...and of transformations (2018)
for large chamber ensemble
(Alto Flute [doubling Piccolo and Bass Flute], Oboe, Clarinet [doubling Bass Clarinet], Bassoon, 2 Horns, Trombone, Percussion, Harp, Guitar, Celeste, 2 Violins, Viola, 'Cello, Double Bass)

Programme Note:
The temple complex of Preah Khan is part of the vast area known as ‘Angkor’ in Cambodia. Much information can be found about the temple complex of Preah Khan, built by the exceptional God King Jayavarman VII. The history of the ancient Khmer civilisation, and the surreal, mysterious and magnificent temples of Angkor itself, have long caught my imagination. In this regard, I had written a series of large-scale works based on the architectural designs as well as encrypting the pieces with a set of relative information. Angkor, in effect, had become an obsessional source of extra-musical inspiration. However, it was not until 2017 that I actually visited Cambodia and saw ‘in person’ these wondrous temples. It was as if I was visiting a number of pen friends. I knew every temple so well, even if I had never seen them before ‘in the flesh’.

I felt a need to return ‘musically’ to Angkor and to respond to what I had seen. Of all the extraordinary sights, Preah Khan left a new and immensely strong impression. This was a place I knew about, but its specialness had never been made quite so clear. Books generally refer to the unique two-storey pavilion with its almost Romanesque columns, no doubt because they initially appear more ‘European’. However, there is nothing remotely of the ‘West’, and its neighbouring ‘Hall of Dancers’ bears some of the most exquisite bas reliefs in all of Angkor. Similarly, the mix of man made and now ‘natural’ architecture is exemplified by the way in which trees and buildings entwine, as if purposefully juxtaposed by a surrealist artist. I know that I will never forget standing in what still seems like a surreal and other worldly part of the complex, surrounded by mysterious buildings encrusted in fine and ornate bas reliefs. That was a literal ‘dream’ in a day’s reality. The mix of man and nature is surreal, for sure.

The curious thing I found was that while my music had moved on, I returned to the same schemes of creating ciphers and designing musical structures I had adopted twenty to thirty years ago. I realised that these compositional tools were ‘within’ my natural way of thinking. The fact that I had now seen Angkor in reality, as opposed to through illustrated books, ultimately made little actual difference to the creative spur the inspiration ignited. Yet there is a difference, which I can acknowledge. To attempt to recreate a ground plan, a physical structure that can be viewed from an infinite number of angles, through the necessary medium of a single musical pathway, plus the heady atmosphere of a moment in time is impossible. All we can ever do is evoke a perceived mystery or atmosphere and ‘report’ aspects of an inspiration.

Preah Khan has a famous stele with inscriptions that tell of the gods it invokes, the context of the temple and its relationship with the God King. The opening lines translate as "The Lord (bhagaván) is divided, for his body is the Body of the Law, the Body of Enjoyment, and the Body of Transformations". From here evolves the title of this work, which is ultimately all about transformations.

This sound version is for reference and was created using Spitfire Audio BBC Symphony Orchestra Professional.

© Paul Max Edlin 2018

The photograph of Preah Khan was taken by the composer in 2017

...and of transformations (2018)

Anyone interested in performing/recording any of the works posted here please send me a message.

Joe

Making music, mainly with guitar. In the past (70s/80s) a lot, now from time to time. My paintings correspond to the music. You are welcome to listen and to enjoy if you like, if you can. Peace, Axel

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.

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Bienvenue dans l'univers musical de Johany, compositeur film, TV, jeux-vidéo, publicité. Vous trouverez ici différentes atmosphères et différents styles, de l'orchestral au contemporain. N'hésitez pas à me contacter et visiter mon site pour toute information !


Welcome ! You will find here various musical atmospheres and styles, from orchestral to contemporary, made for TV, film, video game, advertising projects. Feel free to contact me and visit my website !

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I work as a scientist for a living & am a hobbyist composer writing in a few different styles. I recommend headphones. All of my music is released under a Creative Commons Attribution/Noncommercial license.

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If anyone wants to try performing any of this stuff on real instruments please send a message and I can provide scores. Not sure how playable some of it is for human musicians though.

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A piece of music is a mentally constructed entity, of which scores and performances are partial representations by which the piece is transmitted.
(Fred Lerdahl & Ray Jackendoff)

Any tone can succeed any other tone, any tone can sound simultaneously with any other tone or tones, and any group of tones can be followed by any other group of tones, just as any degree of tension  or nuance can occur in any medium under any kind of stress or duration. Successful projection will depend upon the contextual and formal conditions that prevail, and upon the skill and soul of the composer.
(Vincent Persichetti)

Music is a system of signs composed of complex forms which may be represented by physical sounds, and which in this way mediate between mental and psychic contents. To deal with such a system, semiotics are naturally evoked. To describe these forms, mathematics is the adequate language. To represent these forms on the physical level, physics are indispensable. And to understand the psychic contents, psychology is the predestined science.
(Guerino Mazzola)

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