‘The Miners’ Hymns’ score performed

Bill Morrison’s “The Miners’ Hymns,” a documentary about coal workers in northeast England last century, rolls as Ryan McAdams conducts the score at Royce Hall. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

Feb. 16, 2014 10:22 AM PT

Composer Johann Johannsson, conductor Ryan McAdams, the UCLA Brass Ensemble and a string quartet derived from the American Contemporary Music Ensemble perform the score to the film “The Miners’ Hymns” at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

Ryan McAdams leads the UCLA Brass Ensemble and a string quartet derived from the American Contemporary Music Ensemble in the performance of the score by Johan Johannsson. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

The UCLA Brass Ensemble, which Times music critic Mark Swed says “rose to the challenge,” takes part in the performance of the score of “The Miners’ Hymns.” (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

Icelandic composer Johann Johannsson, at the keyboard, contributes to the performance. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

String quartet violinists Laura Lutzke, left, and Caroline Shaw, cellist Clarice Jensen and violist Caleb Burhans performed short pieces by Johan Johannsson as well as the “Miners’ Hymns” score. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

The players from the American Contemporary Music Ensemble perform as composer Johann Johannsson, far right, plays electronic music on a laptop. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

Scenes from “The Miners’ Hymns” march past viewers at Royce Hall. The Times’ Mark Swed says Bill Morrison’s films “are at their most cinematic when treated as performance art, with the music performed live, as it was Friday night in Royce Hall.” (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)