Inventions:
the Harpsichord across time and Borders

About the Inventions project

INVENTIONS IN WALES:

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We are delighted to welcome on board composer Sarah-Lianne Lewis and performer Despina Homatidou, with the Welsh project gratefully supported by the Vale of Glamorgan Legacy Fund (Ty Cerdd).

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. ​

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Details of each concert can be found HERE

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PODCAST

In Limerick we were delighted to be interviewed by Jonathan Grimes from the

Contemporary Music Centre Ireland.  He spoke to Janet, Yonit, Evangelia and

two other composers from Yonit's programme: Fiona Linnane and

Maedhbh Hayes. Listen to his Amplify podcast, exploring the project

and the Limerick concert:

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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.

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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.

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