Alexander Campkin Instrumental Music
Opera
Stone Heart
- A Chamber Opera; 2010; duration 25'
- Lewis Reynolds, Librettist and Director
- Scored for two sopranos and actor, with two clarinets (B flat and A) and piano
- 'This story is an adaptation of an old Flemish folk-tale. The tale is about a boy, Daniel, whose experience of war turns his heart to stone. The boy doesn't know what love is, or beauty, or any of that. But he hears, and wants to know. He meets a mysterious character who promises him he can have love, but he has to take it, for himself, from the heart of a girl, with a sickle. The man teaches Daniel a song to draw the girl to him, and to call out her heart.'
- Performances:
- - Grimeborn Annual Contemporary Opera Festival; Arcola Theatre, London, Aug 2010
- (Vanessa Bowers, Danae Eleni and Kelvin Ola-Ayoade - solo roles)
- (Musicalis Ensemble, conducted by Alexander Campkin)
Between the Notes
- A Chamber Opera in one act; 2007-8; duration 15'
- Scored for three mezzo-soprano and two tenors
- Accompanied by quintet: hn, pno, perc (1 player), vln, vc
- Collaboration with award-winning librettist Donald Atkinson
- 'In this work the singers imagine different versions of the same scene, and do not want to choose between them, preferring to stay with the ambiguity, which they feel captures the fragility of life itself. The opening soundworld is hazy, dream-like, equivocal. The music gradually increases in intensity, building towards a lyrical climax.'
- Performances:
- - D.J. Recital Hall, Royal Academy of Music, conducted by the composer, May 2008
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Large Ensemble
Counting my Numberless Fingers
- Open-score Mixed Ensemble; 2006-7; duration 6'
- Finalist of British Composer Awards 2008, in association with BBC Radio 3
- Performances:
- - BBC Radio 3 Broadcast, Early Music Show, Jun 2010
- - Ensemble Progress, Berliner Philharmonie Kammermusiksaal, Conducted by Sylvia Hinz; Apr 2010
- - Contemporary Dance Performance, Theater des Augenblicks, Vienna, Austria; Choreographed by Jenny Schalast; 3 Nov 2009
- - Contemporary Dance Performance, Theater des Augenblicks, Vienna, Austria; Choreographed by Jenny Schalast; 2 Nov 2009
- - Dallas Festival of Modern Music, Texas USA, Conducted by Ryan Thomas Ross; 7 Nov 2009
- - Fall Concert in Texas USA, Tyler Youth Orchestra, Conducted by Ryan Thomas Ross; 1 Nov 2009
- - "Klangwerkstatt" Festival for New Music in Berlin, Conducted by Sylvia Hinz; 7 Nov 2009
- - Ensemble Progress, Exploratorium Berlin, Germany; Conducted by Sylvia Hinz; 18 Jun 2009
- - Ensemble Progress, Berlin venue, Conducted by Sylvia Hinz; 6 Jun 2009
- - CoMA South Ensemble/Open Lab, Winchester Cathedral grounds, Conducted by Virginia Pearson; May 2009
- - Orchestral Concert, Conducted by Adam Swayne, University Chapel, Chichester; Mar 2009
- - University Orchestra of Chichester/CoMA Sussex, Conducted by Adam Swayne, University Chapel, Chichester; Mar 2009
- - University of Chichester Concert, Conducted by Adam Swayne, University Chapel, Chichester; Dec 2008
- - University of Oxford Concert, Trinity Orchestra, Conducted by Daniel Reeve, University Church, Oxford; Dec 2008
- - Orchestral Concert, King John's House, Hampshire, Conducted by Virginia Pearson; Jun 2008
- - COMA Sussex Concert, conducted by Steve Dummer, Brighton, Apr 2008
- - University of Oxford, LMH College Orchestra, Conducted by Geoffrey Lim, New College Chapel, Oxford; Mar 2008
- - CoMA London Performance, Royal Academy of Music, conducted by Gregory Rose, Feb 2008
- - CoMA Contemporary Music Festival Summer School, conducted by Stephen Montague, July 2007
- - Royal Academy of Music, Duke's Hall, London; Minimalist Ensemble, conducted by the composer, September 2007
- - Sketches played by CoMA (Contemporary Music Making for Amateurs) London, conducted by Gregory Rose, October 2006
- - Sketches workshopped by CoMA London, conducted by Gregory Rose, November 2006
- View excerpt of the score (click here)
- Purchase full score and parts:
Distant Cry
- Orchestra [2.3(C.A).2.2/2.3.3.1/timp.3 perc/12.10.8.6.4], backstage Jazz Trio [bass cl, hn, Db], Offstage Ensemble [contrabsn, hn]
- Spatial positioning: Solo tpts at far left, right and back; perc at far left, right and centre
- 2008; duration 10'
- Performances:
- - Filmed by the BBC for an upcoming Television Documentary on BBC2; Sept 2008
- - Concert, Royal Academy Symphony Orchestra, Duke's Hall, Royal Academy of Music, conducted by Chris Austin; Sept 2008
- - Workshop, Royal Academy Symphony Orchestra, Duke's Hall, Royal Academy of Music; Sept 2008
The Word
- Symphony Orchestra, Choir and Soloists; 2011; duration 15'
- Commissioned by Hamish Pringle supported by Birmingham Cathedral
- Setting of 'The Word' (John 1, verses 1 to 14)
- Performances:
- - Birmingham Cathedral Choir (Orchestral details to be released later), Conducted by Marcus Huxley; Nov 2011
- - Public workshop, Birmingham Cathedral, directed by the composer; Nov 2011
Walk in a Whisper
- String Orchestra (12.10.8.6.4); 2007; duration 8'
- Commissioned by the Royal Academy of Music String Orchestra
- Performances:
- - Performed by the Minimalist Ensemble, conducted by the composer, September 2007
- - Performed by the Royal Academy String Orchestra, conducted by David Strange, June 2007
- - Workshopped by the Royal Academy String Orchestra, June 2007
Birth of the Universe
- Orchestra: 2(picc).2(cor).2.2/2.2.1.1/strings 6.5.4.3.2; 2006; duration 10'
- Performances:
- - Broadcast on Oxide 87.9FM, June 2006
- - The Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, conducted by the composer, May 2006
- - CD Recording released in 2006 (Musicalis Ensemble)
- View excerpt of the score (click here)
The Child
- Orchestra (or organ reduction), SATB choir, SATB soloists; 2005; duration 10'
- Orchestra scored for 2.2.2.2/2.2.0.0/timp.org/10.8.6.4.2
- Text from The Child by T. T. Lynch and from Psalm 89
- Performances:
- - Broadcast on Oxide 87.9FM, June 2006
- - The University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford, Christmas 2005
- View excerpt of the score (click here)
Scan
- Scored for picc, fl, pno, tamb, glock, xyl, mar, vln, vc; 2000; duration 5'
- Competition: runner-up in BBC Proms Young Composers' Competition, 2000
- Performances:
- - Broadcast on BBC Radio 3 during interval of the BBC Proms, 2000
Mandelbrot Fractal
- Orchestra: 2(picc).2.2.2/2.1.0.0/strings 6.6.5.4.2; 2004; duration 10'
- Performances:
- - The Bernard Sunley Theatre, St Catherine’s College, St Catherine’s College Orchestra, May 2004
- - (accompanied by video projections of animations of the fractal rendered by the composer)
- - Broadcast on Oxide 87.9FM, June 2006
- View excerpt of the score (click here)
Threads of Gold
- Orchestra: 1(picc).1.1.1/1.0.0.0/strings (2.2.2.2.2); 2005; duration 8'
- Performances:
- - Westminster School Symphony Orchestra, Contemporary Music Concert, 2002
- - Broadcast on Oxide 87.9FM, June 2006
- View excerpt of the score (click here)
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Small Ensemble
Noontides
- Sextet (Fl, cl, pno, vib, vn, vc); 2007; duration 10'
- Commissioned by the Manson Ensemble in Association with the Southbank Centre
- Royal Academy of Music Alan Bush Prize for Composition: Very Highly Commended
- Performances:
- - Vienna performance: Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst, Jan 2009
- - Nono ‘Reflections of Venice’ Festival in Association with the Southbank Centre, October 2007
Clash by Night
- String quartet and two clarinets (B flat & A); 2006; duration c. 6'
- Performances:
- - St Peter’s Church, Canterbury, Mozart Now Ensemble, conducted by Nick Cleobury, December 2006
- - Royal Academy of Music, Concert Room, conducted by the composer, November 2006
- - Workshopped in Canterbury, conducted by Nick Cleobury, July 2006
- View excerpt of the score (click here)
Sun-Brazen Moonbeam
- Wind quintet (flute, oboe, B flat clarinet, horn in F, bassoon); 2006; duration 7'
- Performances:
- - 10th London New Wind Festival, Oxford Street, London, November 2007
- - Duke's Hall, Royal Academy of Music, Minimalist Ensemble, September 2007
- - Holywell Music Room, Kreisler Ensemble, Oxford, June 2006
- - Workshopped by Sounds Underground and Robert Saxton, Holywell Music Room, Oxford, June 2006
- View excerpt of the score (click here)
Ode for the Day
- Composed for Sir Peter Maxwell Davies workshop; 2008; duration 5'
- Scored for fl, cl (bass cl), perc (1 player), pno, vln, vc
- Inspired by Purcell’s Ode for St Cecilia’s Day and contemporary dance (Café Müller by Pina Bausch)
- Performances:
- - Concert, Royal Academy of Music, London, Mar 2008
- - Workshop with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Royal Academy of Music, Mar 2008
Silver Heron
- Horn Concertante for Solo Horn in F; fl, bass cl, vib, vln, vc
- 2008; duration 6'
- Performances:
- - London Sinfonietta collaboration, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Front Room, London, Apr 2008
Dreams of Reality
- Voilin duet; 2007; duration 2'
- Performances:
- - Royal Academy of Music, Roisín Walters and Tudor Andrei, May 2008
- - David Josefowitz Recital Hall, London, March 2008
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Solo
Bolts of Fire
- Solo Organ; 2011; duration 5'
- International Collaboration performed by Dariusz Przybylski (Organ)
- Performances:
- - 'Warsaw Autumn' International Festival of Contemporary Music, Poland; Sept 2011
- - 'Contrasts', International New Music Festival Lviv, Ukraine; Oct 2011
- - National Philharmony; Vitebsk, Belarus; Oct 2011
- - 'Musica Moderna', Festival of New Music; Lodz, Poland; Oct 2011
- - Kazimierz Biskupi, Poland; Nov 2011
- - St Martin in the Fields, London; Nov 2011
- - Karlsruhe Monastery, Germany; Dec 2011
Pentimenti
- Solo Tenor and Piano; 2007; duration 5'
- Collaboration with award-winning poet Donald Atkinson
- Performances:
- - Performed as part of the Leeds Lieder Festival, by Alexander Sprague (Tenor) and Emiko Miura (Piano); Oct 2007
- - Performed at the Royal Academy of Music, by William Petter (Tenor) and Emiko Miura (Piano); Nov 2007
Fearless Symmetries
- Solo Piano with Electronics (recorded); 2008; duration 2'
- Collaboration with Thalia Myers
- Performances:
- - Performed at the Royal Academy of Music by Thalia Myers, Mar 2008
- - Performed by the composer, David Josefowitz Recital Hall, London; May 2008
Three Short Clarinet Pieces
- Solo clarinet in B flat; 2006; duration 10'
- Composed for the Sounds New Music Festival in Canterbury
- Performances:
- - St Peter’s Church, Canterbury, David Cambell, December 2006
- - Workshopped in Canterbury, David Cambell, July 2006
- View excerpt of the score (click here)
Raptures
- Solo Soprano and Piano; 2008; duration 5'
- Performances:
- - Workshopped and Performed in the Royal Academy of Music, Claire Brown and Dominic Muldowney; May 2008
Strange Meetings
- Soprano, Baritone and Piano; 2006; duration 9'
- Song cycle on three poems by Harold Monro
- Performances:
- - Oxford University Music Society Recital, Holywell Music Room, February 2006
- - Vocal Recital, The Chapel of The Queens College, Oxford, February 2006
- - Broadcast on Oxide 87.9FM, June 2006
- View excerpt of the score (click here)
Faceless Dolls
- Solo Piano; 2007; duration 3'
- Composed for Sir Peter Maxwell Davies workshop (filmed for BBC4)
- Performances:
- - Filmed for BBC television, Royal Academy of Music, January 2007
- - Workshopped with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Royal Academy of Music, (Elena Kiseleva, Piano), January 2007
- - Performed in Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford (Geoffrey Lim, Piano), March 2007
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Copyright © 2012 Alexander Campkin. All rights reserved.