Author Archives: Ben

London Sinfonietta Academy Commission

I’m really delighted to have been commissioned by the London Sinfonietta to compose a new 12-15 minute piece for large ensemble for the eighth Sinfonietta Academy in July 2016. The academy is an intensive week-long course for emerging performers and conductors including rehearsals, masterclasses and networking opportunities culminating in a public performance. This course provides experience and training in performing as part of a contemporary music ensemble, with coaching from the London Sinfonietta Principal Players. This year’s academy will be led by Thierry Fischer. Better get writing!

Workers Union Ensemble and New Dots

Workers Union Ensemble will collaborate with New Dots on a project in April 2016. We will premiere new works by three composers selected from a call for scores: Monica Dalach, Camilo Andrés Méndez San Juan and Nick Morrish Rarity. We have also commissioned our current Composer-in-Association, Seán Clancy, to write us a new work. Keep an eye on Workers website for further details…

Rambert Mini-Residency: ‘Separately Together’

Earlier this month I had a great time taking part in the final stages of a mini-residency working at Rambert Dance Company. RambertPhoto2-2
The residency (thanks Rambert!) allowed me to try out an idea I had for a piece in which two dancers are paired with two pianists who perform on piano and synth. The new idea I wanted to explore was the idea that at the beginning of the piece the only people that can hear the synth playing are one of the dancers and the synth player. This allows the possibility for two clear visual choreographies to exist but the audience are not able to hear what is instigating the movements of one of the dancers. Later in the piece the synth material becomes audible and the listener is (hopefully) able to understand the choreography they have been seeing but not ‘hearing’. Well we tried this and I think the idea worked pretty well. I’m super grateful to choreographer Melanie Ingram, dancers Neus Gil Cortes and Chris Darmanin and musicians Yshani Perinpanayagam and Edward Pick for their patience and talent to bring it about! One of the great things about the project was the opportunity to show the work in an informal setting and receive feedback from an invited audience. This was a valuable process and one I’d be interested in exploring more in a contemporary music setting…

RambertPhoto1-2

We made a video of the performance and I hope to edit it and upload it to Youtube fairly soon.

Rambert Mini-Residency

I am currently in the midst of a mini-residency with Rambert Dance Company in a collaboration with choreographer Melanie Teall. We are working on a new piece for two dancers and two musicians (piano and synth). The marvellous Edward Pick and Yshani Perinpanayagam are playing keyboards. There will be a ‘showing’ of the new piece in September at Rambert, watch this space for more information.

Piano Trio (with whistles)

Piano Trio (with whistles), which was commissioned by the Deal Festival, was premiered by the fantastic trio of Maksim Štšura (piano), Michael Foyle (violin) and Raphael Lang last Friday. Here is a live recording I made at the concert at at the John Shipton Memorial Concert at St George’s Church in Deal. Many thanks to the trio, Markus Kinch for his photos and to all at the Deal Festival!