Artists Registry
Hove United Kingdom
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Artist's Statement
9/11 : 20
Memorials on the twentieth anniversary of September 11th
A new CD on the Coviello Contemporary label COV92111
Digital Release Date: 03/09/21
Hard Copy Release Date: 11/09/21
Coviello Enquiries: aaron@coviellomusic.com
Artist Enquiries: adam@adamswayne.com
Commemorative concert/ CD launch at Wigmore Hall: 1pm on September 11th
Throughout the recital, voices from a diverse range of American communities are heard, with three focussed on private reflections of 9/11. These include African American composer Karen Walwyn, gay New York composer David Del Tredici, and a brand-new work by Kevin Malone: "Sudden Memorials". This 30-minute composition captures in sound the instant and fleeting memorials that friends and relatives leave at the scene of a tragedy. The work embraces polystylism, bringing further voices into the narrative. Alongside three pioneering works by Henry Cowell, a very slow piece by Scott Joplin called “Solace” completes the programme by challenging the white stereotype projected onto this composer during the twentieth century.
Accompanying the CD:
The cover image is a print of a wire sculpture by Scottish artist Vanessa Lawrence called “Together”. Vanessa was undertaking an artist residency in the North Tower on 9/11 and witnessed the terrible events at close-hand.
The accompanying booklet, in English and German, includes liner notes written by Tim Rutherford-Johnson which suggest new ways in which musicians and artists might commemorate disaster.
There are also photographs of the spontaneous memorial fence in Shanksville, close to the crash site of United 93.
All artist royalties from this CD are donated to the US-UK Fulbright Commission, whose mission is to advance knowledge, promote civic engagement and develop compassionate leaders through education exchange between the peoples of the US and the UK.
Resume
Adam Swayne’s career spans the roles of soloist, composer, conductor and teacher. He takes an inclusive and innovative approach to performance, putting communities at the heart of the music-making.
Adam is Deputy Head of Keyboard Studies at the RNCM and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He studied as a Fulbright Scholar with Ursula Oppens at Northwestern University in Chicago between 2003 and 2006. He has been fascinated by America and American music ever since.
Adam’s first CD for Coviello, (speak to me), featured American political music ranging from Amy Beth Kirsten to Rzewski, was selected as an Instrumental Monthly Choice by BBC Music Magazine, and received two nominations at the 2019 Opus Klassik awards in Germany.
Adam is concerned with the importance of music in commemoration. In 2012 he organised concerts for the centenary of the Titanic disaster, including a performance of Gavin Bryars’ The Sinking of the Titanic in Southampton’s Guildhall on the exact anniversary of the tragedy.
In September 2021 Adam releases a CD of piano music commemorating 20 years since the 9/11 attacks.
For more information please visit www.adamswayne.com