Dr Paul Newland GMusRNCM (Hons) PhD (London)
Paul Newland studied composition with Anthony Gilbert and Sir Harrison Birtwistle (Royal Northern College of Music Manchester), Michael Finnissy (Royal Academy of Music), Jo Kondo (Elisabeth University of Music Japan) and Simon Holt (Royal Holloway University of London). His work had been performed and broadcast by ensembles and artists such as [rout], 175 East, Arditti Quartet, Asko Ensemble, BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Richard Casey, Jane Chapman, Composers Ensemble, Exquisite Corpse, Rolf Hind, Philip Howard, Huuj Ensemble, Ives Ensemble, Ixion, Jane's Minstrels, Seth Josel, Mieko Kanno, London Sinfonietta, Noszferatu, Psappha, and Opus 20.
His work has featured at several festivals including Bath Festival, Gaudeamus International New Music Week, Hoxton New Music Days, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Oxford Contemporary Music Festival, Spitalfields Festival, State of the Nation and Ultima. CD releases include Standing Jump recorded by [rout] and Butterfly dreaming... performed by Philip Howard both available on The Divine Art label.
Recent projects include “1-4” for solo harpsichord commissioned for Jane Chapman premiered last year at The Spitz and to be released by NMC in 2009, “situation 1”, “situation 2” and “environment” premiered by [rout] at HCMF 2007’s “The Night of the Unexpected” and “time quivers” for ensemble Radius premiered at Wigmore Hall in January. In May his work featured with the music of Jo Kondo as part of a double portrait concert at Kettles Yard Gallery Cambridge. He is currently working on a new piece for the London Symphony Orchestra commissioned as part of their recent project UBS Soundscapes:Pioneers.
In 1995, with composers Paul Whitty and Sam Hayden, he co-founded [rout], a collection of musicians and composers dedicated to collaborative inter-disciplinary performance. Several of his works have been written especially for [rout]. Recent [rout] appearances include Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Glasgow's Centre for Contemporary Art and Trinity Laban's Wired Up festival. For further information see www.routweb.com. In 2004 he formed the electric guitar duo Exquisite Corpse with guitarist David Arrowsmith. Exquisite Corpse's focus is the exploration of the physical quality and presence of sound through collaborative performance and structured improvisation.
Paul has received a number of awards including the RPS Composition Prize 1990, a Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award in 1993 and a Special Mention at the 1995 International Gaudeamus New Music Week. In 1995 Gyorgy Ligeti awarded him the Royal Academy of Music's Josiah Parker Prize for “peripeteia”. In 2008 he received the New Millenium Composers Award. Further information is available at http://www.bmic.co.uk/alias/paulnewland
Research
Paul is a practice-based researcher in composition with interests in acoustic, collaborative, interdisciplinary, and site specific work which invites close listening to sound through patterning, extended duration, amplification and slowing of often sparse, pared down material making use of both traditionally notated and open scores. The work draws on interests in Japanese culture and the visual arts. He is a founding member of the ensemble [rout] and the electric guitar duo exquisite corpse.