Introducing a new series of articles mapping the last fifty years of new music in the UK
#BMC50 Things is a series of short blogs, to be published throughout 2018, that will offer a bold new perspective on the recent history of new music in the UK. Produced by Sound and Music and taking items from the British Music Collection as their starting point, the blogs highlight lesser-known connections and marginal stories as well as familiar names and narratives. Featuring contributions from composers, performers, writers and broadcasters, #BMC50 Things will help build a rich picture of the backgrounds, practices and diverse perspectives that have shaped the landscape of new music in the UK.
The series is at the heart of a year-long programme of activity marking the 50th anniversary of the British Music Collection, which exists as both a digital platform and a physical archive managed by Heritage Quay.The collection was founded in 1967 as the British Music Information Centre, a site in central London that became a hub for young composers looking to discover and discuss new work. Now based at the University of Huddersfield, the physical collection contains thousands of scores, recordings, books, programme notes and photographs.