RPS calls for 'lost' works

The Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) has launched its second Encore project with BBC Radio 3 to find 'lost' chamber works.

It had appealed to agents, artists, commissioners and programmers to nominate chamber works by living British composers for the world to hear again and reawaken.

RPS stated that premiering a piece can be the focus of media attention, but funding is rarely available for it to have repeated performances.

However, the organisation claimed that works can only be secured in musician's repertoire if it is played on repeated hearings.

Graham Sheffield, chairman of the RPS, commented: 'We want more scores by living British composers to develop a longer and sustainable shelf life.

'The hope is that … the very process of taking a second look will galvanize programmers and performers to reconsider pieces that they may otherwise have forgotten.'

A jury will select 12 works that will be performed live for Radio 3 throughout 2011 and 2012.

In 2004 the project was created to rediscover 'unjustly overlooked' orchestral works.