Work List:
0:00-0:35 - Mea Culpa
0:35-1:05 - Dunkel war es...
1:05-1:25 - In the moment
1:25-1:55 - Portrait of a Premium Supermarket Manager
1:55-2:05 [(x)(y)(z)]

Showcase Edit (five works)

Recording by Sale Chamber Orchestra, premiered on Saturday 19th March 2022.

‘When we first moved into our house in 2016, there was already a working washing machine, which was great for us as poor students who couldn't afford one. It did, however, make the most horrendous sound, and it was frankly unbearable to be in the house (a little two-bed terrace) at the same time as doing a load.

One day, I couldn't go out because I was waiting for a delivery, and so had to listen to this rattling monstrosity thump away. To my surprise, the more I listened, the more I became fascinated by the sounds and rhythms being created, and decided to record the cycle on my phone to use as musical inspiration (and listen to at a considerably lower decibel level). When it came to writing this piece, it seemed a natural fit, with many string-only techniques employed to recreate similar sounds to that of a washing machine cycle, including glissandi, col legno, mutes and more.

In the process of writing the piece, our faithful friend (who we had grown quite fond of over time) sadly gave up the ghost (with the drum dramatically coming loose), and we finally decided to give in and get a new one. This piece, then, is an (occasionally elegiac) reminder of the memories we had during those student years, and that time never stops moving forward, least for a washing machine, even one that lived a good life and served us well (and may have made us slightly deaf).’ 
- February 2020

Two years after writing these notes, it gives me a sense of déja vu to have had the idea to create this piece shortly before lockdown hit and having to stay isolated indoors... I've come to feel that this piece reminds me of lockdown life - mostly horrendous, but with some occasional moments of relishing the extra time we had.
- Feb 2022 (updated from Feb 2020)

Ode to a fallen washing machine

Written for my wife Emily for her to walk down the aisle on our wedding day - 30.05.22

Recording by The Quendon Quartet

Emerald Dawn

Live performance recording by Bedfordshire Woodwind Academy Flute Ensemble on 13th November 2022, Milton Keynes Gallery.

Commissioned by Making Music and Sound and Music for the Adopt a Music Creator Scheme 2022 and written in collaboration with the members of BWAFE.

Programme note:

When I first started this project, I had recently moved house and had started to think about some redecorations, especially repainting some interior walls. While researching paint colours, I noticed that many  of them had very interesting names, and I was fascinated by this!  

Upon delving a little more, the most interesting names, without a shadow of a doubt, were from Farrow & Ball, and so I took a trip to my local F&B store to look at the colours in more detail. I honestly could have chosen at least a dozen colours for the movements, but I felt a resonance with five of them, and these  names make up the individual movements in the suite. 

'Green Smoke' is a swirling, unsettling, and jolting movement, exploring the full range of the flutes. It never feels stable, often moving unexpectedly,  capturing the elusive and dangerous nature of smoke through a whirlwind of sound.   

'Elephant's Breath' is a welcome change of pace, with the contrabass and bass flutes at the centre, but the smoke lingers slightly throughout, only clearing in the final few bars. The range is noticeably lower not just in the basses but across the entire ensemble, giving a greater sense of stability.  

'Red Earth' maintains the low feel, but a sense of unease creeps in, the wariness of an unfamiliar place. The piccolo, G flute and alto flute play together warily, initially uncomfortable with their sound, but, eventually,  the rest of the ensemble embraces the new environment as the movement closes. 

'Borrowed Light' is a stark contrast to the previous movements. The flutes soar, free of their previous worries, as they relish a moment of sun, and all through the ensemble there is joy in the sound, culminating in the brightest moment of the entire piece.  

'Citron' brings the suite to a close, reinventing what has gone before in a zesty new way, before nostalgia sets in and snippets of the sunshine return -  finally ending with a race to the finish!  

Edgar Divver, September 2022

Brushstrokes - a suite of colours

Dark is an exploration of the colouration and atmosphere available within the orchestra, and the resounding sound world that appears as a result of that.

For orchestra.

Composed 2016.

Dark

Escalate is an exercise is a literal escalation and development of motivic material.

For small ensemble.

Composed Spring 2017

Escalate

Portrait of a Premium Supermarket Manager describes the monotony and desperate nature of a manager who excels at his job, but tires of having to explain why the halloumi prices are high, and dreams of nothing more than relaxing in the Caribbean...

Text by Aaron Lembo.

For Voice, Cello and Piano.

Composed Spring 2017.

Edited new version as previous version was very quiet.

Portrait Of A Premium Supermarket Manager

A piece for choir that explores the word painting and contrasting nature of the traditional German poem of the same name. Text and translation below:

Dunkel war es, 
der Mond schien helle, 
Schnee lag auf der blauen Flur, 
als ein Wagen blitzeschnelle
langsam um die Ecke fuhr. 

In ihm saßen stehend Leute, 
schweigend ins Gespräch vertieft, 
als ein totgeschoss'ner Hase 
auf dem Sandberg Schlittschuh lief.  

Und, auf einer grünen Bank, 
die rot angestrichen war, 
saß ein blondgelockter Knabe 
mit kohlrabenschwarzem Haar.  

Neben ihm, 'ne alte Schrulle, 
die kaum zählte sechzehn Jahr', 
gab ihm eine Butterstulle 
die mit Schmalz bestrichen war.



It was dark, 
the moon shone brightly, 
snow lay on the blue ground, 
as a car, lightning fast, 
drove slowly round the corner.  

In it sat standing people, 
silently deep in conversation, 
while a shot-dead hare 
went skiing down a sand dune.  

And, on a green bench, 
that was painted red, 
sat a blonde-locked lad 
with coal-black hair.  

Next to him, an old crone, 
who had hardly counted sixteen years, 
gave him a piece of buttered bread
that was spread with dripping.

Dunkel War Es...

in the moment... is a juxtaposition of two separate environments which flit from one to the other, never giving the other the time to develop fully without interruption.

2018, 9', for large ensemble

In The Moment...

[(x)(y)(z)] is an exploration of completely opposing gestural ideas.

2018, 5', for orchestra

[(x)(y)(z)]

Award-winning composer and educator from London who has had works performed by Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, BBC Singers, Psappha and The Ossian Ensemble, among others. Currently working as a freelance composer as well as being Assistant Orchestras and Ensembles Manager at the RNCM.

Please direct all enquiries to: emdivver@gmail.com

edgardivver

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