EUYO TO PERFORM IN LONDON 2012 CULTURAL OLYMPIAD
The EUYO is thrilled to have been selected to perform in the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, as part of New Music 20x12.
PRS for Music Foundation has announced the 20 outstanding pieces of new music which will feature centre stage of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad as London hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The twenty works commissioned for New Music 20x12 each last 12 minutes and offer a snapshot of the quality and diversity of new music in the UK. Each piece will be broadcast by BBC Radio 3 and tour the UK - ensuring as many people as possible have the opportunity to enjoy excellent new music as part of the celebrations in 2012.
These commissions are full of the energy, hope and excitement that will emanate from across the Cultural Olympiad and the Games themselves. They are inspired by the dynamism of Olympic and Paralympic sports, the passion of human endeavour so central to the Games, and the once in a lifetime opportunity of creating a musical work contributing to a global celebration.
The EUYO has commissioned East-End born Richard Causton to compose a concerto for orchestra scored for around 120 players, entitled Twenty-Seven Heavens. The title comes from Blake's Jerusalem, in which the poet parallels aspects of his mythological world with various districts of London, including areas such as Hackney, Bow and Stratford - now part of the Olympics site, and close to the composer's home. The twenty-seven heavens are the layers of obscurity that the individual must penetrate to see the vision of Eternity - an idea which has resonance for both the artist and the athlete. It can also be seen to refer to the 27 nationalities represented by the EUYO's musicians. Performances are planned for the UK, Amsterdam, Berlin and key European festivals.
"For our young musicians, taking part in the Cultural Olympiad will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience," says Joy Bryer, the EUYO's co-founder and Secretary General. "They share the same drive, commitment and passion as the Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and as they come from all 27 countries of the EU, they also reflect what is truly a multicultural celebration. The marriage between the ideals and aims of the EUYO and the ideals and aims of the Olympic and Paralympic Games is truly a match made in heaven."
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 NMC Recordings. Special thanks to the RVW Trust for making this New Music 20x12 commission possible.
New Music 20x12 is generously supported by the following committed patrons and funders: Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, John S. Cohen Foundation, PRS for Music Foundation, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Arts Council of Wales, Columbia Foundation Fund of the Capital Community Foundation, Incorporated Society of Musicians, Musicians Benevolent Fund, Jerwood Charitable Foundation, RVW Trust, Charlotte and Dennis Stevenson, Tolkien Trust, The Leche Trust, The Bliss Trust, Finzi Trust, the Worshipful Company of Musicians, Lilian Slowe, John and Ann Tusa, John Wates Charitable Trust, Richard Walduck, Honeymead Arts Trust, and Sir Anthony Cleaver.
New Music 20x12 is a UK wide programme which consists of twenty outstanding new works, each lasting 12 minutes, commissioned to feature centre stage of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. New Music 20x12 commissions will be broadcast by BBC Radio 3 and tour the UK, enabling as many people as possible to enjoy excellent new music as part of our celebrations of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
These commissions are full of the energy, hope and excitement that will emanate from across the Cultural Olympiad and the Games themselves. They are inspired by the dynamism of Olympic and Paralympic sports, the passion of human endeavour so central to the Games, and the once in a lifetime opportunity of creating a musical work contributing to a global celebration.
