Category: Uncategorized

  • Cypher for Orchestra (2010)

    http://soundcloud.com/[soundcloud%20url=%22http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/10941266%22]  “Cypher” has numerous definitions but the one that remained in the forefront of my thoughts was “a secret code of writing”, or the “process of converting ordinary language into code”. The opening harp material essentially operates as a “cypher” through which other material is coded. Each time the cypher returns the music that follows…

  • 50 Years of Minimalism: Rock ‘n’ Rollers @ Kings Place, London

    – already published on I Care if You Listen(.com) at http://www.icareifyoulisten.com/2011/11/50-years-of-minimalism-rock-n-rollers-kings-place-london/ – I felt fortunate to attend the final concert that formed part of a short series at Kings Place, London, called ’5o Years of Minimalism’. Igor Toronyi-Lalic curated the series and from what I saw and heard at the concert this was clearly something that was…

  • Aisha Orazbayeva: Outside (Nonclassical)

    – Originally published on I Care if You Listen http://www.icareifyoulisten.com/2011/11/aisha-orazbayeva-debut-album-nonclassical/ – Violinist Aisha Orazbayeva’s debut album ‘Outside’ released 31st October 2011 on the UK-based Nonclassical label is worth exploring. The 25-year old Kazakh born Aisha opens the recording with a fascinating recording of Sciarrino’s Six Capricci (?); not only are these played with a keen…

  • News item on website

    Photos from the production can be seen at the school website here http://www.nlcs.org.uk/drama/jUNIPER-dREAMS.php

  • What is the future for school-based music education in the UK?

    Response to a blog question posed by Jonathan Savage – to appear on his blog shorty. It seems difficult to suggest what the future of school-based music might be. Extra-curricular music flourishes in the UK and it is fantastic to hear of the many talented musicians performing recently at the Schools Proms. I would hope…

  • Brian Elias performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra on NMC

    Brian Elias (b. 1948) spent his early life in Bombay before moving to London. Three of his later orchestral works – all performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra under three different conductors – are presented on a recently released disc on the British based NMC label. NMC Recordings ‘is devoted to the promotion and preservation…

  • Week Two – Day Two

    Very long day today and much of my practice today was slow work so I found it all rather exhausting once I returned home. There is something rather fascinating about working in ‘slow motion’ and I found myself chasing precision in the three against four passage in the Fauré Nocturne. Kenneth talked about the rhythmic…

  • Week Two – Day One

    The weekend in Edinburgh during the Festival was mostly spent at the piano but that’s not to say it was not a productive one. After a week of classes and lessons it was great to have two days to do some extended work and get ready for the performance I gave this morning. After playing…

  • The Fall

    Mulholland Drive was one of the first movies I saw that intrigued me. Of course that’s because my experience of cinema is limited, and I am increasingly aware there is a wealth of interesting film that I am yet to discover. I hadn’t contemplated before the Lynch movie that what I was seeing – for…

  • The art of suffering

    It is a real testament to Amy Winehouse’s impact that reportedly 20 million tweets were sent about her untimely death. Her personal struggles undoubtedly colour one’s appreciation of her music and it seems fitting that she will be subsequently canonised as a great artist. It scares me a little that artistic endeavour might depend on…