…where have you been?

I’ve been to London, to see some spectral music at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Amongst other things. Why, where did you think I’ve been? Out chasing mice? Pffffffft.

I’m back, pretty much. I did the ISP shuffle dance and after some heavy-handed fumbling consummated the relationship a couple of days ago. We’re very happy together so far, thanks for asking.

Since we last spoke, I’ve been to a couple of London Sinfonietta-related gigs. I hadn’t located my camera amongst all the boxes littering the new pad, so there aren’t any pictures. And I can’t locate the memories amongst my increasingly short-term internal filing system, so there aren’t many words either. Do forgive me.

First there was Mira Calix playing with the Ugandan Dance Academy and a few members of said orchestra (percussion, trombone, cor anglais) at the shiny new Guardian office/arts centre Kings Place. A lovely trombone/electronics piece, some feisty, thrusty dramatic dancing and percussion, and lots of lounging around on some big pink cushions on the floor. What wasn’t to like?

Then a few days ago (acting on a tip from Not-Applicable’s Isambard Khroustaliov) I went to the South Bank for the first UK performance of Gerard Grisey’s Les Espaces Acoustiques. A cycle of six pieces, building from the first which features a single viola, to the last which required 84 (EIGHTY FOUR) musicians. The less heavily-populated first half featured some fascinating textures and overtones, grinding strings and intriguing drones. Like watching England play, the second half (the one Monkeyman didn’t sleep through) was livelier: pulsating and dramatic, with thunderous percussion and rustling of paper. Most enjoyable. Thanks, Isambard.