Five Illusions - for Orchestra (2014)
1. Maze
2. Lake
3. Towers
4. Nocturne
5. Puzzle

This study version uses Note Performer.

Programme Note:
The birth of this score has taken about thirty years. The first four pieces in this set are a reworking of a set of pieces for piano duo that I completed in the early 1980s. However, I always wanted to create orchestral versions of these pieces, feeling their range of colours ideally suited to such large forces. The reworking became a new compositional journey too as the music went through much serious and substantial change, and a final movement was created, making an arch shape design which felt right. I knew that this work should begin high and relentlessly tumble to the depths, yet remain optimistic and firmly driven. The creation of this piece happened so easily and became a total pleasure. The titles of the five movements are suggestions only, aimed at focusing thoughts, just as Debussy’s titles for his piano preludes do. However, the overall title ‘Illusions’ was easy to reach. These are illusions in every sense – surreal and dreamlike images that I enjoy inhabiting. The work is dedicated to my wife, Giuliana, who inspired me to create these orchestral pieces. It then became the inspiration to a larger scale work, a one act opera based loosely on the story 'La Belle et la Bête'. 
© Paul Max Edlin 2014

Five Illusions - for full orchestra (2014)

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 and Gabriella Swallow.

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.

He 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 (2008-2023) and was Chair of the Board of of Trustees of Ora Singers. He is current Chair of China U.K. International Music Festival. He supports a range of charities and arts organisations through activities on their various boards and committees.  From 2012 to 2013 he was President of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM), the UK's leading association for professional musicians.