PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
RNCM in association with the British Museum Presents
Sound Histories
An evening of live music for the British Museum Collection
Friday 5 July 6 – 9pm
The British Museum, London
Admission: Free
On Friday 5 July, as the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) celebrates the end of
its 40th anniversary year, over 200 students will travel to London for Sound Histories: An
evening of live music for the British Museum Collection.
Inspired by the objects and galleries of the Museum and featuring approximately 120 scores,
including 60 world premières by student composers, Sound Histories is free to the public
and marks the latest in a series of large-scale projects produced by the RNCM. Previously,
students have performed at Manchester’s Victoria Baths, Piccadilly Train Station, the
Whitworth Art Gallery and Imperial War Museum North. For this unique event, which takes
place between 6pm and 9pm, young musicians will take over the ground floor of the iconic
London landmark, allowing the public to create its own musical journey through almost two
million years of human history.
Toby Smith, the RNCM’s Director of Performance and Programming, said: ‘From Ancient
Egyptian sarcophagi to broken pottery found on a Tanzanian beach, I've long imagined what
the objects of the British Museum Collection might say through music; and so, over one
unique evening, Sound Histories attempts to tell these stories, a production conceived on a
grand scale to animate our shared human history.’
The pieces chosen for Sound Histories span over 600 years, from the 14th century to the
present day, and animate collections from Ancient Egypt, Assyria, Ancient Greece,
Africa, North America, Mexico, China and South Asia. Highlights include music from the
early 19th century (including works by Handel, Mozart, Beethoven and Mendelssohn) in the
Enlightenment Gallery, reflecting the music familiar to the Museum’s founders at the time
the room was completed in 1828; music for the Parthenon Gallery that tells the stories of
the complex history of the Parthenon, built nearly 2500 years ago as a temple to the
goddess Athena; and a large-scale performance in the Great Court featuring all 200
musicians directed by double bassist and composer Steve Berry.
For further information, or to request interviews, please contact Liz Rowley, PR and
Media Relations Office, on 0161 907 5369 or email liz.rowley@rncm.ac.uk
-
Ends -
Notes to Editors:



Sound Histories is the latest in a series of large-scale off-site projects produced by
the RNCM. Previous locations include the Victoria Baths, Piccadilly Train Station, the
Whitworth Art Gallery and Imperial War Museum North.
It includes over 200 student performers and 60 world premières by student
composers.
All pieces relate to objects in the Museum or to the themes of the different galleries.
About the RNCM:


In addition to being one of the UK’s top conservatoires, the RNCM is recognised as
one of the North West’s leading performing venues offering a large Concert Hall,
Theatre, a smaller Studio Theatre and the Carole Nash Recital Room. Throughout
the year the College is host to over 400 concerts and events ranging from classical
music to world music and jazz. It is both a platform for RNCM students to develop
their incredible talent, and a stage for world-class performers to showcase their work.
To date, some of the biggest names in popular music have also appeared at the
RNCM, including Adele, Jarvis Cocker, Supergrass, James Blake and the late Amy
Winehouse.
RNCM, 124 Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9RD. To learn more visit
www.rncm.ac.uk
About the British Museum:


The British Museum was established in 1753 by Act of Parliament and opened to the
public in 1759. Governed by a body of Trustees, the Museum was from its
beginnings a new type of institution, its collection belonging to the nation and freely
accessible to all. The British Museum today is a museum for the world, holding a
collection of eight million objects—one of the finest in existence—spanning two
million years of human history. The British Museum is the most visited attraction in
the UK receiving 6 million visitors a year and aims to reach a broader worldwide
audience by extending engagement not only with these objects but with the cultures
and civilizations that they represent.
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG.
Free, open 10.00–17.30 Saturday to Thursday and 10.00–20.30 Fridays.
Further information www.britishmuseum.org or 020 7323 8000.