Legacies in Technology

Legacies in Technology

Monday 17 November - DAY 1

5pm - The Evolution of Music Technology at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

Prof. Lamberto Coccioli (Professor of Music and Technology) and Dr. Simon Hall (Head of Music Technology) present a review of 25 years of music technology at RBC with Q+A
Admission - free
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6.30pm - Works with electronics developed and performed by RBC’s Music Technology Department Team (with interval)
Admission - £5
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With
Katharine Lam piano
Suzy Purkiss voice
James Dooley, Simon Hall, Joe Wright, Edmund Hunt, Ben Markland electronics and diffusion

Over the past quarter of a century, the department has championed the development of new music through composition, research, commissioning, and supporting the technical sustainability of legacy pieces. We present some of the works from the past quarter of a century to include:

Jonathan Harvey Tombeau de Messiaen
Simon Hall GSOH
Edmund Hunt UNGELĪC IS ŪS
James Dooley Formuls

Tuesday 18 November - DAY 2

5pm - Talk: Oram@100: Daphne Oram, the Oramics Machine, the Mini Oramics Machine
Admission - free
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Tom Richards and Joe Wright

Daphne Oram was one of the first composers in the UK to produce electronic music, co-founding the iconic and influential BBC Radiophonic Workshop. A true technical and musical pioneer, she was the first British woman to set up a personal electronic music studio, and developed the Oramics Machine, to create synthesised sound using graphic means.

Researcher Tom Richards has recreated Oram’s technology for the 21st century with his Mini Oramics Machine, and with RBC’s Joe Wright, he presents his, and Oram’s work.

6.30pm - Oram @ 100: the Mini Oramics Machine at RBC
Admission - £5
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The Mini Oramics Machine was resident at RBC in 2025, and team members were able to utilise its unique way of making music to create pieces. Some of these are presented here, alongside works by some younger musical pioneers.

8pm - A centenary of electronic music pioneers
Admission - £5
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A concert of classic electronic music from centenarian pioneers of composition with technology along with prizewinning works from the British ElectroAcoustic Network. Pieces are presented and diffused by members of RBC’s Music Technology Department

Programme to include:
Daphne Oram Birds of Parallax
Bebe and Louis Barron Forbidden Planet Main Title
Luciano Berio Visage
John Cage Williams Mix
Irving Kinnersley Estuary 2