RAMM’s Collections Inspire New Music - Guest Blog

New music by talented British-based composers will be premiered in the galleries that inspired them on Saturday 7 March. A Chinese gown, an elephant, microscopic diatoms, an Inuit map carved onto a bone and a collection of pocket watches are amongst the objects in RAMM’s displays that inspired the compositions.

Devon Philharmonic Orchestra (DPO) commissioned thirteen new pieces of music and their players and singers will perform the works in small ensembles around the museum. The audience will walk through the galleries, choosing their route, and stopping to listen to the performances while looking at the objects.

With influences from Indian music, jazz and other genres, the compositions are as varied as the objects that inspired them. In addition to work by eight experienced composers, five emerging composers will have their new pieces played. Each emerging composer received a bursary and mentorship from DPO’s Music Director to help them to create their work. The finale, composed by DPO's Music Director Leo Geyer, will be performed by all the players and singers, and heard all around the museum.

Cllr Rachel Sutton, Portfolio Holder for Climate & Culture said “We’re delighted that RAMM’s wonderful objects have provided the inspiration for this new music. It’s been a very exciting project for RAMM to work on with the Exeter-based Devon Philharmonic Orchestra, and the performance promises to create a magical atmosphere in the museum”.

Music in the Galleries is at RAMM, 7.30pm on Sat 7 March. Doors and the bar open at 6.45pm. See more information and buy tickets.

The performance is part of the international Festival of Contemporary Music for All with funding from Arts Council England.

The Composers

The commissioned composers are: Leo Geyer Darren Bloom, Jegede Tunde, Anna Matthews, Edward Nesbit, Camden Reeves, Laura Reid and Lisa Robertson with emerging composers Ivan Andrews, Joshua Brown, Marisse Cato, Hugh Morris and Henry George Page.