Home
Biography
Composer
List of Works
Solo vocal
Solo instrumental
Chamber
Orchestral
Choral
Conductor
Atlantic College
Contact
"Music has always been around me in some form or another, so it was natural for me to study it. I began by studying classical guitar at the Welsh College of Music and Dram, and freelanced for several years after gaining performing diplomas before studying for my undergraduate degree at Cardiff University. My interest in composing was sparked off by a memorable concert of Boulez' "Le Marteau sans Maitre" while I was there. However my most important compositional influence was through attending Dartington Summer School at the time when Sir Peter Maxwell Davies taught there. This showed me the depth, rigour, creativity and professionalism which was required of such artistic endeavors. It was after this that I began to have pieces performed.
I continued with a Master's degree from Goldsmith's College in London and during this time recieved performanced of my music from ensembles such as Singcircle, Lontano, Hilliard Ensemble, Music Projects London, both in south Wales and in the London area. Another important influence for me was attending the Aldeburgh School of Advanced Musical Studies when Sir Harrison Birtwistle was tutor.
I have learned and understood the language of music, but it took some time for me to be certain of my own style and artistic viewpoint, and this was because I had always felt a need to be expressive of those normal human emotions that had been present in so much music of the past, and which most often attracts us to music in the first place. At the same time however, I felt that modernism had thrown out many important musical characteristics that were of great value, and particularly the narrative element of this time-based art, so I seem to have tried to build upon the past rather than reject it, and incorporate an expressivity into music within a contemporary language. This, to me, is the challenge that faces us today."
Brian Noyes
Brian Noyes at the piano