Yes interesting indeed Paul. I wanted ot know if it's a real orchestra, or if it's all electronically produced sounds, down to the details like the turning of the pages by the "players"? In any case it is absorbing music. Thanks for sharing it !

An amazing work.  Wonderful mystery, tension and the energy is often electrifying.  Plus you also create a beautiful soundworld in the more intimate and tender moments.  A very creative and imaginative work.

Interesting interplay of the vocal melodies throughout - haunting and interesting

Works inspired by South East Asia

Symphony 2 - version for 2 pianos

This is a recording from the world premiere of this piece performed by Delia Stevens at the Royal College of Music Concert Hall in London as part of the BBC Proms Plus Concert Series live on BBC Radio 3.

Blue Blues for Marimba by Edward Cowie

A new piece for String Orchestra.  Thank you for listening and hope you enjoy.

For String Orchestra

Hope you enjoy this piano piece recorded on a Bosendorfer.

Now I Know

Saint Mark Passion - part 4, complete

Misericordia

Ensemble InterContemporain
Nicolò Umberto Foron, conductor

Premiere (live recording)
Friday 10th November 2023

60° Festival Nuova Consonanza 
Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone

© Ph: Cantarelli Marta
© Archivio Nuova Consonanza

Seeds of Light

Borodubur – Temple of the Secret Aspect
1987 (appx. 32’)
5.4.4.4 – 5.6.3.1 – 2hp, celeste, 5 perc, – 16.16.14.12.10
This early work is based on the architectural design and narrative carvings of the immense Javanese monument, Borobudur, which sits at the heart of the Kedu Plain in central Java.  The music takes us on a literal tour of the monument, exploring its meaning as explained by the narrative bas reliefs that adorn its galleries, and eventually experiencing the building's symbolic representation of Nirvana.
© Paul Max Edlin 2016 

The performers on this recording of the premiere are the Royal College of Music Symphony Orchestra conducted by Elgar Howarth

A film version of this work is available on You Tube via this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qbkj2zHB7E&t=741s

Borobudur - Temple of the Secret Aspect (1987) Elgar Howarth/RCM Symphony Orchestra

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

1997 (appx. 15’) - for solo piano
 
Programme note:
 
The ‘towers’ of the title are those of Cambodian King Suryarvarman II who built the vast funerary complex of Angkor Wat, now considered one of the seven wonders of the world. The music responds to the ground plan of the building and takes us on a literal journey through parts of the space, frequently responding directly to narrative bas-reliefs such as ‘The Churning of the Sea of Milk’. While this work stands up in its own right, it became the basis for a much larger work for full symphony orchestra, ‘A Pilgrim of Angkor’, which proved to be the culmination of what had become a compositional odyssey in which many monuments of South East Asia, informed and inspired my music.
This recording is of a live performance given by Rolf Hind. 
© Paul Max Edlin 2016

Towers Of The God King (1997) - Rolf Hind (piano)

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)

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

Live recording Teatro Grande di Brescia - Three songs on the persian poetry by Rūmī - Giulia Peri, soprano - Lamberto Curtoni, Cello

Three Persian Lyrics

Orchestra Sinfonica Abruzzese
Marco Moresco, conductor

Dark Clouds, for orchestra

Please, use headphones or good loudspeakers.

MOULT (2018–19), for orchestra
commissioned by Westdeutschen Rundfunk and Wien Modern

Live Recording WDR Orchestra, 12 May 2019, Witten

MOULT (2018–19), for orchestra

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.

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

Paul Max Edlin

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