Inventions:
the Harpsichord across time and Borders
A multi-national project to produce new works for solo harpsichord, performing them alongside historical works, championing composers from each of England, Ireland and Scotland and focusing on female composers.
Image: Katarzyna Kowalik, our London-based harpsichordist.
About the Inventions project
PERFORMANCES:
Throughout the autumn of 2024 there were 6 wonderful concerts, two in each country: in Limerick, Dublin, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Durham and London. Each concert showcased the three new commissions - one from each country - together with the work that inspired the commission. Alongside these, works by other composers from the three countries were performed, and other works by female composers both historical and contemporary.
​
Details of each concert can be found HERE
​
WORKSHOPS
There is also an educational aspect to the project: it's not easy writing for the harpsichord! Each performer gave a composition workshop or educational event in their country, talking about the fantastic potential of the instrument, and how to get the best out of it, as well as the pitfalls of writing badly for it!
-
In England, Katarzyna held a workshop with the London Composers' Forum in the Handel House, London. In the new year, the composers will work further with Katarzyna and produce a concert of their new works for harpsichord.
-
In Scotland, Tiffany presented a really engaging online 'how to write for harpsichord' event, hosted by Sound Scotland. Also under the auspices of Sound Scotland, she and Lisa led a group of emerging composers in a composer opportunity project, resulting in a short concert of their works at the Sound festival in Aberdeen in October.
-
In Ireland, Yonit led a session for students from the Royal Irish Academy of Music and from Trinity College Dublin, introducing them to the instrument and repertoire.
​
NEXT STEPS
-
In 2025 the team will be producing articles for the British Harpsichord Society and for the National Early Music Association, writing about the project and about new music for harpsichord.
-
we are also considering a further collaboration of the performers, performing together and discussing the collaborative nature of the commissioning/performing process of the project.
-
We will shortly be producing recordings of the concerts so that we can share the results of the project.
-
We would love our new works, and their historical partner-pieces, to be performed by lots of other performers! Do get in touch if you would like to contact the composers about playing their wonderful new works.
​
WALES
Wales was not initially included in the project simply because the project leader Janet was concerned about the logistical and admin load of working in four countries at once. Now though we are planning a Welsh strand, with the same process of pairing a composer and performer, and producing a concert of all the commissioned works, with an attached educational event.
​
​
Meet the team:
In each of the three countries, a harpsichord player was paired with a commissioned composer. They worked together to create works that are idiomatic for the instrument; all of the team are high-powered artists, each bringing a wealth of experience to the project.
​
-
In Scotland, our harpsichordist is Tiffany Vong, working with composer Lisa Robertson in Glasgow.
-
In Ireland, our performer is Yonit Kosovske, working with Dublin-based Evangelia Rigaki
-
In England, composer Janet Oates will be working with Katarzyna Kowalik in London.
​​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Above: the Inventions composers (L-R): Lisa Robertson, Evangelia Rigaki, Janet Oates
Below: the Inventions performers (L-R): Tiffany Vong, Yonit Kosovske, Katarzyna Kowalik
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
We are delighted and grateful to be supported by Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, The Hope Scott Trust, The Marchus Trust and the Francis Routh Trust.
