Sound Sculptures at The International Anthony Burgess Foundation

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor

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Sound Sculptures at The International Anthony Burgess Foundation

11 June 2025

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Sound Sculptures
Fiona Brehony
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Composer Simon Knighton brings the cumulation of a new project to the International Anthony Burgess Foundation this June. Designed to push the boundaries of concert music, the performance will merge the open-ended qualities of dynamic sound installation environments with the temporal nature of live performance, creating a unique and immersive musical experience. By exploring the fusion of performance and installation, the ensemble will generate new musical experiences that challenge our understanding of both forms, creating fertile environments for creativity and collaboration across composers, performers, technologies, and audiences.
This concert will feature the second performance of Simon Knighton’s ‘Sound Sculpture No. 8’, a piece originally commissioned by Nonclassical and premiered at the Southbank Centre in 2024. Combining a String Trio, Installation, and Electronics, this work explores new tuning systems and spatial harmony through chimes, micro-tuned xylophone bars, live instruments, and synthesizers, creating an evolving sound world that immerses audiences in a multi-sensory experience.
The event will also feature ‘Missing Pieces’ by Gemma Bass, a collection of compositions in which key elements of the music are left to chance or choice and put into the hands of the performers. This opens up infinite opportunities for involvement and interpretation, from deep intimacy and vulnerability to chaos and anarchy. The concert will be rounded off with ‘Milton’ by Emmy Lambert, ‘Figure 7’ by Sidney Patrick, and a new work by Gloria Xia, showcasing the incredible creativity of fellow Manchester based composers.

Where to go near Sound Sculptures at The International Anthony Burgess Foundation

Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Burgess Cafe Bar
at IABF

Small but perfectly-formed café – which also serves as the in-house bookstore, stocking all manner of Burgess-related works, along with recordings of his music. It’s a welcoming space, with huge glass windows making for a bright, welcoming atmosphere.

Dog Bowl bowling alley and restaurant Manchester.
Manchester
Bar or Pub
Dog Bowl

A bar and 10-pin bowling alley combined, Dog Bowl is a neon-lit venue that serves up cocktails and Tex-Mex food to go with your time on the lanes.

The Ritz Manchester live music venue
Manchester
Music venue
The Ritz

The Ritz was originally a dance hall, built in 1928, has hosted The Beatles, Frank Sinatra and The Smiths and is still going strong as a gig venue now.

Gorilla, Whitworth street Manchester
Manchester
Bar or Pub
Gorilla

Gorilla is a good choice for breakfast, lunch or dinner. From a hearty full English to meaty burgers via good vegan and veggie options. It also hosts some of the best gigs and events in Manchester.

HOME Manchester
Manchester
Theatre
HOME Manchester

Offering a packed schedule of events and things to do, HOME Manchester is one of the city’s leading hubs for arts and culture.

Manchester
Restaurant
Indian Tiffin Room, Manchester

Indian Tiffin Room is a restaurant specialising in Indian street food, with branches in Cheadle and Manchester. This is the information for the Manchester venue.

The Modernist shop
Manchester
Shop
Modernist Society

The bricks and mortar The Modernist shop opened in May 2019 in the Northern Quarter and is the only bookshop in Manchester specialising in architecture and design.

Rain Bar pub in Manchester
City Centre
Bar or Pub
Rain Bar

This huge three-floor pub, formerly a Victorian warehouse, then an umbrella factory (hence the name), has one of the city centre’s largest beer gardens. The two-tier terrace overlooks the Rochdale canal and what used to be the back of the Hacienda, providing an unusual, historic view of the city.

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