The System Made Me Do It Calum Huggan & Angela Wai Nok Hui

• Benjamin Woodgates (b. 1986): Particles Waves:
• 1 Woodgates: Particles Waves 02:20
• Not Apart, Not Together:
• 2 Woodgates: Not Apart, Not Together 02:40
• Zigzags:
• 3 Woodgates: Zigzags 02:21
• Triangles:
• 4 Woodgates: Triangles 02:59
• Double Pendulum:
• 5 Woodgates: Double Pendulum 01:45
• Cascades:
• 6 Woodgates: Cascades 02:34
• System Games:
• 7 Woodgates: System Games 02:44
• The System Made Me Do It:
• 8 Woodgates: The System Made Me Do It 02:47
• Cycles Tides:
• 9 Woodgates: Cycles Tides 04:05
• Total Runtime 24:15

Info for The System Made Me Do It

The System Made Me Do It is a cycle of nine pieces written to accompany the release of the book Russian Pendulum by Alena Ledeneva, a trailblazing exploration of the unseen forces that have shaped Russian politics and society. Responding to the paradoxes and recurring patterns identified in the text, Benjamin Woodgates’ music drifts between ambiguity and momentum, attraction and resistance, stasis and sudden change. Ideas recombine and propel themselves forward, creating textures that shimmer, pulse, teeter and fuzz with energy.

Performed by Calum Huggan and angela wai nok hui, the two marimbas act as both engine and echo chamber – resonant, volatile, and alive with motion – inviting the listener into a hypnotic world where structure and instability coexist.

Calum Huggan, marimba
Angela Wai Nok Hui, marimba

Calum Huggan
Scottish percussionist Calum Huggan has captivated audiences and critics alike with his musicality and personality. During his studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Mannheim Musikhochschule, and the Royal College of Music, he developed a strong affinity for the marimba, earning his first solo BBC broadcast at just 18. An award-winning percussionist, Calum has gained international recognition as both a soloist and chamber musician. In 2021, Gramophone Magazine named him a 'one-to-watch' following the release of his debut album, American Music for Marimba on Delphian Records.

Calum's passion extends beyond performance, with a strong focus on education. He is a highly sought-after workshop leader and educator, currently serving as professor of marimba and percussion at Trinity Laban Conservatoire and as a visiting professor at other UK institutions. As Head of the Youth Ambassador Programme and part of the creative team at the Benedetti Foundation, he is committed to challenging the boundaries of classical music and ensuring all young people have access to music education. He also serves as Vice-Chair of the Musicians’ Union ED&I committee.

Angela Wai-Nok Hui
is a percussionist, sound designer and multidisciplinary artist based in London and Hong Kong. She is dedicated to new music and has collaborated with many composers, musical artists and ensembles including the Royal Opera House, London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Abstruckt Percussion Quartet, Explore Ensemble, Riot Ensemble, and more. She is a co-founder of Hidden Keileon, a multidisciplinary artist-led non-profit that aims to build inter-racial solidarity through imaginative and creative work. Hui is devoted to exploring and expanding the boundaries of music, performance and sound art; she has a particular interest in the creative process, and a passion for experimenting with different artforms through the recreation and reimagining of sound and music. Recently, she has started creating her own work which engages with political references and themes of identity from both places she calls home.

This album contains no booklet.