hcmf// 2020

In August this year we were forced by Covid-imposed circumstances to say a sad goodbye to hcmf// 2020 in its original form, as we prioritised the safety of our staff, volunteers, artists and audiences – many of whom come to Huddersfield from across the UK and around the world.

Since then, we’ve been working on producing an alternative programme of events, across online and broadcast platforms, which will take place during what would have been the festival’s opening weekend (Friday 20 – Sunday 22 November).

hcmf// 2020 is still a festival. And it’s turned out to be a bigger and busier one than we expected. Whilst it’s hard to make anything feel like it’s happening in real time right now, we’ve developed our programme to feel as much like the live event as it can, with full days of music to be experienced that way, as if you were moving around the venues. Films and performance streams will run from Friday through to Sunday, taking place from early afternoon to late night – just like any typical hcmf// programme.

In devising an online programme for hcmf// 2020, we wanted to produce events that not only use the digital space we’ve been left with, but also respond to it, building for that world, rather than just adjacent to it. We’re incredibly excited to see artists taking this opportunity, and creating daring new music that fits the format.

We can’t wait to share new audio-visual works from Space Afrika + Tibyan Mawahah Sanoh, Kelly Jayne Jones, Speak Percussion + Lamine Sonko and Matt Wright with you, as well as new performances from Sarah Cahill and Darragh Morgan. We’re also thrilled to be part of Thin Air, delivering the latest performance of a ‘solidarity’ composition produced by Festivals for Compassion.

Thanks to the festival’s enduring relationship with BBC Radio 3, we’re proud to be presenting three live hcmf// broadcasts on The New Music Show. The performances will include a 70th birthday performance for James Dillon – featuring the World Premiere of Pharmakeia from the London Sinfonietta and a previously unheard piano work written for Noriko Kawai – as well as a plethora of premieres from Explore Ensemble, Heather Roche + Eva Zöllner, and GBSR Duo. With the broadcasts starting at 10pm, they will complete each day at hcmf// 2020.

And there’s plenty more to the programme, including our new hcmf// Zeitgeist Commissions in partnership with Riot Ensemble, as well as a number of podcasts and artist talks. It’s going to be a packed three days, and we can’t wait to welcome you to the reimagined hcmf// 2020. And to those of you who’ve never made it to hcmf// in Huddersfield before – we’re thrilled that you can finally join us!

hcmf// 2020 programme: https://hcmf.co.uk/2020-programme/

hcmf// 2020 at a glance:

Friday 20 November

17:30 Live Stream: Artist to Artist// In Conversation: Annea Lockwood + Auclair
19:30 Live Stream: Mandhira de Saram: Thin Air (UK premiere)
19:45 Live Stream: Sarah Cahill (UK premiere)
21:00 Live Stream: Space Afrika + Tibyan Mahawah Sanoh (world premiere) hcmf// commission
21:30 Live Stream: Kelly Jayne Jones (world premiere)
22:00 Live Broadcast: BBC Radio 3’s New Music Show

Explore Ensemble (live from St Paul’s Hall, Huddersfield):

Oliver Leith: Me Hollywood for sextet (world premiere) hcmf// co-commission
Joanna Bailie: Dissolve for sextet (world premiere) hcmf// co-commission
Lawrence Dunn: Sentimental Drifting Music for quartet + electronics

Saturday 21 November

13:00 Live Stream: Podcast: Aaron Holloway-Nahum/Riot Ensemble
15:00 Live Stream: Speak Percussion & Lamine Sonko: Hyenas (UK premiere)
17:.30 Live Stream: Artist to Artist// In Conversation
19:30 Live Stream: Anna Koch + Claudia Molitor (world premiere) hcmf// commission
21:00 Live Stream: Matt Wright (world premiere) hcmf// commission
22:00 Live Broadcast: BBC Radio 3’s New Music Show

Heather Roche (cl, bs cl) & Eva Zöllner (accordion) (live from St Paul’s Hall, Huddersfield):

Rachel Beja: Petrichor for bass clarinet & accordion
Jonatam Sersam: passing loadstones for clarinet & accordion
Line Jarnegard: in wind, waiting and water for bass clarinet & accordion
Johan Svensson: double dubbing (firefly song) for clarinet, accordion & 16 piezo-buzzers

GBSR Duo (piano & percussion) (live from St Paul’s Hall, Huddersfield):

Arne Gieshoff: Spillikins (world premiere) hcmf// commission
GBSR Duo + Angharad Davies (violin): Rydal Mount (improvisation)

Sunday 22 November

13:00 Live Stream: Darragh Morgan
15:00 Live Stream: Hayley Suviste New Work (world premiere) hcmf// commission
17:30 Live Stream: Artist to Artist// In Conversation
19:30 Live Stream: Raymond MacDonald & Rachel Weiss (world premiere)
20:30 Live Stream: Podcast: Ziad Nawfal
22:00 Live Broadcast: BBC Radio 3’s New Music Show

Dillon @70 (live from The Royal Festival Hall):

London Sinfonietta:

James Dillon: Pharmakeia (world premiere)

Noriko Kawai (piano):

James Dillon: echo de angelus (world premiere)

For more information visit https://hcmf.co.uk/2020-programme/