Barry Guy - composer

Cornelius Cardew Composition Prize - Composers Web Project
	Barry Guy

Barry Guy is an innovative composer and double bass player. His concert works have been widely performed and his skilful and inventive writing has resulted in an exceptional series of compositions: FLAGWALK (1983), THE EYE OF SILENCE (1988), LOOK UP! (1990) - which received the Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Chamber Scale compositions in 91-92 - and AFTER THE RAIN (1992)
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Born in 1947 Barry Guys creative diversity in the fields of jazz improvisation, solo recitals, chamber and orchestral performance is the outcome of an unusually varied training and a zest for experimentation, underpinned by a dedication to the double bass and the ideal of musical communication.

He is the founder and Artistic Director of the London Jazz Composers Orchestra for which he has written several extended works with recordings of the following: Ode (Incus, 1972) Stringer (FMP, 1980) Polyhymnia on Zurich Concerts (Intakt, 1988), Harmos (Intakt, 1989) Double Trouble (Intakt, 1990) Theoria (Intakt, 1992) and Portraits (Intakt, 1994)

Guys compositons usually reflect a personal liaison with the musicians and ensembles he writes for and as such come from those interested in contemporary musical performance with a special commitment to communicate with the audience. The scores are virtuosic and often present innovative sonorities and extended instrumental techniques, which as a performer himself, he is ideally placed to assess without recourse to ideological excesses or scores that baffle players to the extent that performing becomes a trial. This process gives Guy's works a welcome sense of freshness.
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Barry Guy gives solo recitals throughout Europe and the USA as well as performing with Evan Parker/Paul Lytton Trio, in Duos with pianists Irene Schweizer and Paul Plimley, in Trio with Marilyn Crispell and Gerry Hemingway and with Bill Dixon's quartet. He has appeared with Cecil Taylor and the Californian based group ROOM with Larry Ochs. 1991 saw the foundation of Guy's sextet ELSIEJO with Evan Parker, Irene Schwizer, Barre Phillips, Conrad Bauer and Paul Lytton.

In 1994 Un Coup de Des was joint prize winner in the Hilliard Composition Prize. As part of the 1995 Purcell Tercenternary, Fretwork commissioned BUZZ for viol consort - a reflection on Purcesll's Fantazia Upon One Note. His latest work CEREMONY for violin and tape, received its world premiere from its dedicatee, Maya Homburger, in October 1995. He is currently working commissions for the London Jazz Composers Orchestra and the City of London Sinfonia premiered a Concerto for Orchestra: FALLINGWATER in October 1996 at the Barbican Hall, London.
Selected Works

Selected Works

Orchestral
Flagwalk (1974)
14 solo strings:9 0 2 2 1. Duration 23 min
Written for the Orchestra of St John's Smith Square, who first perfromed it in USA on their tour of 1975
The Eye of Silence (1988)
solo violin, 2 flutes and string orchestra (divisi) Duration 28 min
Written for the Orchestra of St John's Smith Square, who gave the first performance, with Rosemary Furniss as solist and John Lubbock conducting, in Cromer Parish Church, Norfolk 1988.
After the Rain (1992)
string orchestra (14 0 4 4 2) Duration 25 min
commissioned by the City of London Sinfonia. First performance conducted by Richard Hickox in the Queen Elizabeth Hall 1992.
Chamber and Instrumental
String Quartet No.3 (1973)
soprano and string quartet. Duration 24 min
Words from Wilfred Owens Strange Meeting Won the Radcriffe Music Award for 1973. Written for Jane Manning the Allegri String Quartet who first perforrmed it in Southamption 1973.
Bitz! (1979 revised 1981)
10 short pieces for 7 players. (fl+picc+alto, ob+cor, Bbclar+Eb+bass, violin, viola, cello and piano. Duration 15 min
Commissioned by the Capricorn Ensemble, who first performed it at the Wigmore Hall 1984.
Circular (1984)
2 oboes (1 player). Duration 15 min
Written for Robin Banter, who gave the first performance in the Wigmore Hall 1984.
Whistle and Flute (1985)
flute and 8 track tape. Duration 10 min
commissioned by Rachel Brown and premiered by her 1986 at the Purcell Room as part of the Park Lane Group concerts.
Look Up! (1991)
eight cellos. Duration 25 min
commissioned by the cello ensemble of the Academy of St-Martin-in-the-Fields. Premiered at Wigmore hall 1991 and awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Chamber-Scale composition 1992.
Bird Gong Game (1992)
fl, ob, clt/bass clt, trp, perc and 1 soloist (pno/db/voice,etc). Duration 17-23 min
Dedicated to Alan Davie. First performed in the McLellan Galleries, Glasgow 1992.
Mobile Herbarium (1992)
saxophone quartet. Duration 22 min
Commissioned by Phoenix Arts, Leicester for Evan Parker, Ray Warleigh, Stan Sulzmann and Julian Arguelles. First performance at Leiceter Arts Centry 1992.

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