess.”
TansyDavies
“FolkestoneNewMusicisspecial.On onehand,itbringsthehighestquality newmusicandperformancesto Folkestone.Ontheother,thereisareal senseofcommunityandcare.This comesdownfromthepeoplewhorunitbeitaworld-knownmusician performing,aneveningrecital,ora youngpersonattendingoneoftheirdaytimeworkshops,everyone,beitaguest oranaudiencemember,ismetwithcare, respect,andfamiliarity.”
RūtaVitkauskaitė
2024:AnInspiringandVeryBusyYear,reflectionsfromAndrewWard
Asaverysmallorganisationandtheonlyclassicalnewmusicenterprise outsideLondonandBirmingham,wecontinuetopunchwayaboveour weight.24concertsandevents;58artists;13firstperformances-no wondercolleaguesinthemusicworldareamazedattherangeandquality ofwhatwehavebeenabletodeliverthisyear.Threeintertwinedthreads characterisewhatwedo:
Strongartisticleadership
Ourprogrammeisdistinctivelyartist-led.Afteracareercreatingand runningfestivals–fromAldeburghtoMirepoix;DartingtontoHoxton–ourDirector,JohnWoolrich,hasa‘littleblackbook’ofcomposersand musicianssecondtonone;whilsthisencyclopaedicknowledgeofthe repertoireensureshecanworkwithourguestartiststocreateintriguing, unusualconcerts.
Workinginpartnershipwithnational,regionalandlocalorganisations Partnershipworkingiscentraltowhatwedo.Ourpartnerships–withfor exampletheRoyalAcademyofMusicandLondonSinfonietta,GrandArts CIC,SoundsFolkestoneandBetonCollective-enableustocreateand deliveraprogrammeofremarkablescopeandquality.
Beingrootedinourlocaleandcommunity
Weareproudlypartofourhometown,andofbeinganactiveingredientof theartsnexusthatmakesFolkestonesuchanextraordinaryplacetolive, workandvisit.Wehavebuiltaloyalfollowingandaredelightedthat26% ofouraudiencethisyearwereunder25ortookadvantageofour‘pay whatyoucan’option;whilstFolkstoneNewMusicconcertswereakey featureofthetown’sMusicInMayfestivalthisyear.
Withaprogrammeasrichasoursin2024,itisdifficulttopickout highlights,butthosewhoattendedTomAdès’recitalinMaywillnoteasily forgetwhatanextraordinaryexperienceitwas.Adès’abilitytoweavea gloriousmusicaltapestryfromhisownworkwithcomposersasdiverse asJanacek,WilliamMarsey,Nancarrow,Stanchinsky,Stravinskyand Woolrich,wasamarvel.
ThecelebrationsforJohnWoolrich’s70thbirthdaywerealsoparticularly special.OveraweekendinJulyweputonfiveconcertsfeaturing22 composers-featuringoldfriendstothosebeginningtheircareers-plus, anexhibitionoftheworkof13visualartistscuratedbyJohn.Laterinthe year,inaconcertledbythepianistJosephHavlat,anextraordinary ensembleofyoungartistsperformed10firstperformances,with8new workswrittenintributetoJohn,withthecomposersinattendance.The programmealsoincludedtwonewworksbyJohn.
2025isgoingtobeanevenmoreambitiousyear.Therewillbeagreater numberofconcerts;wewilltakeFolkestoneNewMusic‘ontheroad’to DoverandGoodnestone;andwearelaunchinganewseriesofeventsand performancesinkollectiv-Folkestone’sexcitingnewartsandculture hub.
Ofcourse,whatwedowouldnotbepossiblewithoutoursupportersand funders.Inparticular,wearegratefultotheArtsCouncilEngland,Beton Collective,GrandArtsCIC,HolstFoundation,LandBRestaurants, MichaelTippettMusicFoundation,TheRedHouseFund,Vaughan WilliamsFoundation,andthoseprivateindividualswhowouldliketo remainanonymous.Therearemanyvolunteerswhohavespreadthe word,movedchairs,madecupsofteaandchauffeuredartists–grateful thankstothemtoo!
04Oct2023/SirNicholasKenyon: ‘ThePiedPipersofEarlyMusic’ Kenyon explored the revolution in musical taste, understanding of recent decades, and how music from distant centuries is now as accessible as the music of today or yesterday. He discussed how this shift came about, and who werethepioneersinchangingourtaste.
7Dec2023/Mark-AnthonyTurnage
Discussed his music, with performances by Jon Carnac (Clarinet) and Junyan Chen(Piano)performingTurnage’s Turnage Carnac(2004),ClarinetandPiano Turnage FallingApart(2012),ClarinetandPiano Turnage 2Memorials(1995–2000),Clarinet Turnage TrueLifeStories(2001),Piano Turnage Concertino(2020),arrangementforClarinetandPiano Turnage SongforJon(firstperformance)
13Dec2023/ElizabethKlinck(Producer,EditorialandVisualResearcher)
FilmScreening:‘EatThatQuestion:FrankZappainHisOwnWords’(2016), forwhichElizabethwasthearchiveproducer.Elizabethintroducedthefilm, discussedherunusual&specialistroleandthevarietyofprojectsshehasbeen involvedin,andansweredquestionsfromthefloor.
25Jan2024/LindaHirst(Mezzosoprano,Educator)
Inconversation–Lindaspokeaboutherextraordinarilyversatilecareer:from beingalong-termmemberoftheSwingleSingerstoworkingwithBerio, HenzeandLigeti,aswellaswithTheWhoandPinkFloyd;performingon popularTVaswellasingreatoperahouses;andalsoofherworkasaleading andinnovativeeducator.
08Feb2024/SteveDummer(Conductor,Clarinet,Educator)
Inconversationabouthishugelysuccessfulworkasaconductor,clarinettist andasanall-roundenthusiastforparticipationinmusic-makingatevery level,hereandabroad.
07Mar2024/RūtaVitkauskaitė(Composer,Educator)
Rūtaranaworkshopwithyoungmusiciansintheafternoonandwasinconversationintheeveningtalkingaboutherownmusicanditswiderangeof influences,aswellasthemanyexperimentalmusicprojectsshehasinitiated forsmallcollaborativegroupstolarge-scalefestivalsallacrossEurope.
18Apr2024/NicholasDaniel(Oboe)andHuwWatkins(Piano)
Bach SonatainGMinor,BMV1020
HelenGrime 3Miniatures(2005)
HuwWatkins Callisto(2013),Oboe
JohnWoolrich TheTurkishMouse(1988)
JohnWoolrich The KingdomofDreams(1989)
HannahKendall Yes,flashbrightlighteninginmysouthernsky(2022)
MarkSimpson AndanteconAmore(2022),Oboe
Poulenc Sonata(1962)
TansyDavies ForgottenGame2(2009)
Schumann Fantasiestücke,Op73(1849)
03May2024/TansyDavies(Composer,GuitarandHorn)andJamesFisher (Artist)
Introducedtheirwork-in-progress,featuringanexclusivemulti-layered performancewithimmersiveaudio-visualsandartworkprojections.
24May2024/ThomasAdès(Piano)
FranzSchubert FourDances:
LändlerBminorD.790no.4(1823)
GrätzerWälzerEmajorD.924no.2(1827)
2LändlerAminorOp.Posth.nos.3&4(1823)
LeošJanáček 1.X.1905Sonata–‘FromtheStreet’(1905)
LeošJanáček ThreeMiniatures(1927):
1.Recollection
2.JesusChristisborntoday
3.MalostranskyPalace
ThomasAdès ThreeMazurkas(2009)
Janáček InTheMist(1912)
Janáček Fourpieces,fromOnanOvergrownPath(1900-11)
AlexeiStanchinsky PreludeinCanonicFormno.3-infourvoices(1913)
WilliamMarsey BelmontChill fromDutchIndoorSubjects(2020)
14Jun2024/JohnHarle
Inconversationwiththelegendarysaxophonist,composerandrecord producer,plusmusicalexamples.Harletalkedofhisbackgroundandthe differentaspectsofhisstellarcareerinfilmandTV,theconcerthall,andasan educator-resultinginhimworkingwithHarryBirtwistleandPaulMcCartney.
19Jun2024/YoungWomenComposers–curatedbyLouiseDrewett, LotteBetts-Dean(Mezzo-soprano)andJosephHavlat(Piano)
SunKeting Gulf-fromFourPostcards(2022),Piano SunKeting WithThee(2021),Piano
ZhenyanLi Bracelets(2018),VoiceandPiano
TansyDavies BelovedFriend–fromTroubairitz,SoloVoice(2010)
ErinGee MouthpieceI(2000),SoloVoice
LouiseDrewett HowIHeard(2021),VoiceandPiano
LouiseDrewett Sun(2024),VoiceandPiano
IsabellaGellis MontrealSongs(2021),VoiceandPiano
Aconversationwiththecomposersabouttheircreativeprocesspreceded theconcert.
TheGrand,CT202LR
HereismyCountry:JohnWoolrichincontext CelebratingWoolrichat70
19Jul2024/AWorldInABox
John Woolrich curated a special exhibition of paintings, photographs, manuscripts and objects including work by Terry Frost, Ana Maria Pacheco, Terry Smith, Jane Bustin, André Masson, Gayle Chong Kwan, Helen Lee, Mick WilliamsonandManuelVason,displayedin‘cabinetsofcuriosities’.
AlsoexhibitedwerePortraitsofComposerstakenbytheCanadianphotographerChelseyBrowne. Including:ThomasAdès,PhilipCashian,TansyDavies,LouiseDrewett,Morgan Hayes,GeorgeNewson,MarkSimpson,andJohnWoolrich. AndnewartworksbyAnnaBoggonandBrendaMayo.
19Jul2024/HuwWatkins(Piano)
Schumann Kinderszenen,Op15,1838
JohnWoolrich Intrattenimento(firstperformance)
HuwWatkins FourInventions(2009)
Ravel Prelude,M.65(1913)
JohnWoolrich Pianobook9(2001)
JohnWoolrich Pianobook10(2005)
Ravel Menuetsurlenomd’Haydn,M.58,(1909)
Ravel AlamanièredeBorodine,M.63,(1912-13)
Ravel AlamanièredeChabrier,M.63,(1912-13)
Stravinsky Tango(1940)
Stravinsky Ragtime(1919)
Knussen Ophelia’sLastDance(2010)
20Jul2024/ChamberDomaine
TomKemp(Conductor)
OliverKnussen …upononenote(1995)
HarrisonBirtwistle Verses(1968-69)
JohnWoolrich ADramolet(2008)
JohnWoolrich Sestina(1997)
MorganHayes DancesonaGround(2009)
JohnWoolrich APresenceofDepartedActs(2002)
ThomasAdès CourtStudies(2005)
RuthCrawford DiaphonicSuiteNo1(1930)
JohnWoolrich Inthemirrorsofasleep(2007)
TansyDavies grindshow(unplugged)(2008)
JohnWoolrich Adagissimo(1997)
21Jul2024/SarahDacey(Soprano),SarahParkin(Soprano)andGamal
Khamis(Piano)
JohnCage NowthuponNacht(1984)
Feldman Only(1946)
Feldman PianoPiece1952
JohnWoolrich HereismyCountry(1995)
Ravel Ronsardasonâme(1924)
JohnWoolrich TheUnlitSuburbs(1998)
JohnWoolrich GoodMorning-Midnight(2002)
Stravinsky TheOwlandthePussycat(1966)
JohnWoolrich Stendhal’sObservation(2008)
JohnCage Aria/FontanaMix(1958)
TansyDavies DestroyingBeauty(2008)
Feldman PianoPiece1964
KaijaSaariaho FromtheGrammarofDreams(2002)
JohnWoolrich ASingingSky(2009)
21Jul2024/FloPeycelonandFolkestoneYoungStrings
BerioDuetti(1979)
21Jul2024/SaloméQuartet
Purcell Chacony(1680)
Puccini Cristantemi(1890)
Nielsen Atthebierofayoungartist(1910)
JohnWoolrich TheVoicesofDust(2020)
Shostakovich AdagioandAllegretto(1931)
Stravinsky ThreePieces(1914,rev.1916)
Webern LangsamerSatz(1905)
JohnWoolrich EndingUp(2020)
03Oct2024/NewWorksforJohn:JosephHavlatandFriends
DaisyNoton(Flute);BethanyCouch(Clarinet);JosephHavlat(Piano);Emily Trubshaw(Violin);OonaLowther(Cello)
EightpieceswrittentocommemorateWoolrich’s70thbirthday,plusthree worksbyWoolrich,includingtwofirstperformances.
JohnWoolrich Inthemirrorsofasleep(2007)
Firstperformances–
LouiseDrewett Isola-Piano
PhilCashian OneSmallStep-Flute,Clarinet,Cello
DominicMuldowney PierrotPirouettes-Ensemble
HowardSkempton RainbowCanon-Ensemble
ColinMatthews GavotteandBerceuse-Ensemble
JohnWoolrich SymphonyofanUnquietNight(2023)-Piano TansyDavies KeeperoftheAir-Clarinet,Piano
MorganHayes FolkestoneDoubles-Ensemble RūtaVitkauskaitė DžonasVulričas-IfJohnwasLithuanianViolin,Clarinet,Cello
JohnWoolrich TheStoryofaStory-Ensemble
TheGrand,CT202LR
16Nov2024/SacconiQuartet
Tippett SecondQuartetNo2(1941-42)
Beethoven StringQuartetNo13,Op130(1826) InassociationwithBayleMusic.
16Nov2024/Screeningof‘MichaelTippett:TheShadow&TheLight’ (2023),JohnBridcut’sfilmtributetoTippett.
17Nov2024/JosephHavlat(Piano)
Stravinsky SerenadeinA(1925)
Haydn KeyboardSonatainAmajorHob.XVI:26(1773)
Tippett PianoSonataNo2(1962)
Beethoven Variationson RuleBritannia,WoO79(1803) Poulenc 3Pièces,FP48(1917–28,rev.1953)
TippettatFolkestone
“Itwasquiteanight.Therewereeightfirstperformancesfromthenotables,plus twofromWoolrichhimself.ColinMatthews,certifiedbigbeastofBritishmusicfor fiftyyearsandmore,offeredaGavotteandBerceuse,ajuxtapositionbothcurious andcheeky,perhapseven‘ratherJohn-like’.HowardSkemptonwavedan experimentalwandaroundapoembyD.H.Lawrence.TansyDaviescamewith KeeperoftheAir,a‘songwithoutwords’,apiecerestingonhistory-thepiano playingarpeggiospropertotheRomanticgenre-butyearningambivalentlyfor freedom.LouiseDrewett’sIsolawasatriparoundFolkestoneandVeniceinspired byWoolrich’sfriendshipandculture.PhilipCashianofferedOneSmallStep. MorganHayesdeliveredatrioofWoolrichplacesinintriguingmusicalcouplings, Dartingtonwithitssummerschool,Aldeburghwithitsfestival,andFolkestone itself,withitsFolkestoneNewMusic,Woolrich’slatestinnovation,aswellasnow hishome. Hardnottoawardtheoddmedal,withafieldsostrong.DominicMuldowney, veteranofmanyfacets,didreallyextraordinarilywell,takingthefirstbarof Schoenberg’sPierrotLunaireasstartingpointforhisPierrotPirouettesand springingoffintounimaginedspaces,tangoingirreverently,andallwithperfect dramatictiming.Greattitle,too–thoughthataardwentultimatelytoajeud’esprit calledDžonasVulričas.IfJohnwasLithuanianbyRūtaVitkauskaitė.The Lithuaniancomposer(residentandteachinginScotland)imaginedhow Woolrich’smusicmightsoundifWoolrichwasLithuanianhimself,oneDžonas Vulričas.Fortherecorditturnedouthismusicwouldsoundjustas‘melodic, elaborateandromantic’asitdidinplainoldEnglish.”
17Nov2024/BenVonberg-Clark(tenor)andAndrewWest(piano)
RememberYourLovers
Beethoven Andiefernegeliebte,Op98,(1816)
Tippett Boyhood’sEnd(1943)
Tippett TheHeart’sAssurance(1950-51)
Tippett FullFathomFive,fromSongsofAriel(1962)
23Nov2024/TheNewLondonChamberChoir
ContemporaryChristmasmusicconductedbyKieranMorris
JohnWoolrich EarthGrownOld(2003)
JonathanHarvey TheAnnunciation(2011)
TansyDavies ChristmasEve(2011)
HarrisonBirtwistle TheGleam(2003)
JohnWoolrich SpringinWinter(2001)
NicholasMaw SweteJesu(1992)
Mark-AnthonyTurnage Misere’Nobis(2006)
JonathanHarvey TheAngels(1994)
PeterMaxwellDavies OneStar,AtLast(1984)
DominicMuldowney Mary(2008/2024firstperformanceofthisversion) WealsoorganisedPop-upLunchtimePianoRecitalsinDecember‘23with JunyanChen(Bach,LisztandBeethoven),andinMay’24withSteveLodder (i
“Unbeatable!Tobeableto
“TheAdèsconcertwasmagnificent.”
“Brilliant,inspirational,andeducational.”
“I think they are always high quality and alwaysambitiousintheirprogramming.”
“Reallyfantastic,inspirationalevents. World-classmusicwithfascinating programming.”
“Ilovethem-it’sbeenoneofthegreatthings aboutlivinginFolkestone,whetheratthe GreenRoom,theCustomsHouseor elsewhere.”
“Ilovetheintroductionofnewartists,new ornot-so-popularwork.”
“It’sgreattohavesuchtalentedperformers comingtoFolkestoneandperformingin suchanintimatespace”
“AslivemusicintheUKbecomesevermoreconservativeand unadventurous,FolkestoneNewMusicisabeaconof adventure,diversityandthrillingjuxtapositionsof programmingandinter-disciplinaryevents.Whilstmany venuesandconcertseries’are increasinglyplayingsafe,this seriesstandsoutforitsforward-lookingapproach,bold programming,andinworkingcloselywithabroadrangeof artists,particularlythoseearlyonintheircareers.Longmayit continuetogrowandflourish!”
PhilipCashian
