Richard Barrett (composer)
Encyclopedia
Richard Barrett is a British
composer
.
in 1980 (Warnaby 2001). From then until 1983 he took private lessons with Peter Wiegold. There followed fruitful encounters at the 1984 Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik with Brian Ferneyhough
and Hans-Joachim Hespos
. In the 1980s he became associated with the so-called New Complexity
group of British composers because of the intricate notation of his scores. However, he is equally active in free improvisation
, most often in the electronic duo FURT with Paul Obermayer, formed in 1986, and a voice/electronics duo with Ute Wassermann since 1999, but also since 2003 as a member of the Evan Parker
Electro-Acoustic Ensemble. Since 1990 about half of his compositions have been written for the ELISION Ensemble
, most notably the extended works Opening of the Mouth and DARK MATTER. In 2005 he and Obermayer formed the electroacoustic octet fORCH.
He taught composition at Middlesex University from 1989 to 1992, and electronic composition at the Institute of Sonology
of the Hague Royal Conservatory in 1996, where he taught until 2001. In 2009 he resumed teaching regularly at the Institute. Having moved from London to Amsterdam
in 1993, he has lived in Berlin
since 2001, initially as a guest of the DAAD
's "Berliner Künstlerprogramm", except between 2006 and 2009 when he was a professor of composition at Brunel University
in London
(Service 2005).
Barrett won the Kranichsteiner Musikpreis at the Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik, Darmstadt
, in 1986, and was awarded the Gaudeamus Prize
in 1989 (Warnaby 2001). He also won the Chamber Music category of the 2003 British Composer Awards.
Many of Barrett's works are grouped into series, and have extra-musical associations—particularly with the writers Samuel Beckett
and Paul Celan
, but also the Chilean painter Roberto Matta
, and ideas from physics, mythology, astrology and philosophy (in the texts of DARK MATTER). Barrett's compositional techniques, which derive equally and indistinguishably from serial, stochastic and intuitive methods, have since the mid-1980s made extensive use of computer programs he has developed himself (Warnaby 2001). He regards free improvisation as a method of composition rather than as a different or opposed kind of musical activity (Gilmore 2009). He has often been politically outspoken (Whittall 2005), and in 1990 joined the Socialist Workers Party (Britain)
. While no longer an active member he remains aligned with revolutionary socialism (Lenz 2005).
His codex series of compositions explores diverse ways of using composed frameworks as a point of departure for improvisation, particularly with larger groups, while the fOKT series extrapolates some of FURT's characteristic forms of texture and coordination into the octet context of the fORCH ensemble. The results of these more experimental and collaborative projects have exerted an increasing influence on Barrett's other compositional work, which remains mostly fully notated, although several compositions (for example transmission, Blattwerk and adrift) alternate between precise scoring and free improvisation for part or all of their duration. However, these different strategies are used in order to maximise the musical potential of the whole, rather than drawing attention to the distinction between improvisational and notational methods of composition—as Barrett himself puts it (2009): "As a listener I generally prefer to concentrate on what music is doing rather than how it was done".
Since 2003 he has been working on an eight-part cycle of compositions collectively entitled resistance & vision and with a projected total duration of over six hours, of which the first (NO), third (cell), fifth (Mesopotamia), sixth (IF), seventh (Nacht und Träume) and eighth (CONSTRUCTION) have so far been completed (November 2011). CONSTRUCTION is itself a conglomerate work, conceived for ELISION and consisting of twenty components in four interwoven cycles which may also be performed singly or in various combinations.
With Evan Parker
's Electro-Acoustic 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...
.
Biography
Barrett began to study music seriously only after graduating in genetics and microbiology at University College LondonUniversity College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
in 1980 (Warnaby 2001). From then until 1983 he took private lessons with Peter Wiegold. There followed fruitful encounters at the 1984 Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik with Brian Ferneyhough
Brian Ferneyhough
Brian John Peter Ferneyhough is an English composer. His music is characterized by the extensive use of complex rhythmic tuplet notation which features in all his works...
and Hans-Joachim Hespos
Hans-Joachim Hespos
Hans-Joachim Hespos is a German composer of avant-garde music.Since für Cello solo , he has composed in all genres, including many pieces for unaccompanied solo instruments and theatre works...
. In the 1980s he became associated with the so-called New Complexity
New Complexity
In music, the New Complexity is a term dating from the 1980s, principally applied to composers seeking a "complex, multi-layered interplay of evolutionary processes occurring simultaneously within every dimension of the musical material" ....
group of British composers because of the intricate notation of his scores. However, he is equally active in free improvisation
Free improvisation
Free improvisation or free music is improvised music without any rules beyond the logic or inclination of the musician involved. The term can refer to both a technique and as a recognizable genre in its own right....
, most often in the electronic duo FURT with Paul Obermayer, formed in 1986, and a voice/electronics duo with Ute Wassermann since 1999, but also since 2003 as a member of the Evan Parker
Evan Parker
Evan Shaw Parker is a British free-improvising saxophone player from the European free jazz scene.Recording and performing prolifically with many collaborators, Parker was a pivotal figure in the development of European free jazz and free improvisation, and has pioneered or substantially expanded...
Electro-Acoustic Ensemble. Since 1990 about half of his compositions have been written for the ELISION Ensemble
ELISION Ensemble
The ELISION Ensemble is a chamber ensemble specialising in contemporary classical music,concentrating on the creation and presentation of new works....
, most notably the extended works Opening of the Mouth and DARK MATTER. In 2005 he and Obermayer formed the electroacoustic octet fORCH.
He taught composition at Middlesex University from 1989 to 1992, and electronic composition at the Institute of Sonology
Institute of Sonology
The Institute of Sonology is an education and research center for electronic music and computer music based at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague in the Netherlands.-Background:...
of the Hague Royal Conservatory in 1996, where he taught until 2001. In 2009 he resumed teaching regularly at the Institute. Having moved from London to Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
in 1993, he has lived in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
since 2001, initially as a guest of the DAAD
German Academic Exchange Service
The German Academic Exchange Service or DAAD is the largest German support organisation in the field of international academic co-operation....
's "Berliner Künstlerprogramm", except between 2006 and 2009 when he was a professor of composition at Brunel University
Brunel University
Brunel University is a public research university located in Uxbridge, London, United Kingdom. The university is named after the Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel....
in 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...
(Service 2005).
Barrett won the Kranichsteiner Musikpreis at the Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik, Darmstadt
Darmstadt
Darmstadt is a city in the Bundesland of Hesse in Germany, located in the southern part of the Rhine Main Area.The sandy soils in the Darmstadt area, ill-suited for agriculture in times before industrial fertilisation, prevented any larger settlement from developing, until the city became the seat...
, in 1986, and was awarded the Gaudeamus Prize
Gaudeamus International Composers Award
The Gaudeamus International Composers Award is a European award issued by the Music Center the Netherlands...
in 1989 (Warnaby 2001). He also won the Chamber Music category of the 2003 British Composer Awards.
Many of Barrett's works are grouped into series, and have extra-musical associations—particularly with the writers Samuel Beckett
Samuel Beckett
Samuel Barclay Beckett was an Irish avant-garde novelist, playwright, theatre director, and poet. He wrote both in English and French. His work offers a bleak, tragicomic outlook on human nature, often coupled with black comedy and gallows humour.Beckett is widely regarded as among the most...
and Paul Celan
Paul Celan
Paul Celan was a poet and translator...
, but also the Chilean painter Roberto Matta
Roberto Matta
Roberto Sebastián Antonio Matta Echaurren , better known as Roberto Matta, was one of Chile's best-known painters and a seminal figure in 20th century abstract expressionist and surrealist art....
, and ideas from physics, mythology, astrology and philosophy (in the texts of DARK MATTER). Barrett's compositional techniques, which derive equally and indistinguishably from serial, stochastic and intuitive methods, have since the mid-1980s made extensive use of computer programs he has developed himself (Warnaby 2001). He regards free improvisation as a method of composition rather than as a different or opposed kind of musical activity (Gilmore 2009). He has often been politically outspoken (Whittall 2005), and in 1990 joined the Socialist Workers Party (Britain)
Socialist Workers Party (Britain)
The Socialist Workers Party is a far left party in Britain founded by Tony Cliff. The SWP's student section has groups at a number of universities...
. While no longer an active member he remains aligned with revolutionary socialism (Lenz 2005).
His codex series of compositions explores diverse ways of using composed frameworks as a point of departure for improvisation, particularly with larger groups, while the fOKT series extrapolates some of FURT's characteristic forms of texture and coordination into the octet context of the fORCH ensemble. The results of these more experimental and collaborative projects have exerted an increasing influence on Barrett's other compositional work, which remains mostly fully notated, although several compositions (for example transmission, Blattwerk and adrift) alternate between precise scoring and free improvisation for part or all of their duration. However, these different strategies are used in order to maximise the musical potential of the whole, rather than drawing attention to the distinction between improvisational and notational methods of composition—as Barrett himself puts it (2009): "As a listener I generally prefer to concentrate on what music is doing rather than how it was done".
Since 2003 he has been working on an eight-part cycle of compositions collectively entitled resistance & vision and with a projected total duration of over six hours, of which the first (NO), third (cell), fifth (Mesopotamia), sixth (IF), seventh (Nacht und Träume) and eighth (CONSTRUCTION) have so far been completed (November 2011). CONSTRUCTION is itself a conglomerate work, conceived for ELISION and consisting of twenty components in four interwoven cycles which may also be performed singly or in various combinations.
Selected works
- Ne songe plus à fuir (1985-86) for solo cello
- EARTH (1987-88) for trombone and percussion
- I open and close (1983-88) for string quartet
- negatives (1988-93) for 9 players
- Vanity (1991-94) for orchestra
- Tract (1984-96) for solo piano
- Opening of the Mouth (1992-97) for two vocalists, 9 instrumentalists and electronics
- transmission (1996-99) for electric guitar and electronics
- Blattwerk (1998-2002) for cello and electronics
- DARK MATTER (1990-2003) for voices, ensemble and electronics
- NO (1999-2004) for orchestra
- Flechtwerk (2002-06) for clarinet and piano
- adrift (2003-07) for piano and electronics
- Nacht und Träume (2004-08) for cello, piano and electronics
- fOKT 1 - (2005-) for the fORCH octet
- Mesopotamia (2006-09) for 17 instruments and electronics
- codex I - ... (2000-) for improvising ensembles
- IF (2006-10) for orchestra
- cell (2005-11) for alto saxophone, accordion and contrabass
- CONSTRUCTION (2005-11) for voices, instruments and electronics
Selected discography
- Chamber Works. ELISION Ensemble conducted by Sandro Gorli (Etcetera 1993) - contains Ne songe plus à fuir, EARTH, Another heavenly day and negatives
- FURT: Live in Amsterdam 1994 (X-OR 1995)
- Vanity. BBC Symphony OrchestraBBC Symphony OrchestraThe BBC Symphony Orchestra is the principal broadcast orchestra of the British Broadcasting Corporation and one of the leading orchestras in Britain.-History:...
conducted by Arturo Tamayo (NMC 1996) - FURT: angel (JdK 1999)
- Opening of the Mouth. ELISION Ensemble conducted by Simon Hewett (ABC Classics 1999, reissued 2009)
- FURT: defekt (Matchless 2002)
- FURT: dead or alive (Psi 2004)
- FURT: OMNIVM (Psi 2006)
- transmission (NMC 2007). ELISION soloists - contains interference, abglanzbeladen/auseinandergeschrieben, basalt, air, knospend-gespaltener and transmission
- fORCH: spin networks (Psi 2007)
- Ute Wassermann and Richard Barrett: pollen (Creative Sources 2008)
- FURT plus: equals (Psi 2008)
- Negatives. ELISION Ensemble conducted by Sandro Gorli (NMC 2009) - reissue of Chamber Works with the addition of codex I
- FURT: sense (Psi 2009)
- Adrift - 3 compositions 2007/8 (Psi 2009). RB with Sarah Nicolls, ELISION, Champ d'Action - contains adrift, codex VII and codex IX
- Richard Barrett and Han-earl Park (guitar): numbers (Creative Sources January 2012)
- DARK MATTER (in preparation). ELISION and Cikada ensembles conducted by Christian Eggen
With Evan Parker
Evan Parker
Evan Shaw Parker is a British free-improvising saxophone player from the European free jazz scene.Recording and performing prolifically with many collaborators, Parker was a pivotal figure in the development of European free jazz and free improvisation, and has pioneered or substantially expanded...
's Electro-Acoustic Ensemble
- The Eleventh Hour (ECM 2004)
- The Moment's EnergyThe Moment's EnergyThe Moment's Energy is an album by British saxophonist and improvisor Evan Parker's Electro-Acoustic Ensemble recorded at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in 2007 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:...
(ECM 2007) - SET (Psi 2009)