A renowned De Montfort University, Leicester (DMU) professor recently took centre stage as the featured artist at a prestigious South African music festival.
For the first time in its history, the Bowed Electrons Festival was dedicated to the work of one individual: DMU’s Professor Leigh Landy, whose pioneering work in composition, scholarship, and music technology was celebrated throughout the event.
Throughout the two-day festival, hosted by University of Cape Town’s South African College of Music (UCT SACM), Professor Landy delivered six talks and presented two full-length concerts, featuring ten of his electroacoustic compositions.
Before the event, he served as a Visiting Professor at UCT SACM, where he offered seminars and led workshops with composition and music technology students.
Professor Landy said: “The Bowed Electrons Festival was an incredible platform to share my work and engage deeply with the South African music community.
“To be the first artist highlighted in this way was both an honour and a unique opportunity to showcase how technology and tradition can come together to create fresh musical experiences.”
A highlight of the event was the premiere of Professor Landy’s piece “Musical Bow: Old / New”, composed using recorded samples of Africa’s first non-percussive instrument, the musical bow.
The piece, performed live by UCT Professor Dizu Plaatjies, recomposes and spatialises traditional sounds and included a live performance by master musician Plaatjies- all part of Professor Landy’s Old / New series, which reimagines traditional instrument performance practices through modern technology.
Professor Landy, whose PhD studies included an investigation of African ethnomusicology, said: “It’s incredibly inspiring to work on a project that bridges traditional and contemporary musical worlds.
“Blending African musical heritage with modern technology allowed me to create something truly unique and immersive, honouring the past while imagining new possibilities for the future of sound.”
This collaboration with UCT SACM also marked a significant milestone for DMU’s Music, Technology, and Innovation Research Centre (MTI). The relationship between the two institutions has developed over six years, leading to the establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)—the MTI's first formal collaboration with an African institution.
Professor Landy added: “This partnership is a testament to the power of cultural and technological exchange. By combining our strengths, we’re not only expanding academic and creative horizons but also inspiring future collaborations that push the boundaries of music and innovation.”
Professor Landy’s presence at Bowed Electrons Festival not only celebrated his achievements, but also highlighted the transformative potential of merging traditional music with contemporary technology, inspiring further cultural and technological collaborations across the globe.
Posted on Friday 1 November 2024