Cornelius Cardew

Cardew, as an insightful new film by Stuart Monro shows, played a primary role in the founding of the Scratch Orchestra, an inclusive ensemble welcome to everyone and anyone.

Encompassing music-making and performance, it was an aspect of Cardew's musical aesthetic that encouraged improvisation.

After the orchestra's demise Cardew abandoned avant garde music and became active in left-wing politics in the 1970s and then in People's Liberation Music, a collective geared towards supporting causes including Ireland's liberation struggle and striking miners.

Thus this timely concert aimed to bring Cardew's music and ideals into the 21st century and it certainly demonstrated that they are as relevant today as ever.

Performing beneath an apt Hamlet quote "To Thine Own Self Be True" above the stage, the accomplished musicians played key pieces from the Cardew repertoire including the Thalmann Variations (1974) for solo piano, dedicated to Ernst Thalmann who led the German Communist Party in 1927 and was later imprisoned and executed by the nazis.

A collection of songs taken from 1973's Piano Album also featured along with 1981's Boolavogue for two pianos, impressively rendered by the Ivory Duo.

The first movement of Vietnam Sonata (1976) and Cardew's signature piece We Sing For The Future (1979), a song for the emerging generations and the challenges they face, were particularly well-received.

So too was Lesley Larkum's distinctive violin solo performance of The Worker's Song (1979), an industrial folk tune with the words "I am a worker and I say it with pride."