XN is a partnership project between the moers festival and the British Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (hcmf//). The project focuses on improvisation and blends genres such as jazz, free improvisation, composition, and electronic music, with a special emphasis on emerging artists. hcmf//, the UK’s largest international festival for contemporary music, provides a platform for innovative programming and gives artists worldwide opportunities to present and develop their work. By promoting collaborations and artistic synergy, XN strengthens the European network of the new music scene.
As part of the 55th moers festival, four XN events took place:
- Creative Workshop with Heather Roche (cl, ld). In a three-day workshop, the processes of exploration, experimentation, listening and playing exercises, and the study of semi-guided scores were explored, culminating in a new ensemble piece for improvisers that was performed as part of the 55th moers festival. / Heather Roche (cl, ld) & Bárbara Cotrim (v), Eurico Ferreira Mathias (vc), Hyemin Jung (elec), Sarah Heemann (fl)
- Solo Performance: Jan Hendrickse: Black Noise (2019 / fl & propane torch)
- Duo Performance: Helen Anahita Wilson (p) & Shabaz Hussain (tabla)
- Trio Performance: Erosion Control (Sophie Cooper - tb, elec, Tom Hawkins - vc, elec, Flo Christman - dr)
As part of the 54th moers festival, four XN events took place:
- Creative Workshop with violinist, composer, and improviser Angharad Davies. The workshop explores listening processes, experimentation, and semi-directive score work. The highlight was the premiere of an ensemble piece for improvisers as part of the festival’s main program.
- Solo performance: David Sappa presented Foreshores Rising (2024), a piece for kinetic sound sculptures and effects pedals.
- Duo performance: Trumpeter Charlotte Keeffe met Ashley John Long on double bass.
- Trio performance: With Cath Roberts (electronics, baritone saxophone), Kate Carr (objects, electronics, field recordings), and Iris Colomb (text, voice, objects), a tension-filled interplay of diverse expressive forms unfolded.
