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Owen Bourne - Composer

Biography

  "He is a composer of great individuality, both in style and attitude."

Steve Martland- Composer

"...London's fast-rising composer"

London Metro

 

Owen Bourne is one of the most prolific and distinctive voices in new British music. He was born in Manchester in 1980. He studied at the prestigious Chethams School of Music and was hand picked to be the first ever Resident Student Composer with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain aged only 16.

He has written over 80 works including 6 major concertos for leading instrumentalists, a large Concerto for Orchestra and his First Symphony. Cross-genre collaborations include "Empire Chambers" for the Hackney Empire and Manchester club outfit 'Norvun Devolution' and an installation commission for the National Gallery. A large choral work for children's chorus, soloists and orchestra "East Meets West" was composed for a comprehensive tour of Jersey. 2006 included collaborations with the World Street-Dance Champions 'Flawless' in Trafalgar Square and an Organ Concerto for the 14th Century Bridlington Priory. Owen works closely with artist Sam Jefferys, who he passionately champions. He has recently completed a Double Violin Concerto for Clio and Tom Gould, to be performed by the 'Orchestra of the Swan' in 2008 and several piano sonatas. He is also planning projects in Poland, Sweden and New York. He is Creative Director and Chair in Composition with the dynamic EMFEB Symphony which he co-founded, and is also Composer in Residence with the Fulham Symphony Orchestra and the Seychelles International Festival Symphony Orchestra. 

His music has been performed at major festivals such as the Bath International Festival, the Cheltenham Music Festival, the International Grassington Festival and the Spitalfields Festival. He has received commissions from groups such as the BBC Singers, the Southbank Sinfonia, and the London Sinfonietta in the 2002 'State of the Nation' at the Royal Festival Hall.

Aged 19 the society for the promotion of new music (Spnm) shortlisted his music for the 'Discover Denmark Festival' with the BCMG at the BBC Pebble Mill Studios. Steve Martland then commissioned a Marimba Concerto for the Goldberg Ensemble with BBC Young Musician winner Adrian Spillett.

He went on to make a huge impact on the 'Joint Course' between the Royal Northern College of Music and Manchester University, and through postgraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London under Paul Patterson. He completed his Masters degree having been awarded the 'Mortimer Development Award' by John Suchet and the 'Friends of the Royal Academy of Music'.



His music has since been performed internationally, received rave reviews, and featured on BBC London. His 'Pub Opera' "The Salisbury Songs" drew wide and triumphant acclaim and was repeated at the majestic new Hackney Empire with Owen singing the lead role.

Owen lives in London with his partner Nina, and son Marcus. 

Repertoire

OWEN BOURNE - WORKS AND PERFORMANCES

ORCHESTRAL

'First History: A History of Heat'. 2001 Chamber Orchestra. 1st perf: (three from five movements) St Johns-at-Hackney. 19/02/05. The EMFEB Orchestra cond: Ben Ellin.

'The Manor House- A Concerto for Orchestra in Two Parts'. 2003. Masterclass perf: RAM 13/03/03. RAM Symphony Orchestra cond: the composer.

'The Baronial Hall' 2003. Chamber orchestra minus violins. 1st perf: St Johns-at-Hackney. 18/11/03. The EMFEB Orchestra. Cond: Ben Ellin. 2nd perf: Church of St Francis Assisi 29/01/05. The Hayes Symphony Orchestra cond: Ben Ellin.

'Dooley’s Bass'. 2004/5 Symphony Orchestra. 1st perf: 02/07/05. Fulham Town Hall. Fulham Symphony Orchestra. Cond: Marc Dooley. Commissioned by the PRS in conjunction with the spnm/Making Music ‘Adopt a Composer’ scheme. Revised in 2007 as Passacaglia: Unperformed

'Ellin’s Bass' 2004. Chamber Orchestra. 1st perf: 13/07/04. 1st Smithills School Arts Festival. The EMFEB Orchestra. Cond: Ben Ellin. 2nd perf: 11/12/04. St Johns-at-Hackney. The EMFEB Orchestra. Cond: Ben Ellin. Funds Provided by the Britten-Pears Foundation.

'Pillars Pageantry and Polyphony'. 2005. Chamber Orchestra and solo trumpet. Also See ‘Buildings’. “Pageantry” written for and dedicated to Cameron Todd. 1st Performance on EMFEB Tour of Sledmere House and Bridlington Priory. Cond: Ben Ellin. 11and12/08/05.

'Trafalgar Scherzo' 2006. Large Symphony Orchestra 1st Perf: 31st May 2006. Trafalgar Square with the ‘Flawless Dancers’. EMFEB Symphony Orchestra cond. Benjamin Ellin.

'Goldberg Dances' 2006 Chamber Orchestra. 2 flutes, 2 clarinets, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, trumpet, trombone, Snare drum, glockenspiel, tambourine, strings. 1st perf: 12/12/07 West London Synagogue. EMFEB Chamber Orchestra. Ben Ellin

'Concerto for Orchestra' 2007. Large symphony orchestra. Part One: ‘An Adult’s Guide to the Orchestra’. Part Two: Dolce. Part Three: ‘Spring’ For the Warsaw Autumn Festival


CONCERTOS

'Line' 1999. Euphonium and Brass Ensemble. 1st perf: 27/01/00. David Thornton and RNCM Brass at the International Tuba Conference. Cond: Chris Swaffer.

'Lime' 2001. Marimba and String Orchestra. 1st perf: 28/02/02. Wolverhampton. Adrian Spillett and the Goldberg Ensemble cond: Malcom Layfield. 2nd perf: RAM 30/06/03. Teddy Bergstrom and The Lime Ensemble. Cond: the composer. Commissioned by Steve Martland/spnm.
REVISED 2006:
Marimba and Chamber Ensemble. Flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, strings. For Teddy Bergstrom

'Dine' 2004 Flute and Chamber orchestra. 1st perf: St Johns-at-Hackney. 02/04. Gareth Mclearnon and the EMFEB Orchestra cond: Ben Ellin. 2nd perf:St John’s Waterloo 17/03/05. Gareth Mclearnon and The Southbank Sinfonia cond: Peter Weigold

'Brine' 2004. Piano and String Orchestra. 1st perf: St James Church, Jersey CI. 02/10/04. Christopher George and The EMFEB Lime Ensemble. Cond: Ben Ellin

'Shine' 2005. Horn and Chamber Orchestra. 1st perf: 28/05/05. St Johns-at-Hackney. John Davy and the EMFEB Orchestra cond Ben Ellin.

'Organ Concerto' 2006. Organ and Chamber Orchestra. 1st Perf: 15/07/06. Bridlington Priory. Przemysław Salamoński and EMFEB. Cond: Ben Ellin


LARGE ENSEMBLE

'March is Past' 2000. Brass Band. For the Gwent Youth Music Service.

'Guildhall Chambers' 2000. Brass Dectet. 1st perf. GSMD 02/05/01. Alliance Brass. Cond: Ben Ellin. Revised as Empire Chambers 2005. 1st perf. Hackney Empire 23/10/05. EMFEB Brass. Cond: Ben Ellin. Collaboration with visual projections from “Norvun Devolution”

'Academy Chambers' 2001. String Orchestra. 1st perf. RAM 21/11/01 RAM String orchestra. Cond: Leo Hussain

'Green Lanes'. In Two Parts 2002 String Orchestra. 1st perf: (Part One) 30/06/03. RAM. The Lime Ensemble cond: the composer. 2nd perf: (complete) 05/03. The Salisbury Hotel. The EMFEB Lime Ensemble cond: Ben Ellin. Also featured on the BBC London Robert Elms Show.

'White Building' 2003. Orchestra or String ensemble. 1st perf: 24/05/03. St Johns-at-Hackney. The EMFEB Orchestra cond: Ben Ellin. 2nd perf (string version): RAM 30/06/03. The Lime Ensemble cond: the composer.

'Green Building' 2004. 1st perf: St Johns-at-Hackney. 29/05/04. The EMFEB Orchestra cond: Ben Ellin.

'Gold Building' 2005. In 8-parts. 1st perf: 11/08/05. Bridlington Priory and Sledmere House. The EMFEB Orchestra cond: Ben Ellin. Same details for....

'Silver Building' 2005. In 5-parts.

'The Grassington Variations' 2004. String Orchestra. 1st perf: The Grassington International Festival. 18/06/04. The EMFEB London Serenade Ensemble cond: Ben Ellin. Funds were provided by the RVW Trust. 2nd perf: St Johns-at-Hackney 13/11/04. The EMFEB Strings cond: Ben Ellin.

'Mountain Nocturne'. 2005. Brass Dectet. 1st perf: 05/05. The Alpujarras Mountains of Andalucia, Spain. Repeated at several villages in the region. EMFEB Brass. Cond: Ben Ellin

'National Gallery Fanfare' 2006. Mixed wind and brass (16 players) 1st perf: National Gallery. LONDON. 2nd June 2006. EMFEB under Benjamin Ellin to close the FLYA Festival.

'The Red and the White Rose'. ‘A Concert Sweet for Dobcross Youth Band’. 2006. Full Brass Band and Percussion. 1st perf: TBC. Dobcross Band Club. Commission funds provided by Mr Godfrey Teal.

‘Little Bear’ Variations 2007 String Orchestra (From Music Box) 1st perf: 04/02/07 West London Synagogue. EMFEB. Ben Ellin


CHAMBER

'Dr. Hagfanbek’s Fanfare Option' 1997. 3 tpts, 3 tbns and tubular bells. 1st perf. Cheltenham Music Festival July 1997. NYO cond: Rory McDonald. 2nd perf. GSMD 27/03/00. Alliance Brass. Cond: Ben Ellin.

'Dramatic Symmetry' 1998. Wind Quintet, Stg. Quartet. 1st perf: NYO Residential Course. 06/98 cond: the composer.

'Paint a Line Electric' 1999. Wind Quintet.

'Three Portraits of Those Most Tender'. 1999. Wind Quintet. 1st perf: BBC Pebble Mill Studios. 27/10/01. BCMG cond: Pierre-Andre Valade. Spnm shortlisted composition.

'In Search of Silver Poetry' 1999. 1st perf: RAM 2002. Manson Ensemble cond: Robert Fokkens.

'Denmark Study' 2001. Tbn, pf. 1st perf: Manchester University 30/05/01. 2nd perf: Brewers Arts Festival. 06/02

'Oxford Study' 2002. Euphonium and two trombones. 1st perf: RNCM 06/02. RNCM Brass.

'Music Book'. 2000 1st perf: (finale only) Manchester University. The Lindsay String Quartet.

'Manchester Fugues No1.' 2001. Brass Dectet. 1st perf: St Sepulchres Church London. 31/10/01. Alliance Brass cond: Ben Ellin.

'Manchester Fugues No. 2.' 2001. Trombone Quartet. 1st perf: Newbury Spring Festival 2002. Bones Apart.

'Manchester Fugues No. 3.' 2002. Six solo trumpets. 1st perf: RNCM International Trumpet Conference. 06/07/02. Trumpet virtuosi cond: the composer. 2nd perf: RAM 04/04/03. RAM Brass cond: the composer.

'Tomala’s Bass' 2002. Recorder and Harpsichord. 1st Perf: Bath International Festival/installation with artist Stephano Scheggi. 2nd perf: version for violin and piano, 27/05/05 RAM recital.

'Junior’s Bass' 2002. wind Quintet. 1st perf: RAM 22/06/02. Junior Academy. Cond: Matthew Taylor.

'First Sad Song/ First Rhythm Song.' 2002. Recorder, harpsichord, violin and cello. 1st perf: RAM New Music Buffet. 2002.

'Third Sad Song' ‘Grogan’s Grog’ 2003. Clt solo, flt, vln, pf, vlc, Glock, wd blks. 1st perf: RAM 16/05/03. Manson Ensemble cond: the composer.

'Third Rhythm Song' ‘Jeffrey’s Medicine’ 2002. Mixed chamber ensemble. RAM promotional CD “Nine”. Manson Ensemble cond: Simon Bainbridge. Released 2003.

'Two Clockwork Flowers'. - from The Grassington Variations. 2005. Flute, Clarinet, 2 Bassoons, 2 Trumpets, 2 Trombones. 1st perf: Abney Hall, Stoke Newington. 26/11/05. Collaboration with “The Creative Collective”. Art Exhibition. EMFEB Cond: Ben Ellin.

'Music Box'. 2007: For String quartet or String Orchestra. ‘A Children’s Ballet for Adults’ Burton Agnes House 14th July 2007. EMFEB Strings under Benjamin Ellin



CHORAL/ VOCAL


'The Bee’s Last Journey to the Rose'. 1999. Tenor, pf.

'Mime' (1) 2001. 1st perf: RAM 09/10/01. The BBC Singers cond: Ron Corp.

'Mime' (2) 2001. 1st perf: Amadeus Centre. BBC Singers cond: Ron Corp.

'A Poem for Markku' 2002. 1st perf: Marylebone Parish. The BBC Singers cond Ron Corp.
(All works SATB)

'Two Cabaret Songs' 2003. Jazz Mezzo and mixed ensemble. 1st perf: Spitalfields Festival, Wilton’s Music Hall 20/06/03. The Manson Ensemble cond: Dominic Muldowney. Words by W.H Auden.

'The Salisbury Songs'. A Pub-Opera. 2004. Tenor. Soprano. Flt, ob, sax,2 hns, tpt, 2 vlc. 1st perf: The Salisbury Hotel. 27/11/04. The EMFEB Salisbury Ensemble cond: Ben Ellin. Libretto: Nick Perry. Funds provided by the RVM Trust.

'East Meets West'. 2005 ‘Sun-Songs and Clocks on Texts By Jersey School Children.’ Two Choirs, Soprano soloist and symphonic wind ensemble. 1st perf: 07/05. Jersey CI Tour. EMFEB Symphonic Winds and Jersey Schools Choir cond: Ben Ellin.

'During Wind and Rain': A Hardy Cycle 2007. Tenor and String Orchestra. 5 Thomas Hardy settings. 1st Perf Bridlington Priory 15th July 2007. Alex Pidgen Tenor. 2nd perf: St-Johns –at- Hackney 16th July. Alex Pidgen

'Stabat Mater' 2007. Tenor, Soprano piano, violin, viola and cello. Written in Warsaw in Easter 2007. Unperformed


SOLO

'Vanessa’s Book' 2001. pf solo. 1st perf: RAM 25/02/02. Vanessa Lee. Piano.

'Crabb’s Book' 2002. Accordion. 1st perf: Royal Festival Hall, Chesfield Room. State of the Nation Festival. 27/04/02. James Crabb, Accordion. 2nd perf: RAM 24/06/03. Yi Yao.

'Loureiro’s Book' 2002. Guitar solo. 1st perf: RAM 24/06/03. Joao Loureiro, guitar.

'Teal’s Book' 2006. Mixed Brass.

'Piano Sonata 1'. 2007 - unperformed

'Piano Sonata 2'. 2007 - unperformed

Soundclips

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