THINGS AS... (2023) for eight voices (SSAATTBB) was created as part of Cheltenham Music Festival Composer Academy 2023. Performed by The Carice Singers, directed by George Parris.

The text comes from a phrase that recurred obsessively in my mind for several days, often with the words ‘are’ and ‘were’ being interchanged; drifting over one another arbitrarily. The rest of the phrase remained rigid in its structure. This is reflected in the music through economic use of musical materials which are interchanged, and overlapping layers of contrasting textures that are incessant and largely static. – RC

THINGS AS... (2023)

Robert Crehan is a British composer from Luton, Bedfordshire.

His recent work explores abrupt cuts and interruptions, combined with sharply contrasting materials to create abstracted and broken narratives; evocative of editing techniques used in visual art and media. Most recently, he has completed a trilogy of orchestral pieces inspired by the art styles of three 20th Century Abstract Expressionists.

Early on, Robert took a unique path to achieve his musical aspirations and left education prematurely to concentrate on his artistic and musical development. Over the following years, he self-taught the basics of composition and notation, eventually producing enough music to earn him a place at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire where he began his studies in 2013. In 2018, he began his postgraduate studies at Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he was awarded a Junior Fellowship following his graduation in 2020 while being generously supported by scholarships awarded by the Leverhulme Trust and the Guildhall School Trust.

His music has been performed around the UK and internationally by ensembles including EXAUDI vocal ensemble, Plus-Minus ensemble, Quatour Bozzini, Psappha Ensemble, London Chamber Orhcestra, London Symphony Orchestra, and Orkest de Ereprijs. His work has also been heard on BBC Radio 3 and Birmingham Scratch Radio.

Robert is passionate about music education and is currently employed as a composer on the Listen Imagine Compose – Primary project.

While at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire for his undergraduate studies, he studied with Ed Bennett, Seán Clancy, Joe Cutler, Andrew Hamilton, Howard Skempton, Andrew Toovey, and Errollyn Wallen among others. He is currently at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London as a postgraduate student of composition where he studies with Hollie Harding and Paul Newland, and is generously supported by scholarships awarded by the Leverhulme Trust and the Guildhall School Trust.