Edward Nesbit - In spite of the mere objectiveness of things

World Premiere
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Pierre-André Valade - conductor
Maida Vale Studios, London
24th March 2016

In spite of the mere objectiveness of things

These SoundCloud posts contain most of my work to date. They begin with Round, which I wrote in 1974, and Noche Oscura, written in 1976, and end with Broken Forms from 2021, the opera Russian Jerusalem and the anthem Even-Song, both completed in 2022.
Details of all my compositions, and information about their publication, can be found at my publisher's address: Ricordi London (http://www.ricordi.com/en-US/Composers/H/Hopkins-John.aspx)

Paul Max Edlin's music is published by Composers Edition. 

Paul Max Edlin, 2016/2017 Composer in Residence for the London Chamber Orchestra, has a career that combines composing with higher education, artistic direction and performing.  

His works have been performed by many leading artists including Alison Balsom, Arditti Quartet, Britten Sinfonia, David Campbell, Cantus Ansambl, Dame Sarah Connolly, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Rolf Hind, Johannes Möller, London Chamber Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Olga Pasiecznik, Psappha, Silesian Quartet, Southbank Sinfonia, Gabriella Swallow, John Wallace and The Wallace Collection and Bede Williams. 

He studied with Edwin Roxburgh, Richard Blackford and Joseph Horowitz (Royal College of Music) and Michael Finnissy (University of Sussex). He has won many prizes including Premio Internazionale Ancona, Harriet Cohen Memorial Award and United Music Publishers Prize. His music explores symbolism and often derives its inspiration from extra musical material. From the mid 80’s to mid 90’s many works were inspired by the art and architecture of South-East Asia, especially Indochina. From 2000 onward symbolism of a wider range of sources guided his music, from the chiastic structures of J.S. Bach to the writings of Gabriel García Márquez and Federico García Lorca and visual work of Frida Kahlo.

Paul Max Edlin is former Director of Music at Queen Mary University of London. He was Artistic Director of Deal Music & Arts (formerly Deal Festival) from 2004 to 2021, Sounds New (2007 to 2013), Director of International Composer Pyramid (2008-2013) and was founding Chair of the Board of Trustees of Ora Singers. He is current Executive Chair of W.E. International Music Festival, which brings eastern and western cultures together.  From 2012 to 2013 he was President of the Independent Society of Musicians (ISM), the UK's leading association for professional musicians.

Matthew Kaner is a composer living and working in London. 
Photo credit foxbrush.co.uk.

Composer, curator, music educator.  

Collaborating with writers, performers and university colleges to create artwork that has shared and powerful meaning.

You can also learn violin, viola, piano, music theory and analysis with Rhodri.  

Rhodri creates passionate, soulful, vibrant and rhythmic music and collaborates with writers, performers and researchers to make artwork with shared and powerful meaning.

Rhodri grew up in South Wales and studied music at Homerton in 2005-8.  While there, his scores were twice workshopped by the Britten Sinfonia with James MacMillan.  Later his string quintet was shortlisted for the London Lord Mayor's Composition Prize in 2013.  In 2012-14 Rhodri was commissioned by an Anglia Ruskin University educational psychology research project to compose and record a set of songs for use in primary-school phonics lessons.  

Since then he has established a series of coffee concerts at St Peter's Church in March, Cambridgeshire, which is a platform for local musicians, visiting professionals, groups and soloists, and for innovative genre-mixing collaborations which he has created.  One of these was 'Out of Control' (2018), a concert where 20 art photographers explored themes of liminal and out-of-control experiences and mental health, through projected photography, dance, and four specially-composed pieces by Rhodri Williams-Wandoch performed live.

Recent works include two 'Parafantasies' and other pieces in an innovative genre of music with spoken voice, working with contemporary writers and poets.  These can be heard on the composer's Soundcloud page.

'A Homerton Parade' is a video suite composed for my alma mater, produced beautifully by its students and staff in 2021.  It is a suite of pieces for instruments and spoken-and-sung voices setting fascinating archives from the history of the college.  One note is played by surprise guest performer and college fellow Evelyn Glennie... The video is available to watch for free on Vimeo.

This is now followed up by a song cycle for mezzo soprano, to be premiered by singer/student Isobel Stearn with the composer at Homerton College at the end-of-year concert on 16th June 2024, setting five poems by recent poet-in-residence Mariah Whelan.  Can't wait! 

Performances in association with:  The Britten Sinfonia; Vale of Glamorgan Festival of Contemporary Music; Natalia Williams-Wandoch, pianist; MusicFest Aberystwyth; Youth orchestras and student ensembles, Homerton College, Cambridge, ParagraphPlanet.com, NexTus Festival.

In spite of the mere objectiveness of things

Ednesbit