PRS for Music Foundation presents…

New Music Award 2005

Finalist: The Bells of Paradise by Terry Mann

Cathedral bells have formed an important part of British history, each with a unique sound with no standard tuning. Terry Mann proposes a composition based around the sounds of these bells as a piece that will place the ‘listener at the very centre of the work’.

The Bells of Paradise project involves an individual recording of every cathedral bell in the UK, from the greatest Tenor to a small Sanctus bell or clock chime. In addition, ambient noise surrounding the cathedrals such as traffic, weather or bustling people, will be recorded. These recordings will provide the material for the piece. Using minimal electronic manipulation, the final composition will form a piece of installation art with the sound of the bells at its heart.

Whilst the work can be listened to at home, it is primarily designed to be a visitor experience; creating an environment for the listener where each movement they make within the sound space gives them a different perspective.

Composer Terry Mann has had pieces performed at the Bath International Festival, the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the Spitalfields Festival, the Hoxton New Music Days, the Almeida Opera Space, as well as abroad including representing the UK at the ISCM World Music Days in Japan. In 2000 he received the George Butterworth Award for composition, and in 2004 he was a resident composer at the Banff Centre for the Arts, Canada on an Arts Council England International Artist’s fellowship.

His music has been described as “strong, straightforward and effective”, “highly distinctive”, “compelling and elegantly written”, “haunting” and “beautiful”.