Featuring new works by composers of our time, Isaac Shieh shines the spotlight on an instrument that is rarely heard in a solo setting, the natural horn.

In the past few decades, as ‘Early Music’ develops, there is a renewed interest in natural horn playing, with an increasing number of horn players now pursuing historical horns as a specialisation. A new generation of players has emerged, pushing beyond the boundaries and perceived capabilities encapsulated by existing repertoire.

This programme features several new commissions that push the instrument into new technical, musical, and sonic paradigms. The new commissions from Rockey Sun Keting, Amanda Cole, and Robin Haigh evoke the natural surroundings through the sound of the horn. Georgia Scott’s work explores Descartes’ theory of mind-body dualism versus true embodiment, and how that ties in with the performer’s own experience of embodiment about his artistic voice. Grace-Evangeline Mason’s work explores the idea of “perfection” through an “imperfect” voice. These new works are juxtaposed by existing works by Jacques-François Gallay and Benjamin Britten, which form bridges to tie in the themes explored in the new commissions.