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

1st song from "In the Park" song cycle by Zoë Martlew

Recording of world premiere live performance from Opera Holland Park, London. July 2022

Tenor - Alessandro Fisher
Piano - Lana Bode

Text - excerpt from "In St. James Park" by John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester (1672)

Part of "Green Spaces" project curated and commissioned by Hannah Sandison

1) In St. James' Park - from "In the Park" song cycle, Zoë Martlew

2nd song from Zoë Martlew's song cycle "In the Park".

Live recording of world premiere given at Opera Holland Park, London. July 2022

Alessandro Fisher - tenor
Lana Bode - piano

Text by Muriel Spark from "A tour of London - In Kensington Gardens" (1950)

Part of "Green Spaces"project curated and commissioned by Hannah Sandison.

2) "Planted" - from "In the Park" song cycle by Zoë Martlew

3rd song of four from "In the Park" song cycle by Zoë Martlew.

Recording of live performance of world premiere at Opera Holland Park, London. July 2022.

Alessandro Fisher - tenor
Lana Bode - piano

Text - extract from "101 Dalmations" by Dodie Smith (1956)

Part of "Green Spaces" project curated and commissioned by Hannah Sandison

3) "Pongo's Stroll" from "In the Park" song cycle by Zoë Martlew

Last song of Zoë Martlew's song cycle "In the Park" for tenor and piano.

Recording of world premiere live performance at Opera Holland Park, London. July 2022

Alessandro Fisher - tenor
Lana Bode - piano

Text - by Zoë Martlew

Part of "Green Spaces" project curated and commissioned by Hannah Sandison.

4) "In The Kyoto Garden" from "In the Park" song cycle by Zoë Martlew

"G-lude" for amplified cello and electronics written and performed by Zoë Martlew.

Commissioned by Spitalfields Festival 2022 for "Bach Re-work'd" project.

Based on Bach's G major prelude (1st cello suite)

G-lude, for amplified cello 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

Performed and written by Zoë Martlew

Video by Signe Kleis (2012) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwN-GOYQmr0

Red Room by Zoë Martlew. Voice and piano

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

"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

"Musae" - five songs for mezzo and piano. Music and texts by Zoë Martlew.
Mezzo soprano - Lucy Schaufer
Piano - Huw Watkins
Recording from live performance of world premiere at Cheltenham Festival July 2019.
Commissioned by Wild Plum Arts for the Wild Plum Songbook.

Music available from Zoë Martlew www.zoemartlew.com

5) "You" - from "Musae" song cycle by Zoë Martlew

1) "Why?" from "Musae" song cycle, Zoë Martlew

2) "Red Room" from "Musae" song cycle by Zoë Martlew

4) "Amma" from "Musae" song cycle by Zoë Martlew

3) "#nofilter" from "Musae" song cycle by Zoe Martlew

Mezzo soprano - Lucy Schaufer
Huw Watkins - piano
"Musae"  music and texts by Zoë Martlew   www.zoemartlew.com
Film/recording by Michael Whight   www.michaelwhight.com
performance 15 November 2019 at the 1901 Arts Club, London from concert "Strings, Songs and Stories" curated by Miranda Fulleylove.

"Musae" commissioned by Wild Plum Arts for the Wild Plum Songbook
www.wildplumarts.org.uk
"Musae" -five songs for mezzo soprano and piano : -
1) "Why?"
2) "Red Room"
3) "#nofilter"
4) "Amma"
5) "You"

"Musae" by Zoë Martlew. London Premiere nov. 2019

written and performed by Zoë Martlew in lockdown 2021.

Song for voice, piano, cello.

Dream space                   

Dreamtime

Musician. Blonde. Metaphysical tendencies.