T he Living Composers Project

Bochmann, Christopher (b. November 8, 1950, Chipping Norton). British-born Portuguese composer of mostly orchestral, chamber, choral, vocal, and piano works that have been performed throughout Europe.

Dr. Bochmann studied cello with his father Martin Bochmann (b. 1914 – d. 1983) as a child. He studied counterpoint and harmony with Donald Paine as a Music Scholar at Radley College from 1964–67, as well as composition and counterpoint privately with Nadia Boulanger in Paris from 1967–71 and composition privately with Sir Richard Rodney Bennett in London from 1969–72. He studied composition with Kenneth Leighton as a Music Scholar at Oxford University in 1968–69 and there also studied with Sir David Lumsden from 1968–71 and Robert Sherlaw Johnson from 1969–72, where he earned his BA with honors in 1971, BMus in 1972, MA in 1976, and DMus in 1999. In addition, he attended Dartington in 1970 and there encountered Sir Harrison Birtwistle and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.

Among his honors are two First prizes of the Lili Boulanger Memorial Fund in Boston (1968, 1976), the John Osgood Memorial Prize from Oxford University (1970) and First Prize in the Trio competition in Fontainebleau (1970, for De Profundis). In addition, he has earned First Prize in the competition of the Stroud Festival in the UK (1974, for Complainte de la Lune en Province), Second Prize in the Vienna competition (1977, for Snakes of Silver Throat) and the Clements Memorial Prize (1978, for String Quartet No. 2). He has also received Third Prize in the G.B. Viotti competition in Vercelli (1980, for Partita No. 2), First Prize in the Basque choral competition (1988, for O magnum Mysterium) and the Medalha pelo Mérito Cultural from the government of Portugal (2004) and was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (2005, for his work on behalf of British-Portuguese cultural relations).

Dr. Bochmann is also active in other positions. He sang as a chorister at St. George's Chapel in Windsor from 1960–64 and worked as a cellist in the National Youth Orchestra in London in 1966–67. He has served as the conductor of the Orquestra Sinfónica Juvenil in Portugal since 1984, with which he has toured extensively. He has founded numerous choruses and new-music ensembles in Portugal and there has been widely invited as a guest conductor, most often with the Orquestra Clássica da Madeira. In addition, he has written many articles and the book A Linguagem Harmónica do Tonalismo (2003, Juventude Musical Portuguesa).

He taught in the UK from 1971–77, including a term as music director at the Cranborne Chase School from 1973–76, and taught composition and harmony at the Yehudi Menuhin School in 1977. He taught analysis, choral conducting, counterpoint, harmony, and 20th-century techniques at the Instituto Gregoriano in Lisbon from 1980–91, composition, counterpoint, fugue, and harmony at the Conservatório Nacional de Lisboa from 1981–85 and analysis and composition at the Universidade Nova in Lisbon in 1985–86. He taught analysis and composition, among other subjects, at the Escola Superior de Música de Lisboa from 1984–2006, where he served as chair of the composition department from 1991–2006 and as director from 1995–2001. He has taught as Professor Catedrático Convidado at the Universidade de Évora since 2006, where he has also served as chair of the music department since 2006 and as director of the Escola das Artes since 2009. He gave summer courses in Brazil from 1978–85 and in Brasília in 2004–05 and taught as guest professor at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Leipzig in 2002.

Dr. Bochmann lived in Turkey from 1952–60 and has lived in Portugal since 1980.

CONTACT INFORMATION

E-mail address: bochmann@uevora.pt

Street address: Dr. Christopher Bochmann, R. 23, Casa 32, Bairro da Encarnação, 1800-374 Lisbon, Portugal

Telephone/fax: + 3512 1851 1180

COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS

STAGE: Corpo e Alma (chamber opera, libretto by the composer, after António Patrício), baritone, 5 mixed voices (soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor, bass), orchestra, 2008

ORCHESTRAL: Three Hodies, 1972; Four Rhythmic Studies, 1973; Air for String Orchestra, 1975 (version of section of Suite, cello, double bass); Tableaux Concertants, 1976; Nimbus, 1977; Stars, flute orchestra (25 players), 1980; Gestures I, any number of winds, 1982; Gestures III, any number of strings, 1982; Gestures IV, large orchestra, 1982; Aleafonia Concertante I, small orchestra, 1984; Aleafonia Concertante II, small orchestra, 1984; Em Homenagem, 1984; Aleafonia Concertante III, small orchestra, 1986; Epitaph, 1991; Song for Elizabeth, 13 strings, 1992; Motet, small orchestra (15 players), 1994; Metaphors, 1996; Monograph Expanded, piano, orchestra, 1997; Lament, small orchestra (15 players), 2001; Lauda, clarinet, clarinet orchestra (21 players), 2002; Linus, 2002; Lupercalia, 2002; Symphony, 2004–05

CHAMBER MUSIC: Three Dances, 3 guitars, 1968; De Profundis, violin, cello, piano, 1970; Three Bagatelles, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 1971; String Quartet No. 1, 1972; Partita No. 1, violin, 1972; Petite Sérénade, flute, harp, viola, 1973; Dies Irae, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, timpani, 1973; Invention on a mordent, 7 flutes, 1973 (also versions of some sections as Introduction and Aria, 6 clarinets, 1973; Caprice, 5 oboes, 1980); Chamber Étude No. 1, oboe, English horn, bassoon, harpsichord, 1975; Suite, cello, double bass, 1975 (also version of one section as Air for String Orchestra); Sonata da chiesa, clarinet, piano, 1976; Three Pieces, flute, 1976; Snakes of Silver Throat, 8 winds, 1976; String Quartet No. 2, 1976; Requiescat, percussion, 1977; Ludus polytonalis, clarinet, cello, 1977; Introit, string quartet, 1977; Dialogue I, flute, percussion, 1978; Wind Quintet No. 1, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 1978; Vespers, clarinet, piano, 1978; Partita No. 2, violin, 1978; Hymn, 8 clarinets, 1979; Wind Quintet No. 2, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 1979; Four Pieces, 4 trombones, 1979; Sonata, cello, 1979; Gavotte, 2 recorders, clarinet, 1980; Sonata-Fantasia, guitar, 1980; Wind Trio, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, 1980; Prayers to the wind, 2 violas, 1980 (also version as Minha Tírcia é tão bella, 3 violas, 1980); Essay I, trombone, 1980; Elegy, flute, 1981; Dialogue II, cello, piano, 1981; Essay III, violin, 1981; Essay IV, harp, 1981; Essay V, viola, 1982; Brass Quintet, French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, 1983; Mobiles for Alexandra, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trombone, 3 double basses, 1985; String Quartet No. 3, 1986; Boreas, 4 clarinets, 1988; Out of the Deep, viola, cello, double bass, 1988; Gusts, flute, clarinet, 1989; Essay VII, guitar, 1990; Melodies and Mobiles, clarinets, violins, percussion, 1990; Six or Seven Sketches – Wind Quintet No. 3, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 1992; Snow on Distant Hills, clarinet, 1992; Essay IX, trumpet, 1993; Essay X, recorder, 1993; Movements for Saxophone Quartet, 4 saxophones, 1994; Madrigal, 3 double basses, 1994; Metamorphoses, flute (+ alto flute), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), alto saxophone, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, violin, viola, cello, piano, 1995; Meander, 5 violas, 1995; Mutations, 4 clarinets, 1996; Monograms I–V, clarinet, 1995–2000 (each of its sections may be performed separately: Monogram I for A.S.D., 1995; Monogram II for E.C., 1999; Monogram III for S.A., 1999; Monogram IV for C.C., 2000; Monogram V for C.F., 2000); Metastrophe, flute, clarinet, bassoon, cello, 2000

CHAMBER MUSIC: Miniatures in memoriam Tom Eastwood, 2 violins, viola, 2001; Monumentum in memoriam Robert Sherlaw Johnson, string quartet, 2001; Essay XII, double bass, 2001; Essay XIII, alto saxophone, 2001; String Quartet No. 4, 2001; Lacrimae, oboe d'amore, ensemble (flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, vibraphone), 2001; Lied, violin, 2002; Leise, leise, viola, 2002; Seven Lessons, flute, oboe, tenor saxophone, violin, piano, 2003; Lampoons, tenor saxophone, 2003; Essay XIV, French horn, 2003; Lumen, percussion, 2004; Canzona I, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, violin, viola, cello, double bass, 2005; Cartoon, baritone saxophone, 2005; Essay XVI, bassoon, 2006; Cantilena, alto flute, 2006; Capriccio, soprano saxophone, 2007; Cantiga, flute, piano, 2007; Op. 27 plus – commentaries on Op. 27/1 by Webern, flute, clarinet, 2 violins, cello, piano, 2008; Commentaire sur le 2ème movement de 'Et Expecto' de Olivier Messiaen, oboe, 2008; Chiaroscuro, bass clarinet, 2008; Canzona II (vocalise), mezzo-soprano, flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, 3 guitars, violin, viola, cello, piano, 2008; Chimera I–II, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, guitar, violin, piano, 2008; Lied III, viola, 2009

CHORAL: Éventail, mixed chorus, brass, celli, 1974; Prayer of Mary Queen of Scots, 6 male voices, 1976; Chamber Étude No. 2, 6 male voices, 1977; Gestures II, mixed chorus, 1982; The Round Horizon, mezzo-soprano, female chorus, orchestra, 1982; Motets for Holy Week (texts from Latin liturgical sources), 1980–83 (each of its four sections may be performed separately: O Vos Omnes, 7 mixed voices, 1980; Crux Fidelis, mixed chorus, 1983; Salvator Mundi, 3 mixed voices, 1983; Ecce Lignum, unison chorus, 1983); Ego Sum Resurrectio et Vita, 10 mixed voices, 1985; Plaint, speaker, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1987; Motets for Christmas (texts from Latin liturgical sources), 1987–89 (each of its four sections may be performed separately: O magnum Mysterium, 12 mixed voices, 1987; Lux Fulgebit, 15 mixed voices, 1988; Verbum Caro Factum Est, 13 mixed voices, 1989; Hodie Christus Natus Est, 15 mixed voices, 1989); Epistle, 16 mixed voices, ensemble, 1991; Echoes, 12 female voices, 1991; Songs for Simeon, soprano, baritone, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1992; Sonnet, tenor, 7 male voices, harp, 4 celli, piano, percussion, 1993; Maria Matos Medley, 7 mixed voices, 1997; Magnificat, 12 mixed voices, 1998; My monstrous mountain'd walke, 6 mixed voices, 1999; Morning, 7 mixed voices, 2000; Leipziger Motetten, 5 male voices, 2002; Laudate Dominum, 12 mixed voices, 2004; Cicero Dixit (cantata), alto, any speaker, 2 spatial choral groups (4 mixed voices each), small orchestra (15 players), 2005–06

VOCAL: Accede ad ignem hunc, speaker, ensemble, 1970, revised 1972; Complainte de la Lune en Province, tenor, guitar, 1974; Arabesque, mezzo-soprano, clarinet, violin, percussion, 1979; Essay VI, voice, 1982; The Thinnest Hair, tenor, harp, 1984; Epigrams, soprano, baritone, organ, harpsichord, string quartet, 1991; Miserere Mei, speaker, small orchestra, 1994; Musette, soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, 1995; Memorial to Jorge Luis Borges, baritone, alto flute, bass clarinet, guitar, 4 violas, cello, 2 percussion, 1999; ...manhosamente..., soprano, piano, 2000; Lied der Liebe (text by Angelus Silesius), soprano, violin, cello, piano, 2002; Meeres Stille, soprano, piano, 2003; Leituras de Liberdade (text by Carlos Drummond de Andrade), soprano, flute, clarinet, harp, violin, viola, cello, piano, 2003; My Ladye Celia's Songbooke, baritone, piano, 2004; Cœlum non animum, soprano, alto saxophone, French horn, piano, vibraphone, 2006; Canticle (texts by John Donne, the Book of Lamentations), soprano, 2 tenors, alto recorder, tenor recorder, cello, 2008

PIANO: Sonata No. 1, 1971; Sonata No. 2, 'Sanctus', 1976; Preludes, 1979; Toccata, 2 pianos, 1980; Essay VIII, 1991; Monograph, 1994; Music for Two Pianos, 1998; 18 Miniatures, 2001; Letter to Ricardo Tacuchian, 2003; Music II for Two Pianos, 2006; Commentaries on 'Notations' by Pierre Boulez, 2007 (its movements should be performed in alternation with Notations by Pierre Boulez); Carrolling Bach: two fantasies, 2008

ORGAN: Essay II, 1981

HARPSICHORD: Classical Sonata, 1974; Essay XI, 2000

ARRANGEMENTS: Peixe Vivo (Brazilian popular music), 1978; Despedida do Pastoril (Brazilian popular music), 1979; Cavalo Marinho (Brazilian popular music), 1979; Boas Festas (Brazilian popular music), 1979; Prece ao Vento (Brazilian popular music), 1979; Pastorinhas (Brazilian popular music), 1984; A Garota de Ipanema (Brazilian popular music), 1984 (also versions for string quartet, 1986; 4 male voices, 1995); If the nightingales, 1989; Once in a while, 1989; There goes the ball game, 1989; Dallas blues, 1990; Messe basse (Gabriel Fauré), female voice, string orchestra, 1991; Vier Stücke, Op. 4 (Anton Webern), 11 players, 1992; Trois Préludes (Claude Debussy), small orchestra, 1994; Os cantores do Rádio, 1994; Sechs kleine Stücke, Op. 19 (Arnold Schoenberg), small orchestra, 1995; Só Danço Samba (Brazilian popular music), 4 male voices, 1995; Venham mais cinco, 8 celli, 1995 (also version for 6 celli, 2000); Homenagem a Manuel de Falla (Ivo Cruz), small orchestra, 1996; Thoughts (Tressler), small orchestra, 1996; Canções de Natal (19 traditional Christmas pieces, Peter Warlock, Ralph Vaughan Williams), 1973–97; Eurico – Recitativo e Cavatina (Miguel Ângelo Pereira), tenor, small orchestra, 1997; Drei kleine Stücke, Op. 11 (Anton Webern), small orchestra, 1997; Crazy little thing called love (Queen), 4 clarinets, 1997; Somebody to love (Queen), 4 clarinets, 1997; Nr. 2, 'Klavierstück III' (3 orchestrations; Karlheinz Stockhausen), flute, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, violin, viola, cello, 1998; Sept Préludes (Claude Debussy), 12 winds, 1999; Arie, Op. 103a No. 3 (Max Reger), string orchestra, 1999; Ballade (Tressler), small orchestra, 2000; Burla (Tressler), small orchestra, 2001; I never dreamt, 2003; Friday Night Rag, 2003; Ding! dong! merrily on high

DIDACTIC MUSIC: Christmas Cantata, girls' chorus, ensemble, 1975; Os Pastores (cantata), children's chorus, orchestra, 1978; Os Magos (cantata), children's chorus, orchestra, 1979; A Anunciação (cantata), children's chorus, orchestra, 1980; Six Modal pieces, piano, 1980; Six Easy pieces, piano, 1980; Six Polytonal pieces, piano, 1980; Five Pieces in the first position, cello, piano, 1980; Divisions, 5 flutes, 1993; Chains, 5 trumpets, 1993; Military miscellany, orchestra, 1998; Mosaic of the Air, youth orchestra, 2000; Lyric, youth orchestra, 2002 (also version as Lyric 2, 2 flutes, 2 clarinets, 3 violins, cello, 2003); Six Pantonal Pieces, piano, 2003; Six Dodecaphonic Pieces, piano, 2003

(Last updated on July 24, 2009)