Smash hit

Fellow judge, and ex-CEO of the EMI group, Eric Nicoli, may have a more conventional link to music but boasts an equally unusual past as a trained physicist and creator of the Lion Bar. Did the scientific-based entries, such as The Fragmented Orchestra, a musical structure modeled on the firing of neurons within the brain’s cortex, appeal more to him?

“Well, I never did music or physics professionally, but, yes, there was a warmth when I read it was devised by a musician physician. Really though, we were clear that all of the shortlist had to not just be boundary pushing but readily accessible. We were not interested in anything where people were just making noises and then trying to persuade us it was music. There was one application that involved recording traffic - I guess it might have worked but it didn’t make it on.”

And why did he, the man who famously discovered Norah Jones, want to be involved? “They want to have a broad spectrum on the panel. I’m there to represent the majors - of course they asked me when I was at EMI. I was worried they wouldn’t want me after I left but luckily they did. It’s important to promote imagination and creativity.”

The finalists are certainly imaginative: what other award brings together folk musicians, scientists, beatboxers and composers? But as Davey explains, the NMA’s main hope is to appeal to the heart, as well as the brain, “It sounds soppy but we live in a very consumerist society. It’s important to credit something that is not naturally commercial, but is heartfelt and engaging.”

The New Music Award 2008 is announced on Monday. You can see films by all of the entrants at www.prsfoundation.co.uk .

THE SHORTLIST

Adjustments - Netsayi Chigwendere

"Adjustments is an new operetta which seeks to set a fresh agenda for African music and for the contribution of African arts to British contemporary culture."

Carousel Commission - David Thomas, Eliza Carthy, Adam Bushell & Ed Baxter

"The Victorian Carousel “Standard 54” organ located on Brighton Beach is the finest of its kind in the country, if not the world, and yet not one original piece of music has ever been composed for this unique instrument. Acclaimed musicians Eliza Carthy, David Thomas and Adam Bushell propose to collaborate together for the first time to create a new score, hand cut on cardboard books, to be performed by this organ as part of a large ensemble featuring internationally acclaimed performers, trained musicians and a local school orchestra as part of a public performance on the Brighton seafront.

Echolocation - Robert Jarvis

"A musical composition for a ‘choir’ of bats using detectors placed at the London Wetland Centre"

Concerto for Beatboxer and Orchestra - Shlomo and Anna Meredith

"Bringing together the worlds of classical music and beatboxing, Concerto for Beatboxer and Orchestra will be a new collaborative work co-composed by Shlomo and Anna Meredith, which will create a new notation and precedent for beatboxing as a musical art form.The Fragmented Orchestra - Jane Grant, John Matthias and Nick Ryan"

Pedal Tones - Django Bates

"Pedal Tones would realise a year-long, UK wide performance of a new work for pedal bicycle and four ratchet music boxes by Django Bates. The composer hopes this project will link maths, science, sport, health, environment and community through the infinite language of music in a celebration of quintessential British eccentricity."

The Fragmented Orchestra - Jane Grant, John Matthias & Nick Ryan

"The Fragmented Orchestra is a huge distributed musical structure modeled on the firing of neurons within the brain’s cortex. It is designed by its composers to perform a profound and unique score to thousands of listeners across the UK. This instrument, a model of a brain, will be distributed across 24 public locations throughout the UK, and at least one central venue (FACT, Liverpool). The piece will operate continuously over the period of three months."

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