Nyman, Michael (b.1944)

[Master Jacques]

It is very strange, that the 80th birthday of Britain's greatest living composer should have passed with only minimal notice in the 'mainstream' press, let alone BBC Radio 3, which (apart from the main theme from The Piano) keeps equally silent about him.

His operas - many of them excellent - have been commissioned anywhere and everywhere outside the so-called "major" houses in the UK. His film scores are quite possibly the most important corpus contributing to the pattern, at least since Walton and Prokofiev, from the artistic point of view. His String Quartets - if not his Symphonies - have established themselves in concerts around the world, though less so here in the UK. His music is intensely "English", developing directly from the procedures of Purcell, through the prism of the present.

As a personal note, I've just been on a Nyman binge, to be astonished again by his music's fertility, strength and huge personality. Does Radio 3 find it too much strong meat, unclassifiable or populist? Possibly a combination of all three. They are of course completely wrong: Nyman's music speaks for our time, but will most assuredly outlive it.

[french frank]

It is very strange, that the 80th birthday of Britain's greatest living composer should have passed with only minimal notice in the 'mainstream' press, let alone BBC Radio 3, which (apart from the main theme from The Piano) keeps equally silent about him.

Thank you very much for that post. Several of the string quartets seem to be on YouTube. This (now playing chez moi) is No 1 performed by the Ardittis:

Just thought: 26 minutes in one movement. Too long for R3.

[smittims]

It was news to me that Michael Nyman has written operas and symphonies, so what you say about neglect seems to have some weight. He doesn't seem to be played on Radio 3 except for some of his film music, which .frankly, I didn't care for (all those loud saxophones) , so I can't comment on your claim that he's Britain's greatest living composer. I'm not sure that I'd call any living composers 'great' if only because I've become suspicious of that word. Now Hugh Wood has gone I'd say Huw Watkins is the best I've heard.

I remember Michael Nyman with gratitude as the author of a fascinating book : 'Experimental Music' which introduced me to the work of Howard Skempton, John White and others, and from which he seems modestly to have excluded mention of his own compositions. I'd certainly be interested to hear one or more of his symphonies.

[AuntDaisy]

A COTW (repeat) for his 70th Birthday in March 2014.

I do enjoy his music for the Peter Greenaway films, esp. The Draughtsman's Contract & Prospero's Books.

Michael Nyman (1944-present) - Composer of the Week
Mon 24 Mar 2014 18:30, BBC Radio 3

Nyman's Early Life
Episode 1 of 5

One of the most popular and yet controversial composers of our time, Michael Nyman exclusively in conversation with Donald Macleod.

Michael Nyman's music is instantly recognisable, frequently using repetitive piano chords, distinctive instrumental combinations often including saxophones, and yet there is a familiarity in much of the music, sometimes with a hint of Mozart or Purcell. Nyman rocketed to fame in 1992 with his score for the film The Piano. The soundtrack went on to sell over 3 million copies, and won Nyman an Ivor Novello award. Prior to this there had already been many successes, including his collaboration with Peter Greenaway on films such as The Draughtsman's Contract (1982), and The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover (1989), or music for the stage such as Nyman's opera, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat (1986).

Yet despite these accolades, including BBC commissions, the Michael Nyman Band performing at the BBC Proms and all over the world, and other awards for the composer, Nyman remains a controversial figure. Considered by some as a musical archaeologist, Nyman's use, quotation and transformation of the music of other composers, has often led to harsh criticism. Donald Macleod in exclusive interview with the composer, looks at the life and music of Michael Nyman, including more recent artistic activities as a photographer and film maker.

Michael Nyman's early life is a fascinating account of a boy, travelling around London, collecting things such as bus tickets, matchboxes and lolly wrappers. This Nyman of the past comes to life in the composer's opera, Man and Boy: Dada, as Nyman himself explains in conversation with Donald Macleod.

Music didn't play an important part in Nyman's formative years, until he met Leslie Winters at the Sir George Monoux Grammar School, who encouraged Nyman to explore music including playing the piano. Nyman frequently performs at the piano, directing the Michael Nyman Band. Music from the film Wonderland offers the opportunity of hearing Nyman performing solo at the piano.

Nyman went on to study music at the Royal Academy of Music, and then King's College, London. It was 1964 when Nyman went to Wardour Castle, and through his experiences there of serialism, he became disillusioned as a composer, and subsequently was silent for a decade; although he found other outlets as a musicologist and music critic. By the late 70s, Nyman was composing again, including his music for four or more pianos, 1-100.

[gurnemanz]

Many happy returns to Michael Nyman, composer and QPR fan (those two attributes might not be in the right order). I have three recordings, all recommendable:

The CD of his three String Quartets from the Balanescu on Argo which I got when it came out in the early 90s.

A great disc, also on Argo, The Essential Michael Nyman Band, with Sarah Leonard (sop) and Linda Hirst (mezzo). Concert music used in (rather than written for in the conventional sense) Peter Greenway films.

Most recent acquisition which I have greatly enjoyed has been a download of solo piano music from the indefatigable Jeroen van Veen on Brilliant.

[edashtav]

It is very strange, that the 80th birthday of Britain's greatest living composer should have passed with only minimal notice in the 'mainstream' press, let alone BBC Radio 3, which (apart from the main theme from The Piano) keeps equally silent about him.

His operas - many of them excellent - have been commissioned anywhere and everywhere outside the so-called "major" houses in the UK. His film scores are quite possibly the most important corpus contributing to the pattern, at least since Walton and Prokofiev, from the artistic point of view. His String Quartets - if not his Symphonies - have established themselves in concerts around the world, though less so here in the UK. His music is intensely "English", developing directly from the procedures of Purcell, through the prism of the present.

As a personal note, I've just been on a Nyman binge, to be astonished again by his music's fertility, strength and huge personality. Does Radio 3 find it too much strong meat, unclassifiable or populist? Possibly a combination of all three. They are of course completely wrong: Nyman's music speaks for our time, but will most assuredly outlive it.

My word, Master Jacques, what a panegyric!
I've overheard, heard, or listened to a deal of Nyman's music across several genres.Some of it has been effective, much has been fluent but none of it has registered as great.
However, your 'Epistle to the Boarders' has raised an important question: "if not Nyman, WHO?"

[Pianoman]

I have a CD set of his opera 'Facing Goya' which I couldn't really get on with at the time (must be 15 year ago...) but re-visiting it I'm finding a great deal more to admire - not least the libretto and philosophical / moral ideas behind it. The music struck me at first as 'typical Nyman' - which I suppose it is, but again I'm finding the textures, instrumentation, mood changes etc to be far more convincing this time round (being much older...)))

[Master Jacques]

My word, Master Jacques, what a panegyric!
I've overheard, heard, or listened to a deal of Nyman's music across several genres.Some of it has been effective, much has been fluent but none of it has registered as great.
However, your 'Epistle to the Boarders' has raised an important question: "if not Nyman, WHO?"

Well of course I was being intentionally provocative, and your "if not Nyman, WHO?" is of course the answer to the unanswerable question!

I really do think, though, that nobody writing in Britain today gets near him in opera (which of course biases me irrevocably in his favour) for which he has supremely-honed skills, and a challenging track record - like Pianoman it took me a couple of hearings to see what he was getting at in Facing Goya, but the "hook" was there. Yet ENO and the Royal Opera have consistently turned up their noses at him, in favour of composers whose operatic instincts are ... well, shall we say, less reliable.

[Master Jacques]

It was news to me that Michael Nyman has written operas and symphonies, so what you say about neglect seems to have some weight. He doesn't seem to be played on Radio 3 except for some of his film music, which .frankly, I didn't care for (all those loud saxophones) , so I can't comment on your claim that he's Britain's greatest living composer. I'm not sure that I'd call any living composers 'great' if only because I've become suspicious of that word. Now Hugh Wood has gone I'd say Huw Watkins is the best I've heard.

I remember Michael Nyman with gratitude as the author of a fascinating book : 'Experimental Music' which introduced me to the work of Howard Skempton, John White and others, and from which he seems modestly to have excluded mention of his own compositions. I'd certainly be interested to hear one or more of his symphonies.

In all honesty, I'd advice you (along with other posters here, I see) to go for the marvellous series of String Quartets. Not many of his 11 symphonies have been recorded, and one that has - a memorial to the victims of the Hillsborough Tragedy - is problematic, musically. His personal modesty is famous, and might account for his contentment not to get involved in the shark pits of the Coliseum and Royal Opera House, though happy to write operas for European companies and London music theatre.

[edashtav]

Thanks for the pointers, Master!

[antongould]

Like his music - always have - his appearance on Desert Island Discs can be heard BBC Genome - Sue Lawley gets straight to the heart of things ….

[Serial_Apologist]

Like his music - always have - his appearance on Desert Island Discs can be heard BBC Genome - Sue Lawley gets straight to the heart of things ….

May those whom For3 hath brought together, Nyman put asunder...

[antongould]

May those whom For3 hath brought together, Nyman put asunder...

Anyone who chooses Duane Eddy as his second selection is fine with me S_A …….

[Serial_Apologist]

Anyone who chooses Duane Eddy as his second selection is fine with me S_A …….

Never the Duane shall meet.

[antongould]

Never the Duane shall meet.

I found it very eddyfying