Symphony 25 
Opus 286, Senheim, 2019
Four Movements

Written between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, 2019
Image by Kate Bullock

Symphony 25

Symphony 25 Opus 286

The beginning offers a tense, syncopated accompaniment figure which persists almost throughout, over which appear broad melodic shapes, tonal yet at times very dissonant. Majestic chords with something of a Tudor feel open the 2nd movement, and from them come extended melodic contrapuntal passages. The alternation continues for some time until a hint of the blues creeps in before the end. The 3rd movement is a scherzo-equivalent, a moto perpetuo contrapuntal dialogue at times eerie, even demonic. Contrast then from a more felicitous trio before the return. Finally movement 4, opening with a gentle, sad introduction after which chords alternate with halter skelter passages before the music ends in a quiet way.

Senheim, Germany 2019, between Good Friday and Easter Sunday

Image by Kate Bullock

Symphony 25: 4

Symphony 25: 3

Symphony 25: 2

Symphony 25 Opus 286

The beginning offers a tense, syncopated accompaniment figure which persists almost throughout, over which appear broad melodic shapes, tonal yet at times very dissonant. Majestic chords with something of a Tudor feel open the 2nd movement, and from them come extended melodic contrapuntal passages. The alternation continues for some time until a hint of the blues creeps in before the end. The 3rd movement is a scherzo-equivalent, a moto perpetuo contrapuntal dialogue at times eerie, even demonic. Contrast then from a more felicitous trio before the return. Finally movement 4, opening with a gentle, sad introduction after which chords alternate with halter skelter passages before the music ends in a quiet way.

Senheim, Germany 2019, between Good Friday and Easter Sunday
Image by Kate Bullock

Symphony 25: 1

Dafydd Bullock was born in  Llanberis, Gwynedd, Cymru (Wales).

A composer, he graduated in Music (University of Manchester and the Royal Northern College of Music, 1971 - 1976) where he studied with George Hadjinikos, and took a Master's Degree in International Relations (University of Sussex, 1981 - 1983). In 1993 and 1994 he won first prizes at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, and in 1995 he was honoured in Wales by admission to the highest Order of the Gorsedd of Bards. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2005.

His compositions include 40 symphonies, 19 symphonic poems, 2 operas, 2 Requiems, 2 Mass settings, a Missa Brevis, an oratorio, 40 string quartets, 9 trios and other chamber music and many songs and pieces for piano. He has written scores for 2 films. 

Works have been published in the British Isles by Oriana Publications, Cwmni Gwynn, Curiad and Bardic Edition, in Belgium by Alain Van Kerckhoven Editeur, in the USA and in Luxembourg by Luxembourg Music Publishers, Music Enterprise and Double You. He has made 41 CDs to date, with SAIN (Wales), AVK (Belgium) and LakeSound. His music has been performed and listened to and broadcast in over 140 countries, including Japan, China, USA, Brazil and Colombia as well as widely within Europe.  

Dafydd Bullock has a particular relationship with Prague: his Second Symphony was given its world premiere by Musici de Praga during the 1996 Prague Spring Festival and the Third Symphony, again in Prague, on St. Valentine's Day, 1997. The third and fourth String Quartets were also recorded in Prague (Becher Quartet) as were the complete works for Cello and Piano (Jindrich Ptacek) and five Trios. More recently, Virtuosi di Basso, the twelve solo celli of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra have recorded and performed music especially written for them. Recently he premiered his Requiem for Jan Palach in Luxembourg and in Prague.

Dafydd Bullock wurde in 1953 in Llanberis, Gwynedd, Cymru (Wales) geboren. Er studierte an der Universität Manchester und am Royal Northern College of Music (Professor George Hadjinikos) von 1971 bis 1976, wo er sein Examen in Musik ablegte. Weiterhin studierte er Politikwissenschaft mit dem Schwerpunkt ‘Internationale Beziehungen’ von 1981 bis 1983 an der Universität Sussex. Dieses Studium schloß er mit der Magister Prüfung ab. Er arbeitet als Komponist. 1993 und 1994 gewann er erste Preise im Fach Komposition an der National Eisteddfod of Wales. Im Jahre 1995 wurde er in Wales durch Verleihung des höchsten Grads der Gorsedd of Bards geehrt und in 2005 wurde er Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. 

Zu seinen Kompositionen gehören 40 Sinfonien, 19 sinfonische Dichtungen, 2 Opern, 2 Messen, 2 Requiem, 40 Streichquartette, 9 Trios und weitere Kammermusik und viele Klavierwerke. Er hat 2 Filmmusiken komponiert.
Verschiedene Werke werden von Oriana Publications, Bardic Edition, Cwmni Gwynn und Curiad in Großbritannien, von Alain van Kerckhoven Editeur in Belgien, und von  Luxembourg Music Publishers, LakeSound, Music Enterprise und Double You in Luxemburg veröffentlicht. Bis jetzt hat er 41 CDs unter anderen bei den Firmen SAIN (Wales) und AVK (Belgien) und LakeSound gemacht.  Seine Musik wurde in mehr als 140 Ländern gehört, gesendet und aufgeführt einschließlich in Japan, China, USA, Brasilien und Columbien, sowie in Europa.