David Sawer
Encyclopedia
David Sawer is a British
composer
of opera
and choral, orchestral and chamber music.
, England
. He studied music at the University of York
where he began composing for contemporary music-theatre pieces. He continued his studies with Mauricio Kagel
in Cologne
. Even from this point his career, Sawer's music tends to define each piece within theatrical terms. Indeed, Sawer has described himself as a "theatre person who writes music". His works often reference the visual arts, and in particular surrealist imagery. For example, his piano piece, The Melancholy of Departure was inspired by the shadowy and irrational perspectives of a De Chirico painting.
In 1992 Sawer was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship. His compositional career was supported by further awards and fellowships, including a Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award in 1993, and a residence with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
in 1996. He currently teaches composition at the Royal Academy of Music, London.
Sawer has received numerous commissions that have resulted in impressive works for the concert hall, dance, film, theatre and radio. His 50-minute radio composition Swansong (1989), a collage of orchestral, choral and electronic sounds, conjuring the musical utopia envisioned by the dying Berlioz, was the BBC's entry for the Prix Italia and subsequently won a Sony Award.
If Sawer's early work reflected a variety of influences – from Igor Stravinsky
to György Ligeti
and Luciano Berio
– these have been shed, gradually, as he matured. Certain characteristics remain from his early music: for instance the blurring of background and foreground in his first orchestral work, Trompe l'oeil (1982; since withdrawn), was later put to good use in Byrnan Wood, commissioned for the 1992 Proms.
Future works include Flesh and Blood, a dramatic scene for two voices and orchestra, to be premiered by the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ilan Volkov, with soloists Christine Rice and Marcus Farnsworth, Wonder, for SATB choir, to be included in the Choirbook for the Queen, a concert suite of Rumpelstiltskin , to be premiered by BCMG, conducted by George Benjamin, and Lighthouse Keepers, a radio opera, for the 2013 Cheltenham Festival.
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...
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...
of opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
and choral, orchestral and chamber music.
Biography
Sawer was born in StockportStockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
, 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...
. He studied music at the University of York
University of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
where he began composing for contemporary music-theatre pieces. He continued his studies with Mauricio Kagel
Mauricio Kagel
Mauricio Kagel was a German-Argentine composer. He was notable for his interest in developing the theatrical side of musical performance .-Biography:...
in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
. Even from this point his career, Sawer's music tends to define each piece within theatrical terms. Indeed, Sawer has described himself as a "theatre person who writes music". His works often reference the visual arts, and in particular surrealist imagery. For example, his piano piece, The Melancholy of Departure was inspired by the shadowy and irrational perspectives of a De Chirico painting.
In 1992 Sawer was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship. His compositional career was supported by further awards and fellowships, including a Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award in 1993, and a residence with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is an English orchestra. Originally based in Bournemouth, the BSO moved its offices to the adjacent town of Poole in 1979....
in 1996. He currently teaches composition at the Royal Academy of Music, London.
Sawer has received numerous commissions that have resulted in impressive works for the concert hall, dance, film, theatre and radio. His 50-minute radio composition Swansong (1989), a collage of orchestral, choral and electronic sounds, conjuring the musical utopia envisioned by the dying Berlioz, was the BBC's entry for the Prix Italia and subsequently won a Sony Award.
If Sawer's early work reflected a variety of influences – from Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
to György Ligeti
György Ligeti
György Sándor Ligeti was a composer of contemporary classical music. Born in a Hungarian Jewish family in Transylvania, Romania, he briefly lived in Hungary before becoming an Austrian citizen.-Early life:...
and Luciano Berio
Luciano Berio
Luciano Berio, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian composer. He is noted for his experimental work and also for his pioneering work in electronic music.-Biography:Berio was born at Oneglia Luciano Berio, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI (October 24, 1925 – May 27, 2003) was an Italian...
– these have been shed, gradually, as he matured. Certain characteristics remain from his early music: for instance the blurring of background and foreground in his first orchestral work, Trompe l'oeil (1982; since withdrawn), was later put to good use in Byrnan Wood, commissioned for the 1992 Proms.
Stage works
- The Panic, a chamber opera, premiered in 1991
- From Morning to Midnight, an opera in seven scenes, based on Georg KaiserGeorg KaiserFriedrich Carl Georg Kaiser, called Georg Kaiser, was a German dramatist.-Biography:Kaiser was born at Magdeburg....
's play, premiered in 2001 by English National OperaEnglish National OperaEnglish National Opera is an opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St. Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden...
, for which he a received Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Opera. - Skin Deep, a satirical operetta to a libretto by Armando IannucciArmando IannucciArmando Giovanni Iannucci is a Scottish comedian, satirist, writer, director, performer and radio producer. Born in Glasgow, he studied at Oxford University and left graduate work on a PhD about John Milton to pursue a career in comedy....
, co-commissioned by Opera NorthOpera NorthOpera North is an English opera company based in Leeds. The company's home theatre is the Leeds Grand Theatre, but it also presents regular seasons in several other cities, at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham, the Lowry Centre, Salford Quays and the Theatre Royal, Newcastle...
, Bregenz Festival, Royal Danish Opera Copenhagen and Komische Oper Berlin, premiered on 16 January 2009. - Rumpelstiltskin, a ballet in eight scenes, for six dancers and thirteen players, commissioned by BCMG, premiered on 14 November 2009 at the CBSO CentreCBSO CentreThe CBSO Centre is the administrative home and rehearsal centre of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Choruses , and Birmingham Contemporary Music Group on the corner of Berkley Street and Holliday Street, in Birmingham, England.It...
, BirminghamBirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, and toured to TramwayTramway (arts centre)Tramway is a contemporary visual and performing arts venue located in the Scottish city of Glasgow. Based in a former tram depot in the Pollokshields area of the South Side, it consists of two performance spaces and two galleries, as well as The Hidden Garden and offering facilities for community...
, GlasgowGlasgowGlasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
the Huddersfield Contemporary Music FestivalHuddersfield Contemporary Music FestivalThe Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival is held in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England. It has a repertoire of cutting-edge jazz, orchestral, choral and electroacoustic performances, along with film, dance and music theatre...
and the 2010 Spitalfields Summer Music Festival.
Future works include Flesh and Blood, a dramatic scene for two voices and orchestra, to be premiered by the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ilan Volkov, with soloists Christine Rice and Marcus Farnsworth, Wonder, for SATB choir, to be included in the Choirbook for the Queen, a concert suite of Rumpelstiltskin , to be premiered by BCMG, conducted by George Benjamin, and Lighthouse Keepers, a radio opera, for the 2013 Cheltenham Festival.
Orchestral works
- Byrnan Wood (1992)
- Trumpet Concerto (1994)
- Tiroirs, for chamber ensemble (1996)
- the greatest happiness principle (1997)
- Piano Concerto (2002) winner of British Academy British Composer Award in the orchestra category.
- Rebus, for chamber ensemble (2004)
Choral works
- Songs of Love and War (1990)
- Sounds: Three Kandinsky Poems (1996-9)
- Stramm Gedichte (2002)
Chamber works
- Cat's-eye for 2 clarinets, trumpet, trombone, harp, piano, viola and violoncello (1986)
- Take Off for flute, 2 clarinets, piano, violin, viola and violoncello (1987)
- Between for harp; first performed by Osian EllisOsian EllisOsian Gwynn Ellis CBE is a Welsh harpist and composer.-Career:Osian Ellis was born in Ffynnongroyw, Flintshire in 1928. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Gwendolen Mason, whom he later succeeded as Professor of Harp from 1959 to 1989. He joined the London Symphony Orchestra in 1961...
in 1989 - Good Night for alto flute/piccolo, harp, violin, viola and violoncello (1989)
- Satz for violin, violoncello and piano (2007)
External links
- David Sawer biography and works on the UE website (publisher)