Karl Marx has said very little about music; from a Marxist point of view this could be explained by the fact that, since he spent most of his adult life in poverty in London, he had no opportunity to experience music. However, this has not prevented composers, especially in the last hundred years, from making him their subject or using his thoughts, and this CD represents works by Pattar, Newski and others.

The Birmingham Contemporary Music Group is one of the world’s foremost new music ensembles. Over three decades, BCMG has developed the music of today for the audiences of tomorrow. Founded by musicians from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in 1987, with Sir Simon Rattle as Founding Patron, the BCMG has reached over 10 million people in concert and through broadcasts and are ideal interpreters to present this music. For the Marx Year 2018 some current examples of the musical engagement with Marx are presented here.