Benjamin Oliver
Benjamin Oliver (b. 1981) is a composer of, in the main, contemporary instrumental music. More than sixty of his works have been performed, his music has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, recorded and released by labels including Linn and Prima Facie, and his piece ‘Loop Concerto’ was nominated in the Contemporary Jazz category of the British Composer Awards 2017. His musical ideas often contain loops that reference jazz and other riff-based music but are combined, or offset by, a fascination with mechanical devices and systematic processes. He is Associate Professor in Composition at the University of Southampton and conductor of Workers Union Ensemble.
Key musical collaborators include: pianist Yshani Perinpanayagam; Ensemble Paramirabo (Montreal, 2016, 2020-2023); London Sinfonietta (‘Alternative Visions @ The BFI’, 2014; ‘Notes to the New Government’, 2015; Sinfonietta Academy 2016; Sinfonietta Short for solo percussion, 2017; community commission, 2021); ensemble mise-en (Mise-en Music Festival 2014 & 2018, New York); BBC Symphony Orchestra (SaM commission, 2013); Århus Sinfonietta (Sounds New, 2011); jazz pianist Ivo Neame (The Loop Project, 2017); and theorboist Elizabeth Kenny.
Ben has recently completed new works for New York toy pianist Dorothy Chan and a community piano piece for London Sinfonietta. Long term pandemic impacted projects include The Driver with poet Luke Wright for Riot Ensemble and a new large-scale theatre piece for Ensemble Paramirabo for puppeteers and ensemble, Pythagoras’ Toolkit developed in collaboration with theatre director Rachel Warr. Birmingham Record Company will release a portrait album, Too Many Sweets, in 2024.
Benjamin Oliver (b. 1981) is a composer of, in the main, contemporary instrumental music. More than sixty of his works have been performed, his music has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, recorded and released by labels including Linn and Prima Facie, and his piece ‘Loop Concerto’ was nominated in the Contemporary Jazz category of the British Composer Awards 2017. His musical ideas often contain loops that reference jazz and other riff-based music but are combined, or offset by, a fascination with mechanical devices and systematic processes. He is Associate Professor in Composition at the University of Southampton and conductor of Workers Union Ensemble.
Key musical collaborators include: pianist Yshani Perinpanayagam; Ensemble Paramirabo (Montreal, 2016, 2020-2023); London Sinfonietta (‘Alternative Visions @ The BFI’, 2014; ‘Notes to the New Government’, 2015; Sinfonietta Academy 2016; Sinfonietta Short for solo percussion, 2017; community commission, 2021); ensemble mise-en (Mise-en Music Festival 2014 & 2018, New York); BBC Symphony Orchestra (SaM commission, 2013); Århus Sinfonietta (Sounds New, 2011); jazz pianist Ivo Neame (The Loop Project, 2017); and theorboist Elizabeth Kenny.
Ben has recently completed new works for New York toy pianist Dorothy Chan and a community piano piece for London Sinfonietta. Long term pandemic impacted projects include The Driver with poet Luke Wright for Riot Ensemble and a new large-scale theatre piece for Ensemble Paramirabo for puppeteers and ensemble, Pythagoras’ Toolkit developed in collaboration with theatre director Rachel Warr. Birmingham Record Company will release a portrait album, Too Many Sweets, in 2024.
Recordings by this composer
Recordings
