Shropshire Star - 27 Feb 2008

Modern sound at evening of music

The Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG),

Shropshire Music Trust concert

The BCMG are musicians from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, who are widely regarded as some of the most innovative and imaginative supporters of modern music in Europe.

On Saturday they performed in concert at Concorde College, as part of the annual series promoted by the Shropshire Music Trust.

They played 10 short pieces written by British and Irish composers born within the last 50 years or so, two of whom were present.

The first of these, Tansy Davies, contributed two works. "Undertow" is a six minute early piece, "Grind Show Unplugged" a more substantial recent piece, inspired by a Goya painting.

Two pieces by John Woolrich, the other composer present, were also played, both inspired by poems.

"In the Mirrors of Asleep" was a musical representation of people we have lost, seen in our semi-conscious.

Highlights of the six pieces by other composers were "Caprichps" by Philip Cashian, also inspired by a Goya painting, and Thomas Ades' "Court Studies from the Tempest".

Shropshire Music Trust's next concert is at The Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury at 7.30pm on Sunday, March 2. The Carducci Quartet will perform works by Haydn, Janacek and Beethoven. 

Paul Nutley

Last Updated : 30/03/2008