Stunning clocks from the exhibition at the Science Museum, London - Zimingzhong 凝时聚珍: Clockwork Treasures from China’s Forbidden City.
The cultural exchange of ideas and the impact on ceramics, clockwork mechanisms, empire, commerce and control of knowledge is fascinating.

The Ravel Edition have announced the publication of my Sites auriculaires and Sonatine orchestrations. Each published work - text and production - are of the highest quality. Happy me!
raveledition.com/actualites/col…

#raveledition #sites #sonatine #orchestration #frenchmusic

I’ve only recently become aware of this rather interesting publication, based on the collection of manuscripts acquired by the Austrian writer Stefan Zweig. Organised and presented by Arthur Searle, this British library publication is fascinating.
#StefanZweig #manuscripts

The Charles Wood Composers' Competition is back for 2024.

Entrants are invited to compose a new choral setting of ‘O for a closer walk with God’ - text which Charles Villiers Stanford used for one of his most iconic choral settings.

charleswoodsummerschool.org/latest-news/20…

Working with John and the Sinfonia of London is a joy, and I can't wait for these performances!! #JohnWilson #sinfoniaoflondon #Pattersongs

I always chuckle when seeing this. A guiro was clearly too exotique for the Durand edition back in the 1920s. Musicologist Caroline Potter wrote a spoof instrument definition for OUP back in 2016 for the Grove Music Encyclopedia:
blog.oup.com/2016/04/grove-…

Very happy to have this new work of mine for solo cello premiered in such good company. Thank you Anssi!
#anssikarttunen #bigearsfestival #solocello #newworks #inmemoriam #ollyknussen

From a love of the surreal and grotesque (which I class as beautiful), I mentioned this marvellous bit of Jan Švankmajer to a student today - Alice (1988). If you're in to the Quay brothers, Steven Millhauser, Terry Gilliam and so many others, take a look:
youtube.com/watch?v=tK_l74…

Extremely happy with an intense day attending the 1st rehearsal of my 'Accordion Concerto' with João Barradas & the London Philharmonic Orchestra, cond by Edward Gardner! Such a fantastic orchestra, conductor & soloist... UK première getting closer, this Wednesday @ the BatterseaArtsCentre

Enormous thanks to Ludovic Morlot for including my orchestrations of Tombeau de Couperin (Fugue & Toccata) on his projected complete Maurice Ravel edition with the OBC (first release April 2024). Thrilled to be included in such a project and with such wonderful performers.

A little conversation article on a reasonably recent piece of mine between myself and conductor Erik Desimpelaere in #windsmagazine , Spring edition. ‘Quo Vardis, Venti?’ Discussion of wind orchestra programming, composition for the medium and other things…

Our son getting some piano practice in before I give my lecture on the topic of Orchestration through the lens of Skopos theory (translation studies) entitled ‘Whose lily is it anyway?’ at Cardiff University. Thank you to Professor Sierra and the School of music for inviting me!

...And you may say to yourself, 'My God, what have I done?'
#danceriesforstrings ? #canofworms #moneyforoldrope #TalkingHeads

A fabulous composer with a visceral and colourful voice. Perhaps a good time to revisit his works, if orchestras etc. etc. are curious?

Nota bene…

royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/composers/rps-…

Classical music is becoming a niche activity not helped by the fact that fewer and fewer state school pupils are learning to play orchestral instruments. It’s time to reassess our priorities, argues Ray Coyte. thersa.org/comment/2024/0… excellent article!

Final leg of the journey underway.
This one is tricky - need to keep my wits about me...
#Ravel #Sonatine #pianooriginal #orchestration #virtuosic

Arlene Sierra Prof Arlene Sierra ✍️🎼🐝🕷💙 is featured as @gramophonemagazine Contemporary Composer this month! 💫 A fantastic two-page spread traces Sierra’s “substantial and individual” works and recordings incl 3 critically-acclaimed portrait discs on Bridge Records, Inc.