Monday 1 April 2019, 7.30pm
“Unclassifiable, raw-nerve music of huge energy and imagination.” – The Guardian
This handpicked ensemble of amazing musicians present a high energy programme ranging from wild and driving polyrhythmic workouts to delicate moments of stillness, drone and quiet introspection featuring some of the most outstanding contemporary performers working in new music today. Tonight Decibel premiere Ed Bennett’s substantial new work for cello, electronics and amplified ensemble ‘Song of the Books’ alongside works written especially for the group by maverick composers Laurence Crane, Egidija Medeksaite and a brand new work by Leo Chadburn.
Ed Bennett – Composer / Artistic Director / Electronics
Daniele Rosina - Conductor
Mira Benjamin – Violin
Neil McGovern – Saxophones
Michelle Holloway – Recorders
Jack McNeil – Clarinets
Martyn Sanderson - Trombone
Paul Norman – Electric Guitar
Sebastiano Dessanay – Bass
Eliza McCarthy – Piano
Damien Harron - Percussion
Programme to include:
Ed Bennett - Song of the Books (premiere)
Leo Chadburn - New Work (premiere)
Egidija Medeksaite - Malakosha
Laurence Crane - Classic Stride and Glide
Decibel gratefully acknowledges the support of the PRSF Composers fund.
‘Ed Bennett's ensemble Decibel works across contemporary music fields, from the post-minimal amplified music popular in the Netherlands and New York, to the noisy and skronky improvisation that skulks loudly in hidden corners across the world, to the shards of various experimental electronic/spectral/notated musics currently itinerant between concert hall and laptop. This mixture maps very well – naturally – onto Bennett's own fertile compositional voice, which blends the coiled concentration of the best post-minimalism with the ferocity and dynamic range of thrash metal and the variety of a composer like Heiner Goebbels. So Decibel can be seen as natural descendants of groups like Bang On A Can, whilst operating in and contributing to the formation of as-yet unsettled new musical contexts.’ - Stephen Graham, The Quietus
Formed by Irish composer Ed Bennett, the 10 piece ensemble Decibel explore experimental, energetic, extreme and unusual work which generally exists between, or outside the usual categories. They play new music which combines a direct amplified instrumental ensemble sound with electronics, improvisation and a direct, raw energy. Apart from premiering many works by Ed Bennett, Decibel has worked with a diverse range of subversive composers and artists including Louis Andriessen, Heiner Goebbels, Laurence Crane, Howard Skempton, Michael Finnissy, Joe Cutler and Michael Wolters commissioning and premiering many new works. The group has also collaborated with artists from different disciplines including video artists and choreographers.
Since Decibel's first concert in Belfast in 2003 they have performed in concert halls, libraries, fields, sculptures, schools and art galleries throughout the UK and Ireland, to enthusiastic audiences and critical acclaim. The group's recent CD of Ed Bennett’s music "My Broken Machines" on NMC Records was Time Out Chicago's No.1 Contemporary CD of 2011. There latest album ‘Togetherness’ on Diatribe was described by BBC Radio 3 Record Review as ‘thought provoking and highly original, a great record.’
"A real sense of mastery, stunningly intense...refreshing, bold and frequently thrilling." - The Quietus
"beautiful work....great energy" - John Zorn
Cellist Kate Ellis is dedicated to the performance and exploration of all things new in music with collaboration at the heart. Kate is Artistic Director of Crash Ensemble, cellist with Martin Hayes’ Common Ground Ensemble and toured with Bono as part of his Stories of Surrender show 2022-2023.
Kate has collaborated with, commissioned, premiered and recorded works by numerous Irish and International composers including Steve Reich, David Lang, Michael Gordon, Nico Muhly and Donnacha Dennehy and continues to push musical boundaries performing and recording with a diverse range of musicians including Bono and the Edge, Bobby McFerrin, Rhiannon Giddens, Martin Hayes, Ye Vagabonds, Laura Cannell, Iarla O Lionaird, Yurodny, Gavin Friday, Lisa O'Neill, Glenn Hansard and Karan Casey.
Kate has toured and broadcast in Australia, the USA, Europe and China, performing at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Centre, Shanghai EXPO, Istanbul Akbank Jazz Festival and Edinburgh International Festival with releases on Nonesuch, Cantaloupe, Rough Trade, Brawl Records, Bada Bing, Crash Records, Claddagh Records and Vertical Records and is published by Mute Song.
Projects for 2023 include the release of a major new work for solo cello by Northern Irish composer Ed Bennett on the Ergodos label, a duo collaboration with Martin Hayes, curation of a contemporary music series ‘Europe: Here and Now’ at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, a project with Cormac Begley, Romain Bly and Caimin Gilmore premiering at Sounds From A Safe Harbour festival 2023 and the creation of new music for the Multi-Traction Orchestra’s album ‘Reactor One’ and ‘Echolocation: Resonate from Here’ a collaborative album with UK and US based musicians.
