Nonclassical is a British independent record label and night club founded in 2004 by Gabriel Prokofiev, grandson of Sergei Prokofiev.[1]

Nonclassical
Founded2004; 20 years ago (2004)
FounderGabriel Prokofiev
Distributor(s)Cargo Records
GenreContemporary classical music
Country of originUnited Kingdom
LocationLondon
Official websitewww.nonclassical.co.uk

History

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Nonclassical has released fourteen albums, each following a concept of recording new contemporary classical music and then inviting a selection of musicians and producers from various genres to remix it. Artists such as Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Hot Chip, Vex'd, Max de Wardener, Simon Tong (Gorillaz and The Verve), KREEPA, Dominic Murcott, John Maclean (The Beta Band & The Aliens), Mira Calix, DJ Spooky, Tim Exile, and Gabriel Prokofiev have done remixes for the label.[2]

On October 26th 2024, Nonclassical celebrated their twentieth anniversary with a concert featuring the London Symphony Orchestra. The concert featured premieres by Emily Abdy, Darren Bloom, Tonia Ko and Beatrice Dillon.[3]

Nonclassical club nights

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Nonclassical hosts regular live music nights to promote a new alternative classical music scene in London. The nights have been held at a number of East London venues, including Bloc (Hackney Wick), The Shacklewell Arms, Red Gallery, Cargo, the Horse and Groom, The Macbeth, XOYO, and Kings Place.

The events present live contemporary classical music in 'gig' or 'club' settings, alongside DJs playing a mixture of modern composition, electronic dance music. Representative artists featured in DJ sets include Tansy Davies, Raymond Scott, Errorsmith, Stockhausen, Alarm Will Sound, Edgard Varèse.

In 2012, Nonclassical began hosting larger scale events at London's XOYO nightclub. These have featured high profile DJs and producers such as Juan Atkins, Nathan Fake, Optimo and Alex Smoke, and large live ensembles including a 52-piece string orchestra.

In 2020 James McIlwrath won the Nonclassical ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition with performances of Alison Knowles’ ‘Shuffle piece’, Neil Luck’s ‘THING’, and Oogoo Maia’s ‘Sisyphus at Work’.

Releases

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Released Artist Album Notes
August 2004 The Elysian Quartet Gabriel Prokofiev String Quartet No.1
November 2006 GeNIA John Richards Suite for Piano & Electronics
July 2007 The Elysian Quartet Gabriel Prokofiev String Quartet No.2
July 2008 John Matthias & Nick Ryan Cortical Songs
November 2009 The Heritage Orchestra feat. DJ Yoda G Prokofiev 'Concerto for Turntables & Orchestra'
2010 Gabriel Prokofiev Piano Book no. 1 Performed by GeNIA
Powerplant G Prokofiev 'Import/Export: Suite For Global Junk'
The Mercury Quartet Mercury Acoustic
February 2011 Consortium5 Tangled Pipes
March 2011 Nonclassical Remixes & Originals Vol. 1
April 2011 Tansy Davies Troubairitz
May 2011 Juice Vocal Ensemble Songspin
October 2011 Aisha Orazbayeva Outside
May 2012 Gabriel Prokofiev + Peter Gregson Cello Multitracks
September 2014 Consortium5 Consortium5 Tangled Pipes
The Mercury Quartet Mercury Acoustic
Nonclassical Remixes and Originals Vol #1
Nonclassical Cortical Songs
Gabriel Prokofiev Gabriel Prokofiev Concerto for Turntables and Orchestra
Gabriel Prokofiev Import/Export - Suite for Global Junk
The Elysian Quartet Gabriel Prokofiev: String Quartet n.1
GéNIA John Richards Suites for Piano and Electronics
The Elysian Quartet Gabriel Prokofiev: String Quartet n.2
Aisha Orazbayeva Outside
Tansy Davies Troubairitz
Gabriel Prokofiev + Peter Gregson Float Dance EP1
GéNIA Gabriel Prokofiev: Piano Book n.1
House of Bedlam Talking Microtonal Blues
Gabriel Prokofiev + Peter Gregson Cello Multitracks
Gabriel Prokofiev Gabriel Prokofiev Selected Classical Works 2003-2012
Juice Vocal Ensemble Laid Bare: Love Songs
October 2014 Gabriel Prokofiev The Art of Remix
November 2014 Gabriel Prokofiev Float Dance EP2
December 2014 Juice Vocal Ensemble (Arr.MaJiKer) Only Girl in the World
June 2015 Klavikon Klavikon
October 2015 The art of remix EP #1
July 2015 Live @ Nonclassical Vol. #1
January 2016 Nick Luscombe Nonclassical 001-002
March 2017 Outside the Lines - Vol.1
November 2017 Langham Research Centre Tape Works Vol. 1
July 2018 Tom Richards Pink Nothing

References

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  1. ^ "Gabriel Prokofiev's Nonclassical club night breaks with tradition - Times Online". Times Online. 7 September 2008. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  2. ^ Naylor, Tony (27 July 2007). "Tony Naylor: Prokofiev junior will make you care about classical music". The Guardian.
  3. ^ Lewis, John (28 October 2024). "Nonclassical at 20 review – synths, screams and bubble wrap as record label celebrates with the LSO". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
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