Hackney Classical Press present a beautifully presented book of photos, interviews & essays charting the rise of the alternative classical music scene in London.
Ten years ago, a new generation of composers and musicians started putting on classical gigs in non-traditional venues. Since then, a new alternative classical music scene has emerged. Now, there are alt classical gigs happening all over London - everywhere from warehouses to pubs, to abandoned underground stations - essentially creating a new music movement, yet nobody has captured and drawn this together in a single printed document.
Composer Gabriel Prokofiev (who had founded classical club-night and record label Nonclassical back in 2004) felt that this thriving alternative classical scene deserved to be shared in the format of a Photo Book. After talking to music blogger Thom Andrewes and photographer Dimitri Djuric, who have both been following the developments for the last few years, Gabriel asked them if they would collaborate to make a book surveying the scene.
'We Break Strings' is the product of their desire to bring this scene to a wider public. The book charts a scene driven by a real need to create a new space for contemporary music outside of the traditional concert hall.
The text draws on conversations with over thirty musicians, composers and promoters, giving a sense of the breadth and complexity of ideas, motivations and influences behind this musical moment. Thom spent many months interviewing the people that make up this scene, whilst Dimitri captured them during performances and rehearsals.
Featured new music nights include Nonclassical, Kammer Klang at Café OTO, London Contemporary Music Festival, and the Multi-Story Orchestra, who play in a car park in Peckham, among others. These are captured in the atmospheric photographs of Dimitri Djuric and further explored through interviews with the curators, musicians and composers behind the nights. The social, cultural and aesthetic implications of the scene are investigated by commentary and short essays by Thom Andrewes.
The book is 144 pages, printed on 150gsm art paper. 300gsm softcover, 21cm x 28cm.
The book comes with an exclusive CD of live recordings of many of the composers & performers featured in the book, recorded at the Nonclassical club nights over the last 10 years.
Tape Reworks Vol. 2 – Remixes by Kara-Lis Coverdale and Beatriz Ferreyra –
Limited Edition 7" Vinyl
Langham Research Centre (Remixes by Kara-Lis Coverdale and Beatriz Ferreyra)
£10 GBP
Girl –
Limited Edition Compact Disc
Soosan Lolavar x Ruthless Jabiru
£10 GBP
Surreal CD Bundle
£15 GBP
Classical CD Bundle
£25 GBP
Interzone –
Limited Edition Compact Disc
Nichola Scrutton
£10 GBP
Disruptive Frequencies –
Limited Edition Double Vinyl
Various Artists
£25 GBP
Machine Dreams –
Limited Edition Compact Disc
Zubin Kanga
£10 GBP
Christmas Bell Bundle
£30 GBP
Tintinnabulation –
Limited Edition 12" Vinyl
Marcus Vergette
£20 GBP
Aeolian Mixtape –
Limited Edition Compact Disc
Quinta
£10 GBP
Limited Edition Screen Prints
Quinta
£40 GBP
ilolli-pop –
Limited Edition Compact Disc
Alex Paxton
£10 GBP
Have you ever –
Limited Edition CD
Claudia Molitor
£10 GBP
Sealand –
Limited-edition Dubplate
Classical Mechanics
£40 GBP
Fieldwave, Vol. 2 – Limited Edition Cassette
Sold Out
Premonitions of the Unbuilt City –
Limited Edition Compact Disc
Matt Rogers & Kit Downes
£10 GBP
TWINE –
Limited Edition Compact Disc
SISU Percussion Ensemble / Rolf Wallin
£10 GBP
Tape Works Vol. 2 –
Vinyl LP
Langham Research Centre
£15 GBP
Tape Works Vol. 2 –
Limited Edition Cassette
Langham Research Centre
£8 GBP
Songbooks, Vol. 1 –
Limited Edition Compact Disc
Ligeti Quartet
£10 GBP
Sound Journeys: Switzerland – Limited Edition Compact Disc
£10 GBP
Fieldwave – Limited Edition Cassette
Sold Out
The Harmonic Canon –
12" Vinyl
Dominic Murcott / arx duo
£15 GBP
The Harmonic Canon –
Compact Disc
Dominic Murcott / arx duo
£8 GBP
Prokofiev Collection
£15 GBP
Tape Reworks Vol. 1 – Remixes by Jim O'Rourke and Group A –
Limited Edition 7" Vinyl
Langham Research Centre (Remixes by Jim O'Rourke and Group A)
Sold Out
nonclassical t-shirt
£12 GBP
nonclassical – Stave Tote Bag
£5 GBP
Pink Nothing –
12" Vinyl
Tom Richards
£12 GBP
AURO –
Limited Edition Compact Disc
Tre Voci and Kit Downes
£8 GBP
Tape Works Vol. 1 –
12" Vinyl LP
Langham Research Centre
£15 GBP
Tape Works Vol. 1 –
Compact Disc
Langham Research Centre
£8 GBP
Nonclassical London, UK
nonclassical is a music promoter, record label and events producer presenting the best new classical, experimental and electronic music. Crossing genre and defying convention, we develop, produce and promote innovative music – supporting emerging artists and bringing new music to new audiences. ... more
