Eoin O'Keeffe
Encyclopedia
Eoin O’Keeffe is an Irish composer, currently residing in the United Kingdom. O’Keeffe grew up in Clonmel
, Ireland
. As a member of his local youth band, he played clarinet
and later trumpet
, before spending some time as conductor and arranger. He studied for a BA Music at Waterford Institute of Technology
between 1997 and 2001, where he graduated with a First Class Honours Degree, majoring in composition having studied with Eric Sweeney, as well as composers such as Louis Andriessen
. During his time in Waterford, he was awarded with the Good Shepherd Arts Award for his composition. He also conducted the college chamber choir between 2000 and 2001, giving the opportunity to develop his choral writing. He then graduated from University College Cork with a Higher Diploma in Education in 2002 and spent several years working in the education sector, initially in Ireland before moving to London
, England. While teaching in London, he continued his studies in composition with composers such as Anna Meredith, Stephen Montague, and Howard Skempton. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
, London between 2005 and 2007, studying with Richard Baker and graduating with an MA Composition. He currently resides in Brighton, England with his wife Aoife and their son Jack.
He has had his music performed in the UK, including performances in the opening ceremony of the 2007 New Music Festival at the Guildhall, the 2006 City of London Festival
, the 2007 London New Wind Festival, as well as on tour with the Trillium Quartet with a specially commissioned piece. His music has also been performed in Ireland and the Czech Republic.
His music has been reviewed in Tempo
magazine which was followed up by a seminar by the esteemed architect John Wheatley on Music and Architcture at the Royal Academy of Music
. Examples of his music can be found in Notations 21, a book inspired by John Cage’s “Notations”. This music has also featured in an art exhibition at the Chelsea Art Museum, New York as part of the launch of the aforementioned book.
In addition to his work as a composer, O’Keeffe is in demand as an arranger particularly of wind and orchestral music in Ireland, the UK, and Europe, and has maintained his links with the music education sector, involved in teaching a number of different projects in the UK and abroad, and has been involved in creating music for a number of other performing groups.
Tonality is the key feature of his music. Earlier pieces were very highly structured, and after a period of aleatoric and improvisation-based composition, reliance on intuition came to the forefront of his music, as well as the use of humour and references to traditional Irish music. Throughout his music, there is a very minimalist approach taken, with little in the way of dynamics or articulation, and a tendency to concentrate on one simple idea.
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. As a member of his local youth band, he played clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
and later trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, before spending some time as conductor and arranger. He studied for a BA Music at Waterford Institute of Technology
Waterford Institute of Technology
Waterford Institute of Technology is a state funded third-level educational institution situated in the city of Waterford, Ireland. The Institute has six Schools and 16 Departments....
between 1997 and 2001, where he graduated with a First Class Honours Degree, majoring in composition having studied with Eric Sweeney, as well as composers such as Louis Andriessen
Louis Andriessen
Louis Andriessen is a Dutch composer and pianist based in Amsterdam. He teaches composition at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague...
. During his time in Waterford, he was awarded with the Good Shepherd Arts Award for his composition. He also conducted the college chamber choir between 2000 and 2001, giving the opportunity to develop his choral writing. He then graduated from University College Cork with a Higher Diploma in Education in 2002 and spent several years working in the education sector, initially in Ireland before moving to 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...
, England. While teaching in London, he continued his studies in composition with composers such as Anna Meredith, Stephen Montague, and Howard Skempton. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
, London between 2005 and 2007, studying with Richard Baker and graduating with an MA Composition. He currently resides in Brighton, England with his wife Aoife and their son Jack.
He has had his music performed in the UK, including performances in the opening ceremony of the 2007 New Music Festival at the Guildhall, the 2006 City of London Festival
City of London Festival
The City of London Festival is an annual arts festival that takes place in the City of London, England, over two to three weeks in June and July. The Festival is strongly geared towards classical music, but also offers a programme that includes jazz, world music, opera, film screenings, lectures...
, the 2007 London New Wind Festival, as well as on tour with the Trillium Quartet with a specially commissioned piece. His music has also been performed in Ireland and the Czech Republic.
His music has been reviewed in Tempo
Tempo (magazine)
Tempo was a Serbia-based magazine devoted to sports, published weekly.-Beginnings:Tempo was founded in Belgrade in 1966, as a weekly sports magazine under Politika's umbrella. Most of its coverage centered around football, with basketball, handball, volleyball, and water polo also featuring...
magazine which was followed up by a seminar by the esteemed architect John Wheatley on Music and Architcture at the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
. Examples of his music can be found in Notations 21, a book inspired by John Cage’s “Notations”. This music has also featured in an art exhibition at the Chelsea Art Museum, New York as part of the launch of the aforementioned book.
In addition to his work as a composer, O’Keeffe is in demand as an arranger particularly of wind and orchestral music in Ireland, the UK, and Europe, and has maintained his links with the music education sector, involved in teaching a number of different projects in the UK and abroad, and has been involved in creating music for a number of other performing groups.
Tonality is the key feature of his music. Earlier pieces were very highly structured, and after a period of aleatoric and improvisation-based composition, reliance on intuition came to the forefront of his music, as well as the use of humour and references to traditional Irish music. Throughout his music, there is a very minimalist approach taken, with little in the way of dynamics or articulation, and a tendency to concentrate on one simple idea.
Selected works
- Motion (Pno, 4 hands)
- Ave Maria (SATB – 4.4.4.4)
- TRIumph (Cl, Hn, Pno)
- Lines & Spaces (8 violins, 7 cellos)
- Flight (Fl, Ob, Cl, Bsn, Strings - 5.5.3.3.2)
- 4 x 1 = 24 (Recorded violin)
- 4 for T (4 tpts)
- Out of Motion (Pno, 4 hands)
- Imitation (2 pianos)
- Ave Maria (revision 1) (SATB – 4.4.4.4)
- U-turn (Cl, S.Sax, T.Sax, Hn, Cnt, Tbn, B.Tbn)
- Pass it on… (6 woodwind instruments, Pno)
- Deciduous (Wind Quintet)
- Pass it along… (5 woodwind instruments)
- Telling God’s Story (SATB)
- Trio and Over again (Fl, Vla, Hrp)
- The Uncivilised Discussion (String Quartet)
- Onwards (2 pianos - 6 hands)
- The Crossing (Brass Ensemble)
- John 12:46 (SATB)
- The night before the morning after (Voice and piano)
- Game Show (S.Sax, Tpt, Tbn, Tuba)
- Ave for Brass (Brass Quartet)
- Meditation (Soprano and piano)
- Conditions (Soprano and piano)
- Remote Control (S.Sax, C.A., Tbn, Vib, Kbrd)
- Medite(r)ranean (Soprano and piano)
- Tritonic (2 x T.Sax, 2 x Tpt, 2 x Hn, 2 x Tbn, Perc)
- Lost and Found (Ob, Cl, Hn, Tpt, Tbn, Pno)
- Now go we in content (2 x Cl, 2 x Hn, 2 x T.Sax, 2 x Tbn, Glock)
- Ave a la sax (Saxophone Quartet)
- Spherical Cube (Saxophone Quartet)
- Dipsochelys (Wind Quintet)
- Ave Maria (revision 2) (SATB – 4.4.4.4)
- Through the Menai Strait (Symphony Orchestra)
- Seasca 1 (Pno)
- Seasca 2 (Cl and Pno)
- Seasca 3 (Pno)
- Three statements for vibes (4 x Vib, 8 players)
- Trash heap sketches (Symphony Orchestra)
- Because(Cl and Pno)