Works for Haptic, for period instruments and electronics – between 2018 and 2022 I worked closely with László Rózsa (recorder), Rory McCleery (counter-tenor), Alex McCartney (therbo) and Lucia Capellaro (baroque cello) on five pieces composed in response to the life and music of English Renaissance composer John Dowland:
Three pieces composed for the full ensemble:
…shadows that in darkness dwell… – this was the first piece composed for this set of works. It is a response to the mystery of Dowland’s life and music.
The Narrow Way – this piece explores the Renaissance obsessions with the birth of man and the fall of man. It is written as a riposte to puritan ideologies.
Semper Melancholia – In Elizabethan/Jacobean England to be melancholic was fashionable. It was thought to be a medical condition and this work sets text about melancholy.
Labyrinth – for baroque cello and electronics, this piece was composed collaboratively with Lucia.
Whose Heavenly Touch – for recorder, theorbo and baroque cello. This is a fast, dextrous toccata. Dowland was reputedly a masterful lute player. Poet Richard Barnfield said ‘Dowland to thee is dear, whose heavenly touch upon the lute doth ravish human sense’.
We are currently working towards a new large scale project exploring the life and science of Robert Hooke, focussing on his book, Micrographia (1655) which is the first book with images of observations made through microscope and telescope lenses. Information about individual works to appear here as the project progresses:
Observations of Fiery Sparks – a representation of Robert Hooke’s fevered, late night experimenting.
Electroacoustic – works made in the studio with sounds I found intriguing. I like to explore delicate, intimate sounds and find ways to give these more significance and greater energy. I’ve enjoyed working with:
The meshwork between all living things This Tangle is the Texture of the World
Cactus sounds in κάκτος
Racquet sports, skateboards and BMX bikes in Skate ‘n’ Shuttle/Roll and Smash
Quills, pens, pencils and a variety of other sounds in The Sound of the Letters, the Voice of the Page
The mysterious sounds of radio static in Shortwave-Soundwave and Longwave-Soundwave
Resonant stone, metal and bamboo sounds in Inner Resonance
The stories and sounds of the orchestra of the Scottish highlands, The Mahler Players
Interactive Works – works exploring how sounds projected by loudspeakers can relate to live interaction and performance:
Concert work for violin and electronics Shimmering
Concert work for clarinet quartet and electronics Fata Morgana
An interactive installation exploring broken bike bits Mechanical
Concert work for tuba and electronics exploring the relationship between the tuba and multi-channel electronics Breathing Space
Instrumental Works – I used to write lots of instrumental music, but the studio has become the home for most of my work. This is a piece I still like though.
For trombones and a tuba – Friction
Collaborations – Working collaboratively is a major part of my practice. Have enjoyed working with so many brilliant people. These are three projects that I have created.
With Samuel Tongue
With Laura Bissell
Timothy Cooper 