Robert Keeley (composer)
Encyclopedia
Robert Keeley is a British
composer
and pianist
. He studied with Oliver Knussen
at the Royal College of Music
, at Magdalen College, Oxford
, under Bernard Rose
, and later with Robert Saxton
. In 1988 he studied at the Accademia Santa Cecilia in Rome
with Franco Donatoni
, and at the Tanglewood
Summer Music School, where he was the Benjamin Britten
Fellow in Composition, working with Knussen and Hans Werner Henze
.
In 1993, Keeley joined the Department of Music at King's College London
. In his capacity as a performer, Keeley has been a freelance pianist and repetiteur, working for Opera Factory, Almeida Opera and Garsington Opera
, and has played with the London Sinfonietta
and Music Projects/London, and now gives frequent solo recitals covering a wide range of repertoire.
, Michael Finnissy
, Jonathan Cole
and Richard Emsley
. He has given lecture recitals in 20th-century piano music at the University of California, Santa Barbara
, and seminars on his own music at UC Berkeley and the University of Oregon
, Eugene.
His own works, meanwhile, have been performed by, among others: BBC Symphony Orchestra
, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
, Lontano
, Premiere Ensemble, Ensemble Bash, pianists Martin Roscoe
and Colin Stone, guitarists Jonathan Leathwood and Fabio Zanon, bass player Corrado Canonici, oboist Chris Redgate, the Chinook Clarinet Quartet, Fretwork
and Composers' Ensemble.
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...
and 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:...
. He studied with Oliver Knussen
Oliver Knussen
Oliver Knussen CBE is a British composer and conductor.-Biography:Oliver Knussen was born in Glasgow, Scotland. His father, Stuart Knussen, was principal double bass of the London Symphony Orchestra. Oliver Knussen studied composition with John Lambert, between 1963 and 1969 and also received...
at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
, at Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
, under Bernard Rose
Bernard Rose (musician)
Bernard William George Rose, OBE was variously a student at the Royal College of Music 1933-1935, organist, soldier, and composer...
, and later with Robert Saxton
Robert Saxton
-Biography:After early advice and encouragement from Benjamin Britten, Robert Saxton took private composition lessons with Elisabeth Lutyens. He went on to study with Robin Holloway at Cambridge University, with Robert Sherlaw Johnson as a post-graduate at Oxford University, and later with Berio....
. In 1988 he studied at the Accademia Santa Cecilia in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
with Franco Donatoni
Franco Donatoni
Franco Donatoni was an Italian composer.Born in Verona, he started studying violin at the age of seven, and frequented the local Music Academy...
, and at the Tanglewood
Tanglewood
Tanglewood is an estate and music venue in Lenox and Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It is the home of the annual summer Tanglewood Music Festival and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, and has been the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home since 1937. It was the venue of the Berkshire Festival.- History...
Summer Music School, where he was the Benjamin Britten
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
Fellow in Composition, working with Knussen and Hans Werner Henze
Hans Werner Henze
Hans Werner Henze is a German composer of prodigious output best known for "his consistent cultivation of music for the theatre throughout his life"...
.
In 1993, Keeley joined the Department of Music at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
. In his capacity as a performer, Keeley has been a freelance pianist and repetiteur, working for Opera Factory, Almeida Opera and Garsington Opera
Garsington Opera
Garsington Opera is an annual open air summer opera festival founded in 1989 by Leonard Ingrams. For twenty one years it was held in the gardens of Leonard Ingrams' home at Garsington Manor in Oxfordshire. Since 2011 the festival is now held in Wormsley Park, the home of the Getty family near High...
, and has played with the London Sinfonietta
London Sinfonietta
The London Sinfonietta is an English chamber orchestra founded in 1968 and based in London. The ensemble specialises in contemporary music and works across a wide range of genres, performing modern classics alongside world premieres, and includes music by electronica artists as well as folk and...
and Music Projects/London, and now gives frequent solo recitals covering a wide range of repertoire.
Premieres
He has premiered works by, among others, Harrison BirtwistleHarrison Birtwistle
Sir Harrison Paul Birtwistle CH is a British contemporary composer.-Life:Birtwistle was born in Accrington, a mill town in Lancashire some 20 miles north of Manchester. His interest in music was encouraged by his mother, who bought him a clarinet when he was seven, and arranged for him to have...
, Michael Finnissy
Michael Finnissy
Michael Finnissy is an English composer and pianist. His music is characterised by the range of extremes often found in his work; opposing binary structures are found commonly, often seen as juxtaposing textures, register and tempi...
, Jonathan Cole
Jonathan Cole
Jonathan Cole is a British composer and professor of composition at the Royal College of Music.-Biography:...
and Richard Emsley
Richard Emsley
Richard Emsley is a British composer, sometimes associated with the New Complexity school.Emsley initially studied with Arnold Whittall at University College, Cardiff, after which he moved to London, where he still lives...
. He has given lecture recitals in 20th-century piano music at the University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
, and seminars on his own music at UC Berkeley and the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, Eugene.
His own works, meanwhile, have been performed by, among others: BBC Symphony Orchestra
BBC Symphony Orchestra
The BBC Symphony Orchestra is the principal broadcast orchestra of the British Broadcasting Corporation and one of the leading orchestras in Britain.-History:...
, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales is a Welsh symphony orchestra and one of the BBC's five professional orchestras. The BBC NOW is the only professional symphony orchestra organisation in Wales, occupying a dual role as both a broadcasting orchestra and national orchestra.The BBC NOW has its...
, Lontano
Odaline de la Martinez
Odaline de la Martinez is a Cuban-American composer and conductor, currently residing in the UK. She is the artistic director of , a London-based contemporary music ensemble which she co-founded in 1976 with New Zealander flautist , and was the first woman to conduct at the BBC Promenade Concerts ...
, Premiere Ensemble, Ensemble Bash, pianists Martin Roscoe
Martin Roscoe
Martin Roscoe is an English classical pianist. He teaches piano at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in the Department of Keyboard Studies. He performs as a concerto soloist, as a recitalist and as a chamber musician....
and Colin Stone, guitarists Jonathan Leathwood and Fabio Zanon, bass player Corrado Canonici, oboist Chris Redgate, the Chinook Clarinet Quartet, Fretwork
Fretwork
Fretwork is an interlaced decorative design that is either carved in low relief on a solid background, or cut out with a fretsaw, coping saw, jigsaw or scroll saw. Most fretwork patterns are geometric in design. The materials most commonly used are wood and metal. Fretwork is used to adorn...
and Composers' Ensemble.
See also
- King's College LondonKing's College LondonKing's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
- Silvina MilsteinSilvina MilsteinSilvina Milstein is an Argentine composer and scholar of twentieth century music, living in the United Kingdom and teaching at King's College London...
- Harrison BirtwistleHarrison BirtwistleSir Harrison Paul Birtwistle CH is a British contemporary composer.-Life:Birtwistle was born in Accrington, a mill town in Lancashire some 20 miles north of Manchester. His interest in music was encouraged by his mother, who bought him a clarinet when he was seven, and arranged for him to have...
- George BenjaminGeorge Benjamin (composer)George William John Benjamin, CBE is a British composer of classical music. He is also a conductor, pianist and teacher....