* * * Projects for early 2015! * * *

Already for Nigel 2015 has some exciting, new and challenging composition projects.

Brendan Ball – principal trumpet of The Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Brendan Ball (the principal trumpet of The Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra) will perform new works by Tim Jackson, Tim Souster and Nigel Clarke on 20 March in the Fielden Centre, Liverpool. Nigel’s work called a `Magritte Fantasy’ is a reworking of material from his award wining concerto `Mysteries of the Horizon’.

Malene Sheppard Skærved’s sketches for `A Richer Dust’

Reed Thomas

April will see the premier of  `A Richer Dust’ (Symphony No 1) for Speaker and Symphonic Wind Orchestra, this work (which if nearly 50 minutes in length) is a collaboration with writer Malene Sheppard Skærved and Nigel’s most recent composition project to date.

`A Richer Dust’  was commissioned by Dr Reed Thomas and the Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) Wind Ensemble where Nigel has been appointed  Composer to Bands. `A Richer Dust’ will be premiered on 14 April 2015 by Dr Reed Thomas (Conductor), H. Stephen Smith (Speaker) and the MTSU Wind Ensemble in the T. Earl Music Hall, Wright Music Building, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA. Using music and words, ‘A Richer Dust’ explores what it means to live with violence and extremism, the constant companions of human history. The intertwined text and music, ideas and images, weave together voices ranging from those of historically significant figures through to the voiceless, ordinary people living in extraordinary times.

Matthew J George

May will see the premiere of Nigel’s symphonic wind orchestra transcription of his Trumpet/Cornet Concerto `Mysteries of the Horizon’. Under the baton of Prof Matthew J George, the University of St. Thomas Symphonic Wind Ensemble will give the premiere and then go on and record the work with Harmen Vanhoorne as soloist. The premiere will take place in St Paul, Minnesota, USA.  `Mysteries of the Horizon’ will be come out on the prestigious Innova recording label. Matthew J George and the University of St. Thomas Symphonic Wind have recently recorded Nigel’s `Mata Hari’ for Innova and will be released later on in the year.

In the coming months string ensemble Longbow (under the direction of violinist Peter Sheppard Skærved) will record the final two works for a disc of Nigel’s string orchestra music. The disc will represent Nigel’s collaboration with writers Martin Westlake and Malene Sheppard Skærved, violinst Peter Sheppard Skærved, Longbow and Dover Arts Development.

Longbow recording Nigel’s music

In the coming months string ensemble Longbow (under the direction of violinist  Peter Sheppard Skærved) will record the final two works for a disc of Nigel’s string orchestra music. The disc will represent Nigel’s collaboration with writers Martin Westlake and Malene Sheppard Skærved, violinst Peter Sheppard Skærved, Longbow and Dover Arts Development.