New Names emerge among British Composer Awards Nominations

Well over 300 submissions were sent to BASCA for the 2009 Awards which fete new works receiving their first UK performance between April 2008 and March 2009. As an indicator of trends in commissioning, it was significant to note that 49 entries were received for the Chamber category alone.

Judging of all 13 categories took place during September and October using a different panel for each category and involving over sixty music professionals including performers, conductors, promoters and festival directors. More than half of the panellists are themselves composers.

Senior figures such as Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Sir John Tavener, Jonathan Harvey and Alexander Goehr have received nominations together with established names from the next generation, Simon Holt, Anthony Powers and Mark-Anthony Turnage among them. Previous winners Judith Bingham, Adam Gorb and Gabriel Jackson are also on the lists.

Equally significant are the nominations given to relative newcomers – Bernard Hughes, Christian Mason, Mira Calix, Simon Dobson and Elizabeth Winters.

Sarah Rodgers, BASCA Chairman and Chairman of the Awards said:

“These are some of the most remarkable results we have had in the 7 year history of the Awards. The panels are required to judge works, rather than composers and the all-encompassing scope of the nominations proves the integrity of this approach. Emerging talent is a strong feature of this year’s list of nominees and we truly celebrate that.”

New for the 2009 Awards is a category for Contemporary Jazz Composition. Explaining the thinking behind the inclusion of jazz in what are otherwise predominantly classical awards, Sarah Rodgers commented, “There is a new generation of jazz composers – artists who are both outstanding instrumentalists and whose expressive talent is making fascinating inroads into the composed medium while retaining the instinct for improvisation. This is a sector which is on the up and we want to recognise and encourage them.”

Nominated in the category for Contemporary Jazz Composition are Barry Guy, John Surman and Jason Yarde.

Supporting the new category, the Awards Event this year will host the appearance of Scottish ensemble, Brass Jaw. The quartet of three saxophonists and a trumpeter will give the first performance of a new BBC Radio 3 commission from composer John Surman who celebrates his 65th birthday this year.

The International Award received its largest entry for the three years it has been contested. There were 19 nominations for works receiving their UK premiere in the qualifying period. The nominations in this category go to John Adams, Peter Helmut Lang and Magnus Lindberg.

Ellis Rich, Chairman of PRS for Music, sponsors of the Awards, comments:

“The diversity and strength of talent represented by these nominations underpins how vibrant and important the music scene is in the UK. We are proud to be the sponsor of these awards and continue to work hard for all the songwriters, composers and music publishers we represent.”

BBC Radio 3 is again giving its full backing to the Awards by announcing the shortlist on In Tune on the 20 October. This is followed up with a five-part series as part of Performance on 3 which will run in the lead up to the Award Ceremony on 1 December and will explore the challenges of commissioning, judging and listening to new music.

Roger Wright, Controller of BBC Radio 3 and Director of the BBC Proms, says:

“This is the seventh year of Radio 3’s association with the British Composer Awards. The Awards continue to reflect the immense creativity that flourishes in this field today and we are delighted to support them. Contemporary music is central to the work of Radio 3, the world’s most significant commissioner of new music.”

The winners of the 2009 British Composer Awards are announced at the Law Society, London on Tuesday 1 December.

The British Composer Awards are presented by BASCA and sponsored by PRS for Music. In association with BBC Radio 3, the event will be broadcast in "Performance on 3" on Wednesday 2nd December at 7pm.


The 2009 British Composer Awards Shortlist

Chamber

Work: String Quartet: The Tree of Strings
Composer: Harrison Birtwistle

Work: Since Brass, Nor Stone…
Composer: Alexander Goehr

Work: In Time Entwined, In Space Enlaced
Composer: Christian Mason

Choral

Work: Shakespeare Requiem
Composer: Judith Bingham

Work: The Death of Balder
Composer: Bernard Hughes

Work: The Spacious Firmament
Composer: Gabriel Jackson

Community or Educational Project

Work: My Secret Heart
Composer: Mira Calix

Work: Moving Music
Composer: Howard Moody

Work: More Glass than Wall
Composer: James Redwood

Contemporary Jazz Composition

Work: Schweben; Aye But Can Ye?
Composer: Barry Guy

Work: Rain on the Window
Composer: John Surman

Work: Rhythm & Other Fascinations
Composer: Jason Yarde

Instrumental Solo or Duo

Work: The Message
Composer: Harrison Birtwistle

Work: Prism
Composer: Patrick Nunn

Work: Soliloquy V, Flauto Acerbo
Composer: Thomas Simaku

International

Work: Doctor Atomic
Composer: John Adams

Work: Dominoeffekt
Composer: Peter Helmut Lang

Work: Seht die Sonne
Composer: Magnus Lindberg

Liturgical

Work: Voce Mea
Composer: Tarik O’Regan

Work: Stay With Me
Composer: Roxanna Panufnik

Work: Ex Maria Virgine
Composer: John Tavener

Making Music

Work: A Few Seconds
Composer: Anthony Powers

Work: i can’t do this without you
Composer: Robert Szymanek

Work: The Serious Side of Madness
Composer: Elizabeth Winters

Orchestral

Work: Speakings
Composer: Jonathan Harvey

Work: a Table of Noises
Composer: Simon Holt

Work: Mambo, Blues and Tarantella
Composer: Mark-Anthony Turnage

Sonic Art

Work: Entomophonix
Composer: Robert Jarvis

Work: A Quiet Reverie
Composer: Mark Peter Wright

Stage Works

Work: Into The Little Hill
Composer: George Benjamin

Work: The Minotaur
Composer: Harrison Birtwistle

Work: Reel
Composer: Graham Fitkin

Vocal

Work: Good Dream She Has
Composer: Luke Bedford

Work: The Dream of the Rood
Composer: John Casken

Work: Riverwork
Composer: Anthony Powers

Wind Band or Brass Band

Work: Penlee
Composer: Simon Dobson

Work: Farewell
Composer: Adam Gorb

Work: The Gilded Theatre
Composer: Kenneth Hesketh