“Sound Sculptures: A Dynamic Fusion of Installation and Live Performance”

Composer Simon Knighton, PRiSM and the House of Bedlam present “Sound Sculptures: A Concert Merging Installation and Live Performance” at The International Anthony Burgess Foundation in Manchester on 11th June 2025 at 8pm.

Designed to push the boundaries of concert music, this performance will merge the open-ended qualities of dynamic sound installation environments with the temporal nature of live performance, creating a unique and immersive musical experience. By exploring the fusion of performance and installation, we will generate new musical experiences that challenge our understanding of both forms, creating fertile environments for creativity and collaboration across composers, performers, technologies, and audiences.

This concert will feature the second performance of Sound Sculpture No. 8, a piece originally commissioned by Nonclassical and premiered at the Southbank Centre in 2024. Combining a string trio, installation and electronics, this work explores new tuning systems and spatial harmony through chimes, micro-tuned xylophone bars, live instruments, and synthesizers, creating an evolving sound world that immerses audiences in a multi-sensory experience.

The event will also feature Missing Pieces by Gemma Bass, a collection of 5 compositions, in which key elements of the music are left to chance or choice and put into the hands of the performers. This opens up infinite opportunities for involvement and interpretation, from deep intimacy and vulnerability to chaos and anarchy.

The concert will be rounded off with Milton by Emmy Lambert, Figure 7 by Sidney Patrick, and a new work by Gloria Xia  showcasing the incredible creativity of the RNCM community.

The concert will finish no later than 9:30pm.

Performers:
House of Bedlam: Kathryn Williams (Flute), Carl Raven (Sax)
Gemma Bass (Violin)
Lucy Nolan (Viola)
Peggy Nolan (Cello)
This concert is supported by PRiSM, The RNCM Centre for Practice & Research in Science & Music, funded by the Research England fund Expanding Excellence in England (E3) and the Hinrichsen Foundation.

This concert supports the release of Simon Knighton’s debut album, Sound Sculptures, Dynamical Systems, Natural Environments, which was released last year through Nonclassical.

Artwork: Fiona Brehony