Listed in alphabetical order
Two instruments .
Concertante for Percussion and Harpsichord (1978)
perc, hpd
Duration: 8 minutes
Commissioned by Peter Cobb with funds provided by the Welsh Arts Council
First performed by the New Arts Consort at the Sherman Arena Theatre, Cardiff on 24 May 1978
with Peter Cobb (percussion), Gavin Hibbs (harpsichord)
| 24.05.78 | CARDIFF | Sherman Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 25.05.78 | CARDIFF | Sherman Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 26.05.78 | CARDIFF | Sherman Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 09.06.78 | CARDIFF | Chapter Theatre | New Arts Consort |
EX (1979)
pno, perc
Duration: 10 minutes
Full score here
Commissioned by Extemporary Dance Theatre with funds provided by the Arts Council of Great Britain
First performed by the New Arts Consort at Chapter Theatre, Cardiff on 11 April 1980
with Kelvin Leslie (piano), Jeffery Wilson (percussion)
Revised version first performed by Simon Limbrick and Noriko Kawai at Leighton House, London, 5 March 1982
| 11.04.80 | CARDIFF | Chapter Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 12.04.80 | CARDIFF | Chapter Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 16.04.80 | HARLECH | Theatr Ardudwy | New Arts Consort |
| 17.04.80 | BUILTH WELLS | Wyeside Arts Centre | New Arts Consort |
| 21.08.81 | CARDIFF | Chapter Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 26.08.81 | EDINBURGH | Chaplaincy Centre (Fringe Festival) | New Arts Consort |
| 29.08.81 | EDINBURGH | Chaplaincy Centre (Fringe Festival) | New Arts Consort |
| 05.03.82 | LONDON | Leighton House | Limbrick, Kawai |
| 27.03.82 | LONDON | Old Half Moon Theatre | Limbrick, Kawai |
| 28.03.82 | LONDON | Old Half Moon Theatre | Limbrick, Kawai |
Incandanza (1997)
for flute and guitar
Duration: 8 minutes
Commissioned by The Umbrella Collection with funds provided by the Arts Council of Wales
First performed by Lynne Plowman (flute) and Sally Hillier (guitar) at the Norwegian Church, Cardiff Bay on 25 November 1997
Written for flute/guitar duo Lynne Plowman and Sally Hillier, Incandanza is an exploration of the panpipe and guitar music of the Andes – the repeated note phrases typical of panpipes with a harmonic and rhythmic structure borrowed from Spanish flamenco.
| 25.11.97 | CARDIFF | Norwegian Church | Umbrella Collection |
Michelangelo Ground (2015)
for two bass viols
Duration: c. 4 minutes
Full score here
A ground for two bass viols based on musical material from the stage work Michelangelo Drawing Blood (click on title for further information)
Dedicated to Ibrahim Abiz and Sam Stadlen, who first performed work.
First performed by Touché at School of Economic Science, London on 21 January 2015 with Ibrahim Aziz and Sam Stadlen (bass viols)
| 21.01.15 | LONDON | School of Economic Science | Touché |
Organum (1997)
piano and vibraphone
Duration: 10 minutes
First performed by Raw Goods at Chapter Theatre, Cardiff on 19 May 1998
| 19.05.98 | CARDIFF | Chapter Theatre | Sound Affairs |
| 21.05.98 | LONDON | Royal Festival Hall, Purcell Room | Sound Affairs |
| 23.05.98 | SWANSEA | Taliesin Arts Centre | Sound Affairs |
| 07.10.98 | ROTTERDAM | Lantaren / Venster | Sound Affairs |
| 12.06.99 | BARCELONA | Marató de l’Espectacle | Sound Affairs |
Orishas Canto (2004)
piano, percussion and backing track
Duration: c. 6 minutes
Full score here
First performed by Raw Goods at Chapter Theatre, Cardiff on 8 April 2004
| 08.04.04 | CARDIFF | Chapter Arts Centre | Raw Goods |
| 11.04.04 | LONDON | The Space | Raw Goods |
| 13.04.04 | SWANSEA | Brangwyn Hall | Raw Goods |
| 14.04.04 | HARLECH | Theatr Ardudwy | Raw Goods |
| 15.04.04 | RUTHIN | Canolfan Glyndwr | Raw Goods |
| 16.04.04 | HOLYHEAD | Ucheldre Centre | Raw Goods |
| 17.04.04 | MACHYNLLETH | Y Tabernacl | Raw Goods |
| 19.05.05 | CARDIFF | Gate Arts Centre | Raw Goods |
| 20.05.05 | PONTARDAWE | Arts Centre | Raw Goods |
| 21.05.05 | ABERTILLERY | Community Theatre | Raw Goods |
| 03.06.05 | HOLYHEAD | Ucheldre Centre | Raw Goods |
| 04.06.05 | CAERNARFON | Galeri | Raw Goods |
| 22.09.06 | CARDIFF | Gate Arts Centre | Raw Goods |
| 23.09.06 | BLACKWOOD | Miners Institute | Raw Goods |
| 28.09.06 | PONTARDAWE | Arts Centre | Raw Goods |
| 30.09.06 | HOLYHEAD | Ucheldre Centre | Raw Goods |
| 04.10.06 | ST ASAPH | Arts Centre | Raw Goods |
| 05.10.06 | ABERYSTWYTH | Arts Centre | Raw Goods |
| 10.10.06 | NEWTOWN | Theatr Hafren | Raw Goods |
| 11.10.06 | LONDON | The Space | Raw Goods |
| 12.10.06 | TAUNTON | The Brewhouse | Raw Goods |
| 13.10.06 | DARTMOUTH | The Flavel | Raw Goods |
| 14.10.06 | FALMOUTH | Arts Centre | Raw Goods |
| 12.07.07 | LINCOLN | Terry O’Toole Theatre | Raw Goods |
Three instruments
Baroque Sonatas (2014)
pno, vln, vcl
Duration: c. 10 minutes
Three studies based on musical material from the keyboard sonatas of Domenico Scarlatti (1685 – 1757)
1. Allegro The first movement explores a sequence of chords changing through an isorhythmic pattern and is based on two fragments from Sonata in B minor, K. 27
2. Andante A study of binary form, in expanding and contracting sections, based on the melodic phrases and harmonic sequence from the first 4 bars of Sonata in E minor, K. 81
3. Vivace A rhythmic study in 13/8 based on material from Sonata in F minor, K. 555
First performed at O / Modernt Festival, Stockholm on 13 June 2015 with Johannes Marmén (violin), Hanna Dahlkvist (cello) and Henrik Måwe (piano)
| 13.06.15 | STOCKHOLM | O / Modernt Festival | Marmén, Dahlkvist, Måwe |
Four instruments
A Forest in Full Flower (1981)
ob, pno, perc, vcl
Duration: 8 minutes
An extract from the theatre / performance piece Punishment by Roses based on the life of Japanese writer and activist Yukio Mishima. A Forest in Full Flower includes video by Mike Stubbs reconstructing Mishima’s own photoshoot re-enactment of the Martyrdom of St Sebastian painted in 1616 by Italian artist Guido Reni.
Revised version first performed by the New Arts Consort at Chapter Theatre, Cardiff on 4 May 1984
with Jeffery Wilson (soprano sax), Lucy Wilson (piano), Dominic Hackett (percussion), Glyn Perrin (cello)
| 04.05.84 | CARDIFF | Chapter Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 05.05.84 | CARDIFF | Chapter Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 15.05.84 | COVENTRY | Warwick University Arts Centre | New Arts Consort |
| 16.05.84 | HEANOR | South East Derbyshire College | New Arts Consort |
| 17.05.84 | BLACKBURN | School of Art | New Arts Consort |
| 18.05.84 | STOCKTON | Dovecot Arts Centre | New Arts Consort |
| 20.05.84 | DURHAM | Trevelyan College | New Arts Consort |
| 21.05.84 | HULL | Spring Street Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 22.05.84 | BARNSLEY | Northern College | New Arts Consort |
| 23.05.84 | NOTTINGHAM | Midland Group | New Arts Consort |
| 24.05.84 | OXFORD | Museum of Modern Art | New Arts Consort |
| 25.05.84 | BRISTOL | Arnolfini | New Arts Consort |
| 26.05.84 | LONDON | Air Gallery | New Arts Consort |
El Puerto Ricercare (1980)
vcl, pno, 2 perc
Duration: 10 minutes
Commissioned by Chapter, Cardiff with funds provided by the Welsh Arts Council
The work is in memorium of Angel Rodriguez Cristobel, an active member of the Puerto Rican Socialist League who was jailed and subsequently murdered it is believed, after taking part in a protest calling for an end to US military operations.
First performed by the New Arts Consort at Chapter Theatre, Cardiff on 7 September 1980
with Noriko Kawai (piano), Simon Limbrick, Nicholas Ormerod & Jeffery Wilson (percussion)
First performance of revised version performed at Chapter Theatre, Cardiff on 4 May 1984
with Glyn Perrin (cello), Lucy Wilson (piano), Clive Malabar (percussion), Jeffery Wilson (percussion)
| 07.09.80 | CARDIFF | Chapter Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 12.09.80 | BATH | St James’ Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 21.02.82 | LONDON | Battersea Arts Centre | New Arts Consort |
| 22.02.82 | BUILTH WELLS | Wyeside Arts Centre | New Arts Consort |
| 23.02.82 | RISCA | Crosskeys College | New Arts Consort |
| 24.02.82 | CARDIFF | Sherman Arena Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 25.02.82 | CARDIFF | Sherman Arena Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 04.05.84 | CARDIFF | Chapter Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 05.05.84 | CARDIFF | Chapter Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 15.05.84 | COVENTRY | Warwick University Arts Centre | New Arts Consort |
| 16.05.84 | HEANOR | South East Derbyshire College | New Arts Consort |
| 17.05.84 | BLACKBURN | School of Art | New Arts Consort |
| 18.05.84 | STOCKTON | Dovecot Arts Centre | New Arts Consort |
| 20.05.84 | DURHAM | Trevelyan College | New Arts Consort |
| 21.05.84 | HULL | Spring Street Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 22.05.84 | BARNSLEY | Northern College | New Arts Consort |
| 23.05.84 | NOTTINGHAM | Midland Group | New Arts Consort |
| 24.05.84 | OXFORD | Museum of Modern Art | New Arts Consort |
| 25.05.84 | BRISTOL | Arnolfini | New Arts Consort |
| 26.05.84 | LONDON | Air Gallery | New Arts Consort |
| 17.02.86 | LONDON | The Place Theatre | SPNM |
| 20.10.88 | CARDIFF | Welsh College of Music & Drama | New Arts Consort |
| 07.11.88 | CARDIFF | Four Bars Inn | New Arts Consort |
| 16.01.89 | CARDIFF | Welsh College of Music & Drama | New Arts Consort |
| 20.01.89 | ALSAGER | Crewe & Alsager College | New Arts Consort |
Evening Notes (1979)
ob, vcl, pno, perc
Duration: 15 minutes
First performed by the New Arts Consort at Chapter Theatre, Cardiff on 26 September 1979
with Steve Watts (oboe), Naomi Turner (cello), Kelvin Leslie (piano), Jeffery Wilson (percussion)
| 26.09.79 | CARDIFF | Chapter Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 11.10.79 | CARDIFF | Sherman Arena Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 12.10.79 | LONDON | Jackson’s Lane | New Arts Consort |
| 21.08.81 | CARDIFF | Chapter Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 26.08.81 | EDINBURGH | Chaplaincy Centre (Fringe Festival) | New Arts Consort |
| 29.08.81 | EDINBURGH | Chaplaincy Centre (Fringe Festival) | New Arts Consort |
Guajira (1981)
pno, perc, vcl, e bass gtr/db
Duration: 8 minutes
Commissioned by Tamara McLorg with funds provided by the Arts Council of Great Britain
Taking its title from a popular Cuban song style, Guajia juxtaposes African rhythms against melodic material from Spanish sources.
First performed (in concert version) by the New Arts Consort at Chapter Theatre on 21 August 1981
with Noriko Kawai (piano), Simon Limbrick (percussion), William Bruce (cello), Neil Watson (basses)
| 21.08.81 | CARDIFF | Chapter Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 21.02.82 | LONDON | Battersea Arts Centre | New Arts Consort |
| 22.02.82 | BUILTH WELLS | Wyeside Arts Centre | New Arts Consort |
| 23.02.82 | RISCA | Crosskeys College | New Arts Consort |
| 24.02.82 | CARDIFF | Sherman Arena Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 25.02.82 | CARDIFF | Sherman Arena Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 03.03.83 | CARDIFF | Chapter Arts Centre | New Arts Consort |
| 05.03.83 | NORWICH | Premises Arts Centre | New Arts Consort |
| 06.03.83 | BOSTON | Blackfriars Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 07.03.83 | BIRMINGHAM | The Triangle | New Arts Consort |
| 08.03.83 | BIRMINGHAM | The Triangle | New Arts Consort |
| 09.03.83 | LEED | Trinity and All Saints’ College | New Arts Consort |
| 10.03.83 | WAKEFIELD | Bretton Hall College | New Arts Consort |
| 11.03.83 | SUNDERLAND | Polytechnic | New Arts Consort |
| 13.03.83 | STOCKTON | Dovecot Arts Centre | New Arts Consort |
| 14.03.83 | ILKLEY | College | New Arts Consort |
| 15.03.83 | CHESTERFIELD | College of Art & Design | New Arts Consort |
| 16.03.83 | NOTTINGHAM | Midland Group | New Arts Consort |
| 17.03.83 | LEICESTER | Phoenix Arts Centre | New Arts Consort |
| 18.03.83 | SWINDON | Thamesdown Studio | New Arts Consort |
| 19.03.83 | LONDON | Almeida Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 07.11.88 | CARDIFF | Four Bars Inn | New Arts Consort |
| 16.01.89 | CARDIFF | Welsh College of Music & Drama | New Arts Consort |
| 20.01.89 | ALSAGER | Crewe & Alsager College | New Arts Consort |
| 20.08.89 | BRECON | Jazz Festival | New Arts Consort |
No Marks For Industrial Reporting (1984)
Text and video by Martin Wilson
pno, e pno, 2 perc
Duration: 8 minutes
First performed by the New Arts Consort at Chapter Theatre, Cardiff on 4 May 1984
with Lucy Wilson (piano), Glyn Perrin (electric piano), Dominic Hackett (percussion), Jeffery Wilson (percussion)
| 04.05.84 | CARDIFF | Chapter Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 05.05.84 | CARDIFF | Chapter Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 15.05.84 | COVENTRY | Warwick University Arts Centre | New Arts Consort |
| 16.05.84 | HEANOR | South East Derbyshire College | New Arts Consort |
| 17.05.84 | BLACKBURN | School of Art | New Arts Consort |
| 18.05.84 | STOCKTON | Dovecot Arts Centre | New Arts Consort |
| 20.05.84 | DURHAM | Trevelyan College | New Arts Consort |
| 21.05.84 | HULL | Spring Street Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 22.05.84 | BARNSLEY | Northern College | New Arts Consort |
| 23.05.84 | NOTTINGHAM | Midland Group | New Arts Consort |
| 24.05.84 | OXFORD | Museum of Modern Art | New Arts Consort |
| 25.05.84 | BRISTOL | Arnolfini | New Arts Consort |
| 26.05.84 | LONDON | Air Gallery | New Arts Consort |
Organum (1997)
Duration: 8 minutes
Commissioned by the Vale of Glamorgan Festival with funds provided by the Arts Council of Wales
First performed by the Apollo Saxophone Quartet at the Vale of Glamorgan Festival in the Tythe Barn, St Donats Arts Centre on 6 September 1997
| 06.09.97 | ST DONATS | Vale of Glamorgan Festival | Apollo Sax Qrt |
Recitative + Aria (1983)
s sax (or cl), vcl, pno, portable organ (or harmonium)
Duration: 4 minutes
Full score here
Recitative + Aria is the first piece to merge from Barber’s preoccupation with the music of Gluck. In this work, the recitative no longer precedes the aria. Instead, two different recitatives (piano and organ) and two different arias (cello and soprano saxophone) are played simultaneously. The materials and sounds remain the same throughout, but their interaction is such that the perspective in which we view them constantly changes. (Peter Reynolds)
First performed by the New Arts Consort at Chapter Theatre, Cardiff on 4 May 1984
with Jeffery Wilson (clarinet), Glyn Perrin (cello), Lucy Wilson (piano), Dominic Hackett (harmonium)
| 04.05.84 | CARDIFF | Chapter Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 05.05.84 | CARDIFF | Chapter Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 15.05.84 | COVENTRY | Warwick University Arts Centre | New Arts Consort |
| 16.05.84 | HEANOR | South East Derbyshire College | New Arts Consort |
| 17.05.84 | BLACKBURN | School of Art | New Arts Consort |
| 18.05.84 | STOCKTON | Dovecot Arts Centre | New Arts Consort |
| 20.05.84 | DURHAM | Trevelyan College | New Arts Consort |
| 21.05.84 | HULL | Spring Street Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 22.05.84 | BARNSLEY | Northern College | New Arts Consort |
| 23.05.84 | NOTTINGHAM | Midland Group | New Arts Consort |
| 24.05.84 | OXFORD | Museum of Modern Art | New Arts Consort |
| 25.05.84 | BRISTOL | Arnolfini | New Arts Consort |
| 26.05.84 | LONDON | Air Gallery | New Arts Consort |
String quartet
Baroque Sonatas (2014)
String quartet
Three studies based on musical material from the keyboard sonatas of Domenico Scarlatti (1685 – 1757)
1. Allegro The first movement explores a sequence of chords changing through an isorhythmic pattern and is based on two fragments from Sonata in B minor, K. 27
2. Andante A study of binary form, in expanding and contracting sections, based on the melodic phrases and harmonic sequence from the first 4 bars of Sonata in E minor, K. 81
3. Vivace A rhythmic study in 13/8 based on material from Sonata in F minor, K. 555
First performed by Mavron String Quartet at The Gate, Cardiff on 2 July 2015 with Christiana Mavron and Katy Rowe (violins), Niamh Ferris (viola), Beatrice Newman (cello)
| 02.07.15 | CARDIFF | The Gate | Mavron Quartet |
| 15.07.15 | LOUGHBOROUGH | Town Hall | Mavron Quartet |
Samba Round (1994)
for string quartet
Duration: 5 minutes
First performed by the Bingham String Quartet at Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan on 30 September 1996
| 30.09.96 | CARDIGAN | Theatr Mwldan | Bingham Qrt |
| 25.03.99 | LONDON | RFH Purcell Room | CB + Band |
| 26.03.99 | NARBERTH | Queen’s Hall | CB + Band |
| 27.03.99 | SWANSEA | Taliesin Arts Centre | CB + Band |
Five instruments
False Steps (1982)
ob, pno, perc, vcl, db
Duration: 10 minutes
Full score here
Commissioned by Lynx Dance Company with funds provided by the Arts Council of Great Britain
The ‘systems’ work is palindromic in its rhythmic content as well as the overall structure. The opening and closing sections contain mirror themes of different lengths for each instrument, with the oboe theme forming the basis of the material for the central section.
First performed (in concert version) by the New Arts Consort at Chapter Theatre, Cardiff on 3 March 1983
with Juliet Abbott (oboe), Andrew Poppy (piano), Clive Malabar (percussion), Janet Reed (cello), Ivor Hodgson (double bass)
Revised 1987 version first performed by the New Arts Consort at Theatr Hafren, Newtown on 5 November 1987
| 03.03.83 | CARDIFF | Chapter Arts Centre | New Arts Consort |
| 05.03.83 | NORWICH | Premises Arts Centre | New Arts Consort |
| 06.03.83 | BOSTON | Blackfriars Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 07.03.83 | BIRMINGHAM | The Triangle | New Arts Consort |
| 08.03.83 | BIRMINGHAM | The Triangle | New Arts Consort |
| 09.03.83 | LEEDS | Trinity and All Saints’ College | New Arts Consort |
| 10.03.83 | WAKEFIELD | Bretton Hall College | New Arts Consort |
| 11.03.83 | SUNDERLAND | Polytechnic | New Arts Consort |
| 13.03.83 | STOCKTON | Dovecot Arts Centre | New Arts Consort |
| 14.03.83 | ILKLEY | College | New Arts Consort |
| 15.03.83 | CHESTERFIELD | College of Art & Design | New Arts Consort |
| 16.03.83 | NOTTINGHAM | Midland Group | New Arts Consort |
| 17.03.83 | LEICESTER | Phoenix Arts Centre | New Arts Consort |
| 18.03.83 | SWINDON | Thamesdown Studio | New Arts Consort |
| 19.03.83 | LONDON | Almeida Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 05.11.87 | NEWTOWN | Theatr Hafren | New Arts Consort |
| 07.11.87 | CARDIFF | Chapter Theatre | New Arts Consort |
| 11.11.87 | BRISTOL | Arnolfini | New Arts Consort |
| 07.11.88 | CARDIFF | Four Bars Inn | New Arts Consort |
| 16.01.89 | CARDIFF | Welsh College of Music & Drama | New Arts Consort |
| 20.01.89 | ALSAGER | Crewe & Alsager College | New Arts Consort |
Organum (2003)
soprano saxophone and string quartet
Duration: 5 minutes
First performed by Entr’acte at St Peter’s Church, Fishguard on 21 March 2003
| 21.03.03 | FISHGUARD | St Peter’s Church | Entr’acte |
| 22.03.03 | ABERGAVENNY | Our Lady & St Michael’s Church | Entr’acte |
| 25.03.03 | CARDIFF | City United Reformed Church | Entr’acte |
| 26.03.03 | MACHYNLLETH | Y Tabernacl | Entr’acte |
| 27.03.03 | LAMPETER | St Peter’s Church | Entr’acte |
| 28.03.03 | BRECON | Cathedral | Entr’acte |
| 29.03.03 | SWANSEA | St Mary’s Church | Entr’acte |
Samba Round (1994)
soprano saxophone and string quartet
Duration: 5 minutes
First performed by Entr’acte at the Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff on 26 April 2001
| 26.04.01 | CARDIFF | Norwegian Church Arts Centre | Entr’acte |
| 27.04.01 | ABERGAVENNY | Melville Theatre, Drama Centre | Entr’acte |
| 28.04.01 | PONTARDAWE | Arts Centre | Entr’acte |
| 03.05.01 | FISHGUARD | Theatr Gwaun | Entr’acte |
| 04.05.01 | NEWTOWN | Theatr Hafren | Entr’acte |
| 01.09.01 | SAN JOSÉ | Tapestry Arts Festival, California | Entr’acte |
| 02.09.01 | SAN JOSÉ | Tapestry Arts Festival, California | Entr’acte |
| 03.09.01 | SAN JOSÉ | Tapestry Arts Festival, California | Entr’acte |
Six instruments
Adagio (1985)
fl, cl, hn, hp, vla, vcl
Duration: 8 minutes
Full score here
Adagio explores the role of ornamentation in the 18th century slow movement through the simultaneous articulation of two structural planes. Against a recurring and unvaried harmonic rhythm is set a textural surface which gradually moves from a condition of stasis towards one of extreme ornamental density. However, this ornamentation should not be confused with that of the early 18th century which serves to obscure the underlying structure. Instead Barber emulates the late 18th century practice of employing embellishment to thematic and architectural ends. (Peter Reynolds)
First performed by Circle at Turner Sims Hall, Southampton University on 11 September 1985
with Nancy Ruffer (flute), Ian Mitchell (clarinet), Stephen Stirling (horn), Sioned Williams (harp), Sally Beamish (viola), Julia Dubruslais (cello) conducted by Gregory Rose
Revised version performed by PM Ensemble at Welsh College of Music & Drama on 2 December 1994
| 11.09.85 | SOUTHAMPTON | Turner Sims Concert Hall | Circle |
| 02.12.94 | CARDIFF | Welsh College of Music & Drama | PM Ensemble |
Jaliya (1990, revised 2010)
revised in 2010 for the Afrodisiac programme
b cl, 2 perc, pno, vla, db
Duration: 6 minutes
Jaliya meaning ‘music of the Jalis’, refers to the hereditary musicians, or ‘jalis’, of north west Africa whose vocal and instrumental music inspired the present work. The score of Jaliya combines elements of the ‘kora’ (African harp) technique and the Islamic influenced vocal characteristics with traditional African drumming patterns.
First performed by Sound Affairs at Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen on 14 October 2010
with David Jean-Baptiste (bass clarinet), Sacha Johnson (percussion), Jonathan Helm (percussion), Semra Kurutaç (piano), Niamh Ferris (viola) and Ashley John Long (double bass) and Seckou Keita (kora)
| 14.10.10 | CARMARTHEN | Lyric Theatre | Sound Affairs |
| 15.10.10 | CARDIFF | University Concert Hall | Sound Affairs |
| 16.10.10 | SWANSEA | Taliesin Arts Centre | Sound Affairs |
| 20.10.10 | MOLD | Clwyd Theatr Cymru | Sound Affairs |
| 21.10.10 | PWLLHELI | Neuadd Dwyfor | Sound Affairs |
| 22.10.10 | HOLYHEAD | Ucheldre Centre | Sound Affairs |
| 25.10.10 | LONDON | Southbank Centre, Purcell Room | Sound Affairs |
| 27.10.10 | MALVERN | Theatres | Sound Affairs |
| 28.10.10 | BROMSGROVE | Artrix | Sound Affairs |
| 30.10.10 | COLCHESTER | Lakeside Theatre | Sound Affairs |
Kantilan Karangan (1993)
for six pianos
Duration: 4 minutes
Full score here
The title is taken from two Balinese words: ‘kantilan‘ refers to the intricate patterns or ‘flower passages’ in Balinese gamelan, whilst ‘karangan‘ describes a piece of work which is assembled or constructed. The technique of interlocking parts is an important feature of Balinese music, for there are two ‘voices’ that run in counterpoint – two different rhythms, positive and negative, that fit together to form an unbroken swift arabesque. The work was composed in April 1993 for Piano Circus.
First performed by Piano Circus at the Vale of Glamorgan Festival on 29 August 1993
| 29.08.93 | ST DONATS | Vale of Glamorgan Festival | Piano Circus |
| 19.11.93 | HUDDERSFIELD | Contemporary Music Festival | Piano Circus |
| 17.09.94 | TORINO | Settembre Musica | Piano Circus |
| 11.11.94 | LONDON | The Place Theatre | Piano Circus |
| 20.05.95 | ALGARVE | Festival Internacional de Música | Piano Circus |
| 26.05.95 | BOURNEMOUTH | International Festival | Piano Circus |
| 18.10.95 | HEREFORD | College | Piano Circus |
| 28.10.95 | NEWCASTLE | Playhouse | Piano Circus |
| 10.11.95 | BATH | University | Piano Circus |
| 21.11.95 | HUDDERSFIELD | Contemporary Music Festival | Piano Circus |
| 29.11.95 | LONDON | The Place Theatre | Piano Circus |
| 10.09.98 | BARRY | Memorial Hall, Vale of Glamorgan Festival | Piano Circus |
Sons d’Afrique (1993, revised 1995)
fl, cl, pno, perc, vln, vcl
Duration: 10 minutes
Commissioned by the Vale of Glamorgan Festival with funds provided by the Arts Council of Wales
Sons d’Afrique is a re-working of traditional songs from the Central African Republic. The first section is based on a harp tune performed by the Nbaka people. The song is associated with rites on the birth of twins and is performed on a large arched ten-string harp. The starting point for the second section is a xylophone pattern from a dance piece in the repertory of the Sabanga people. It is performed on a portable ten-note xylophone which is held in playing position by a strap running around the musician’s neck. The final section is based on sanza music of the Gbaya people. The sanza, or mbira, is an invention peculiar to Africa. Sometimes called a ‘thumb piano’, it consists of a set of metal lamellae of unequal length which are plucked with the thumbs. The main points of interest to me in writing this work were the unusual layout of the pitches in these African instruments as well as the rhythmic content of the music performed on them.
First performed at the Vale of Glamorgan Festival on 27 August 1993
with Kathryn Lucas (flute), David Campbell (clarinet), Andrew Ball (piano), Simon Limbrick (percussion), Madeleine Mitchell (violin) and Christopher Van Kampen (cello)
| 27.08.93 | ST DONATS | Vale of Glamorgan Festival | Madeleine Mitchell |
| 17.08.95 | ST DONATS | Vale of Glamorgan Festival | Madeleine Mitchell |
Copyright © 2021 Charlie Barber. All rights reserved.
