Andrew Lewis (composer)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Lewis is a British
composer
known mainly for his acousmatic music
, that is, electroacoustic music heard only over loudspeaker
s, though he also composes some chamber
and orchestral music
.
He studied music at the University of Birmingham
in England
, first as an undergraduate (1981-84), then as a postgraduate studying composition with Jonty Harrison
. It was during this time that he became one of the original members of BEAST, performing electroacoustic music throughout the United Kingdom
under Harrison's direction. After gaining a PhD in 1992 he worked briefly in the Music department at the University of Surrey
(England) (1992-93) before becoming lecturer at the Bangor University
(Wales). He is currently a Professor of music there, as well as directing the work of the Electroacoustic Music Studios and Electroacoustic WALES, which performs electroacoustic and acousmatic music.
Much of his acousmatic music
displays an interest in the abstraction of unseen and unrecognisable sounds, an approach particularly strongly evident in earlier works such as Arrivals (1987) and Time and Fire (1991). However, with the composition of Scherzo (1992) a parallel concern with the anecdotal and pictorial possibilities of recognisable sounds began to emerge, and much of his subsequent work plays on the tensions between these two approaches. Since moving to Wales
, much of the evocation of image in his music relates to the landscape of the area in which he lives and works. Ascent (1994) evokes the wildness of the mountain landscape of Snowdonia
, which was awarded a ‘Euphonie d’Or’ by the Bourges electroacoustic music competition, as one of the most notable former prizewinning works between 1975 and 2005. More recently the cycle of works Four Anglesey Beaches (1999-2003) takes as its inspiration the seascapes and coastal locations of the area.
Although very little music exists for conventional forces, there have been a few notable exceptions in recent years: Eclipse (orchestra, 2004) was premiered under Elgar Howarth
in 2004, while in the same year Tempo Reale (string quartet, 2004) was chosen by Sir Peter Maxwell-Davies for a performance in London
's Wigmore Hall
.
A handful of writings on the analysis of electroacoustic music also exist, in particular ‘Francis Dhomont’s Novars’, Journal of New Music Research, Vol. 27 (1998), No. 1–2, pp. 67-83.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
known mainly for his acousmatic music
Acousmatic music
Acousmatic music is a form of electroacoustic music that deals specifically with acousmatic sound as a compositional resource. The practice has a historical basis in musique concrète. It can be created using non-acoustic technology, exists only in a recorded format , and is composed for reception...
, that is, electroacoustic music heard only over loudspeaker
Loudspeaker
A loudspeaker is an electroacoustic transducer that produces sound in response to an electrical audio signal input. Non-electrical loudspeakers were developed as accessories to telephone systems, but electronic amplification by vacuum tube made loudspeakers more generally useful...
s, though he also composes some chamber
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
and orchestral music
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
.
He studied music at the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, first as an undergraduate (1981-84), then as a postgraduate studying composition with Jonty Harrison
Jonty Harrison
Jonty Harrison is an electroacoustic music composer born April 27, 1952 in Scunthorpe, UK, and currently living in Birmingham, UK.Jonty Harrison is an electroacoustic music composer born April 27, 1952 in Scunthorpe, UK, and currently living in Birmingham, UK.Jonty Harrison is an electroacoustic...
. It was during this time that he became one of the original members of BEAST, performing electroacoustic music throughout the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
under Harrison's direction. After gaining a PhD in 1992 he worked briefly in the Music department at the University of Surrey
University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is a university located within the county town of Guildford, Surrey in the South East of England. It received its charter on 9 September 1966, and was previously situated near Battersea Park in south-west London. The institution was known as Battersea College of Technology...
(England) (1992-93) before becoming lecturer at the Bangor University
Bangor University
Bangor University is a university based in the city of Bangor in the county of Gwynedd in North Wales-United Kingdom.It was officially known for most of its history as the University College of North Wales...
(Wales). He is currently a Professor of music there, as well as directing the work of the Electroacoustic Music Studios and Electroacoustic WALES, which performs electroacoustic and acousmatic music.
Much of his acousmatic music
Acousmatic music
Acousmatic music is a form of electroacoustic music that deals specifically with acousmatic sound as a compositional resource. The practice has a historical basis in musique concrète. It can be created using non-acoustic technology, exists only in a recorded format , and is composed for reception...
displays an interest in the abstraction of unseen and unrecognisable sounds, an approach particularly strongly evident in earlier works such as Arrivals (1987) and Time and Fire (1991). However, with the composition of Scherzo (1992) a parallel concern with the anecdotal and pictorial possibilities of recognisable sounds began to emerge, and much of his subsequent work plays on the tensions between these two approaches. Since moving to Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, much of the evocation of image in his music relates to the landscape of the area in which he lives and works. Ascent (1994) evokes the wildness of the mountain landscape of Snowdonia
Snowdonia
Snowdonia is a region in north Wales and a national park of in area. It was the first to be designated of the three National Parks in Wales, in 1951.-Name and extent:...
, which was awarded a ‘Euphonie d’Or’ by the Bourges electroacoustic music competition, as one of the most notable former prizewinning works between 1975 and 2005. More recently the cycle of works Four Anglesey Beaches (1999-2003) takes as its inspiration the seascapes and coastal locations of the area.
Although very little music exists for conventional forces, there have been a few notable exceptions in recent years: Eclipse (orchestra, 2004) was premiered under Elgar Howarth
Elgar Howarth
Elgar Howarth is an English conductor and composer.Howarth was educated in the 1950s at Manchester University and the Royal Manchester College of Music , where his fellow students included the composers Harrison Birtwistle, Alexander Goehr, Peter Maxwell Davies, and the...
in 2004, while in the same year Tempo Reale (string quartet, 2004) was chosen by Sir Peter Maxwell-Davies for a performance in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall is a leading international recital venue that specialises in hosting performances of chamber music and is best known for classical recitals of piano, song and instrumental music. It is located at 36 Wigmore Street, London, UK and was built to provide London with a venue that was both...
.
A handful of writings on the analysis of electroacoustic music also exist, in particular ‘Francis Dhomont’s Novars’, Journal of New Music Research, Vol. 27 (1998), No. 1–2, pp. 67-83.
Works
- The Song of Five Anger, acousmatic (1982)
- Empire canons, two trumpets (1982)
- Logos, acousmatic (1983)
- Quad, four clarinets (1983)
- Sonnerie aux morts, acousmatic (1984)
- La Corona, ensemble (1984)
- Adagio, acousmatic (1985)
- Rond'eau, acousmatic (1985)
- FM, music theatre for solo guitarist (1985)
- Principles of Flight, shakuhachi and electroacoustic sounds (1986, rev. 1991)
- MARanaTHA, four amplified voices and live electronics (1986)
- Storm-song, piano and electroacoustic sounds (1987)
- Arrivals, acousmatic (1987)
- ...a cord of three strands..., ensemble, computer and live electronics (1988)
- Time and Fire, acousmatic (1990)
- Changes, flute, viola and harp (1990)
- Tracking, piano trio (1990)
- int/EXT, harpsichord and electroacoustic sounds (1991)
- PulseRates (with BEAST), acousmatic (1991)
- Scherzo, acousmatic (1992, revised 1993)
- Ascent, acousmatic (1994, revised 1997)
- Eclipse, orchestra (1996, rev. 2004)
- môr(G)wyn, acousmatic (1996)
- Cân, acousmatic (1997)
- Nunc dimmittis, boys' choir and organ (1998)
- Cable Bay, acousmatic (1999)
- CHROMA - Thema, flute (alto flute), oboe, horn, trombone, viola, harp (1999)
- Shadow Play, small orchestra (1999)
- Tempo Reale, string quartet (1999, rev. 2004)
- Dawns, harp and electroacoustic sounds (2000)
- Jeux d'ombres, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and piano (2000)
- double (fragment), 2fl, 2ob, 2clt (2bcl), hn, 2pno, 2vln, vla, vlc, elec bs (2001)
- double (serenâd), 2 ob, 2 cl, 2 basset hn, 2 bsn, 4 hn, cb (2002)
- Penmon Point, acousmatic (2003)
- Llanddwyn Skies, acousmatic (2003)
- Benllech Shells, acousmatic (2003)
- Budo' Variations, trumpet, pecussion and computer (2006)
- Danses acousmatiques, acousmatic (2007)