Biography of
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My musical education began around the age of fourteen, studying piano
and music theory to diploma level with Lina Collins of the Royal Academy
of Music London and later with Frank Stafford for arranging and orchestration.
In 1973/4 I studied electronic music and composition at the Royal College
of Music in London with Tristram Cary and Lawrence Casserley where I became
very much involved in the electronic treatment of the human voice and
of percussion. My interest in percussion led me at this time to extensive
research into Eastern musics - including Balinese and Javanese gamelan,
Indian classical music, Japanese traditional music gagaku etc. as well
as modern Western ideas in percussion, e.g. Messiaen,
Cage Steve Reich, Stockhausen
etc. During this time I also made detailed studies of the music of Messiaen
and Stockhausen in the
form of special projects.
From then I became increasingly involved in percussion as a performer
and have developed an extensive background, having played and worked within
jazz, classical (Western orchestral), rock and contemporary music.
I worked regularly over a period of 8 years as a member of an 'improvisation'
trio with two close musical friends where as a group we achieved a high
level of intuitive playing. We rehearsed many aspects of structured and
unstructured improvisations, from the text pieces of Stockhausen
and pieces written by ourselves to free improvisations.
In late 1975 I met Trevor Taylor a fellow percussionist who shared the
same musical interests as myself. We formed a percussion ensemble of 6
players with the view of performing works in the UK. written for Les Percussions
de Strasboug, as well as little known percussion music by Cage, Haubenstuck-Ramati,
Benguerel, Hashagen, Takemitsu etc.
Later, Trevor and I decided to re-structure our approach and perform as
a duo. This enabled both of us to explore musical ideas and works that
previously were not possible, and as a result a strong musical and spiritual
rapport seemed to evolve in our work. A short tour in 1977 took in St
Andrews and Edinburgh festivals. This project also explored and made use
of electronic modulation of percussion as well as alpha wave and G.S.R
modulation (Galvanic Skin Resistance).
Trevor and I continued working for a while including projects with the
London Contemporary Chamber Ensemble and with composer Barry Anderson
(Mask).
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In 1978/9 I toured the West Indies and Mexico with a cabaret showband.
My interest in contemporary jazz led to work with Graham Collier
and Geoff
Warren whose quartet toured the UK., Hungary and former
Yugoslavia. In 1994 I took part in the western world premiere of Moscow
Cheryomushki a musical by Shostakovitch at the Lyric
Theatre London. |
 Ollie Blanchflower, Geoff Warren, Malcolm & Ed Speight |
 Rolf Harris and musicians |
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The Scarborough Spa Orchestra
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Together with Yvonne Forbes I have published 'Percussive
Perspectives'
a book containing original graded compositions for snare drum, timpani
and tuned percussion some of which were used nationally as part of
the Trinity Guildhall
percussion syllabus.
Works include many short 'library music' pieces, O-taiko-Do a piece
embracing many eastern styles including Japanese drumming, TerRor
Nova for African & Sth American percussion, samplers and keyboards,
‘Close your eyes and see...'
for orchestra, (FMR
records) written for youth orchestras and commemorates 50
years of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp. My piece Star Song for choir and
small ensemble was performed at the Royal Albert Hall as part of
a Christmas Celebrity Concert in 1995. In 1994 I wrote incidental
music for the Bronte play 'Wuthering Heights' and the same year
together with Andrew Parmley wrote original music for 'The Fair
Maid of the West'. I was a former member of the Klezmer
Swingers a group who trace the roots of traditional Jewish
music through to jazz, and regularly appear at the South Bank,
100 Club and Ronnie Scotts Club. I am webmaster for The Olivier Messiaen Page, the only dedicated web site to the 20th century French composer. |
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