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Errollyn Wallen's Photography, here receiving its world premiere, is an attractive four movement suite, brilliantly written for strings, and initially inspired by photographs appearing in the National Geographic magazine. The first movement opens with a figure of only a few notes, building into a movement of rhythmic drive, with solo violin flourishes on top of the ensemble. The second pays homage to "my hero, J.S. Bach" with a trio texture that gradually becomes overlaid with Tippettian decoration. The third is entirely different in feeling, with a cello solo surrounded by blurred string sounds producing a sense of foreboding and erupting into a series of violent clusters. The last movement sees a return of the dance-like writing of the first movement bringing the work to a brilliant conclusion. |
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Errollyn Wallen MBE One of Britain's most exciting, original, and sophisticated composers, Errollyn was born in Belize. She gave up her training at the Dance Theatre of Harlem, New York to study composition at the universities of London and Cambridge. The motto of Errollyn's Ensemble X, 'we don't break down barriers in music ... we don't see any', reflects her genuine, free-spirited approach and eclectic musicianship. Her compositions range from avant-garde classical to popular song writing; she moves freely among influences from Bach to gospel, and Bill Evans to Charles Ives. In her most recent solo album Errollyn features her songs in her own voice/piano performance and her classical portrait album The Girl in My Alphabet received rave reviews on its release. Errollyn has been commissioned by companies and ensembles of international stature including the BBC, London Contemporary Dance Theatre and the Royal Ballet. Future commissions include a new work for BBC Radio 3 to mark the 200th anniversary of Trafalgar Day and the death of Admiral Lord Nelson. She has also been commissioned to write song settings of fairy stories for the Wigmore Hall, London. In July 2007 her new opera The Silent Twins will be premiered by Almeida Opera. Errollyn also undertakes a variety of educational projects and was Composer in Residence at Dartington International Music Festival in 2002 and at Trinity College of Music London in 2004/2005. Errollyn was appointed Composer-in-Association with Orchestra of the Swan in August 2006. Her relationship with the orchestra began when she was commissioned to write a piece for the 2005-6 season entitled Photography. Popular with audiences and critics alike, the piece has received numerous performances. She has also been involved in a number of education and outreach projects as animateur, collaborating with Matt Sharp for workshops in Dartington and in Orchestra of the Swan's community music programmes in Stratford and Birmingham. In 2005 Errollyn won the 2005 British Composer Awards in the BBC Radio 3 Listeners Award category and in June 2007 Errollyn was awarded an MBE in the Queen's birthday Honours list. Commissions and Performances Cello Concerto - 2008 Cross-over Concerto Grosso for violin, bass and keyboards - 2008 Photography The first movement is dance-like and is based on a simple motif; the second movement pays homage to my hero, JS Bach, the opening quoting from his Sinfonia No.14 (BWV 800). In the third movement I explore a very different sort of motion than in the first movement and a completely different harmonic language and string texture. The last movement returns to the roots of dance inherent in the first. As for Bach, the notes themselves are always my constant inspiration and in Photography I have sought to achieve the potential of the patterns I have created. Photography is dedicated to Sarah Suckling (cellist) and Oliver Wilson (violist) on the occasion of their marriage in December 2005. The work was written whilst in Florida, New York and London. |
John Gough, 22 March 2006, Civic Hall, Stratford-upon-Avon |
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