Earlier this year, The Quietus was due to head to the Lake District to work on a series of events as part of the 2020 Aerial Festival. Sadly, coronavirus put paid to that, but the positive news is that we're working with Aerial Festival to commission five new pieces of music from five artists.

The brief via Aerial runs thus: "2020 = Wordsworth 250; a year of seismic events and deep reflection which we must ensure effects positive change, the old normal was an aberration. Wordsworth also lived through seismic events and saw the 1790s as a time of 'dereliction and despair', borne out of disillusionment at the course of the French Revolution and written about extensively in The Prelude. Could we see the present time also of one of despair? Wordsworth says that if he retains a faith in human nature, then that is due to benevolence of Nature.

"He reflected on this in his epic autobiographical poem The Prelude. Published posthumously, The Prelude recounted the journey of his life from childhood until the point where he began writing the poem in early adulthood, he continued to work on the poem until his death.

From The Prelude

If in this time
Of dereliction and dismay, I yet
Despair not of our nature; but retain
A more than Roman confidence, a faith
That fails not, in all sorrow my support,
The blessing of my life, the gift is yours,
Ye mountains! thine, O Nature!

"The Quietus, in partnership with Aerial, is inviting artists working in sound for personal reflections from the perspective of 2020. Have recent events shaken, restored or fortified your faith in human nature and if so who or what is responsible?"

Each of the five artists selected will receive a grant of £1000. Their work will be featured on The Quietus and the From The Fields website.

To get involved, please email hello@thequietus.com with a 300-word summary of your proposed work outlining how it relates to The Prelude and the ideas outlined above. Please also include some samples of your existing music and a biography and use 'PRELUDE' in the email subject header.

The Quietus and Aerial encourage applications from artists from underrepresented backgrounds. Non-UK-based practitioners are welcome to apply. The deadline for applications is Monday, July 27, 2020, with finished works supplied by August 31, 2020. Funding comes from Great Place Lakes & Dales.