Category Archives: Composition

Selected as BBC Symphony Orchestra and Sound and Music Embedded Artist

I’ve been selected as one of three composers for the SAM Embedded Residency with the BBC SO. The other composers are Tom Coult and Aaron Holloway-Nahum.

We will write pieces for the orchestra over the coming year, which will be performed and recorded at Maida Vale in November 2013. We will also get the chance to try out some of our ideas in workshops early in 2013. This is obviously an amazing opportunity to take some risks and try some things out, and pretty special to be selected in such a competitive atmosphere!

C4CI Grand Finale, 29th September 2012

I have written a whole concert of new music for cochlear implant users as part of the ‘Compositions for Cochlear Implantees’ project at the University of Southampton. I’ve formed an ensemble for the gig, which will take place on Saturday 29th September at the Turner Sims Concert Hall at 1pm and is free.

We have also just heard that we have received follow-on-funding from the AHRC so can continue our collaborative research!

Britten Pears ‘New Music New Media’ Course

I’ve just got back from the ‘New Music New Media’ course, part of the Britten Pears programme in Aldeburgh. The course was run by Rolf Wallin, Tansy Davies, Alexander Refsum Jensenius and Zoe Martlew. We were working with lots of electronic gadgets including Phidgets, WII controllers and Kinect Cameras. It was an interesting week, and although I often felt outside my comfort zone I ended up producing a decent new piece, Smashed and Grabbed for performer, WII controller and Motion-Capture.

LSO Soundhub Associate

I was recently selected as a LSO Soundhub Associate Composer for 2012-2013. Based at LSO St Luke’s, Soundhub provides a space where composers can explore, collaborate and experiment. It’s amazing to see how many people involved I’ve already met or worked with along the contemporary music road (!), and I’m looking forward to getting involved with some projects this year.

Aldeburgh Recording

I had a fantastic week at the Aldeburgh Festival taking part in the Britten Pears Programme. I had good masterclasses with Helmut Lachenmann, Pierre Laurent Aimard and Yukiko Sagawarra. I am looking forward to attending the ‘New Media’ course in September too!

Here is a recording of my new piano piece, Three Materials, played live at the Aldeburgh Festival by the amazing young German pianist Fabian Mueller.

Many thanks to Fabian for learning the piece amongst his hectic schedule!

London Sinfonietta perform ‘Momentum’ at Sounds New, 4th May

The London Sinfonietta (!), conducted by Diego Masson will perform Momentum at Sounds New on Friday 4th May at 7.30pm. The concert is the opening gig of the Sounds New Festival 2012 and includes my ICP winning piece alongside works by George Benjamin, Oliver Knussen, Peter Maxwell Davies and Edmund Finnis.

Needless to say, I’m very excited!

Momentum by ben_oliver_music

Workers Union Ensemble at Turner Sims, 30th April 2012

The Workers Union Ensemble will perform at the legendary Turner Sims Concert Hall at 1pm, 30th April 2012. The programme includes my own Ripped Up, pieces by by Adam Fergler, Michael Finnissy, Matthew Kaner and a brand new work by Ryan Latimer.

New Interfaces for Music Expression Conference

I am off to Ann Arbour, Michigan USA, in May for the 12th International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME). I’ll be presenting a demo of the ‘Interactive Music Awareness Programme’ (IMAP) for Cochlear Implant Users I’ve developed with the ‘Compositions for Cochlear Implantees’ team at the University of Southampton. Should be some fantastic concerts and stuff to see while I’m there.

Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme

I’ve been selected to take part in the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme in June. I’ll be working with a pianist on a new work exploring extended piano techniques, mentored by Pierre Laurent Aimard and Yukiki Sugawara. Hopefully there will also be a workshop with Lachenmann too! There will be a concert on 23rd June at 6pm. Better get writing…

ICP 2011

At the weekend I was selected by an international jury as one of three prize winners in the International Composer Pyramid 2011. I am very honoured to therefore move through to the final phase of the competition, organised by Sounds New and Coups de Vent, to be held in 2012.

Here is a recording of my piece played by the ICP Ensemble, conducted by the masterful French conductor Philippe Nahon. He did an absolutely fantastic job with the ensemble, which is formed of British musicians from the Ossian Ensemble (director Darren Bloom) and players from Coups de Vent.