One of the stimulating aspects of the Sligo Contemporary Music Festival is the integrated presentation of composition and performance.
The informal atmosphere of the Model Arts Centre, where most events take place, enables participants and observers to rub shoulders with composers and performers of international standing. The opportunity is seized via a mutual mix of concerts, workshops, discussions and open rehearsals.
This year's festival ran from Friday night to yesterday afternoon. Like last year's, the first, it was shaped by an accomplished composer resident in Ireland and included music by that composer. This year's guest was Kevin Volans, whose Irish contemporary, Gerald Barry, was also prominent.
The opening concert was an inspiring demonstration of collaboration between a virtuoso performer and composers. Percussionist Robyn Schulkowsky has premiered music by luminaries such as Cage, Kagel and Stockhausen. On this occasion, she played music written for her by Kevin Volans, Christian Wolff and Matteo Fargion.
She was superb. Her blend of theatricality and truly musical purpose was made absorbingly explicit in the following morning's workshop, when she coached players and effortlessly got the whole audience to join in.
Later that day, music by Ke vin Volans was excellently played by Robyn Schulkowsky and Matteo Fargion (percussion), Carole Cerasi and James Johnstone (harpsichords) and Reiko Ichise (viol). She who Sleeps With Small Blanket, Matepe and White Man Sleeps (an earlier version of the string quartet piece) all date from the 1980s, when Volans was working with ideas derived from the folk idioms of his native South Africa.
This music has simplicity, but there is nothing simpleminded about it. Its use of repetition and time is fascinating for its irregularity, its freedom. The style is distinctive and conceptually provocative.
Other events in the Sligo Contemporary Music Festival will be reviewed later.