Ben Oliver

Broken Society Recording from YCM 2010 in Apeldoorn

Ben — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:27:34 +0000

Had a great week in Apeldoorn last week at the International Composers Meeting 2010 in The Netherlands. This is a recording of my piece, ‘Broken Society’, played by orkest de ereprijs.

Shannon K. McKenzie came up with a fantastic response to the piece. Many thanks to her for letting me post it here:

Only when you shed
Light on the dark
Can you see the darkness

We need to see the dark
To appreciate the light
Otherwise we remain blind

Blind to what’s broken
Unaware and unable
To mend what we can’t perceive

Some shine in the light
Others see it
Yet no one fixes it.

International Young Composers Meeting 2010 - Apeldoorn

Ben — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:31:09 +0000

I’m off to the International Composers Meeting in Apeldoorn in a few weeks which is pretty exciting! I’ve written a new piece, Broken Society, especially for the meeting for ‘orkest de ereprijs’. If anyone wants to come and lives in Holland then the concert featuring all fifteen works by young composers from around the world is on 19th February in Apeldoorn. You can read more and get details on the ‘orkest de ereprijs’ website.

Suppressing Repression at Ostrava

Ben — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:15:08 +0000

This is my ‘Suppressing Repression’ recording but now hosted from my bandcamp webpage!
Still the Ostrava Banda performing at the Ostrava Days Festival in August 2009…

An Invite from the Queen

Ben — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:37:40 +0000

A new music story book/CD, ‘An Invite from the Queen‘ has been released by Hackney Music Development Trust (HMDT). I was involved in the devising process in my role as one of HMDT’s PRSF Trainee Composers and also played flute, hammond organ and even sang on the CD! The narration was done by Griff Rhys Jones, the composition by Matthew King and for anyone with little ones or an inner child it is an absolute must!

Robin Grey Album, ‘Strangers with Shoes’

Ben — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 07:20:04 +0000

My dear friend and co-swerverite Robin Grey has released his second album, ‘Strangers with Shoes‘, on which I appear on several tracks. Definitely worth downloading this one - for anyone interested I’m particularly pleased with my Rhodes playing on ‘Ninety Days’!!

Parental advisory on the lyrics to this one…

Congratulations to Robin for another great album release. This is my favourite track from the album (I’m not on it!), ‘Shakes and Shudders’…

Hidden Lives and Unvisited Tombs - 3.00pm, 5th December

Ben — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:59:12 +0000

I’ve composed some recorded music and will be improvising live for ‘Hidden lives and Unvisited Tombs‘ at St Pancras Church crypt next Saturday 5th December. Our performance, which is directed by Rachel Warr, is part of an exhibition and performances put on by Scary Little Girls and will kick off at 3.30.

Louis Andriessen interview in the INTO magazine

Ben — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:45:41 +0000

An interview I did with Louis Andriessen for the Sound and Music INTO magazine is available to read here http://www.soundandmusic.org/network/INTOmagazine_November_2009.

Suppressing Repression Recording

Ben — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:00:39 +0000

This is a live recording of the Ostrava Banda playing my piece Suppressing Repression at the Ostrava Days Festival of New Music in August.

Performance @ Kingston University, 12th September 2009

Ben — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:02:01 +0000

I’m conducting a new piece, Rebuilding the Rubble, by Oliver Sellwood at Kingston University on 12th September at 7pm.

Anna Durance is also performing my work Interplay I for cor anglais and electronics at the concert.

Maybe see you there!

Ostrava Days 2009 Performance - Wednesday 26th August

Ben — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:38:33 +0000

I have been in Ostrava, Czech Republic, for the last couple of weeks taking part in the Ostrava Days Institute as a resident-student composer. It’s been a great few weeks and the Ostrava Banda will perform the world premiere of ‘Suppressing Repression’ for bass clarinet, trumpet, violin, ‘cello, piano and two percussion on Wednesday in the Philharmonic Hall in Ostrava. If by any chance your around hopefully see you there!!