Swiss-American visual artist and composer Christian Marclay has been announced as Composer in Residence for hcmf 2018 – the 41st edition of the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival.

Marclay began his career as an experimental DJ in New York in the 1970s, collaging sounds and throwing them on turntables to create sonic fusions. Over the past 35 years, he has explored the fusion of fine art and audio cultures, through performance, collage, sculpture, installation, photography and video.

Marclay’s work will feature in six concerts as part of the 41st edition of the festival this November, including the world premiere of his new work Investigations for 20 pianos. The piece will consist of 100 images transcribed and interpreted by each pianist to create a large aleatory performance. Pianists announced to date include Philip Thomas, Reinier van Houdt and composer and sound artist Claudia Molitor.

Other artists performing Marclay’s works during the festival include the Swiss Ensemble Babel, former Sonic Youth guitarist Thurston Moore, singer and performer Shelley Hirsch, multi-instrumentalist Steve Beresford, improviser and saxophonist John Butcher and drummer Mark Sanders.

See the full programme of Marclay concerts below. For more, visit https://hcmf.co.uk/

Friday 16 November
Christian Marclay graphic scores and documentation
Venue: Queensgate Market Gallery, Huddersfield (exhibition runs from November 16 – 25)

EnsemBle baBel (Switzerland)
performing the following Marclay works:
To Be Continued (2016) (UK premiere)
and his video scores
Fade to Slide (2015)
The Bell and the Glass (2003)
Venue: Bates Mill Blending Shed, Huddersfield

Sunday 18 November
Christian Marclay – new work – Investigations – featuring 20 pianos and 20 pianists (World Premiere)
Venue: Town Hall, Huddersfield

Monday 19 November
hcmf// shorts – full day of free music across multiple venues running from 12 noon until midnight. To include the following Marclay works/performances:

Steve Beresford – Ephemera (2009) (version for organ)
Venue: Phipps Hall

Shelley Hirsch – Manga Scroll (2010)
Venue: Bates Mill Photographic Studio

Tuesday 20 November
Thurston Moore (solo) + Thurston Moore Ensemble
First set: Christian Marclay – The Wind-Up Guitar (1994) (UK premiere) performed by Thurston Moore (solo)
Venue: Bates Mill Blending Shed

Christian Marclay + Shelley Hirsch – Zoom Zoom (2007 – ongoing)
Venue: Bates Mill Photographic Studio

Thursday 22 November
John Butcher + Mark Sanders + Steve Beresford
ChristIan Marclay – Screen Play (2005)
Venue: Bates Mill Blending Shed

Friday 23 November
Christian Marclay + Okkyung Lee + Mats Gustafsson
New all-acoustic performance
Venue: Bates Mill Photographic Studio