Zoë Martlew compositions

Written and performed by Zoë Martlew.

In memory of Oliver Knussen, this piece was premiered at the Aldeburgh Festival 2022 by cellist Anssi Kartunnen as part of the "Olly Day", celebrating Knussen's legacy in his 70th birthday year.

Grateful thanks to:
Lester Barnes - sound track editing and mastering, recording

Flautist Marie Zupancic for her exquisite playing of solo from OK's "O Hototogisu!" 

Donald McCleod for excerpts from his interview with Olly for BBC Radio 3 

Barry Gavin for audio excerpt from his documentary "Sounds from the Big White House"

other audio source: Zoë's own iPhone recording from the cello stand of Olly's last ever rehearsal for the last ever concert he conducted, held in the Britten Studio in Snape (where this piece was 1st performed) during discussions between Olly and Sir Harrison Birtwistle in prep for an Aldeburgh Festival performance.

Piece dedicated to A.K. for O.K.

"O-lude". For cello, soundtrack and electronics. Zoë Martlew

"Salamander" for solo bassoon

Composed by Zoë Martlew (2020)
Performed by Emily Hultmark
Recorded by Torbjorn Hultmark
Mixed by Cato Langnes

Salamander for solo bassoon. Zoë Martlew

Performed and written by Zoë Martlew.
For amplified cello and pre-recorded soundtrack. 
Percussion on track performed by Julian Warburton.

Published by Schott Music. 
Edition with CD and performance score.



Zoe Martlew: "Shift, Trip"

Written and performed by Zoë Martlew
For solo cello without bow.

Recorded by Lester Barnes (2011)
Published by Schott

"Salat Babilya" was inspired by music from Iraq, in particular the beautiful sonorities of the oud, a variety of Middle Eastern lute dating back to antiquity. An oud-like resonance is evoked without the use of a bow via a combination of "arabic" scales, open strings, ringing harmonics and ornamental inflections.

The particular oud piece that inspired this one was written to help lull the children of Bagdad to sleep during bombing raids and bears the same title, which translates from the Arabic as "Babylonian Prayer".

(Useful for cellists who have forgotten their bow).

Salat Babilya (Babylonian Prayer)by Zoë Martlew

Red Room by Zoë Martlew. Voice and piano

z unleashed

Zoë Martlew - "Quintaura" for cello and pre-recorded cellos

Shift, Trip. Written and performed by Zoë Martlew.
Live recording from concert at Wigmore Hall. May 2017

Published by Schott

Shift, Trip. Wigmore live 5/17

"Shift, Trip" for amplified cello with track. Wigmore Hall 2017

"Stir" for unaccompanied cello with voice. Written and performed by Zoë Martlew. Live recording from concert at Wigmore Hall, april 2017
Published by Schott

"Stir" by Zoë Martlew, live at Wigmore Hall

Sound Investor commission for Birmingham Contemporary Music Group 25th anniversary concert, premiered CBSO centre Birmingham June 2016.
Live recording Radio 3

Z Broad Street Burlesque (2016)

"Völuspá" for string trio by Zoë Martlew.

From live performance of U.S. premiere at Tanglewood Contemporary Music Festival, August 9th 2019, with Chi Li (vln), Samuel Pedersen (vla), Zoë Martlew (vc) at Linde Center, Tanglewood, Mass.

Inspired by the mysterious standing stones and goddess lore that abounds in the beautiful Dorset countryside surrounding Smedmore House (venue for the premiere of this trio) I’ve taken the title of this piece, “Völuspá”, from that of the Poetic Edda, the old Norse collection of anonymous poems in which the Norns appear, the three shadowy goddesses who weave Fate at their looms. In this light it is appropriate that there are three performers, spinning time with their strings... 

The piece was written in the days immediately following the death of Oliver Knussen (1952-2018) to whom the piece is dedicated.

Commissioned by violinist Miranda Fulleylove, who also played in the first performance along with Clara Biss (viola) and Zoë on cello for Purbeck Arts Week Festival 2018.

"Völuspá" for string trio, Zoë Martlew

written and performed by Zoë Martlew in lockdown 2021.

Song for voice, piano, cello.

Dream space                   

Dreamtime

Musician. Blonde. Metaphysical tendencies.

Zoë Martlew compositions

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