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Matthews, Colin (b. February 13, 1946, London). British composer of stage, orchestral, chamber, choral, vocal, and piano works that have been performed throughout the world; he is also active as a producer and scholar.
Mr. Matthews initially studied classics at the University of Nottingham, where he earned his BA in 1966, but then studied composition there with Nicholas Maw and Arnold Whittall and received his MPhil in 1970. He earned his doctorate at the University of Sussex for his work on Gustav Mahler in 1978. He later received an honorary doctorate from the University of Nottingham in 1998.
His honors include the Ian Whyte Award from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (1975, for Fourth Sonata) and the Royal Philharmonic Society Music Award for Large-Scale Composition (1997, for Renewal). Recent commissions include ones from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest, the London Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.
As a producer, he founded the label for contemporary music NMC Recordings in London in 1988 and has served as its executive producer since 1988. He has produced recordings for BMG/RCA, Bridge, Collins Classics, Conifer, Continuum, Deutsche Grammophon, Metronome, Nonesuch, and Virgin Classics.
As a scholar, he and his brother David Matthews collaborated with Deryck Cooke on the revised performing version of the Symphonie Nr. 10 by Gustav Mahler from 1964–74. He wrote the monograph Mahler at Work: Aspects of the Creative Process (1989) and the article The Tenth Symphony for The Mahler Companion (1999, edited by Donald Mitchell and A. Nicholson, Oxford University Press).
Mr. Matthews is also active in other positions. He worked with Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten of Aldeburgh at the Aldeburgh Festival from 1971–76 and with Imogen Holst there from 1972–84, served as a council member of the Aldeburgh Foundation from 1983–94 and continues to serve as co-director with Oliver Knussen of the Contemporary Composition and Performance Course at the Aldeburgh Festival. In addition, he is an administrator of the Holst Foundation, chairman of the Britten Estate, trustee of the Britten-Pears Foundation, and a long-time member of the council of the Society for the Promotion of New Music. He served as director of the Performing Right Society from 1992–95 and as associate composer to the London Symphony Orchestra from 1992–99 and has served as composer-in-association to the Hallé Orchestra since 2001.
He taught at the University of Sussex in 1972–73 and 1976–77. He was later a visiting composer and teacher at Tanglewood in 1991 and is currently the Prince Consort Professor of Music at the Royal College of Music, a governor of the Royal Northern College of Music and the Distinguished Visiting Fellow in Composition at the University of Manchester.
Faber Music publishes his works.
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail address for consulting scores: promotion@fabermusic.com
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
STAGE: Pursuit (ballet), small orchestra (16/17 players), 1987 (longer version of Suns Dance)
ORCHESTRAL: Fourth Sonata, 1974–75; Night Music, small orchestra, 1976–77, revised 1999; Little Suite No. 2, small orchestra, 1979; Fifth Sonata, 'Landscape', 1977–80; Divertimento, 2 string orchestras, 1982 (version of work for 2 string quartets); Canonic Overture, 1983; Concerto No. 1, cello, orchestra, 1983–84; Toccata Meccanica, 1984 (also version for symphonic band, 1993); Variation on 'Sumer is Icumen in', 1987 (collaboration with Oliver Knussen, Robert Saxton, Robin Holloway, Judith Weir, Alexander Goehr, David Bedford); Monody, large orchestra, 1987; Two-part Invention, cello, small orchestra (18 players), 1987–88; Cortège, large orchestra, 1988; Hidden Variables, small orchestra (15 players), 1988–89 (also version for large orchestra, 1991); Quatrain, 1989; Machines and Dreams, toy instruments (16 players), large orchestra, 1990 (also shorter version as Three Machines, toy instruments, orchestra, 1991); Chiaroscuro, 1990; Broken Symmetry, large orchestra, 1991–92 (also incorporated into Renewal); Contraflow, small orchestra (14 players), 1992; Memorial, large orchestra (68 players), 1992–93; ...through the glass, small orchestra (16 players), 1994; M50, 1994–95; Threnody, harp, piano, 48 strings, 1995–96 (also incorporated into Renewal); Intrada, 1995–96; Concerto No. 2, cello, orchestra, 1996
ORCHESTRAL: Dowlandia (after John Bull, William Byrd, John Dowland), small orchestra (15 players), 1997; Elegeia, small orchestra (15 players), 1998; Two Tributes, small orchestra (16 players), 1999; Little Continuum, small orchestra (16 players), 1999; Unfolded Order, 1999; Fanfare in Sea, 1999; Rübezahl Overture, after Mahler, 1999; Pluto, the Renewer, off-stage female chorus, large orchestra, 2000; Concerto, French horn, large orchestra, 2001; Fanfare for the 2001 Proms, small orchestra (brass, percussion), 2001; The journey ends here, cello, small orchestra (17 players), 2001–02; Flourish, with fireflies, small orchestra (16 players), 2002 (also longer version as Fanfare and Flourish [with fireflies], orchestra, 2005); Bright Cecilia: Tema and Tema Elaborata, large orchestra, 2002; Vivo, large orchestra, 2002; Reflected Images, large orchestra, 2002–03; Berceuse for Dresden, cello, orchestra, 2004–05; Turning Point, large orchestra, 2005–06; M. Croche (postlude to Préludes, premier livre and Préludes, deuxième livre by Claude Debussy), large orchestra, 2006 (version of piano work); A Quick Start, orchestra (brass, percussion), 2007–08; Concerto, violin, large orchestra, 2008–09
CHAMBER MUSIC: Ceres, 3 flutes, harp, 2 celli, double bass, 2 percussion, 1972, revised 1985; Partita, violin, 1975, revised 1998; Specula, flute, harp, viola, vibraphone (+ marimba, glockenspiel), 1976; Rainbow Studies, flute (+ piccolo), oboe (+ English horn), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), bassoon, piano, 1977–78; Little Suite, harp, 1979; String Quartet No. 1, 1979; Oboe Quartet No. 1, oboe, violin, viola, cello, 1981; Divertimento, 2 string quartets, 1982 (also version for 2 string orchestras); Triptych (tripartite inventions), piano, string quartet, 1984; Suns Dance, piccolo, oboe, bass clarinet, contrabassoon, French horn, string quartet, double bass, 1984–85 (also longer version as ballet Pursuit); String Quartet No. 2, 1985, revised 1989; Three Enigmas, cello, piano, 1985; Five Duos, cello, piano, 1987; Fuga, alto flute (+ piccolo), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), French horn, viola, cello, double bass, piano, percussion, 1988 (version of third section of The Great Journey); Chaconne with Chorale and Moto Perpetuo, violin, piano, 1988; Five Untitled Pieces, flute (+ piccolo), 1987–89; Oboe Quartet No. 2, oboe, violin, viola, cello, 1988–89; Three-part Chaconne, violin, viola, cello, piano left hand, 1989; Three Studies, clarinet (+ bass clarinet), piano, 1989; Five Concertinos, alto flute (+ piccolo), oboe, E-flat clarinet (+ bass clarinet), French horn, bassoon, 1989–90; Cadenzas (for Konzert in C-dur by Franz Joseph Haydn), cello, 1990
CHAMBER MUSIC: To Compose without the least Knowledge of Music (realization of Musikalisches Würfelspiel, K 516f by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart), flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 1991; Duologue, oboe, piano, 1991; Palinode, cello, 1992 (also version for 9 celli, 1999); Night Spell, oboe, piano, 1992; Omaggio, violin, piano, 1990–93; L, bent..., flute, oboe, bass clarinet, bassoon, French horn, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, 1993; String Quartet No. 3, 1993–94; Three Interludes, clarinet, viola, piano, 1994; 23 Frames, French horn, viola, cello, piano, 1994; Elegiac Chaconne, alto flute, bass clarinet, viola, cello, piano, 1997; Capriccioletto, violin, piano, 1998; Cadenzas (for Konzert in D-dur by Franz Joseph Haydn), cello, 1998; Oscuro, viola, piano, 1999; Introduction, Chaconne and Corrente, guitar, 1999; Calmo, viola, piano, 1999; A Quick Start, French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, 2001; Mechaniks Bench, any 7 or more amateur players, 2002; Bassoonova, bassoon, 2003; Little Berceuse, clarinet, string quartet, 2004; Ms Cookhorn's Fancie (after Giles Farnaby), contrabassoon, 2004; Chaconne, 2 bass clarinets, viola, cello, double bass, 2006; Luminoso, viola, piano, 2006; scorrevole, viola, piano, 2006
CHORAL: Second Hand Flames (text from vowel sounds), 5 mixed voices, 1982; Prometheus Fragment (text by Æschylus), 12 mixed voices, percussion, string orchestra, 1989; A Rose at Christmas (text by William Shakespeare), 8 mixed voices, 1990; Renewal (text by Ovid), mixed chorus, large orchestra, 1991–96 (incorporates Broken Symmetry, Threnody, Metamorphosis); Metamorphosis (text by Ovid), mixed chorus, large orchestra, 1995–96 (also incorporated into Renewal); Aftertones (text by Edmund Blunden), soprano, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1999–2000; The Angels' Carol (text by Sara Teasdale), mixed chorus, 2002; Estrangement, mixed chorus, 2002; Alphabicycle Order (text by Christopher Reid), male speaker, children's chorus, orchestra, 2006–07
VOCAL: Five Sonnets to Orpheus (text by Rainer Maria Rilke), tenor, harp, 1975–76; Un colloque sentimental (song-cycle, texts by Paul Verlaine, Charles Baudelaire, Gérard de Nerval), medium voice, piano, 1971–78; Shadows in the Water (text by Thomas Traherne), tenor, piano, 1978–79; Night's Mask (text by Fernando Pessoa), soprano, alto flute (+ piccolo), bass clarinet (+ clarinet), French horn, harp, viola, cello, piano, 1984; La Virgen Lava Pañales, female voice, English horn, harp, string orchestra, 1985; The Great Journey (dramatic cantata, text by Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca [English translation]), baritone, alto flute (+ piccolo), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), French horn, viola, cello, double bass, piano, percussion, 1981–88 (also version of third section as Fuga); Cantata on the Death of Antony (text by Dion Cassius), soprano, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, viola, cello, double bass, 1988–89; Strugnell's Haiku (text by Wendy Cope), female voice, piano, 1989 (also version for female voice, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, viola [+ 3 tam-tams], cello, double bass, 1989); Aubade (text by Paul Auster), high voice/low voice, piano, 1990; Pli de lin (text by Tom Paulin), soprano, piano, string quartet, 1965–94; Continuum (texts by Rainer Maria Rilke, Eugenio Montale), mezzo-soprano, small orchestra (23 players), 1999–2000; A Voice to Wake... (text by John Davidson), soprano, flute (+ alto flute), oboe, clarinet (+ bass clarinet), French horn, harp, violin, viola, cello, piano, 2004; Out in the dark (text by Edward Thomas), voice, piano, 2006; The Island (song-cycle, text by Rainer Maria Rilke [translated by Stephen Cohn]), soprano, ensemble, 2007–08
PIANO: Five Studies, 1974–76; Suite, 1977–79 (two sets of sections may be performed separately: Toccata, Nocturne and Scherzo, 1977; Berceuse and Sarabande, 1978–79); Eleven Studies in Velocity, 1987; Three Preludes, 2003; M. Croche (postlude to Préludes, premier livre and Préludes, deuxième livre by Claude Debussy), 2006 (also version for large orchestra)
ARRANGEMENTS: Praise We Great Men (Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten of Aldeburgh), mixed chorus, orchestra, 1976–77; Paul Bunyan Overture (Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten of Aldeburgh), orchestra, 1977; Sérénade, Hymne et Toccata (Hector Berlioz), small orchestra, 1978; Zhenitba – The Marriage (Modest Musorgsky), 1981 (collaboration with Oliver Knussen); The Dream-City (Gustav Holst), soprano, orchestra, 1983; Ellens Drei Gesänge (Franz Schubert), voice, ensemble, 1984; Five Operetta Excerpts (various composers), 2 voices, ensemble, 1985; Mondnacht (Robert Schumann), oboe, violin, viola, cello, 1990; A Charm of Lullabies, Op. 41 (Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten of Aldeburgh), mezzo-soprano, orchestra, 1990; Temporal Variations (Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten of Aldeburgh), oboe, string orchestra, 1994; Fantazia 11 (Henry Purcell), string orchestra, 1994; Fantazia 13 (Henry Purcell), any 4 players/string quartet, 1995; Seven Songs (Alma Mahler), medium voice, orchestra, 1996 (collaboration with David Matthews); Fünf Variationen über 'Rule, Britannia!', WoO 79 (Ludwig van Beethoven), orchestra, 1980–97; Lento assai from Streichquartett Nr. 16 in F-dur, Op. 135 (Ludwig van Beethoven), string orchestra, 1998
ARRANGEMENTS: Trois Poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé (Claude Debussy), soprano, 9 players, 1998–99; Vier Stücke, Op. 5 (Alban Berg), clarinet, 7 players, 1999; Ich atmet' einen linden Duft from Fünf Lieder nach Rückert (Gustav Mahler), voice, 10 players, 1999; To a poet a thousand years hence (Gerald Finzi), voice, orchestra, 2000; Lieder und Gesänge (Gustav Mahler), medium voice, orchestra, 1964–2002 (collaboration with David Matthews); In memoriam Dennis Brain (Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten of Aldeburgh), 4 French horns, ensemble, 2005; Préludes, premier livre–Préludes, deuxième livre (Claude Debussy), large orchestra, 2001–06; Les soirs illuminés par l'ardeur du charbon (Claude Debussy), large orchestra, 2006; Chaconne in D-moll from Partita Nr. 2, BWV 1004 (Johann Sebastian Bach/Johannes Brahms), 5 players, 2006; Intermezzo, Op. 119 No. 1 (Johannes Brahms), large orchestra, 2007; Movements for a Clarinet Concerto (Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten of Aldeburgh), clarinet, orchestra, 1990–2008
DISCOGRAPHY (as composer)
Oscuro. Paul Silverthorne, viola; John Constable, piano (Black Box Music: BBM1058)
Hidden Variables (second version); Memorial; Quatrain; Machines and Dreams. Helena Baillie, Martina Baillie, Helen Baillie, James Cummings, Sarah Gillinson, Andrew Hume, Megan Hume, Sonya Knussen, Rebecca Lawley, Joseph Lipton, Lucy Matthews, Thomas McDonough, Alexandra Storey, Katharine Storey, Daniel Worters, Sophie Worters, toy instruments; Michael Tilson Thomas/London Symphony Orchestra (Collins Classics: 14702 [also reissued as NMC Recordings: D101])
Broken Symmetry; Suns Dance; Fourth Sonata. Oliver Knussen/London Sinfonietta (Deutsche Grammophon: 447 067-2)
Pluto, the Renewer. Sir Simon Rattle/Rundfunkchor Berlin, Berliner Philharmoniker (EMI Classics: 0946 3 59382 2 7)
Five Concertinos. Haffner Wind Ensemble (Ensemble Music Label: EML 006 [also reissued as part of NMC Recordings: D149])
Five Studies. Anthony Goldstone, piano (Gamut: GAMCD526)
Concerto (French horn); Alphabicycle Order. Henry Goodman, speaker; Richard Watkins, French horn; Sir Mark Elder, Edward Gardner/Hallé Youth Choir, Cantores Roborienses, Hallé Orchestra (Hallé Concerts Society: cd hll 7515)
Pluto, the Renewer. Sir Mark Elder/females of the Hallé Choir, Hallé Orchestra (Hyperion Records: CDA67270)
Flourish, with fireflies. Oliver Knussen/London Sinfonietta (London Sinfonietta: SINF CD1-2004)
Palinode (original version). Lowri Blake, cello (Lowri Records: LOWRI2003)
Eleven Studies in Velocity. Nicholas Unwin, piano (Metier Records: MSV CD 92009)
Pluto, the Renewer. David Lloyd-Jones/female chorus, Royal Scottish National Orchestra (Naxos: 8.555776)
Cantata on the Death of Antony; Strugnell's Haiku (second version). Mary Wiegold, soprano; Dominic Muldowney/Composers' Ensemble (NMC Recordings: D003)
Three Enigmas. Alexander Baillie, cello; Andrew Ball, piano (NMC Recordings: D019)
Variation on 'Sumer is Icumen in'. Jac van Steen/BBC Symphony Orchestra (NMC Recordings: D062)
Divertimento (original version); Oboe Quartet No. 1; Triptych; Five Concertinos; String Quartet No. 2. Melinda Maxwell, oboe; William Howard, piano; Brindisi Quartet; string quartet of the Schubert Ensemble; Haffner Wind Ensemble; Oliver Knussen/Divertimenti Ensemble (NMC Recordings: D149 [includes a reissue of Ensemble Music Label: EML 006])
Fifth Sonata, 'Landscape'; Concerto No. 1 (cello). Alexander Baillie, cello; John Carewe/London Sinfonietta, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin (Unicorn-Kanchana: UKCD 2058 [also reissued as NMC Recordings: D101])
The Great Journey; Fuga; Night's Mask. Patrizia Kwella, soprano; David Wilson-Johnson, baritone; Lionel Friend/Nash Ensemble (Virgin Classics: VC 7 91482-2 [also reissued as NMC Recordings: D033])
DISCOGRAPHY (as arranger; some information unavailable)
Lieder und Gesänge (Gustav Mahler; 4 excerpts). Ruth Ziesak, soprano; Daniele Gatti/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (BMG/RCA: 75605 51345)
Seven Songs (Alma Mahler). Iris Vermillion, mezzo-soprano; Riccardo Chailly/Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest (Decca: 455 112-2)
Feux d'artifice from Préludes, deuxième livre. Sir Simon Rattle/Berliner Philharmoniker (EMI Classics: 558045)
Préludes, premier livre–Préludes, deuxième livre (12 excerpts). Sir Mark Elder/Hallé Orchestra (Hallé Concerts Society: cd hll 7513)
The Dream-City (Gustav Holst). Patrizia Kwella, soprano; Richard Hickox/City of London Sinfonia (Hyperion Records/Helios: 5171068)
Lieder und Gesänge (Gustav Mahler; excerpts). Jill Gomez, soprano; John Carewe/Bournemouth Sinfonietta (Unicorn-Kanchana: DKP 9120)
A Charm of Lullabies, Op. 41 (Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten of Aldeburgh)
Movement from Movements for a Clarinet Concerto (Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten of Aldeburgh)
Paul Bunyan Overture (Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten of Aldeburgh)
Praise We Great Men (Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten of Aldeburgh)
Temporal Variations (Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten of Aldeburgh)
To a poet a thousand years hence (Gerald Finzi)
(Last updated on November 6, 2008)
