A Chain of Wonders (2010)

The Celestial Palace (1989)

Erendira Dances 2 & 3 (2011)

Three Old Gramophones (2005)

Banteay Srei (1988)

The Fifth Trumpet (1985)

Five Fantastic Islands (1993)

String Trio (1994)

Ô saisons, ô châteaux (2009)

Selected works for Chamber Orchestra and Ensemble

Frida Sketches (2012)

String Trio (1994)

Glass Medusa (1996)

Works with String Quartet

Works 1990 to 1999

A Chain of Wonders

2010 (appx 8 mins)
1,1,1,1 – 1,1,1 – perc, pno, – 1,1,1,1,1 
Programme note: A Chain of Wonders takes the listener on an imaginary tour of special and exotic places, usually in nocturnal settings. The very opening borrows from an earlier piece of mine called The Sphinx at Night, itself inspired from an evocative watercolour of the famous Egyptian sphinx under a canopy of stars by Edwardian artist Walter Tyndale. Thereafter, we venture into a set of places that exist only in the mind’s eye. There are certainly places that generate excitement, menace and fear, there are places of gentle solitude, places that allude to grandeur and others of turmoil and finally a place that is surely hot and close in atmosphere and climate, welcoming and comforting, and a place where one would be happy to stay. The piece is short – no longer than some ten minutes. © Paul Max Edlin 2010
This recording is of a live performance given by Cantus Ansambl.

A Chain Of Wonders (2010) - Cantus Ansambl

The Celestial Palace

1989 (appx 25’)
2 mezzo-sopranos and ensemble
alto.fl.0.3.0 – 1.0.3.0 – 2pnos, 2 perc, – 5 vc 

This work relates the legend of the Phimeanakas, The Celestial Palace, that lies within the grounds of The Royal Palace in the ancient city of Angkor Thom. Each and every night the King had to have union with the serpent goddess in order for good to come to the Khmer kingdom. Failure to have this union would bring calamity to the empire.  The work is structured on the physical shape of the Phimeanakas, it uses original Sanskrit texts found on the steles of the ancient Khmer kingdom and the narratives contained within are symbolised in a host of ways.  This work became the central (and most intimate) act of a five act opera 'Bayon', that celebrates the life of Jayavarman VII, the most famous and extraordinary of the ancient Khmer rulers.  © Paul Max Edlin 2016

The performers on this recording are RCM Twentieth Century Ensemble conducted by Edwin Roxburgh

The illustration to accompany this track is by Louis Delaporte (1890), and is an informed reimagining of the main entrance to The Royal Palace from the Elephant Terrace.

A film version of this complete work is available on You Tube via this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FmTMxiMZbQ&t=273s

The Celestial Palace (1989) - complete work - Edwin Roxburgh/RCM C20th Ensemble

1985 version
7 trumpets (piccolo, natural, Eb, Bb, bass tpts, flugelhorn), perc, piano, organ.
Commissioned by John Wallace and the Wallace Collection,
Won IX Internazionale Premio Ancona 

2014 version 
7 trumpets (piccolo, natural, Eb, Bb, bass trumpets, flugelhorn), perc., piano, 2 cellos, 3 double basses.  
New version made especially for RNCM ‘After the Silence… Music in the Shadow of War’ 

Programme Note: Revelation 9:1-11: “Then the Fifth Trumpet angel sounded and I saw a star having fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree; but only those men who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads. And they were not authorized to kill them, but to torment them for five months: and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. In those days men will seek death, and will not find it; and they will desire to die, and death will flee from them. The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. And they had breastplates, like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots of many horses running into battle. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek his name is Apollo. One woe is past. Behold, two more woes are coming hereafter”.  

When John Wallace formed the Wallace Collection, he brought together the finest trumpet players in the United Kingdom.  Legendary names of the past such as John Wilbraham and David Mason joined forces with the finest up-and-coming players such as Mark Bennett and Bob Farley.  Their first concert was at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and this work was composed for that event..  I wanted to create a work that would provoke thought as well as being a demonstration of virtuosity. The biblical story of the seven trumpets of the apocalypse from The Book of Revelation lended itself to this instrumentation as well as my intention.  Here was an allegory that responds to the results of man’s inhumanity to man and his environment spawning immeasurable suffering and torment.  The parallels with the horrors of war need no elaboration. ‘The Fifth Trumpet’ describes an initial vision of Heaven from which the Fifth Angel blows his trumpet. A star falls from heaven creating an earthly abyss from which smoke pours and the locusts with scorpion stings inflict months of agony on mankind who seek the solace of death.  But death evades them.  The programmatic intent of the story should be apparent in the clearly defined sections of the piece.  A range of trumpets are used: piccolo trumpets, natural trumpets in old pitch keys, Eb, Bb and bass trumpets.  Together with these are percussion, piano and either organ (as in the 1985 original score) or 2 ‘cellos and 3 basses (as in this 2014 revision).  The trumpet writing pushes the instruments to extreme limits, not least the 5th trumpet part, which has specific solo passages and which was written for John Wallace. In the 2014 revision, several changes were made: the organ part has been reworked for lower strings and there has been some rationalising of barring and some minor simplification of the actual instrumental parts.  This live recording is of the first (original) version, was made in the mid 1980s, and is conducted by John Wallace.   © Edlin 2014

The Fifth Trumpet (1985)

1988 
2.1.1.1 – 0.2.1.0 hp, celeste, 3 perc., – 0.0.3.2.1
First performed as the ballet 'Wild Child', part of 'Prince Albert’s Vision', Britten Theatre, London (1990). Banteay Srei is an exquisite temple complex only a few miles north of the great Cambodian city of Angkor. The name translates as ‘Citadel of the Women’ and it is so-called because of its graceful design and petite proportions.  This work is based on the structural design of the temple and symbolises the narrative bas reliefs of the many carvings.  This recording was made in the late 1980s by an ensemble of exceptional students at the RCM and was conducted by Neil Thomson.  
© Paul Max Edlin 2016

Banteay Srei - Citadel of the Women (1988)

Frida Sketches 						
for string quartet 
by Paul Max Edlin

Programme Note:
The Mexican painter Frida Kahlo had an extraordinary life.  Born in 1907, she died at middle age in 1954.  At six she developed polio and a terrifying bus accident in her teens meant that she suffered life-long physical and health problems.  She married the Mexican artist and muralist Diego Rivera, who was twenty years her senior.  They had a tempestuous marriage, divorced and remarried.  No doubt due to her illness and her confinement to bed or being strapped in a body cast, Frida became self obsessed and made many extraordinary self-portraits.  These self-portraits tell us as much about Mexican culture, religion and symbolism, about the tragedy of the country at that time, its politics and its history as they do about Frida and her love-hate relationship with Diego.  Frida also kept a diary, and that is yet another fascinating glimpse into this surreal artist’s equally surreal world.

As a composer who has been surrounded by visual art all my life and for whom surrealist painting is particularly relevant, Frida Kahlo’s work excites me.  Furthermore, I have a love for symbolism in music and enjoy transferring extra-musical ideas into music itself – thus a piece becomes even more than its apparent surface.  A piece ‘becomes’ what it is because of what inspires it and what drives it.  Using ciphers, Frida’s name, the names of those who were around her, the name of her home, etc all ‘create’ the musical notes.  The diary inspires the musical structure – especially the passages which are ‘stream-of-consciousness’ that are actually highly poetic and highly rigorous in design.  Finally, the music of Lotti’s ‘Crucifixus’ permeates passages, and so it should as this is music that alludes to Frida’s world and her own crucifixion as a result of that tragic accident.

Frida Sketches is a sketch about the woman and her world, and it is a starting point for me to track a new path.  The work was written for the Arditti Quartet to whom it is dedicated.  

This performance, by the Arditti Quartet, was first broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on 3rd June 2012.

© Paul Max Edlin 2012 

Frida Sketches (2012) - Arditti Quartet

Glimpses of the Rubayait
1993 version for flute and string trio
Score and parts available from June Emerson Wind Music

rev 2010 (appx. 10’)
flute, harp, violin, viola, ‘cello

This work was originally composed for the outstanding Canadian flautist Lisa Nelsen who gave its premiere with the Tacet Ensemble.  In 2010 the score was revised to include a harp, and the flautist in that premiere was Stina Dawes.

It gives a glimpse of the famous text, The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, specifically in the magnificently illustrated edition of Edmund Dulac, a book I grew up with and that I still treasure.

This recording was of an early performance by Lisa Nelsen, and its is taken from a cassette dating back to the mid 1990s

Glimpses Of The Rubaiyat (1993) - Lisa Nelsen (flute)

Concerto for Oboe-d’Amore, Percussion, Trombone and 22 solo strings
1991 (appx 18’) for solo oboe d’amore, solo percussion, solo trombone, 9vv, 6vla, 5 vc, 2db 

The greatest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia is Candi Prambanan, sometimes known as Candi Rara Jonggrang.  It is a 9th century temple complex in central Java and is dedicated to Trimūrti (the trinity of supreme divinity in Hinduism).  This trinity represents creation, maintenance and destruction as exemplified by the deities Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver) and Shiva (destroyer).  This triple concerto takes both the narrative of the temple and the actual physical structure and its symbolism as a source for its musical inspiration and actual construction. 

This recording was made at the world premiere in Canterbury Cathedral in 1997, given by soloists Nicholas Daniel (oboe d'amore), James Casey (trombone) and Fiona Ritchie (percussion) with the Britten Sinfonia conducted by Mark Forkgen.  This is made available on Soundcloud by kind permission of the Britten Sinfonia.

Published by Warwick Music. Music available from the publisher at http://www.warwickmusic.com/Main-Catalogue/Sheet-Music/Trombone/Tenor-Trombone/Tenor-Trombone-Orchestra/Edlin-Prambanam-TB055

Prambanan

Prambanan - Concerto for Oboe d'amore, Trombone, Percussion & 22 strings (1991) Britten Sinfonia

1988 (rev.1990) 
Commissioned by Alexandra and Nicola Bibby
This recording is of live performance given in 1990 by the Bibby Sisters

This work in four movements was written especially for Alexandra and Nicola Bibby, to whom the work is dedicated.  It is in four movements:
1. Impetuoso
2. Molto Tranquilo con un poco di Malinconia
3. Furioso e Aggressivo
4. Misterioso

This work was revisited in 2016 when it formed the basis for the first four of 'Five Illusions' for symphony orchestra.

Four Pieces for Two Pianos (1988 rev. 1990)

1993 
For solo piano
Programme note: This set of six short pieces captures the vivid imagery of ancient Egypt as depicted in the skilful watercolours of Edwardian artist Walter Tyndale whose book ‘From an Artist in Egypt’ became an inspiration. We move from the awe inspiring image of the great 'Sphinx by Night', to the hussle and bustle of street markets (The Khan Khalil), the mystery of the 'Tombs of the Khalifs', an image of 'A Cortege' and the natural flora and fauna of the region '(The Jacaranda' and more of the antiquities such as a Doorway to the Temple of Isis'. These short pieces can be played as a set, or movements can be played on their own, especially ‘The Sphinx by Night’, which is a dramatic work, yet is not technically as demanding as the others. © Paul Max Edlin 1995

The pianist in this recording is Kim Burwell

From an Artist in Egypt (1993)- Complete Work - Kim Burwell (piano)

1994 - Complete work in 3 movements
This string trio was commissioned by the British composer Alan Ridout shortly before he died. Alan Ridout had taught at the RCM and lived and worked in Canterbury, as did I at the time, and he wanted to support my work. He was passionate about the medium of the string trio, and, I suspect, even considered it superior to the quartet, and certainly hugely underrated.
The medium of the string trio is a fascinating one, and, in many respects, makes more logistical sense than the conventional string quartet, being beautifully and equally balanced. This works explores a range of textures and designs as well as personal symbolism. Thus it combines public and private messages, a means of creativity that I find stimulating and fulfilling. This recording is of a live performance given by members of the Tippett Quartet. 
© Paul Max Edlin 2016

String Trio (1994) - Complete Work - Tippett Quartet

Three Old Gramophones
2005 
2 (I + picc. & bass fl, II + bass fl).1.2. (I + picc. Eb cl, II + bass cl).sop sax Bb.1 – 1.2.1.0, – pno/harm, 2/3 perc. – 4.4.3.3.1 
Programme note: Three Old Gramophones examines symbolism in music, principally in two ways. Firstly, it presents music that appears ‘familiar’ in a generally unmodified way. Secondly, it envelops this music with another layer of sonorities that may appear recognisable, though not necessarily in the context in which it is heard. Three Old Gramophones uses both ‘private’ and ‘shared’ symbolism. ‘Two Gentlemen in Japan’ re-works the overture to The Mikado, manipulating it to sound rather more like genuine Japanese Gagaku court music. This ‘shared’ element examines Edlin’s personal political stance that the West has often abused its relationship with the East. Sousa’s composition El Capitan was (apparently) the last piece to be played as the Titanic sank. El Capitan’s famous demise envelops this piece with fragments of familiar ‘sea related’ pieces. The final piece has several subtexts: principally a re-enactment of a scene in a story by Gabriel García Marquez, where an old woman retells her youthful memories to her granddaughter as they listen to a quasi-Hispanic tune on an old ‘78’. On another level, it also pays a personal tribute to a life tragically cut short. The score also explores new techniques in instrumental timbres and new approaches to notation, where individual musicians ‘lead’ varying groups of instruments, while the conductor maintains an overview of proceedings. © Paul Max Edlin 2005

Three Old Gramophones (2005) - Complete Work

1996
for clarinet in A and string quartet

A work in which the inspiration and material is drawn from the Greek myth of Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa.  It treats the clarinet as soloist and protagonist in what is essentially a chamber sized tone poem.  Warped reflections of musical material are contained within a piece that encompasses symbolic representations, including ciphers.  These are based on key elements of the ancient myth that tells of Perseus' encounters with Athene, Hermes, the Graeae and, most particularly, the Medusa. 

This recording is of a live performance given by David Campbell and the Bingham String Quartet in 1997.  Grateful thanks to David Campbell and the Bingham String Quartet for giving permission to make this recording publicly available.

Glass Medusa - Clarinet Quintet (1996) - David Campbell & Bingham String Quartet

1993 
for flute, clarinet, viola, ‘cello, piano and percussion
Commissioned by Psappha with funds from London Arts Board.

Short programme note: Five Fantastic Islands takes the listener on a journey around a series of imaginary islands. It is unashamedly infused with images of Balinese and Cambodian temples combined with pure imagination – mysterious places in an unreal archipelago.

This recording, made by BBC Radio 3, is performed by Psappha and is conducted by Christopher Gayford.  It precedes the commercial recording also made by Psappha, with conductor Paul MacAlindin, which can be purchased from iTunes/Amazon via: www.amazon.co.uk/Five-Fantastic-I…antastic+islands

Psappha's commercial recording can also be listened to on Spotify via: https://open.spotify.com/track/4sPxVEb5RHoIJpXvvAx7Nx

Five Fantastic Islands (1993) - Psappha

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.