Composition

I describe myself as a “composer theorist” in the sense of writing music inspired by theoretical, structural ideas and doing music theory research that self and motivated by questions from composition.

On this page:

Overview

  • Scores
    • IMSLP: View PDFs for most that are “done”
    • MuseScore: View and also get a synthetic playback online, (only for those piece where that playback is ok - mostly keyboard)
  • Recordings
    • SoundCloud (a sample, mostly live),
    • Debut CD - buy it or ask me for a copy :). Some reviews:
      • Organists’ Review, Michael Bell: “absolutely absorbing, full of novelty, thought-provoking, by turns entrancing and entertaining.” ★★★★★
      • American Record Guide [author anonymous]: “a run-of-the-mill offering this is not”; “powerful enough to stop you in your tracks.” [Not rated by stars]
      • Choir and Organ Magazine, Shirley Ratcliffe: “original works of beauty”, ★★★★★
  • Code for the algorithmic parts
    • Coming soon ;)

Wedding music … with a twist

Two friends have recently got married and asked for (or had forced on them) new pieces for the occasion. You decide whether that makes them lucky or … otherwise! In any case, this is wedding music … with a twist.

Title Year Forces IMSLP Score Audio/Video Notes
“Pack-a-bell-pattern” ;) 2020 Piano, or brass and organ Coming soon MuseScore A fun, rhythmic re-working of a wedding classic: Pachelbel’s famous (perhaps infamous) Canon meets a lively ‘bell pattern’ appreciatively adopted from its roots in many Afro-Cuban musics
“Euro-Audition Tongue Twisters” 2023 Voice and piano Coming soon MuseScore For a couple who love to travel … and have a laugh

A Couple of Quartets

A couple of short work for string quartet have popped up recently, perhaps because of our efforts with the OpenScore String Quartet initiative.

Fantasia on a Pulse was commissioned for the Fitzwilliam String Quartet’s 50th Anniversary and yes there is one founder-member still playing. Imagine being in the same string quartet for 50 years. What an accomplishment.

4x4x4x4 was an interesting project which arose as a consequence of preparing the 12-tone serial part of the Open Music Theory textbook. I thought that the textbook introduction to serial music would benefit from walking through the creation of a new piece. It was then selected for performance by the Kalimera Quartet at the VI International Conference MusMat 2021 (Oct 19, 2021, video here).

Title Year Forces IMSLP Score Audio/Video Notes
Fantasia on a Pulse 2019 String Quartet IMSLP Soundcloud (Fitzwilliam);
YouTube (Ligeti)		 For the Fitzwilliam String Quartet’s 50th Anniversary: 2.3.2019.
Also given the “Workout” treatment by the Ligeti quartet (info, workshop, run through)
4x4x4x4 2021 String Quartet Coming soon MuseScore;
YouTube		 Textbook chapter

Marsyas Trio

In 2023, I have the pleasure of working with the wonderful Marsyas Trio on:

  • a new composition to mark 400 years since the death of William Byrd
  • a couple of Hensel arrangements for a forthcoming CD (project details to follow)
Title Year Forces IMSLP Score Audio Notes
“Steampunk Byrd” 2023 Flute, cello, piano To follow To follow Imagine a DJ remix of Byrd’s Fantasia, brining out the funky rhythms
Overture in C major 2023 Flute, cello, piano Score; or via the “arrangements” tab of the main page MuseScore;
CD coming soon		 Hensel’s only orchestral work
Trio in D minor 2023 Flute, cello, piano New flute part; or via the “arrangements” tab of the main page CD coming soon After Hensel’s original for violin, cello, and piano

Here’s the overture:

Overture in C Major – Fanny Hensel arr Gotham by Mark.Gotham