Concert: Rolf Hind performs Alan Bush
- Sat 04 Oct 2025
- 7:00 pm
- Free
2025 marks the 125th Anniversary of the composer and pianist Alan Bush. The Workers’ Music Association and Rolf Hind have teamed together for an evening which not only celebrates Alan Bush, but also champions political music!
Centred around elements of Bush’s 24 piano preludes, this recital will be a powerful demonstration that political art is not only alive and well, but deserving of greater attention and celebration.
About Rolf Hind
After studies in piano and composition at the RCM London and in Los Angeles, for fifteen years Rolf focused solely on working as a pianist: he has collaborated with Messiaen, Berio, Ligeti, Kurtág, Tan Dun, John Adams, Thomas Adès, Helmut Lachenmann, Unsuk Chin, Liza Lim, Karen Tanaka, Judith Weir, Elliott Carter, Benedict Mason, Rebecca Saunders, George Benjamin, James MacMillan and many more, and has premiered hundreds of new pieces throughout the world as well as playing seven times at the BBC Proms and in Sydney Opera House and Carnegie Hall. He has recently revisited the complete Messiaen Vingt Regards, with three further performances scheduled for 2025.
He began to compose again in the year 2000, inspired by momentous life-changes and several visits to India, which has been a big part of his life since. Large-scale compositions include a piano concerto, Maya-Sesha (nominated for a British Composer Award) and a concerto for accordion, The Tiniest House of Time, premiered at London’s Barbican Centre with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Much of his music is indeed inspired by India – its languages, philosophy, landscapes and culture – while often also drawing on the technical adventurousness of performers, including himself. Largest-scale amongst these is the hour-long On What Weft Are Woven The Waters, for Huddersfield contemporary music festival in 2017.
His works have been played widely in Europe, the US and Asia, with conductors such as Martyn Brabbins, James MacMillan, Jessica Cottis, Jack Sheen, Aaron Holloway-Nahum and Jakub Hrůša.
Most recently he completed an opera about the poet Sufi Rumi called Sky In A Small Cage, working with Rolf’s long-time collaborator Frederic Wake-Walker and the Anglo-US poet Dante Micheaux. This premiered in Copenhagen and London in August and September 2024, with soloists including Elaine Mitchener, Loré Lixenberg, James Hall and Yannis François, Athelas Sinfonietta Copenhagen and Riot Ensemble.
His music is published by Ricordi London.
www.rolfhind.com
About the Workers’ Music Association
In 1936 the Workers’ Music Association (WMA) was founded as an organisation dedicated to the musical activities of the working class, enabling them to have access to all forms of music, and promoting a working class voice within it.
We are a democratic organisation, where all our members can voice their opinion and vote on the work that we do.
www.workersmusic.co.uk
This event, and all our Alan Bush events are made possible thanks to generous support from the Arts Council of England and Alan Bush Music Trust
