2014

Benjamin Wallfisch New Music

Biography

Benjamin Wallfisch is a young musician receiving consistent international acclaim for his work as a composer and conductor. Born in London in 1979, his teachers include Anthony Gilbert, Michael Finnissy, James MacMillan, Sir Charles Mackerras and Vernon Handley. He graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music with First Class Honours and the Royal Academy of Music with the highest distinction and is the first composer to be awarded the Honorary Diploma of the Academy as well as every Academy composition prize.

Benjamin is currently Associate Composer of the Orchestra of St. John’s and since 1996 has received over 50 commissions from organisations including the Bath International Festival of Music (over three consecutive seasons), BBC, Chelmsford Festival, Dartington Summer School, English Chamber Orchestra, Goldberg Ensemble, Hallé, Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, Lake District Summer Music, Leamington Festival, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, Park Lane Group, Royal College of Art and the Warwick Arts Society. Performers for whom he has written include the BBC Singers, Belcea Quartet, Coull Quartet, 4-mality, O Duo and Orchestre de Bretagne and the Philharmonia.

In 2003 Benjamin was invited to write a ballet score, 21, for the Rambert Dance Company for a work choreographed by Rafael Bonachela. This was premiered with great success at Saddler’s Wells and featured in the Company’s 2003/04 UK tour. His BBC Proms debut came in 2006 with his orchestral piece Escape Velocity, a work released to critical acclaim as part of a CD portrait of Benjamin’s work on the Quartz label.

Benjamin’s work has earned him multiple international awards and nominations, including an Ivor Novello Award Nomination for Best Original Film Score 2009 (for Rupert Wyatt’s The Escapist), a nomination in the 2009 Emmy® Awards and two nominations as ‘Discovery of The Year’ in the 2005 and 2008 World Soundtrack Awards. He made his debut as film composer at the age of 24, scoring Thomas Vinterberg and Lars von Trier’s Dear Wendy and to date he has worked on 24 feature film scores. Benjamin orchestrated and conducted Dario Marianelli’s Academy Award® and Golden Globe® winning score for Atonement and his Academy Award® nominated score for Pride and Prejudice.

Awards and Nominations

• Best Original Score, 2006 Danish Film Academy Awards (Nomination) - Dear Wendy• Discovery of the Year, 2005 World Soundtrack Awards (Nomination) - Dear Wendy• Finalist and Prize Winner, 2002 Leeds Conductors’ Competition• Winner, 2001 British Reserve Insurance Conducting Competition• 2002 Performing Right Society Foundation Scholarship• 2002 Theodore Holland Intercollegiate Composition Prize• 2002 Eric Coates Prize• University of London: Royal Academy of Music Degree: Master of Music with Distinction in Composition (2002)• Honorary Diploma of the Royal Academy of Music (2002)• Diploma in Professional Performance, Royal Northern College of Music (2001)• Graduate Diploma of the Royal Northern College of Music (2001)• University of Manchester Degree: Bachelor of Music, First Class Honours, (2000)

Benjamin Wallfisch

For further information:

Frankfurt New York LondonC. F. Peters Ltd. & Co. KG C. F. Peters Corporation Peters Edition LtdHedderichstr. 108 – 110 70 – 30 80th Street 2 – 6 Baches Street D-60596 Frankfurt/Main Glendale NY 11385 London N1 6DNDeutschland USA UK +49 (0) 69 63 00 99-0 + (1) 718 416 7800 +44 (0) 20 7553 4000

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Orchestra

Anillo (2009) 5 minutesfor Orchestra: Picc.1.2.2.1.Cbsn – 4.3.2.B-tbn.1 – Perc – Timp – Str (10.8.8.6.4)Dedicated to Carmel Hart and the Philharmonia OrchestraCommissioned by Carmel Hart for the Philharmonia OrchestraFirst performed on May 11th 2009, by the Bury St. Edmonds Festival Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Benjamin Wallfisch.EP 71952

Child (2006) 5 minutesText: Sylvia PlathTenor Solo – 2(Picc).1.1.B-Cl.1 – 2.0.0.0 – 2Perc – Timp(doubling triangle) – Pf – Hp – Str(4.4.2.2.1)First performed on 23rd December 2006, Cadogan Hall, London. With Benjamin Segal (tenor) and the Orchestra of St. John’s conducted by John Lubbock.EP 7960

Concertino (2005) c. 14 minutesClarinet solo – 1(Picc).1.1(B-Cl).Cbsn – 2.0.0.0 – Perc – Pf – Str(4.3.2.2.1)First performed at Cadogan Hall, London 15th September 2005 by Michael Collins (Clarinet) and the Orchestra of St. John’s, conducted by John Lubbock.EP 71010

Dirty Beasts (2013) 30 minutesTex: Roald Dahl 1. The Porcupine 2. The Pig 3. The Anteater 4. The Toad and the SnailNarrator – 2(A-fl, Picc).2(Ca).2(B-cl).2(Cbsn) – 4.3.3.1 – Timp – 3Perc –Pf(Cel) – Hp – Str (14.12.10.8.6)Commissioned by the London Philharmonic Orchestra for the Deutsche Bank Bright Sparks Series – free concerts for schools at the Royal Festival HallFirst performance on 12 June 2013 at the Royal Festival Hall, London, given by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Benjamin WallfischEP 72471

Escape Velocity (2006) 7 minutes2Perc – Pf(Cel) – Hp – Str(8.6.4.4.2)First performed on 2nd September 2006 at Cadogan Hall, London as part of the BBC Proms 2006 by the Orchestra of St John’s Smith Square conducted by the composerEP 7890

An Eternal Window (2011) c. 15 minutesTenor, Piano and String QuintetCommissioned by Carmel Hart for the National Gallery Myra Hess Day, 2011.First performed on 4th October 2011 at the National Gallery, London by Andrew Tortise (tenor) and the Fibonacci SequenceEP 72211

speaking silence (2001) c. 12 minutesfor String OrchestraCommissioned by the Royal Academy of MusicFirst performed November 2001, Duke’s Hall, Royal Academy of Music by the London Royal Academy of Music Soloists, led by Clio Gould.EP 71915

SpeedOrchestraEP 71013

Sudden Light (2000) c. 15 minutesDouble String OrchestraDedicated to Anthony GilbertCommissioned by the Manchester CamerataFirst performed on November 18th 2000, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, by the Manchester Camerata and 80 young musicians from Greater Manchester conducted by Nicholas KraemerEP 71912

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The Torrent Leaves (2008) 10 minutes3(II=Picc, III=Picc&A-fl).2(Ca).2(I=ClEb, II=B-cl).2(Cbsn) – 4.3.3.1 – 3Perc – Timp – Pf(Cel) – Hp – Str (14.12.10.8.6)First performed on 1st March 2008, Laeiszhalle-Muzikhalle Gr. Saal, Hamburg, Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Wallfisch, conductorEP 71046

Violin Concerto (2012) 20 minsSolo Violin – 2.2(CA).2(Eflat).2(Cbsn) - 2.1.0.0 – Perc – Pf – StrCommissioned by The Los Angeles Chamber OrchestraEP 72393

A Winter’s tale (2004) c. 9 minutesSoprano Solo, SATB Chorus, C-bass Clarinet, Percussion, Harp, Strings (7vln–2vla–2vlc–1cb)Commissioned by the Orchestra of St. John’s to celebrate the 10th anniversary of OSJ VoicesFirst performed on 11th December 2004, St. John’s Smith Square, London by the Orchestra of St. John’s , OSJ Voices, Ingrid Perruche (soprano), John Lubbock (conductor)EP 71909

Instrumental

Apex (2004) c. 8 minutesfor four percussionistDedicated to 4-MALITY and Rafael BonachelaCommissioned by the Bath International Music FestivalFirst performed on June 6th 2004 in the Assembly Rooms, Bath by 4-MALITYEP 71994

Chopin’s Waterloo (2012) 25 minPiano, Violin, Cello, Double Bass, Horn, PercussionCommissioned by the International Wimbledon Music Festival, Sitka Summer Music Festival, El Paso Pro Musica and the Australian Festival of Chamber MusicEP 72394

Impulse c. 5 minutesPiano duet and two marimbasEP 71015

Michael Croft Fanfare (2009) c. 3 minutesfor four Trumpets in B-Commissioned by Alleyn’s Schoolto celebrate the opening of the Michael Croft TheatreFirst performance on March 1st 2009 at the Michael Croft Theatre, Alleyn’s School, London; by Martin Rockall, Toby Coles, Robin Smith & Samuel Ewens conducted by Paul SmithEP 71921

Nocturne (2006) 10 minutesHarp, TapeEP 7962

quintet (2002) c. 7 minutesPiccolo/Flute, Oboe, Bass Clarinet/Clarinet in B-, Horn in F, BassoonDedicated to the Gallimaufry EnsembleCommissioned by the Royal Academy of MusicFirst performed on 10th May 2002, Royal Academy of Music, London by the Gallimaufry EnsembleEP 71910

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Radical Light (2008) c. 12 minutesClarinet Quartet (Clarinet in B-, Violin, Violoncello, Piano)Commissioned by Corbridge Chamber Music Festival for Gould Piano Trio and Robert Plane with support from PRS Foundation for New Music, RVW Trust, Britten Pears Foundation and Friends of Corbridge Chamber Music FestivalFirst performance on 1st August 2008 at St Andrew’s Church, Corbridge by Gould Piano Trio; Lucy Gould (Violin), Alice Neary (Cello), Benjamin Frith (Piano) and Robert Plane (Clarinet).EP 71759

Requiem (2005) 4 minutes3 CellosFirst performed by Anita, Raphael and Simon Wallfisch, 16th May 2005, BBC Broadcasting House, LondonEP 7976

Rhapsody (2003, rev. 2006) 8 minutesCello and PianoFirst performed on 21st November 2003, Raphael Wallfisch (violoncello), John York (piano)EP7951

Spectra (2006) 18 minutesPiano, Violin, Viola, CelloFirst performed on 15th August 2006, Kendal Town Hall, by Lucy Gould (violin), Garfield Jackson (viola), Alice Neary (violoncello) and Benjamin Frith (piano).EP 7899

String Quartet No. 2 (2004) c. 15 minutesFor the Coull QuartetCommissioned by the Coull Quartet with funds provided by the University of WarwickFirst performed on 24th January 2004 at the Warwick Arts Centre by the Coull QuartetEP 71911

Syzygy (2008) 12 minutesPiano, Violin, CelloEP 71744

Trio (2001) 12 minutesRecorder TrioEP 71014

Vocal/Choral

Agnus Dei (2001) 2 minutesChorus (SATB)–Org EP 7940

…But One Equal Eternity (2007) 15 minutesText: John DonneBaritone, Cello and PianoFirst Performed on 6th August 2007, Great Hall, Dartington International Summer School by Simon Wallfisch (Voice), Raphael Wallfisch (Cello) and Stephen de Pledge (Piano)EP 71024

Child (2006) 5 minutesText: Sylvia PlathTenor Solo – 2(Picc).1.1.B-Cl.1 – 2.0.0.0 – 2Perc – Timp(doubling triangle) – Pf – Hp – Str(4.4.2.2.1)First performance: 23rd December 2006, Cadogan Hall, London. Benjamin Segal (Tenor) and the Orchestra of St. John’s conducted by John Lubbock.EP 7960

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Epitaph on a Tyrant (2007) 2 minutesText: W. H. AudenSoprano and Piano First performed on June 3rd 2007, York Late Music Festival, Eleanor MayellEP 7993

An Eternal Window (2011) 15 minutesText: Yehuda AmichaiTenor, Piano, 2 Violins, Viola, Cello, Double BassCommissioned by Carmel HartFirst performance: 4th October 2011, National Gallery, LondonEP 72211

Die Sternenwelten (2008) 5 minutesText: Johann Georg FellingerSoprano and PianoEP 71729

Electronic

Apex (2006) 10 minutesTapeEP 7957

Nocturne (2006) 10 minutesHarp, TapeEP 7962

For further information:

Frankfurt New York LondonC. F. Peters Ltd. & Co. KG C. F. Peters Corporation Peters Edition LtdHedderichstr. 108 – 110 70 – 30 80th Street 2 – 6 Baches Street D-60596 Frankfurt/Main Glendale NY 11385 London N1 6DNDeutschland USA UK +49 (0) 69 63 00 99-0 + (1) 718 416 7800 +44 (0) 20 7553 4000 stefan.conradi@editionpeters.com gene.caprioglio@editionpeters.com newmusic@editionpeters.com