Between The Notes was formed in 1997 by cellist Matthew Barley for three inaugural performances at the Lichfield International Festival.
The unique strength of the group lies in the diverse musical experiences of the different members: from international solo concerts, composing commissions, improvisation, orchestral training, creative workshop leading, contemporary music, to jazz, Latin, Indian classical and rock music, the members have had experience at very high levels.
The group is experimental and adventurous, and has worked with many different musicians, as well as actors, comedians, dancers and visual artists. One of the most important aspects of the group’s work is improvisation, which is present in all concerts; in 2002 BTN undertook an improvisation marathon at London’s South Bank Centre, playing non-stop for nearly 12 hours with a host of exciting guests from the jazz world including Julian Joseph, Marque Gilmore, Nikki Yeoh, Paul Clarvis and Cleveland Watkiss.
Concerts and projects abroad have taken the group to Germany, Belgium, Spain, Norway, Croatia, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Australia, which have included free improvisations, pieces written by the group, and commissions from a number of British composers including Fraser Trainer and Dave Maric.
BTN also specialise in creative collaborations with teenagers, both specialist musicians, and untrained musicians – the most spectacular of these was with over 1,000 performers at the National Basketball Stadium in Cyprus, to celebrate Cyprus becoming a member the European Union. In 2005 BTN undertook a project for the BBC that began with four regional projects based on Fraser Trainer’s Knots, with violinist Viktoria Mullova, and culminated with a performance in the Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Proms with teenagers of a piece written collaboratively in the days before the concert. It was the first time that work of this kind had been given such a high profile platform, and was described by many as a highlight of the whole season.
Their first CD recording was released in July 2005 on the Black Box label, and will be followed in 2007 by a recording of improvisations.
In 2006 the group will undertake a major project in Cologne to celebrate 20 years of the Philharmonic Hall, with the Gurzenich Orchestra, based around a commission for Fraser Trainer to write a concerto for BTN and orchestra; record a CD of improvised music in conjunction with the BBC Music Magazine, and make several UK festival appearances.

Between The Notes: Musical Explorers.

  BTN exist to find what happens when you put your musical influences (twentieth century classical, jazz, Indian, African, funk, dance, pop, inside-your-head) in a melting pot and stir, simmer, listen; to see what happens when classical musicians play their own music as well as that of other composers; to commission works with space for improvisation; to see if an audience can clap Steve Reich before you play it to them; to write music with a bunch of streetwise teenagers; to Explore Musically between the notes.



Performance @ the cutting edge

  BTN have developed a unique performing style and instrumental sound – cello, marimba, soprano sax, with guitar and piano - that are fresh and unstuffy, breaking down barriers between audience and performer.  The repertoire includes contemporary classics, innovative commissions, works by the group, arrangements of pop songs, improvisations - the eclecticism becomes a genre in itself. The unmistakable BTN sound and relaxed presentation bind these unlikely elements together.
 


Improvisation - dangerous, addictive, great fun.

  BTN love improvisation. They are exploring different ways of approaching this art that disappeared from the mainstream classical profession a century ago. Developing a language that is unique to the group has meant learning from dancers and actors as well as drawing from a host of different musical styles and influences. Improvisation is a way to seed ideas for composition; a tool in educational workshops; a way to prepare for rehearsal and open the ears; an addition to concert programmes that fascinates and entertains an audience.



Collaboration - Elitism For All! 

BTN believe that whether they are working with a brilliant and renowned improvising actor, or a group of 10 year olds in an educational context – it is a collaboration. The group has some of the top instrumentalists in the country, as well as big names from the world of workshops. Drawing on this huge range of experience they run highly successful and fruitful workshop collaborations with groups of young people and orchestral musicians, as well as smaller scale collaborations with professional dancers and actors.