Launch

2 October 2009

The AHRC Research Centre for Musical Performance as Creative Practice (CMPCP) celebrated its launch on 1 October 2009 with a musical evening held on 2 October at the West Road Concert Hall at the University of Cambridge. The evening started with a drinks reception which was attended by approximately 120 guests. This was followed by speeches from Dr Martin Ennis, Chairman of the Faculty Board of Music at the University of Cambridge; Professor Ian Leslie, University of Cambridge Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research; Professor Shearer West, Director of Research at the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC); Professor Nicholas Cook, Director of the AHRC Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music (CHARM); and Professor John Rink, CMPCP Director. A performance showcase then took place featuring a range of musicians who have pursued or participated in practice-led research projects funded by the AHRC. The Marmara Piano Trio performed Movement I: Allegro of Beethoven's Piano Trio Op. 1 No. 1 in E-flat major (1793), and then The Duo Dolan played Olivier Messiaen's Le Merle Noir (1951). This was followed by two Henry Purcell songs - 'Tis Nature's Voice (1692) and Sweeter Than Roses (1695) - performed by Sarah Barnes (soprano) and Erik Dippenaar (harpsichord). The showcase ended with an improvisation on the saxophone by Franziska Schroeder, based on a graphic score by Mark Applebaum of Medium (2008). After the formal proceedings had ended, guests raised their glasses to the new Research Centre at a dessert reception in the foyer of the Concert Hall.

Please click a thumbnail below to view a slideshow of photographs from the evening.