A world première by Sturminster Newton composer Richard Nye formed the centrepiece of an international concert at St Michael’s Church, Mere, which will now be broadcast to audiences in New York. The performance was given by Dr Andrew White, Professor of Voice at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, during a short UK tour celebrating contemporary music from around the world.
The first half of the concert featured works from the Vox Novus Fifteen Minutes of Fame series, in which composers create one-minute pieces for baritone voice. The programme included music by Oxford composer Kirsten Johnson and Swanage composer Sarah Cleverly, both in the audience to hear their work performed.
The second half was devoted to the world première of The Fragmentalist, Richard Nye’s three-part music theatre work. Combining live performance with an intricate electronic soundscape, the piece follows a solitary central character struggling to make sense of an increasingly hostile world.
The concert was warmly received by the audience, with many commenting on the opportunity to hear brand-new music being performed live.
The event formed part of the work of Vox Novus, the New York-based organisation founded by composer Robert Voisey to encourage collaboration between composers and performers. Since its creation, Vox Novus has presented more than 500 concerts in over 30 countries, providing opportunities for contemporary composers to have new work performed.
The Mere concert was filmed and will be broadcast through New York’s Composer’s Voice channel, as well as the organisation’s YouTube channel, giving Dorset audiences and performers the chance to share the event with an international audience.
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