The Netherlands-based Ives Ensemble is proud to continue its long-standing relationship with Durham and MUSICON by presenting a double portrait featuring two of the most original composers working today, Joanna Bailie and Cassandra Miller as part of the celebrations of International Women’s Day.

Bailie, born in the UK but living in Berlin, is fascinated by everyday sounds that she hears everywhere around her, conversations in the street, traffic noise, fun fairs. She transforms them in the studio and uses them as material that is combined with instrumental parts, where all sounds gain a totally new kind of relationship. Miller, who moved from her native Canada to London, also uses pre-existing material, although mostly originating in different kinds of music. She can use a song by Leonard Cohen, the songs of different thrushes, the peel of church bells which she incorporates in such a way that even though the original source is mostly still recognisable, they form an integral part of her own, uniquely personal musical universe.