英国青年作曲家Graham Fitkin

Graham Fitkin (born 19 April 1963) is a British composer, pianist and conductor. His compositions fall broadly into the minimalist and postminimalist genres. Described by The Independent in 1998 as "one of the most important of our younger composers",^[1] he is particularly known for his works for solo and multiple pianos, as well as for music accompanying dance.

Biography

Fitkin was born at Crows-an-Wra in west Cornwall on 19 April 1963.^[2][3] His mother, a piano teacher, encouraged his early studies on that instrument.^[4] He participated in numerous local ensembles during his childhood, and recalls starting to compose at the piano aged around 8.^[4] In 1981–4, he attended the University of Nottingham, where he studied with composer Nigel Osborne, among others.^[5] He later went to the Netherlands to study with the minimalist composer and pianist Louis Andriessen at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague.^[2][3] In 1987, he moved to London

Music

Fitkin's work is broadly classified as minimalist and postminimalist.^[1][2][8] His works are tonal and frequently complex. Much of his writing is for the piano, including solo and multiple player works.^[2][9] Fitkin lists his early classical influences as Igor Stravinsky, Anton Webern, Pierre Boulez and the American minimalist Steve Reich, and also acknowledges a broad range of influences outside the field of classical music, from jazz musicians Keith Jarrett, Muggsy Spanier and Miles Davis, and popular singer Frank Sinatra, to modern pop groups such as The Smiths, Wire and the Pet Shop Boys.^[4] Subsequent influences include Louis Andriessen, Gavin Bryars and Laurence Crane.

Awards[edit]

In 1994, Fitkin won the International Grand Prix Music for Dance Video Award.^[10] He has twice won British Composer Awards: in 2009, Reel won the Stage Works category;^[21] in 2011, PK won the Outreach category.^[22]

Selected works[edit]

Solo and multiple pianos

• From Yellow to Yellow (1985)
• The Cone Gatherers (1987)
• Loud (1989), for six pianos
• Flak (1989), for two pianos/eight hands
• Log (1990), for six pianos
• Line (1991), for six pianos
• Fervent (1992–94)
• Piano Pieces 93 (1993)
• Relent (1998)

Piano and orchestra

• Granite (1995)
• Circuit (2002)
• Ruse (2009)

Orchestral

• Cud (1988)
• Length (1994)
• Bebeto (1995)
• Henry (1995)
• Metal (1995)
• Clarinet Concerto (1998)
• Reel (2008)
• PK (2010), with choir
• Cello Concerto (2011)

Ensemble

• Ironic (1997)
• Bed (1998)
• Beethoven 7 (2000)

Other

• Huoah (1988), for brass band; rewritten as ballet score (1995)
• Slow (1990), for string quartet and two keyboards
• Hook (1991), for percussion quartet
• Skirting (2001), for solo guitar
• Lens (2003), for piano trio
• Pawn (2004), for string quartet
• Geography (2004), for computers and video
• Kaplan (2004), multimedia
• L (2005), for cello and piano
• Still Warm (2006), for electronically manipulated harps
• Sinew (2009), sextet for violin, viola, cello, clarinet, horn and piano