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Politics of the Imagination: Anselm McDonnell

LSO Discovery Jerwood Composer+ Showcase

,LSO St Luke's
Colourful graffiti art with cartoon faces

With influences from dubstep to Balkan rhythms, and featuring rappers from Birmingham’s hip-hop scene – composer Anselm McDonnell brings together a concert of playfulness, imagination and politics.

Set 1: Cross-Purposes takes snippets from public figures apologising for breaking their own pandemic regulations and turns them into rhythmic grooves, accompanied by a sarcastic commentary from clarinet and cello. Vez draws us into a world of fast-paced Balkan rhythms and Arachnid unveils an unstable, skittering groove from long, undulating gestures.

Set 2: Black Arrow uses electronics to manipulate music from the bass clarinet into new shapes, and PADDY builds layers of ostinatos into complex patterns.

Set 3: McDonnell’s new piece for clarinet, cello, percussion, sampler and rap artists questions: How can imagination and playfulness inform our politics? What if our solutions to problems were more creative, bizarre or ridiculous?

Tagged with: Contemporary music

LSO Jerwood Composer+ is generously supported by Jerwood Foundation.
Politics of the Imagination is generously supported by Art Council Ireland’s Music Bursary Award

Programme

  • Anselm McDonnell   Cross-Purposes
  • Joel the Custodian   Holy Bones
  • Ana Sokolović   Vez
  • Kosyne   Whip
  • Gráinne Mulvey   Arachnid
  • Barrowclough   The Horologist
  • Sungji Hong   Black Arrow
  • Kosyne   Church
  • Joel the Custodian   Ex-Golf Pro
  • Barrowclough   Boudicca Bap
  • Donnacha Dennehy   Paddy
  • Anselm McDonnell   Politics of the Imagination (world premiere)

Performers

  • Louise McMonagle   cello
  • Heather Roche   clarinet
  • Matthew Farthing   percussion
  • Barrowclough   rap artist
  • Joel the Custodian   rap artist
  • Kosyne   rap artist

LSO St Luke's

Location
161 Old St
London
EC1V 9NG

Nearby public transport
The closest London Underground station is Old Street.The nearest National Rail station is Old Street (for Great Northern services), with Liverpool Street, Farringdon, Blackfriars and City Thameslink all within walking distance. Bus services running to LSO St Luke's are 55, 243 (stop nearest to LSO St Luke's), 43, 76, 141, 205, 214, 271. 

Car and bicycle parking
The nearest paid car parking is at the Barbican. There are occasionally disabled parking spaces available at the venue, but these must be booked in advance by calling LSO St Luke's on 020 7490 3939. The nearest TfL Bicycle Hire docking station is at Old Street tube station.