The JdP’s third January New Music Weekend welcomes back the NeoQuartet of Gdansk for two concerts of Polish and German music that ranges greatly from environmental multimedia work to ambient trance music. Another festival theme is contemporary music for gamelan given by the British crack gamelan ensemble, Hammer & Bronze. The remainder of the festival consists of work by emerging Oxford composers – Screaming Mouth, Sonova, Red Lipstick and Holly Gowland.

Helmut Zapf: ‘Pressed Time in Green Ice’ (2025)

In this lyrical, single-movement work, the composer embarks on a journey through a 'workshop of memories,' melting the ice of the past century’s sound conquests to reveal a renewed, hopeful green. The title reflects both the emotional tension and the possibility of renewal in today’s world.

Agata Zemla: ‘Greenscreen’ for string quartet, live electronics and video (2025)

This multimedia composition creatively explores themes of ecology, gender equality, and the latest concepts related to democratic systems.

Johannes Kalitzke: ‘EUROPA' for string quartet and electronics

EUROPA is inspired by the 1931 silent film by Stefan and Franciszka Themerson—a 14-minute collage of naturalistic and abstract images reflecting the mindset of Western civilisation.

This concert is presented with support from the Ernst von Siemens Foundation.

Entry for Music Students is free, but a ticket is still required.

To book a Weekend Ticket (£45) or Weekend Student Ticket (£15), please book a ticket for each of the events below in the same transaction.

To book a Saturday Ticket (£25) or Saturday Student Ticket (£10), please book a ticket for each of the Saturday events below in the same transaction.

To book a Sunday Ticket (£25) or Sunday Student Ticket (£10), please book a ticket for each of the Sunday events below in the same transaction.

Friday 16 January
6pm, JdP Music Building - NeoQuartet Composition Workshop

Saturday 17 January
2:30pm, JdP Music Building - Screaming Mouth
4:45pm, Pavilion - Lecture on 'Europa' Film
6pm, Pavilion - NeoQuartet: Europe - Challenges Still Relevant
7:45pm, JdP Music Building - Holly Gowland: Music for Electronics
9:15pm, JdP Music Building - NeoQuartet: Still Wonderland

Sunday 18 January
2:30pm, JdP Music Building - Sonova & Red Lipstick
4pm, Pavilion - Lecture on composition for Javanese gamelan instruments
6:30pm, Pavilion - Hammer & Bronze

Wheelchair Spaces

If you require a wheelchair space for this event, please call 01865 305 305 or email boxoffice@oxfordplayhouse.com for further assistance.

*A fee of £1.50 per transaction applies to bookings for this event across all channels - website, phone and in-person bookings at the Box Office. The fee is waived for Oxford Playhouse members.