Cellist Matthew Barley Applauds Future’s Project
Posted on January 19, 2012
Internationally acclaimed cellist Matthew Barley joined Manchester Camerata for the second stage of its exciting Futures Project, launched as part of the orchestra’s commitment to continuing development and innovation.
Funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation the Futures Project is set to run for five years and plans to explore how new approaches to performance can develop the ways musicians look at themselves and communicate within the ensemble and also with audiences.
The second period of workshops took place in November, led by cellist Matthew Barley who worked with a core group of Camerata players, Camerata’s Head of Creative Programming, Manus Carey, and the project researcher Jane Oakland.
The workshops used simple techniques to explore and develop improvisations both with and away from instruments.
The pilot phase of the project is now complete, and Jane Oakland’s research findings will be released at the end of the year. The results of the research could have potential for national significance to be shared with other orchestras and institutions.
Matthew Barley blogged “I was back up in Manchester for two days of player training with members of the Manchester Camerata. It was the first time I’d worked with them, and they are obviously an impressive lot. During the two days they made incredible progress. It was set up as a pilot project to start improvising with them, and the the difference between the beginning of day 1 and the end of day 2 was just wonderful! We had some great playing going by the end, and there is a unique pleasure for me from seeing a group of players grow into a new skill they thought they didn’t have.”