Piers Hellawell worklist

Piers Hellawell 2014

New Music

Biography

Piers Hellawell “Hellawell’s is an alert, engaging, absorbingly intelligent musical mind.”, wrote Michael Oliver of International Record Review. At the age of 24 Piers Hellawell was appointed composer-in-residence at Queen’s University of Belfast, an institution with which he has continued to associate himself throughout his professional career; since 2002 he has held the Chair of Composition at the University and from 2000 to 2003 he was also Gresham Professor of Music, a visiting post in the City of London.

He has been commissioned by the BBC Proms, Hilliard Ensemble, Schubert Ensemble of London and Stockholm Kammarbrass and his music has been performed at numerous British and overseas festivals. Other collaborators have included Michala Petri, Evelyn Glennie, Psappha, the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra in Finland, The RTÉ Vanbrugh String Quartet and Trio Medieval.

In 1999 Inside Story was premiered to wide acclaim at the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts; a CD featuring Inside Story alongside other recent major works appeared in 2002 on the Metronome Label and was named a BBC Music Magazine CD of the Month. 2002 also saw the premiere of The Pear Tree of Nicostratus, by the Hilliard Ensemble and the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, at Finland’s Kaustinen Festival, where Hellawell was featured in a major retrospective. In 2004 Hellawell’s Cors de chasse received its world premiere at the Brighton Festival, given by Håkan Hardenberger, Jonas Bylund and the Philharmonia Orchestra, receiving its London premiere at the Southbank in 2006. Hellawell’s set for vocal ensemble, The Hilliard Songbook, which gave rise to the Hilliard Ensemble’s ECM album of that name in 1996, is, in the words of The Independent, ‘one of the most enduring of their many commissions’. In 2004 it was part of the Hilliard’s 30th Anniversary celebration events when the set, which has been performed across the world by the Hilliard, opened their 30th Anniversary series in the Wigmore Hall.

More recent projects include Degrees of Separation, a major commission for the opening of The Sage Gateshead in December 2004, Maquette for COMA’s Open Score project at London’s 2005 Spitalfields Festival and Dogs and Wolves, an orchestral commission from the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra first performed in Spring 2006.

Sound Carvings from the Bell Foundry was premiered by Stockholm Kammarbrass in Norway and Ireland in 2006, at events to mark Hellawell’s 50th birthday year. The 2007/8 concert season saw Hellawell’s work performed in Finland, Washington D.C. and Vancouver. Agricolas, a concerto for Robert Plane (clarinet) and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, was premiered at the 2008 Vale of Glamorgan Festival. Festivals in Norway played host to further performances of Sound Carvings from the Bell Foundry by Stockholm Kammarbrass in Winter 2009-10, while piano trio Etruscan Games was toured in the UK before being recorded by Fidelio Trio alongside other works in 2012; Airs, Waters is Hellawell’s first recording on the Delphian label.

Hellawell continues to explore radical designs such as that in chamber music media for leading ensembles: Landscape with Portraits was premiered by Chamber Domaine at the 2004 Cheltenham Festival, while his second string quartet, the experimental design Driftwood on Sand, was released in autumn 2007 on the CD Dogs and Wolves, Hellawell’s third disc on Metronome.

More recently, Piani, Latebre was premiered by William Howard at the 2010 Spitalfields Festival and Isabella’s Banquet, for vocal ensemble was premiered by the National Chamber Choir of Ireland and Paul Hillier in April 2012. A commission for Swedish Chamber Orchestras and Stockholm Kammarbrass, Syzygy, for which Hellawell was awarded a Leverhulme Fellowship, premiered in Spring 2013 in Sweden. atria for cello and piano was also premiered in Spring 2013 at Belfast Music Society’s International Chamber Festival by Paul Watkins and Huw Watkins. In April 2013 Hellawell was awarded one of 20 PRS for Music Foundation Biennial commissions, to work with Bourne/Davis/Kane, the improvisation trio.

For further information:

Frankfurt

New York

London

C. F. Peters Ltd. & Co. KG Hedderichstr. 108 – 110 D-60596 Frankfurt/Main Deutschland +49 (0) 69 63 00 99-0 stefan.conradi@editionpeters.com

C. F. Peters Corporation 70 – 30 80th Street Glendale NY 11385 USA + (1) 718 416 7800 gene.caprioglio@editionpeters.com

Peters Edition Ltd 2 – 6 Baches Street London N1 6DN UK +44 (0) 20 7553 4000 newmusic@editionpeters.com

WORK LIST

Solos Airs, Waters and Floating Islands (1995) 20 minutes For Piano Commissioned by the Holst Foundation.

First performed 15 February 1996, Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge, England, by Susan Tomes (piano).

EP 71311 Basho (1996) 6 minutes For Piano First Performed 12 December 1997, Salle Cortot, Paris, by Herbert du Plessis (piano).

EP 71306 Camera Obscura (1994) 10 minutes For Piano Commissioned by Philip Mead with funds from South West Art First performed 1995, University of Bath, by Philip Mead (piano) EP 71289 Das Leonora Notenbuch (1988) 14 minutes For Piano Commissioned by Buxton Festival for William Howard with funds provided by North West Arts.

First performed 12 July 1988, Buxton Festival, England, by William Howard (piano).

EP 71299 Improvise! Improvise! (1985) 6 minutes For Guitar First performed November 1985, Queen’s Festival Lunchtime, by Brian O’Doherty (guitar).

EP 71324 Let’s Dance (1996) 6 minutes For Percussion Solo Commissioned by Daniella Ganeva First performed October 1996, DeLaWarr Pavillion, Bexhill, England, by Daniella Ganeva EP 71286 Piani, Latebre (2010) 12 minutes For Piano Commissioned by William Howard with funds provided by Landmark Chambers First performed 17 June 2010, Spitalfields Festival, Shoreditch Church, London EP 72072 Two Short Piano Pieces For Piano EP 71307

Duos atria (2013) For cello and piano Commissioned by the Belfast Music Society with funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, for their International Festival of Chamber Music First performed 21 February 2013, BMS International Festival of Chamber Music, by Paul Watkins (cello) and Huw Watkins (piano).

EP 72441 After Healing For Recorder and Percussion EP 71312

WORK LIST

The Erratic Aviator’s Dance (1989) 11 minutes For Fl/Picc/A-fl, Bongos, Dancer (opt.)

First performed 9 September 1989, Dance Place, Washington D.C., USA, by Jean de Mart (flute), John Zidar (bongos), Alvin Mayes (Dancer).

EP 71332 High Citadels (1994) 11 minutes For Cl – Pf Commissioned by Jörg Vogel with funds provided by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

First performed 2 September 1994, Meerbusch, Germany, by Jörg Vogel (clarinet).

EP 71322 Minnesang (2010) 7 minutes For Bass Clarinet and Piano Commissioned by Sarah Watts and Antony Clare with funds provided by the Ralph Vaughan Williams Trust First performed 9 March 2011, St Mark’s ArtSpace, Edinburgh, by Sarah Watts (bass clarinet) and Antony Clare (piano) EP 72138 O Whistle and I’ll Come To You (1988) 11 minutes For Fl – Vc First performed 1988, Washington D.C., USA, by Jean deMart (flute), Debora Milan (cello) EP 71284 Victory Boogie-Woogie (1993) 15 minutes For 2 Pf Commissioned by the Riga Piano Duo with funds provided by the Arts Council of Great Britain First performed 1993, Wagnersaal, Riga New Music Centre, Latvia, by Riga Piano Duo EP 71308

Chamber Ensemble The Building of Curves (1998) 12 minutes For Piano Quartet Commissioned by the Schubert Ensemble of London with funds provided by the Schubert Ensemble Trust.

First performed 18 June 1998, Spitalfields Festival, London, by The Schubert Ensemble of London, EP 71304 Degrees of Separation (2004) 6 minutes For T-sax & Db Soli, 2.2.2.2 – 2.2.0.0 – Perc Commissioned by Northern Sinfonia and The Sage, Gateshead with funds from North Music Trust.

First performed 18 December 2004, The Sage, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, by Northern Sinfonia, conducted by Peter Wiegold.

EP 71298 Driftwood on Sand (2001) 22 minutes For String Quartet Commissioned by the Chamber Music Society of Derry.

First performed 29 March 2001, Magee College, University of Ulster , Derry, by Medici Quartet.

EP 71302 Etruscan Games (2007) 15 minutes For Piano Trio Commissioned by Gerry Mattlock and Beryl Calver-Jones for the Da Vinci Trio First performed 6 March 2008, University of Glasgow EP 71331 Hide in the Attic (2009) 2 minutes For Amateur Piano Quartet Commissioned by the Lawson Trio, on behalf of Chamber Music 2000 First performed 10 February 2010, Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, by children of Garden Suburb Junior School EP 71982

WORK LIST

How Should I Your True Love Know? (1984) 6 minutes For Fl, Cl, Perc, Pf, Gtr, Vla, Vc First performed September 1984 Musica Nova, Glasgow, Elsinore Players.

EP 71320 Landscape with Portraits (2004) 9 minutes For String Trio First performed 4 July 2004, Cheltenham International Festival of Music, by Chamber Domaine.

EP 71283 Litholatry (1999-2001) 10 minutes For 1(I=Picc).1.1(I=E-cl).1(I=Cbn) – 1.1.1(I=B-tbn).0 – Hp – Pf – Perc – Str(1.1.1.1.1) Commissioned by Bournemouth Orchestras with funds provided by the David James Trust.

First performed 30 October 2002, Bournemouth, England, by Kokoro Ensemble.

EP 71282 Sound Carvings from Rano Raraku (1988, revised 1992) 18 minutes For Fl, Perc, Pf, Db Commissioned by Newry and Mourne Arts Centre with funds provided by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

First performed 28 May 1988, Newry and Mourne Arts Centre, Newry, Co. Down, by Martin Feinstein Ensemble.

EP 71318 Sound Carvings from the Bell Foundry (2006) 17 minutes For Brass Quintet Commissioned by Kristiansand Festival and Belfast Festival at Queen’s First performed 26 October 2006, Belfast Festival and Kristiansand, by Stockholm Kammarbrass EP 71300 Sound Carvings from the Ice Wall (1994) 17 minutes For Fl(I=Picc), Cl(I=B-cl), Perc, Pf, Vla, Vc, Db Commissioned by the BBC. First performed 19 September 1995, Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, by Psappha, conducted by Christopher Gayford.

EP 71290 The Still Dancers (1992) 22 minutes For String Quartet Commissioned by Britten String Quartet with funds provided by the Arts Council of Great Britain.

First performed 6 March 1992, St. George’s, Brandon Hill, Bristol, by the Britten String Quartet.

EP 71293 Takla Makan (1995) 12 minutes For Marimba Commissioned by Cheltenham International Festival with funds from South West Arts First performed July 1995, Cheltenham Town Hall, Cheltenham, by Evelyn Glennie EP 71301 Tidy Your Room (2005) 1 ½ minutes For Amateur Piano Quartet Commissioned by Chamber Muaic 2000 First performed 2006, Winchester, by students of Winchester College and Peter Symonds School EP 71303 Truth or Consequences (1991) 16 minutes For Cl, Vc, Pf Commissioned by Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts with funds provided by British Telecom.

First performed February 1992, Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts Award Ceremony, Belfast, by Sequenza.

EP 71305A

WORK LIST

Weaver of Grass aka Piano Quintet (2002) 10 minutes For Vln, Vla, Vc, Db, Pf Commissioned by The Schubert Ensemble with financial assistance from the Schubert Ensemble Trust, The Steel Charitable Trust and the Brighton Festival.

First performed 7 May 2003, Brighton International Festival 2003, Royal Pavilion, Brighton, England, by Schubert Ensemble of London. .

EP 71309 A White Room (1999) 2 minutes For Vln, Vla, Vc, Pf Commissioned by The Schubert Ensemble as part of Chamber Music 2000.

EP 71310

Orchestra Agricolas (2008) c. 18 minutes For Clarinet and Orchestra Cl Soli–2(II=Picc).2(II=Ca).2(II=B-cl).2Bsn–4.2.2.1B-tbn.1–2Perc–Hp–Str Commissioned by Robert Plane with financial assistance from the Britten-Pears Foundation and RVW Trust First performed September 2008, Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan Festival, by Robert Plane (clarinet), BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Michael Dworzynski, EP 71747 Cors de chasse (2003) 14 minutes For Tpt & Tbn Soli – 2.2.2.3 – 4.2.3.1 – 3Perc – Hp – Str First performed 2 May 2004, Håkan Hardenberger (Tpt), Jonas Bylund (Tbn), Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted

by Thierry Fischer.

EP 71313 Degrees of Separation (2003-4) 8 minutes For Str(3.3.2.2.1) Commissioned by The Sage, Gateshead with funds from North Music Trust.

First performed 18 December 2004, The Sage, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, by Northern Sinfonia, conducted by Peter Wiegold).

EP 71297 Degrees of Separation (2003-4) 5 minutes For T-sax solo - 2.2.2.2 - 2.2.0.0 - Perc - DB Commissioned by The Sage, Gateshead with funds from North Music Trust.

First performed 18 December 2004, The Sage, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, by Northern Sinfonia, conducted by Peter Wiegold).

EP 71298 Degrees of Separation (2003-4) 12 minutes Fanfare, Introits and Interludes for Ensemble 2.2.2.2 - 2.2.0.0 - Perc - Str Commissioned by The Sage, Gateshead with funds from North Music Trust.

First performed 18 December 2004, The Sage, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, by Northern Sinfonia, conducted by Peter Wiegold).

EP 71048 Dogs and Wolves (2006) 10 minutes For 2.2.2.2 – 4.2.3.1 – 2Perc – Hp – Str Commissioned by BBC Radio 3 for the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra’s first season at City Halls, Glasgow.

First performed 20 April 2006, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Martyn Brabbins.

EP 71295

WORKI LIST

Drum of the Nåjd (1997) 22 minutes For Rec & Perc Soli – 2.2.2.3 – 2.2.0.0 – Str Commissioned by North Wales Conference Centre, Llandudno, Wales.

First performed 3 November 1997, Michala Petri (Rec), Evelyn Glennie (Perc), Northern Sinfonia, conducted by David Haslam.

EP 71294 Hall of Mirrors (1998) 2 minutes For Amateur Piano Quartet Commissioned by Chamber Music 2000 EP 71314 Inside Story (1999) 23 minutes For Vln & Vla Soli – 2.2.2.3 – 4.2.3.1 – 3Perc – Str Commissioned by the BBC Promenade Concerts, Royal Albert Hall, London.

First performed 3 August 1999, BBC Promenade Concerts, Royal Albert Hall, London, by BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Clio Gould (Vln), Philip Dukes (Vla), conducted by Martyn Brabbins.

EP 71327 Maquette (2004) 6 minutes For Variable Ensemble (2 woodwind, 2 brass, Perc, Pf, Str) Commissioned by COMA. First performed 18 June 2005, Spitalfields Festival, Christ Church, London, by COMA London, conducted by Gregory Rose.

EP 71288 Memorial Cairns (1992) 7 minutes For Strings (5.4.3.2.1) Commissioned by Ulster Orchestra Society for the Ulster Orchestra Sinfonia with funds provided by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland First performed 11 December 1992, Guildhall, Londonderry, by Ulster Orchestra Sinfonia, conducted by John Finucane.

EP 71285A Quadruple Elegy (in the time of freedom) (1990) 25 minutes For Vln Solo – 2.2.2.2 – 2.2.0.0 – Perc – Str(8.8.6.4.3) Written for Madeleine Mitchell First performed 16 April 1992, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, by Madeleine Mitchell (violin), City of London Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Chris Zimmerman.

EP 71323 Sound Carvings from the Water’s Edge (1996) 10 minutes For 6Vln, 2Vla, 2Vc, Db Commissioned by The Highland Festival with funds provided by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

First performed 31 May 1996, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland, by BT Scottish Ensemble.

EP 71291 Sound Carvings Without Words (from Do not Disturb) (1997) 8 minutes 2.2.2.2 – 4.2.3.0 – 2perc – Str EP 71292 Syzygy (2013) c. 18 minutes For Brass Quintet and Chamber Orchestra Commissioned by the Swedish Chamber Orchestra for Stockholm Chamber Brass First performed 28 February 2013, Örebro, Sweden, by Swedish Chamber Orchestra and Stockholm Chamber Brass, conducted by Paul Watkins.

EP 72418

WORK LIST

Vocal/Choral Do Not Disturb (1997) 12 minutes For SSAA – 2.2.2.2 – 4.2.3.0 – 2Perc – Str Text. Thomas A. Clark.

Commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra.

First performed 6 May 1997, Barbican Hall, London, by Finchley Children’s Music Group, London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Colin Davis.

EP 71317 The Fairies (A Nursery Song) (1981) 3 minutes For SSAA Choir Commissioned by Queen’s University Belfast Children’s Choir.

First performed February 1982, BBC, ‘Let the People Sing’, Belfast. Queen’s University Children’s Choir.

EP 71330 Fatal Harmony (1993) 6 minutes For Soprano First performed 27 April 1995, British Music Information Centre, London, by Jane Manning.

EP 71296 Four Delays (1997) 5 minutes For Mezzo-Soprano and Recorder Text: Thomas A Clark Commissioned for the 70th Birthday of Sir John Manduell First performed November 1997, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, by Alison Wells (mezz) and John Turner (rec) EP 71326 Four Delays (2007) 5 minutes For Cl, Mezz-Sop First performed February 2007, University of Durham, by Alison Wells (mezz) and Ian Mitchell (cl) EP 71326 The Hilliard Songbook (1995) For various small vocal ensembles Text: Nicholas Hilliard Commissioned by the 1995 Hilliard Summer Festival.

First performed (volumes I and II) 12 August 1995, Emmanuel Reformed Church, Cambridge, England, by The Hilliard Ensemble..

Volume I EP 71315 Volume II EP 71316 Inventing You (Cantata) (2005) 4 minutes For CtTB Soli, Pf Text. Kevin Ireland Commissioned by Karl Renner.

First performed 17 September 2005.

EP 71329 Isabella’s Banquet (2011) c. 20 minutes For SATB choir a capella Text: from Mrs Isabella Beeton’s Book of Household Management (1861) Commissioned by Gerry Mattock and Beryl Calver-Jones First performed April 2012, Dublin and Waterford, by National Chamber Choir of Ireland, conducted by Paul Hillier EP 72182 The Pear Tree of Nicostratus (2001) 17 minutes For CtTTB Soli and Strings (4.4.3.3.2) Commissioned by the 24th Kaustinen Chamber Music Festival, Finland.

First performed 29 January 2002, Kaustinen Chamber Music Festival, Finland, by The Hilliard Ensemble, Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Juha Kangas.

EP 71287

WORK LIST

Quem Quaeritis (1995, revised 1998) 8 minutes For S Solo, Cl, B-cl, Vla, Vc, Db Commissioned by Sinfonia 21.

First performed 22 August 1995, Alison Wells (S-solo), Sinfonia 21, conducted by Martyn Brabbins.

EP 71321 River and Shadow (1993) 15 minutes For ATTB Commissioned by Hilliard Ensemble with funds provided by the Arts Council of Great Britain.

First performed 13 June 1993, European City of Culture Celebrations, Antwerp, by Hilliard Ensemble..

EP 71319 The Shepherd’s Carol Chorus and Organ EP 71325

Discography Inside Story Clio Gould (Vln), Philip Dukes (Vla), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins (cond).

Metronome - MET CD 1059 www.metronome.co.uk The Still Dancers RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet Metronome - MET CD 1059 www.metronome.co.uk Quadruple Elegy (in the time of freedom) Clio Gould (Vln), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins (cond).

Metronome - MET CD 1059 www.metronome.co.uk Sound Carvings from the Water’s Edge BT Scottish Ensemble.

Metronome - Met CD 1029 www.metronome.co.uk Truth or Consequences Psappha: Dov Goldberg (Cl), Jennifer Langridge (Vc), Richard Casey (Pf).

Metronome - Met CD 1029 www.metronome.co.uk Sound Carvings from the Ice Wall Psappha: Claire O’Neill (Fl), Dov Goldberg (Cl), Heather Wallington (Vla), Jennifer Langridge (Vc), Michael Escreet (Db), Richard Casey (Pf), Tim Williams (Perc), Paul MacAlindin (cond).

Metronome - Met CD 1029 www.metronome.co.uk Memorial Cairns BT Scottish Ensemble.

Metronome - Met CD 1029 www.metronome.co.uk Sound Carvings from Rano Raraku Psappha: Claire O’Neill (Fl), Michael Escreet (Db), Richard Casey (Pf), Tim Williams (Perc).

Metronome - MET CD 1059 www.metronome.co.uk

WORK LIST

Sound Carvings from the Water’s Edge BT Scottish Ensemble.

Contemporary Music Centre - CMC CD03 www.cmc.ie The Hilliard Songbook The Hilliard Ensemble ECM New Series 1614 www.ecmrecords.com High Citadels Kate Romano (Cl), Alan Hicks (Pf).

Twentieth Century Music for Clarinet and Piano from the British Isles .

Metier MSV CD92013. www.divine-art.com/CD/92013info.htm Dogs and Wolves Cors de chasse+, Weaver of Grass*, Driftwood on Sand@, The Building of Curves*, Dogs and Wolves+ Performed by BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (+), RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet (@) and The Schubert Ensemble (*) METRONOME RECORDINGS MET CD1076; released end-April 2008

WORK LIST

For further information:

Frankfurt

New York

London

C. F. Peters Ltd. & Co. KG Hedderichstr. 108 – 110 D-60596 Frankfurt/Main Deutschland +49 (0) 69 63 00 99-0 stefan.conradi@editionpeters.com

C. F. Peters Corporation 70 – 30 80th Street Glendale NY 11385 USA + (1) 718 416 7800 gene.caprioglio@editionpeters.com

Peters Edition Ltd 2 – 6 Baches Street London N1 6DN UK +44 (0) 20 7553 4000 newmusic@editionpeters.com