Dorothy Ker: A Gentle Infinity Context Dorothy Ker was born in Caterton, New Zealand in 1965. She completed her BMus and MMus degrees at the University of Auckland, where she studied composition with the likes of John Rimmer and Douglas Mews. In terms of her performance, she is known as a Read more…
Alla Pavlova: Elegy for Piano and String Orchestra Context Ukrainian composer Alla Pavlova has studied at the Ippolitov-Ivanov Music Institute and the Gnesin Academy of Music in Moscow. Pavlova has resided in Ukraine, Russia, Bulgaria, and now the USA. She has composed a number of large-scale works for the orchestra Read more…
Emma Lou Diemer: Santa Barbara Overture Context Emma Lou Diemer (1927-) composed her popular Santa Barbara Overture in 1995 for Gisèle Ben-Dor and the Santa Barbara Symphony for their 1995-1996 season. The overture was premiered by the orchestra in 1996. The inspiration for this piece, as the title suggests, is Read more…
Gaziza Zhubanova: String Quartet No.1 Context Remembered as the first successful Kazakh female composer, Gaziza Zhubanova (1928-1993) knew from a young age that she wanted to study music. In 1945, Zhubanova was offered a place to study at the Gnessin State Musical College in Moscow, and then later she studied Read more…
Dora Bright: Piano Concerto No.1 Context Sheffield-born composer, Dora Bright (1862-1951) wrote a number of large scale works, though not many have survived since her death. She studied at the Royal Academy of Music between 1881-89 under the tutelage of Walter Macfarren and Ebenezer Prout. Bright conducted big German tours Read more…
Emilie Mayer: Piano Concerto in Bb Major Context Emilie Mayer (1812-1883) was a prolific German composer, who, although admittedly started seriously composing later in life, still managed to create a huge oeuvre of music. Mayer composed c.15 overtures, 8 symphonies and a large selection of chamber music. Mayer’s earlier works Read more…
Rebecca Clarke: Morpheus Context Composed in 1917 when Rebecca Clarke pursued a musical career in the USA, Morpheus is a powerful work for solo viola. Premiered by the composer in a recital at Aeolian Hall in New York City, Morpheus also received early performances by Clarkes in Carnegie Hall. Clarke Read more…
Sally Beamish: Gala Water Context Sally Beamish was born in London. She studied viola at the RNCM with Patrick Ireland, and in Detmold with Bruno Giuranna, and was a founder member of the Raphael Ensemble. She also performed regularly with the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields and the London Sinfonietta, and Read more…
Judith Weir: Piano Concerto Context Judith Weir was born in 1954 in Cambridge, and at a young age she began learning the oboe. Weir in her youth performed regularly with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. She studied composition whilst at school with none other than John Tavener. From Read more…
Morfydd Llwyn Owen: Four Welsh Impressions Context Although Welsh composer Morfydd Llwyn Owen only composed seriously for the last 10 years of her short life, her huge catalogue showcases her musical styles and genres she used. Composed between 1914-15, Four Welsh Impressions sits as part of Owen’s solo piano catalogue. Read more…