Relay
Hundreds of musicians. painters, dancers and others have taken part in this event across the world
Follow links below to see and hear the Archive of past Relays...
Background:
The first 'Musical Relay' took place in London in 1993 and became an annual event spreading to Berlin, Athens and Madrid and culminating in a large scale performance over 2 days at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 2005 to which all the International organisers / musicians were invited. The event was promoted by the 2:13 Clubs in their respective cities. The 2:13 Club was named after a stopped clock in the London venue (The Library Gallery in Stoke Newington).
How Relay works:
There are 15 musicians in total, and 3 performance spaces. It begins with a trio in each performance space (9 musicians) who improvise with each other until one of the remaining 6 musicians walks into their space. The new arrival displaces one of the players, who then sets off to another space. This system creates a kaleidoscope of musical combinations over 3 hours.
The event is not something which audiences sit down to and experience as they would a conventional concert. It usually takes place in the daytime, in public spaces, and listeners find different ways to access the performances: some do in fact stay in one place and allow the groupings to unfold before them; some choose one musician and follow him or her; others move about from space to space frustrated that they can't be in all three at once, always missing something, always catching something else.
In 2022 a new Relay took place in London: RELAY 2022
The first 'Musical Relay' took place in London in 1993 and became an annual event spreading to Berlin, Athens and Madrid and culminating in a large scale performance over 2 days at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 2005 to which all the International organisers / musicians were invited. The event was promoted by the 2:13 Clubs in their respective cities. The 2:13 Club was named after a stopped clock in the London venue (The Library Gallery in Stoke Newington).
How Relay works:
There are 15 musicians in total, and 3 performance spaces. It begins with a trio in each performance space (9 musicians) who improvise with each other until one of the remaining 6 musicians walks into their space. The new arrival displaces one of the players, who then sets off to another space. This system creates a kaleidoscope of musical combinations over 3 hours.
The event is not something which audiences sit down to and experience as they would a conventional concert. It usually takes place in the daytime, in public spaces, and listeners find different ways to access the performances: some do in fact stay in one place and allow the groupings to unfold before them; some choose one musician and follow him or her; others move about from space to space frustrated that they can't be in all three at once, always missing something, always catching something else.
In 2022 a new Relay took place in London: RELAY 2022