In 2019 I embarked upon a project to recompose a number of well-known Christmas carols in different popular, jazz and Latin American styles, the result being the compilation We Wish You a Jazzy Christmas. When contemplating a piece for three cellos it seemed natural to continue my use of the grooves and riffs from those pieces, whilst also exploring more contemporary…
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Isolation Video Piece
With my Hoopla Sheet Music hat on (see that website, here) this was an attempt to put together a simple piece accessible to early intermediate players. Having seen a number of friends posting compelling videos recently, I also wanted to see if I could do something similar. The piece and video explore themes round the COVID-19 crisis and social isolation…
On trying to be productive….
Oscar Wilde considered that life itself could be a work of art but, as he acknowledged in De Profundis, he put a little too much of his genius into his life. His art, in consequence, suffered. In Humphrey Carpenter’s biography of Benjamin Britten, he describes how a lady in the composer’s entourage (I forget who) protected Britten from some of…
Hoopla Sheet Music Launches
My educational music is now available in three places: at www.8notes.com with a yearly subscription (some items currently available for free), at www.sheetmusicplus.com and at a new website www.hooplasheetmusic.com. Especially popular this year has been a new suite of 10 Christmas works in jazzy styles: We Wish You a Jazzy Christmas. These are available in two collections for trumpet and…
Review of 2019
I take a look back at another year in music—more political turmoil, the deaths of André Previn and Michel Legrand, awards, premieres and festivals…
Nancy Bloomer Deussen (1932–2019)
An obituary of U.S. composer and performer Nancy Bloomer Deussen, who died on 16th November.
Missa Orbis Factor Complete Performance
Many thanks to the choir of St. James’s Church, Sussex Gardens and their Director of Music, George de Voil, for their terrific performance of my new mass on Sunday. Thanks also for letting me know about other performances of my recent Tantum Ergos. Great to know this music is being used for daily worship.
Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (15th–24th November)
A preview of the festival, which this year has more than 60 events over 10 days.
Transit Festival, Belgium (18th–20th October)
A preview of a splendid festival, which takes place on my doorstep…