This post will chronicle a recent sojourn to Sheffield, England, where I and my partner Glen Gillis presented an academic paper at the 2017 British Forum for Ethnomusicology Conference.
After flying into Manchester, we took a train ride through the lovely rolling South Yorkshire countryside to Sheffield.
Our Sheffield residence was the Royal Victoria (Holiday Inn), a classic old hotel that was formerly visited by both Queen Victoria (thus the name), as well as the future Queen Elizabeth.
Coincidentally, the conference took place during the World Snooker Championships, a huge annual event in Sheffield.
Sheffield’s many hills and the quantity of our instruments and audio equipment necessitated numerous Uber rides to get around. (Yes, Uber is everywhere!)
Apart from the conference our visit afforded the opportunity to sample the local fare (via visit to Sheffield’s numerous pubs).
A definite highlight was the amazing selection of cask conditioned (hand pull) craft beers at the Kelham Island Tavern, located in the old industrial district of Sheffield.
And of course, the first Spring coming out appearance of one of the many local Morris Dance Clubs (further explanation is impossible).
The BFE Conference took place in The Diamond, a futuristic educational venue on the University of Sheffield campus.
Our hour-long lecture-demonstration featured the premiers of 2 electro-acoustic pieces for alto saxophone and didgeridoo, co-composed and performed live by Glen Gillis & James Cunningham.
And a tribute to a local historical figure.
“Mr. Hood” Duo Gillis Cunningham (2017)
In addition to the IR capture at the Sheffield City Hall…
…the trip also afforded opportunity to collect some impulse responses from a variety of other sites including the Royal Victoria Great Central Room…
…and several different locations inside a WWII-era bomb shelter in Stockport, just outside of Manchester.
Winging it home over the Coast of West Ireland!
