I've made a new version of O Ecclesia, my reworking of a chant by Hildegard of Bingen, for Scottish folk fiddler Aidan O'Rourke and guitarist Sean Shibe. They'll be performing it at three concerts in December – 6 Dec at London's King's Place, 9 Dec at the National Centre for Early Music in York, and on the 11 Dec at Perth...
I'm joining the Royal Northern College of Music as a Professor of Composition. I'll be giving tutorials with Undergraduate and Postgraduate composers. I join a number of brilliant composers at the department. It's lovely to spend more time in Manchester, after studying at the University of Manchester, and in my role as Composer-in-Residence with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra....
The Adelphi Quartet are giving the world premiere of my String Quartet No. 2, at Switzerland's Lucerne Festival on 10 September. Here's the programme note: Friedrich Fröbel’s ‘Gifts’ were sets of wooden educational toys for young children. Simple shapes (cubes, triangles, balls on string) could be combined in hundreds of ways, to each of which he gave evocative names. The four movements...
L'Aurore Boréale's production of Violet, my opera written with writer Alice Birch, is getting another performance at Paris' Théâtre de l'Atelier on 25 June. The director is Jacques Osinski, and Bianca Chillemi conducts Ensemble Maja. The cast is: Juliette Allen (soprano – Violet), Olivier Gourdy (baritone – Felix), Natalie Perez (mezzo soprano – Laura), Manuel Nunez Camelino (tenor – Clockkeeper). The production...
I've joined Music Patron – a new and bold platform for people to connect with and support composers, for as little as £10 per month. Any patrons of mine can expect musings and updates documenting rehearsals, performances and recordings – “the moments when notes on page ignite with actual musicians” – as well as insights into my creative process. Supporting a composer...
Some performances in the next few weeks: The Australian Chamber Orchestra, directed by Richard Tognetti, will give the Australian premiere of Prelude (after Monsieur de Sainte Colombe) on 4 May at their annual festival at TarraWarra Museum of Art. They're also playing pieces by Ida Moberg, Schubert, John Luther Adams and Brahms. On 16 May, Beautiful Caged Thing will be performed in...
I've written a new piece, to be performed at the launch event of Universally Manchester Festival and Manchester Histories Festival, which celebrate the bicentenary celebrations of the University of Manchester. Ryley's Ramble, for flute, clarinet, violin & cello, will be performed by members of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra (with whom I'm Composer-in-Association), in a concert at Manchester's Whitworth Art Gallery. Also...
The Aldeburgh Festival will see the premieres of two pieces for choir and violin, for violinist Daniel Pioro and the Marian Consort – O Ecclesia, O Euchari (after Hildegard), and Hymns of Kassiana (after Kassia). Daniel and the Marians will perform them in the gorgeous Holy Trinity Church in Blythburgh on 10 June – link here. Alongside my two contributions...
My piece Abide is featured on a new recording and publication – Many Voices: Ensemble – from music education charity Music Masters. They commissioned ten composers to work with primary school-age students on a new piece for beginner/intermediate string ensemble. I ran a workshop at Jubilee Primary School near Brixton where I worked with nine- and ten-year olds, gathering material generated by...