Wild Bells to a Wild Sky*; Central Council wins Olympic gold
(* original working title, later superseded by Five Bells Triples)
The Central Council has been awarded funding for a new music commission to mark the Olympic Games. This is one of just 20 selected by the New Music 20x12 project, with each piece of music lasting 12 minutes, and composed specially for performance during 2012, and which will feature centre stage of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad as London hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games
Howard Skempton, an experienced composer (perhaps best known for Lento, his Proms piece for the BBC Symphony Orchestra), is fascinated by the history and challenges of writing for church bells, and will work closely with ringers to ensure that his composition can be performed at as many churches as possible across the UK, in particular as part of the ringing in the New Year celebrations. Describing his approach, Skempton said: "My aim from the outset would be to understand and honour a centuries-old tradition, fully confident that my own composition would be distinctive in many subtle ways." This music will follow in the footsteps of recent musical performances on church bells at Liverpool Cathedral and Leeds Parish Church.
The Central Council is collaborating with Third Ear, an independent contemporary music organisation that commissions composers and produces tours and projects, who approached us with the idea. The scheme is backed by the BBC and the pieces commissioned will be recorded for broadcast on Radio 3. Along with the other 20x12 projects our project will receive national media coverage across the Olympic year. The PRS for Music Foundation - the independent charity set up by the Board of the society that collects performing rights fees for composers - is co-ordinating the scheme, and our project is supported specifically by the RVW Trust (named after composer Ralph Vaughan Williams).
This is a wonderful chance for ringers to be involved in something different and to be part of a wider project involving many different types of music. With the world's media focusing on the UK, it is also an ideal opportunity to raise the profile of ringing as a modern and relevant art form, with its associated historical and heritage appeal.
More information will follow in due course, including an introduction of his music and how he will go about writing it from Howard Skempton. Ringers will be keen to know when the piece will be available for practice purposes.
Kate Flavell
Vice President, Central Council of Church Bell Ringers
New Music 20x12 is an independent commissioning programme initiated by Jillian Barker and David Cohen, and delivered by PRS for Music Foundation in partnership with the BBC, The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, and Sound and Music.
