The Contemporary Music Centre’s next new music ‘Salon’ takes place on Saturday, 8 November. The performer will be the well-known clarinetist Paul Roe, former first clarinet of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland and currently a music lecturer in Dundalk Institute of Technology. Paul’s commitment to new music over many years is well known, particularly in his work as a member of Concorde. The programme includes Jane O’Leary’s Within/Without, Rob Canning’s Continuum and one of Gráinne Mulvey’s electro-acoustic Sonic Studies. All the composers will be present and the main aim is to generate dialogue between them, the performers and the audience. The Project coffee bar will be open afterwards and everyone is encouraged to stay for refreshments and chat.

The new music Salon series was launched on 11 October as a result of a growing awareness in CMC that there is no forum in which new work can be heard outside the pressure of a formal concert situation with paying audiences and critics. Working in collaboration with Dublin’s Project arts centre (a partner in the project), and with the generous co-operation of professional musicians working on an expenses-only basis, works receive informal read-throughs (hence the somewhat flippant series title of ‘Lost in Bar 20’) followed by an open discussion with the composers, performers and audience.

The first Salon presented works by Rhona Clarke, Eibhlis Farrell and Roger Doyle. Clarke’s Jagged Edge and Farrell’s Conversation II were played by Alan Smale (violin) and Annette Cleary (cello) and discussed by listeners, composers and performers with a repeat performance following the discussion. Doyle presented two sections of his major ongoing electro-acoustic work, Passades, and this led to an interesting debate on the methods electro-acoustic composers use to develop their ideas. Participants then adjourned to the upstairs bar to continue the debate.

Although still at a pilot stage, reactions to the first event have been very positive and it is hoped to continue the series on a monthly basis in 2004.

These events are made possible through the continued support of The Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon.

The Contemporary Music Centre and Project arts centre are based in Dublin’s Cultural Quarter, Temple Bar. Located in the heart of the capital city, Temple Bar is home to more than fifty arts and cultural organizations. To find out more, check out the Temple Bar Cultural Calendar.