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Metastable Impressions: documentary, and journal publication (March 2020)

Categories Alex Jones, Bristol University, Chamber Music, documentary, funding award, inter-disciplinary, Jean Golding Institute, lecture, Ligeti String Quartet, Links: Video, Metastable Impressions, music for strings, performance, Peter Bennett, Robert Arbon, String Quartet, Video Projection

I’m delighted with Melissa Bishop’s short edit of her documentary on the Metastable Impressions project from May 2019:   I’m also very excited by the recent news that my creative report on the project is to be published by the Nanhua University Journal of Art and Design (more anon on that topic).   Read our…Continue Reading “Metastable Impressions: documentary, and journal publication (March 2020)” →

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Thomas Mesa, Yoon Lee perform “Novella (Chapter One)” in New York (Nov.2019)

Categories -, CD Release, Cello, chamber, Chamber Music, Parma Records, Thomas Mesa, Yoon Lee
Thomas Mesa, Yoon Lee perform “Novella (Chapter One)” in New York (Nov.2019)

I was thrilled and excited to have the New York premiere of my work for ‘cello and piano, Novella (Chapter One), on 16th November 2019, performed by two young star performers, Thomas Mesa and Yoon Lee.  Fascinatingly, this performance took place in the private home of Ellen and Fred Harris in NYC; I was very…Continue Reading “Thomas Mesa, Yoon Lee perform “Novella (Chapter One)” in New York (Nov.2019)” →

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Phasma Music CD Release

Categories CD Release, chamber, Chamber Music, Composition Prizes, Naxos, Phasma Music, Poland, Witold Szalonek, woodwind
Phasma Music CD Release

In June 2018 I won joint second place in the Witold Szalonek International Composition Competition.  Phasma music, headed up by contemporary music tour-de-force Iwona Glinka, have released a stunning studio recording of the finalists’ pieces on the Phasma Music Label.  Here’s the cover, featuring the impressive 14th-Century St John’s Cathedral in Kwidzyn, where the competition…Continue Reading “Phasma Music CD Release” →

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Collaboration with Ligeti Quartet (Bristol University Jean Golding Institute Seed Corn Award): “Metastable Impressions”

Categories -, Alex Jones, Bristol University, Chamber Music, funding award, inter-disciplinary, Jean Golding Institute, Ligeti String Quartet, Links: Video, Metastable Impressions, Peter Bennett, Robert Arbon, String Quartet, Video, Video Projection
Collaboration with Ligeti Quartet (Bristol University Jean Golding Institute Seed Corn Award): “Metastable Impressions”

(Photo: Mike Massaro) I have just begun a new collaboration with Peter Bennett of the Interaction and Graphics Research Group at Bristol University, and Robert Arbon and Alex Jones of the School of Chemistry.  We are working to make visual and sonic representations of computational models of biomolecular dynamics.  In turn, we hope to make…Continue Reading “Collaboration with Ligeti Quartet (Bristol University Jean Golding Institute Seed Corn Award): “Metastable Impressions”” →

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Atlantic Music Festival- Dances in Time and Vertical Space- quintet version world premiere (7th July 2018)

Categories -, Atlantic Music Festival, chamber, Chamber Music, Links: Video, Piano, Video, Violin, woodwind
Atlantic Music Festival- Dances in Time and Vertical Space- quintet version world premiere (7th July 2018)

Amazing performance today at the Atlantic Music Festival of my piece Dances in Time and Vertical Space. You can watch the full performance here (solo violin: Nicholas Hatt): For Chinese users: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzc5ODg0Mjk4OA==.html   I took some videos of the dress rehearsal yesterday: For Chinese users: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzcxMDcwNjIzMg==.html   For Chinese users: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzcxMDcwNjI0NA==.html          …Continue Reading “Atlantic Music Festival- Dances in Time and Vertical Space- quintet version world premiere (7th July 2018)” →

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Mise-En Festival 2018 Music Marathon- World Premiere of “Crystal Images II” (June 2018)

Categories -, Benjamin Oliver, Chamber Music, lecture, Links: Video, Mise-En Festival, Moon Young HA, New York, performance, spectral music, Video
Mise-En Festival 2018 Music Marathon- World Premiere of “Crystal Images II” (June 2018)

It was an amazing 4 days at the 2018 Mise-En Festival.  I met many imaginative, free-thinking, intelligent, witty and talented composers, all of us composing very different and distinctive art music.  Moon Young Ha and Jordann Davis and the whole Ensemble Mise-En have worked extremely hard, especially on the last day’s 4-hour long Music Marathon. …Continue Reading “Mise-En Festival 2018 Music Marathon- World Premiere of “Crystal Images II” (June 2018)” →

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PhD Portfolio and Commentary (2012)- download link

Categories -, amateur music-making, Chamber Music, choral, CoMA South, Exaudi, Federico Garcia Lorca, Finchley Chamber Choir & Orchestra, Guitar, Isaiah, Li Po (Li Bai), Lithuania, Lucy Williams, music for strings, PhD Commentary and Portfolio, Piano, sacred music, Sam Cave, Southampton University, Southampton University Contemporary Music Group, University of Southampton, Viola, Violin, Vocal

I finished my PhD at the University of Southampton in 2011, and passed the viva with minimal corrections in early 2012.  It has been sitting on my computer (and in the Hartley Library at S’ton) all that time, and I thought I ought to put it up here, as it contains a lot of ideas…Continue Reading “PhD Portfolio and Commentary (2012)- download link” →

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Mise-En Festival 2018 Visiting Composer- Premiere of “Crystal Images II: Beijing Hutongs, Spring ’18”

Categories Benjamin Oliver, chamber, Chamber Music, Mise-En Festival, Moon Young HA, New York, performance
Mise-En Festival 2018 Visiting Composer- Premiere of “Crystal Images II: Beijing Hutongs, Spring ’18”

The Mise-En Festival 2018 website is up now: https://festival.mise-en.org/2018/index.html This contemporary music festival, run by an amazing team led by the energetic Korean composer Moon Young HA, is held annually at Mise-En Place, Bushwick, New York.  Mise-En chose my proposal for a new work, along with twenty four other composers’ proposals and scores (out of…Continue Reading “Mise-En Festival 2018 Visiting Composer- Premiere of “Crystal Images II: Beijing Hutongs, Spring ’18”” →

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International Composition Prize: Second Place in the 2018 Witold Szalonek Composition Prize

Categories -, chamber, Chamber Music, Composition Prizes, Phasma Music, Poland, Witold Szalonek, woodwind
International Composition Prize: Second Place in the 2018 Witold Szalonek Composition Prize

I received some pleasant news at the start of June, that my piece for wind quartet, Mysterious Future, won second prize in the Witold Szalonek International Composition Competition.  The final, featuring 16 composers, took place on 5th June 2018 in Kwidzyn, Poland, with the pieces performed by Phasma Music.  Mysterious Future is due to be recorded on Naxos Records,…Continue Reading “International Composition Prize: Second Place in the 2018 Witold Szalonek Composition Prize” →

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“Fantasia” for accordion and violin, world premiere at Central Conservatory of Music 6th June 2018

Categories -, accordion, Central Conservatory of Music, chamber, Chamber Music, TianJianan, Violin
“Fantasia” for accordion and violin, world premiere at Central Conservatory of Music 6th June 2018

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzcwNDg4OTM2MA==.html I met the precocious and astonishing Tian Jianan in 2012, and in 2013 wrote this little piece for her, Fantasia, which I’m very happy can finally receive its premiere in her Master’s Final Recital at the Central Conservatory of Music on Sunday 6th June 2018.  Below is some information about Tian Jia Nan for Chinese…Continue Reading ““Fantasia” for accordion and violin, world premiere at Central Conservatory of Music 6th June 2018” →

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Novella (Chapter One) for cello and piano (Premiere, Dec. 2017)

Categories Cello, Chamber Music, Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, Links: Audio, Piano
Novella (Chapter One) for cello and piano (Premiere, Dec. 2017)

In November/December 2017 I was honoured to visit Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, and rehearse my piece for cello and piano, Novella (Chapter One) with Fang Yijia and Li Xinyuan.  They premiered the work on the 1st December, in what was one of the most enjoyable and awe-inspiring concerts I’ve ever seen (check out the…Continue Reading “Novella (Chapter One) for cello and piano (Premiere, Dec. 2017)” →

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Birds in Flight (2012) for two violins (Kreutzer quartet at Goldsmith’s, 1st Feb ‘18)

Categories AANMI, British Contemporary Music Festival, Chamber Music, Kreutzer, Links: Audio, Links: Video, May Music Festival, Mihailo Trandafilovski, music for strings, Peter Sheppard Skærved, Tianjin Conservatory of Music, Violin
Birds in Flight (2012) for two violins (Kreutzer quartet at Goldsmith’s, 1st Feb ‘18)

Listen to Colin Still’s excellent recording of Peter and Mihailo’s gorgeous performance (click on the link to hear two other performances of this piece):     http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzQwMzEwNzQ0MA==.html?spm=a2hzp.8253869.0.0

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Pied Beauty (2017) children’s choir and string orchestra

Categories amateur music-making, Chamber Music, children's choir, choral, Links: Video, music for strings
Pied Beauty (2017) children’s choir and string orchestra

This piece was commissioned by French-Chinese composer Qigang Chen, whose Gong Geng college runs a Summer camp for rural children to study music with superb teachers and perform with wonderful players.  The college is situated in the remote Zhejiang countryside–so remote, that one can only access it by boat. I have been lucky and privileged…Continue Reading “Pied Beauty (2017) children’s choir and string orchestra” →

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Mosaic (2017) for 13 instruments

Categories Chamber Music, conducting, Links: Video, May Music Festival, Tianjin Conservatory of Music
Mosaic (2017) for 13 instruments

This is, to my mind, one of the most important educational contributions I’ve made at the Tianjin Conservatory of Music: coaching and rehearsing this piece was a transformative learning experience for the thirteen students that premiered the piece.  I personally invested 60 or more hours in rehearsing Mosaic, from one-to-one coaching, to sectionals and full rehearsals. …Continue Reading “Mosaic (2017) for 13 instruments” →

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The Poise Between Notes and Noise (2008) for flexible ensemble

Categories AANMI, amateur music-making, Chamber Music, CoMA South, conducting, flexible instrumentation, Improvisation, Links: Audio, Links: Video, May Music Festival, open score, performance, Tianjin Conservatory of Music
The Poise Between Notes and Noise (2008) for flexible ensemble

This piece for flexible ensemble has had many performances over the years.  I’ve posted two videos of performances below, and a bandcamp link where you can hear the audio of what I think was the world premiere, by CoMA South.     http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzE2NDA0NDU2NA==.html?spm=a2hzp.8253869.0.0       http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzE2NDA0MzQ3Mg==.html?spm=a2hzp.8253869.0.0            

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Kreutzer Quartet in Tianjin: Tullochgorm (2016) for String Quartet

Categories British Contemporary Music Festival, Cello, Chamber Music, Kreutzer, Links: Video, music for strings, String Quartet, Tianjin Conservatory of Music, Viola, Violin
Kreutzer Quartet in Tianjin: Tullochgorm (2016) for String Quartet

In October 2016 I organised a mini-festival, inviting the Kreutzer Quartet to come and perform, teach, lecture and workshop students works.  It was a wonderful week, and garnered enthusiastic feedback from the Tianjin students.   http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzE2NDA0ODE4NA==.html?spm=a2hzp.8253869.0.0   While they were in Tianjin, I was lucky enough to have a new piece, Tullochgorm, premiered in their second concert.  This…Continue Reading “Kreutzer Quartet in Tianjin: Tullochgorm (2016) for String Quartet” →

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Crystal Images (Cardigan Bay, Summer 2015)- for 9 instruments and video projection

Categories Chamber Music, Druskomanija, Links: Audio, Links: Video, Lithuania, Video Projection

This piece, commissioned by the Druskomanija Festival in Lithuania, presents a collage of rarefied sound images.  The “images” are static textures in constant flux, combinations of looping, contrasting material in different instruments.  Each “image” was paired with fixed shots of natural phenomena, such as wind, waves or clouds moving across the sky (reflected in the…Continue Reading “Crystal Images (Cardigan Bay, Summer 2015)- for 9 instruments and video projection” →

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Iceflow IV (2014) for Chinese instrument ensemble (13 players)

Categories Chamber Music, Chinese Instruments, conducting, Links: Video, May Music Festival, Tianjin Conservatory of Music

I wrote this piece for 13 performers (all Chinese instruments, including 2 percussionists playing Chinese percussion) for the TJCM 2015 May Music Festival.  It was premiered by the Fan Yin Chinese instrument ensemble.  The suona player plays from three different positions, at first from behind the audience, then in the middle of the audience, and…Continue Reading “Iceflow IV (2014) for Chinese instrument ensemble (13 players)” →

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Dances in Time and Vertical Space (2015) for solo violin and six instruments

Categories AANMI, Beijing Modern Music Festival, Chamber Music, Links: Audio, Links: Video, May Music Festival, solo, Tianjin Conservatory of Music, Violin
Dances in Time and Vertical Space (2015) for solo violin and six instruments

AANMI premiered Dances in Time and Vertical Space in the concert hall of the Central Conservatory of Music on 25th May 2015, as part of the Beijing Modern Music Festival.   This piece is a kind of baroque dance suite, with the different dances superimposed upon each other in different mensurations and, as the piece progresses,…Continue Reading “Dances in Time and Vertical Space (2015) for solo violin and six instruments” →

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Vincenz und Greta (2012-14) for 8 accordions

Categories accordion, Chamber Music, Links: Audio, Links: Video, Tianjin Conservatory of Music
Vincenz und Greta (2012-14) for 8 accordions

For Eight Accordions, spatially arranged around the audience. I wrote this piece between Jan 2012 and March 2014, in honour of my friend Nicolai Leski’s two children, Vincenz and Greta. The players are ranged around the audience in 8 evenly distributed positions, the aim being that opposing performers can “transmit” the sound from one side…Continue Reading “Vincenz und Greta (2012-14) for 8 accordions” →

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Brief Journey (2007) for soprano, alto, erhu (or violin) and piano

Categories Chamber Music, conducting, erhu, Li Po (Li Bai), Links: Audio, Links: Video, May Music Festival, performance, Piano, Tianjin Conservatory of Music, Vocal
Brief Journey (2007) for soprano, alto, erhu (or violin) and piano

This vocal work sets the poetry of Li Po (Li Bai) in Chinese.  The world premiere performance from my “Music for Voices” composer portrait concert in Southampton in 2012,  was sung by English performers, and I did my best to coach them in the mandarin pronunciation (although of course Li Po’s own pronunciation is nothing…Continue Reading “Brief Journey (2007) for soprano, alto, erhu (or violin) and piano” →

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Mutability (2013) for solo soprano and piano

Categories Chamber Music, Links: Video, performance, Piano, Vocal

Setting of P.B. Shelley’s poem of the same name.  During the first of my two years in Beijing (2012-3), I did not have many opportunities to make music.  I was in the wilderness somewhat with my Chinese language learning.  This was a welcome opportunity to perform my own music, although it was admittedly  terrifying playing…Continue Reading “Mutability (2013) for solo soprano and piano” →

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A Spark Lights the Void Within (2009) for soprano and string orchestra (or piano and double bass)

Categories Chamber Music, chamber orchestra, Composer Portrait Concert, conducting, Links: Audio, music for strings, performance, Piano, Song Cycle, Vocal
A Spark Lights the Void Within (2009) for soprano and string orchestra (or piano and double bass)

This song cycle was written for, and premiered by soprano Ruth Hopkins.   A Spark Lights the Void Within was written in memory of Lydia Press.  I wrote the texts of the three recitatives in the wake of Lydia’s passing away, and later chose the Cavafy and Shelley poems to accompany my own.  Southampton University Strings premiered…Continue Reading “A Spark Lights the Void Within (2009) for soprano and string orchestra (or piano and double bass)” →

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Bird Songs (2007-9) song cycle for mezzo-soprano and piano

Categories -, Chamber Music, Composer Portrait Concert, Danae Eleni, Druskomanija, Julija Karaliunaite, Links: Audio, Links: Video, Lithuania, Lucy Williams, performance, Piano, Vocal
Bird Songs (2007-9) song cycle for mezzo-soprano and piano

Bird Songs (2007-9) “Fifty-Nine Swans” (Yeats) “Black Rook in Rainy Weather” (Plath) “The Hierarchies of Sound” (Evans) I’ve uploaded 3 performances of my song cycle for mezzo and piano, “Bird Songs”. Each time working on this song cycle from scratch with a different singer was extraordinarily fun, and a tremendous challenge and learning experience.  I…Continue Reading “Bird Songs (2007-9) song cycle for mezzo-soprano and piano” →

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Two Pieces for Violin and Piano (2008/10)

Categories Chamber Music, Composer Portrait Concert, Links: Audio, Links: Video, Piano, Violin
Two Pieces for Violin and Piano (2008/10)

  http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzE2NDE1ODcwMA==.html?spm=a2hzp.8253869.0.0   Program Note i. Chanson ii. Epitaphium The “Two Pieces for Violin and Piano” are actually two sections that together form one complete piece.  In the first, the piano plays a systematically accelerating and decelerating sequence of rhythms, presenting a sequence of pitches based around the interval of a minor sixth; the violin…Continue Reading “Two Pieces for Violin and Piano (2008/10)” →

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Druskininkanonas (2011) for double reed quintet

Categories Chamber Music, Druskomanija, Links: Audio, Lithuania, woodwind
Druskininkanonas (2011) for double reed quintet

I wrote this piece for the Lithuanian Oboe Quartet, with an offstage bassoon appearing late in the piece! It was premiered on the 20th May 2012 in Holy Trinity Church, Auletikos, Lithuania, as part of the Druskomanija international contemporary music fesitval.  There is a version for four oboes and bassoon; this alternative version (and the…Continue Reading “Druskininkanonas (2011) for double reed quintet” →

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Selected “early” works

Categories Chamber Music, chamber orchestra, choral, conducting, Druskomanija, duo Oneplusone, electro-acoustic, Emperor Hadrian, Exaudi, flexible instrumentation, Isaiah, Julian Jacobsen, Links: Audio, Lithuania, Piano, solo, Southampton University Contemporary Music Group, University of Southampton

  This recording is Julian Jacobsen’s intensely expressive and exacting performance from 2007 (Turner Sims Concert Hall). This was the first piece I completed during my Masters study with Michael Finnissy; it was on the basis of this piece that I was chosen for the SPNM Shortlist (2006-9). The final form of the piece was…Continue Reading “Selected “early” works” →