A day devoted to the music of the radical music revolutionary, Cornelius Cardew. Educated at the heart of the music establishment, Cornelius became an activist involved with China and Eastern Europe, discovering a passion for folk and experimental music. Cornelius had been banned from the House of Commons, chaired a national conference against racism, organised pickets and demonstrations, when he was killed in 1981 by a hit and run driver.
Pilgrimage round seven venues in Bath city centre to hear a simultaneous performance of Cornelius Cardew's 1970s masterpiece, The Great Learning, performed by Musicians of Bath Spa University, CoMA, Richard Barnard and the Elektrostatic Project, Organum Choir, Material, Syzygy (St Hilda's College, Oxford) and The Oxford Improvisers.
The Great Learning
Paragraph 1: Richard Barnard and the Elektrostatic Project at Bath Central United Reformed Church
Paragraph 2: Bath Spa University at The Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel
Paragraph 3: Bath Spa University at St Swithin’s Church
Paragraph 4: CoMa at Christ Church
Paragraph 5: Syzygy and The Oxford Improvisers at Burdall’s Yard
Paragraph 6: Material at The Museum of Bath at Work
Paragraph 7: Organum Choir, conducted by Francis Faux at the Friends Meeting House
(Please click on the venues above to see location details)
FREE
The simultaneous performance of The Great Learning follows a lecture and piano recital from Cardew's close collaborators Howard Skempton and John Tilbury. Click here to be redirected.
Hear the Scratch Orchestra play The Great Learning Paragraph 1:
Excerpts from The Great Learning, Paragraph 7: