Nigel Keay
Encyclopedia
Nigel Keay was born in Palmerston North
, New Zealand
in 1955. He has been a freelance musician
since 1983 working as a composer
, violist
, and violin
teacher. Nigel Keay has held the following composer
residencies: Mozart Fellowship
, University of Otago
1986 and 1987, Nelson School of Music 1988 and 89, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
1995.
Between 1983 and 1995 he received several grants from the Arts Council of New Zealand
for various commissions, one of them being a one-act opera
At the Hawk’s Well 1. His music, which ranges from solo and chamber music
combinations to full symphony orchestra, has sometimes been driven by literary and philosophical ideas. Throughout his career he has wherever possible played in or directed his own works. He became an Associate-Violist with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
in 1994.
Nigel Keay moved to France
in 1998 (he acquired French citizenship in 2000) and lives now in Paris
where he continues to work as a freelance composer
and violist
. In 2001 his Viola Concerto
2 was performed at the 29th International Viola Congress in Wellington
by the Chamber Orchestra of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Marc Taddei with Franck Chevalier as viola
soloist. In 2002 he was commissioned by Radio France
to compose a work for multiple broadcasts on its France Musiques and France Culture stations (Tango Suite 3). The pianist
Jeffrey Grice
performed his work for solo piano
, the dancer leads the procession4, at Salle Gaveau, Paris in February 2007. Between 2003 and 2005 he gave multiple performances of his String Quartet No.2 in Paris
and Bavaria
with his own group, Quatuor Aphanès.
In 2005 a Parisian string orchestra
, Orchestre à cordes Idoménée conducted by Didier Jacquin, performed Nigel Keay's Serenade
for Strings 5 in its first programme. In 2006 Nigel Keay created the Ensemble de l'APEIM 6 with the conductor and pianist Elizabeth Askren. This group commissioned the string orchestra
work "dans la nuit" from the New Zealand
composer
Robin Toan
for its "Projet d'Echange - Nouvelles Voix" in Paris
.
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1955. He has been a freelance musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
since 1983 working as a 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...
, violist
Violist
-Notable violists:A* Julia Rebekka Adler * Sir Hugh Allen , conductor* Kris Allen * Johann Andreas Amon * Paul Angerer , composer* Steven Ansell * Atar Arad * Cecil Aronowitz...
, and violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
teacher. Nigel Keay has held the following 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...
residencies: Mozart Fellowship
Mozart Fellowship
The Mozart Fellowship is a 12-month composer residency attached to the Music Department of the University of Otago. It may be awarded for a second time only to any one composer...
, University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
1986 and 1987, Nelson School of Music 1988 and 89, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra was established in the early 1980s and has become one of New Zealand's major performing organisations. The instigation of its Composer-in-Residence programme in 1990 has made the orchestra an important force in the promotion of New Zealand composed...
1995.
Between 1983 and 1995 he received several grants from the Arts Council of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
for various commissions, one of them being a one-act 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...
At the Hawk’s Well 1. His music, which ranges from solo and chamber music
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...
combinations to full symphony orchestra, has sometimes been driven by literary and philosophical ideas. Throughout his career he has wherever possible played in or directed his own works. He became an Associate-Violist with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra was established in the early 1980s and has become one of New Zealand's major performing organisations. The instigation of its Composer-in-Residence programme in 1990 has made the orchestra an important force in the promotion of New Zealand composed...
in 1994.
Nigel Keay moved to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1998 (he acquired French citizenship in 2000) and lives now in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
where he continues to work as a freelance 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...
and violist
Violist
-Notable violists:A* Julia Rebekka Adler * Sir Hugh Allen , conductor* Kris Allen * Johann Andreas Amon * Paul Angerer , composer* Steven Ansell * Atar Arad * Cecil Aronowitz...
. In 2001 his Viola Concerto
Viola concerto
The viola concerto is a concerto contrasting a viola with another body of musical instruments, usually an orchestra or chamber music ensemble. Early examples of the viola concerto include, among others, Georg Philipp Telemann's concerto in G major, and several concertos by the Stamitz clan...
2 was performed at the 29th International Viola Congress in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
by the Chamber Orchestra of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is the national orchestra of New Zealand. It is a crown entity owned by the Government of New Zealand, with 90 full-time players....
conducted by Marc Taddei with Franck Chevalier as viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
soloist. In 2002 he was commissioned by Radio France
Radio France
Radio France is a French public service radio broadcaster.-Mission:Radio France's two principal missions are:* To create and expand the programming on all of their stations; and...
to compose a work for multiple broadcasts on its France Musiques and France Culture stations (Tango Suite 3). The pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
Jeffrey Grice
Jeffrey Grice
Jeffrey Grice is a New Zealand musician. Born in Christchurch, Jeffrey Grice studied languages and music at University of Auckland. He then continued his piano studies in Paris, obtaining the Licence de Concert de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure de Musique.Resident in France, Jeffrey Grice has...
performed his work for solo piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, the dancer leads the procession4, at Salle Gaveau, Paris in February 2007. Between 2003 and 2005 he gave multiple performances of his String Quartet No.2 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
with his own group, Quatuor Aphanès.
In 2005 a Parisian string orchestra
String orchestra
A string orchestra is an orchestra composed solely or primarily of instruments from the string family. These instruments are the violin, the viola, the cello, the double bass , the piano, the harp, and sometimes percussion...
, Orchestre à cordes Idoménée conducted by Didier Jacquin, performed Nigel Keay's Serenade
Serenade
In music, a serenade is a musical composition, and/or performance, in someone's honor. Serenades are typically calm, light music.The word Serenade is derived from the Italian word sereno, which means calm....
for Strings 5 in its first programme. In 2006 Nigel Keay created the Ensemble de l'APEIM 6 with the conductor and pianist Elizabeth Askren. This group commissioned the string orchestra
String orchestra
A string orchestra is an orchestra composed solely or primarily of instruments from the string family. These instruments are the violin, the viola, the cello, the double bass , the piano, the harp, and sometimes percussion...
work "dans la nuit" from the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
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...
Robin Toan
Robin Toan
Robin Toan is one of New Zealand’s leading young composers. She has had multiple works performed in Oceania, Asia, Europe and America by leading ensembles and soloists. She has received awards in composition competitions both in New Zealand and internationally...
for its "Projet d'Echange - Nouvelles Voix" in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Selected works
- At the Hawk's Well (1992)
- String Quartet No.2 (1995)
- Fanfare for Orchestra (1995)
- Symphony in Five Movements (1996)
- the dancer leads the procession (1999)
- Viola Concerto (2000)
- Serenade for Strings (2002)
- Tango Suite (2002)
- Diversions (2003)
- Trio for Clarinet, Viola and Piano (2009)