Nonclassical
Encyclopedia
Nonclassical is an independent record label and club-night founded in 2003 by the composer Gabriel Prokofiev
, grandson of Sergei Prokofiev
.
The name 'Nonclassical' is derived from the label's approach to classical music. Although the label releases contemporary classical music and the club night hosts live classical performances, they are presented in a 'non' classical way, not in keeping with standard classical music traditions.
CD releases feature 'remixes' of original contemporary classical recordings and gritty urban sleeve designs; the club-nights are held in London pubs, live-rock venues and night-clubs, with DJs playing in between live acts.
As well as being fuelled by a desire to reach new audiences, this alternative approach is significantly informed by G Prokofiev's previous experiences playing in punk-funk bands, putting on live gigs and releasing dance 12"s; along with the indie-rock roots of Nonclassical label manager David Halliwell (ex-manager of The Verve
and Beta Band).
The label has released ten albums to date, each following a concept of recording new, contemporary classical music and then inviting a selection of musicians and producers from various genres to remix it. Artists such as Thom Yorke
(Radiohead), Hot Chip
, Vex'd, Max de Wardener
, Simon Tong
(Gorillaz
and The Verve), KREEPA
, Dominic Murcott, John Maclean (The Beta Band
& The Aliens) and Gabriel Prokofiev have done remixes for the label.
Most recently, the label has announced new releases for Spring 2011 by leading female composer Tansy Davies
and by the Juice Vocal Ensemble, as well as a second appearance at the SXSW Festival and a residency at London's Spitalfields Music Festival
.
GeNIA
- 'John Richards Suite for Piano & Electronics' (Nov 2006)
The Elysian Quartet - 'Gabriel Prokofiev String Quartet No.2' (July 2007)
John Mathias & Nick Ryan - 'Cortical Songs' (July 2008)
The Heritage Orchestra feat. DJ Yoda
- 'G Prokofiev Concerto for Turntables & Orchestra' (Nov 2009)
Gabriel Prokofiev - Piano Book no. 1, performed by GeNIA (2010)
Powerplant - G Prokofiev Import/Export: Suite For Global Junk (2010)
The Mercury Quartet - Mercury Acoustic (2010)
Consortium5 - Tangled Pipes (Feb 2011)
Nonclassical: Remixes & Originals Vol. 1 (March 2011)
Tansy Davies
: Troubairitz (April 2011)
Juice Vocal Ensemble - Songspin
Nonclassical is distributed by Select in the UK and Naxos
in the United States.
, Raymond Scott
, Errorsmith, Stockhausen
, Alarm Will Sound and Varèse
. The events have hosted artists that range from solo pianists with homemade electronics, to String Quartet, Wind Trios, Vocal Octets, and others.
Gabriel Prokofiev
Gabriel Prokofiev is a composer and record producer based in England. He was born to an English mother and Russian father, and is the grandson of Sergei Prokofiev...
, grandson of Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor who mastered numerous musical genres and is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century...
.
The name 'Nonclassical' is derived from the label's approach to classical music. Although the label releases contemporary classical music and the club night hosts live classical performances, they are presented in a 'non' classical way, not in keeping with standard classical music traditions.
CD releases feature 'remixes' of original contemporary classical recordings and gritty urban sleeve designs; the club-nights are held in London pubs, live-rock venues and night-clubs, with DJs playing in between live acts.
As well as being fuelled by a desire to reach new audiences, this alternative approach is significantly informed by G Prokofiev's previous experiences playing in punk-funk bands, putting on live gigs and releasing dance 12"s; along with the indie-rock roots of Nonclassical label manager David Halliwell (ex-manager of The Verve
The Verve
The Verve were an English rock band formed in 1989 in Wigan by lead vocalist Richard Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe, bassist Simon Jones, and drummer Peter Salisbury. Guitarist and keyboardist Simon Tong later became a member. Beginning with a psychedelic sound indebted to shoegazing and space...
and Beta Band).
The label has released ten albums to date, each following a concept of recording new, contemporary classical music and then inviting a selection of musicians and producers from various genres to remix it. Artists such as Thom Yorke
Thom Yorke
Thomas "Thom" Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for Radiohead. He mainly plays guitar and piano, but he has also played drums and bass guitar...
(Radiohead), Hot Chip
Hot Chip
Hot Chip are an English electronic indie band. They have released four studio albums—Coming on Strong, The Warning, Made in the Dark and One Life Stand.-Formation:...
, Vex'd, Max de Wardener
Max de Wardener
Max de Wardener is a British composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist known for his scores for film and television and his work in jazz, classical, world and electronic music.-Career:...
, Simon Tong
Simon Tong
Simon Tong is a guitarist and keyboardist who was a member of The Verve between 1996 and 1999 and is currently a member of Erland and the Carnival and Transmission. He has also played on tour with Blur, Gorillaz and the unnamed supergroup responsible for The Good, the Bad & the Queen...
(Gorillaz
Gorillaz
Gorillaz is an English musical project created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. This project consists of Gorillaz music itself and an extensive fictional universe depicting a "virtual band" of cartoon characters...
and The Verve), KREEPA
KREEPA
kREEPA are a group that perform electronic music and musical improvisation founded by John Richards and Hilary Jeffery in 2000. The group performs a type of industrial jazz and electro-noise.-Career:...
, Dominic Murcott, John Maclean (The Beta Band
The Beta Band
The Beta Band were a British musical group who received much critical acclaim and achieved cult status amongst avid followers of the underground and experimental music scene...
& The Aliens) and Gabriel Prokofiev have done remixes for the label.
Most recently, the label has announced new releases for Spring 2011 by leading female composer Tansy Davies
Tansy Davies
Tansy Davies is a British composer.As a youth, Davies sang and played guitar in a rock band. She developed an interest in composition in her teens, and subsequently began music studies at the Colchester Institute in French horn and composition...
and by the Juice Vocal Ensemble, as well as a second appearance at the SXSW Festival and a residency at London's Spitalfields Music Festival
Spitalfields Music
Spitalfields Music is a music charity based in the Spitalfields area of the Tower Hamlets borough of London. In 2008 they changed their name from Spitalfields Festival to Spitalfields Music due to their ever growing learning and participation programmes in the community.They hold two music...
.
Releases
The Elysian Quartet - 'Gabriel Prokofiev String Quartet No.1' (Aug 2004)GeNIA
Génia
GéNIA is a London-based Russian virtuoso concert pianist. She was born in the former Soviet republic of Ukraine into a family of musicians and scientists...
- 'John Richards Suite for Piano & Electronics' (Nov 2006)
The Elysian Quartet - 'Gabriel Prokofiev String Quartet No.2' (July 2007)
John Mathias & Nick Ryan - 'Cortical Songs' (July 2008)
The Heritage Orchestra feat. DJ Yoda
DJ Yoda
Duncan Beiny , better known as DJ Yoda, is a hip hop turntablist who uses samples to create a cartoony musical style.-Biography:From 1995 to 1998, he studied English and American literature at the University of Warwick...
- 'G Prokofiev Concerto for Turntables & Orchestra' (Nov 2009)
Gabriel Prokofiev - Piano Book no. 1, performed by GeNIA (2010)
Powerplant - G Prokofiev Import/Export: Suite For Global Junk (2010)
The Mercury Quartet - Mercury Acoustic (2010)
Consortium5 - Tangled Pipes (Feb 2011)
Nonclassical: Remixes & Originals Vol. 1 (March 2011)
Tansy Davies
Tansy Davies
Tansy Davies is a British composer.As a youth, Davies sang and played guitar in a rock band. She developed an interest in composition in her teens, and subsequently began music studies at the Colchester Institute in French horn and composition...
: Troubairitz (April 2011)
Juice Vocal Ensemble - Songspin
Nonclassical is distributed by Select in the UK and Naxos
Naxos Records
Naxos Records is a record label specializing in classical music. Through a number of imprints, Naxos also releases genres including Chinese music, jazz, world music, and early rock & roll. The company was founded in 1987 by Klaus Heymann, a German-born resident of Hong Kong.Naxos is the largest...
in the United States.
Nonclassical club nights
Nonclassical also hosts regular club nights (bi-annually from 2003; monthly since 2007), seeking to promote a new alternative classical music scene in London. These present contemporary classical music in informal and unexpected situations alongside DJs playing various remixes from the Nonclassical catalogue, as well as a diverse spectrum of music including Tansy DaviesTansy Davies
Tansy Davies is a British composer.As a youth, Davies sang and played guitar in a rock band. She developed an interest in composition in her teens, and subsequently began music studies at the Colchester Institute in French horn and composition...
, Raymond Scott
Raymond Scott
Raymond Scott was an American composer, band leader, pianist, engineer, recording studio maverick, and electronic instrument inventor....
, Errorsmith, Stockhausen
Karlheinz Stockhausen
Karlheinz Stockhausen was a German composer, widely acknowledged by critics as one of the most important but also controversial composers of the 20th and early 21st centuries. Another critic calls him "one of the great visionaries of 20th-century music"...
, Alarm Will Sound and Varèse
Varese
Varese is a town and comune in north-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 55 km north of Milan.It is the capital of the Province of Varese. The hinterland or urban part of the city is called Varesotto.- Geography :...
. The events have hosted artists that range from solo pianists with homemade electronics, to String Quartet, Wind Trios, Vocal Octets, and others.