he Living Composers Project

Hobbs, Christopher (b. September 9, 1950, Hillingdon). British composer of mostly chamber and piano works that have been performed in the Americas and Europe; he is also active as a pianist.

As a performer on various instruments, he was a member of the Scratch Orchestra from 1968-71, AMM from 1968-71, the Promenade Theatre Orchestra from 1970-73, the Hobbs-White Duo from 1973-76, and the Hartzell Hilton Ensemble from 1987-89. In addition to his own works, as a pianist, he has also often played the music of Érik Satie, including the première of the complete version of his Le fils des étoiles in 1989. He founded the Experimental Music Catalogue to distribute new music in 1969 and remains its publisher.

He taught at the Drama Centre in London from 1973-91 and has taught part-time at De Montfort University since 1985.

In addition to the works listed below, Dr. Hobbs has written much incidental music for stage productions, as well as songs.

CONTACT INFORMATION

E-mail address: chobbs@experimentalmusic.co.uk

Street address: Dr. Christopher Hobbs, 34 Baldwin Rd., Leicester LE2 6HA, UK

Website (Experimental Music Catalogue): http://www.experimentalmusic.co.uk

SELECT LIST OF WORKS

STAGE: The Mountebanks (2 act operetta, libretto by W.S. Gilbert), 1976

ORCHESTRAL: The Arnold/Wolf-Ferrari Orchestra Book, 1969-70

CHAMBER MUSIC: Harp Star-Pieces, 1967; Trio, 2 violins, 3 violas, 2 celli, 1968; Music for the Crumbling Cookie 1-2, any ensemble, 1968; 55 Endings from 66 Choral Improvisations in 8 Major Keys, flute, oboe, clarinet, alto saxophone, bassoon, trombone, viola, double bass, 4 reed organs, 1971; Out of Exercise 2, flute, oboe, English horn, bass clarinet, tuba, 2 double basses, 2 toy pianos, 2 reed organs, 1971; Piobaireachd Exercise, flute, 2 oboes, clarinet, bassoon, trombone, viola, double bass, 1971; Exercise for Percussionists, any number of percussion, 1974; Rondo – Fantasia, 2 flutes, bass clarinet, trombone, harp, string quartet, piano, 1974; Soft Saxon Systems, 8 psalteries, piano 4 hands, 2 glockenspiels, 6 percussion, 1974; 6 Preludes and 5 Chorales, 3 clarinets, bass clarinet, 1975; Sonatina, tuba, piano, 1975; Preludes, tuba, piano, 1975; Symphonic Dances, toy piano, reed organ, percussion, 1975; Symphonic Dances II, tuba, piano, reed organ (+ percussion), 1975; 12 Sketches, tuba, piano, 1976; Sonatina, bassoon, piano, 1976; Study for Solo Percussion, 1977; Orangerearrangement, flute, percussion, 1977; Recitative, bass clarinet, celesta, vibraphone, percussion, 1979; Three for Redlands, 2 flutes, oboe, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, 2 pianos, vibraphone, 1979; Still Life, and Moving, tuba, piano, percussion, 1979; Still Life, and Moving (Detail), tuba, piano, percussion, 1979

CHAMBER MUSIC: Sextet, flute, oboe, clarinet, tenor saxophone, French horn, bassoon, 1980; 17 One-Minute Pieces, string quartet, 1980; Swiftly to Virginia, E-flat clarinet, piano, 1981, revised 1991; The Wide Open, alto saxophone, French horn, trumpet, piano, organ, tam-tam, 1981; Rites of Passage, clarinet, piano (+ tam-tam), 1982; The Only Game in Town, 2 electronic keyboards, 1983; Back Seat Album, synthesizer, tape, 1983; Footlight and Fancy Bound, alto saxophone, vibraphone, tape, 1984; Four Studies in Shadow, bass flute, bass clarinet, bassoon, 1984; Four Pieces, 2 clarinets, 2 alto saxophones, bassoon, trumpet, 2 trombones, piano, 2 percussion, 1985; Four Pieces, tuba, electronic keyboard, 1986; A Short Set, flute, oboe, clarinet, 2 alto saxophones, bassoon, vibraphone, tubular bells, 1986; Movement, flute, 2 clarinets, alto saxophone, bassoon, trombone, piano 4 hands, 1986; Fanfares, 2 E-flat clarinets, 1987; Gothic Swing, 2 E-flat clarinets, 2 violas, piano, vibraphone, 1987; Second String Quartet, 1987; Another Part of the Forest, 2 E-flat clarinets, 2 violas, piano, vibraphone, 1988; In Other Parts of the Forest, 2 pianos, harmonium, 1989; 5 Pieces for the Ensemble 'Live Batts!', 2 electronic keyboards, 1990 (each of its sections may be performed separately: Batt Jogg; The Batts of the Delectable Mountains; Batt Scrapps; Batt Flapp; Batt Fancie)

CHAMBER MUSIC: 5 Pieces for Casio MT 750, synthesizer, 1990-91; Strong Intending, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, electronic keyboard, 1991; Tokyo Games, clarinet, electronic keyboard, 1991; Figuring on Nervous Drums, percussion, 1992; Sonatina, flute, piano, 1992; 17 One-Minute Pieces, bass clarinet, synthesizer, 1992; A Window Opened on a Distant World, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 French horns, piano, 1992; Why Not, bass clarinet, 1994; Scherzo and Lyric, E-flat clarinet, piano, 1991-95; No One May Ever Have the Same Knowledge Again (text from an anonymous source), any number of voices/tape, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, vibraphone, percussion, 1996; 6 Duos, tuba, double bass, 1997; Starscape, vibraphone, string quartet, 1997; Après A.E.L.S., mezzo-soprano, soprano recorder, soprano saxophone, trombone, electric guitar, viola, double bass, piano, marimba, 1998 (section of L'Auteur se Retire; may be performed separately)

CHORAL: 2 Watt Settings, 4 male voices, c. 1970; Sono Cantusque Congrua (text from an anonymous source), 4 male voices, 1994; Après Gesualdo (text from an anonymous source), 5 mixed voices, 1996 (section of L'Auteur se Retire; may be performed separately)

VOCAL: The Castle Keep (text by Franz Kafka), 1-10 amplified speakers, 1970; Four Morgenstern Songs, baritone, piano/piano 4 hands, 1975; In the Silent Void (texts from Chinese poems [translated by Arthur Waley]), baritone, viola, piano (+ percussion), 1981; Five Morgenstern Songs, baritone, piano, 1984; Conspicuous Consumer (text from an anonymous source), mezzo-soprano, 2 flutes, trombone, viola, piano, 1988 (also version for soprano, piano, 1997); Drei Lieder aus 'Der Struwwelpeter' (text by Heinrich Hoffmann), mezzo-soprano/baritone, piano, 1990; Extended Relationships and False Endings (texts from soap opera digests), any number of amplified speakers, bass guitar, piano, 2 percussion, 1992-93

PIANO: Czerny's 100 royal Bouquet Valses, arranged for Such as cannot reach an Octave, any number of pianos, c. 1970; The Remorseless Lamb, 2 pianos, 1970; Out of Exercise 3, 1971; Pretty Tough Cookie, 2 pianos, c. 1972; Piano Pieces 1-12, 1973 (each of its sections may be performed separately); First Duet Set, 2 pianos/piano 4 hands, 1974; Second Duet Set, 2 pianos/piano 4 hands, 1975; Sonatina No. 1, 1975; Sonatina No. 2, 1976; Alleluia, 2 pianos, 1977; Sonatina No. 3, 1977; Sonatina No. 4, 1977; Sonatina No. 5, 1979; Sonatina No. 6, 1980; Sonatina No. 7, 1986; Piano Pieces, 1991; Stately, and Rather Remote, 2 pianos, 1992; 24 Preludes, 1992; A Compendium of Games, 2 pianos, 1994 (one section may be performed separately: Changes, piano); Fifty in Two Thousand, piano (+ synthesizer, percussion), 2000; L'Auteur se Retire, 1996– (ongoing work; each of its 16 sections may be performed separately: Après Chopin, 1996; Après Debussy, 1996; Après Schubert, 1996; Après Scarlatti, 1996; Après Sweelinck, 1996; Après Gesualdo, 5 mixed voices, 1996; Après Schumann, 1996; Après J.S. Bach, 1996; Après Grainger, 1996; Après Beethoven, 1996; Après Couperin, 1996; De Satie après Cage, 2 pianos, 2003; Après Rakhmaninov, 1996; Après Schoenberg, 1996; De Schoenberg après Busoni, 1996; Après A.E.L.S., mezzo-soprano, ensemble, 1998)

ORGAN: Christmas Piece for Organ, Volume 1, organ 4 hands, 1967-68; Christmas Piece for Organ, Volume 2, organ 4 hands, 1969

ELECTROACOUSTIC: Home, tape, c. 1970; Come on, Get it Together, Chaps!, computer, 1988; Changes 1, computer, 1988; Changes 2, computer, 1988

TEXTS: One Note, 1966; Voicepiece, 1967; Shortly before Midnight, c. 1968; To All Who Live in Simple Unpretentious Houses – (Composition, Feb 10 1968), 1968; Song 1, 1968; Measuring Means, 1968; The Glory of Highland Scotland – Tour 47 – (Composition, Sep 3 1968), 1968; Song 2, 1968; Walk Event, 1968; Too Soft to Touch, but Too Lovely not to Try – (Composition, Dec 16 1968), 1968; Higgins' Eternal Ink – (Composition, Dec 25 1968), 1968; 125 Questions for Pianists, 1969; Two Compositions, 21 May 1969, 1969; The Friesian Cow, 1969; Can You Hear Me, Mother?, 1970

WORKS FOR THE PROMENADE THEATRE ORCHESTRA, 1970-73: Aran, toy piano, reed organ, percussion; The Back Gate of Kiev, 4 reed organs; Climax Hit-Off, 4 toy pianos, 4 reed organs; Dufay Accompli, 4 toy pianos, 4 reed organs; French Lady Gives Strict Counterpoint Lessons, 2 toy pianos, 4 reed organs; G Major Machine, 4 reed organs; He's My Guy (text from an anonymous source), 4 speakers, 4 reed organs; Imitation Roll-Off, oboe, clarinet, trombone, percussion; MacCrimmon Will Never Return, 4 reed organs; Mastery of the Beat, 4 reed organs; Out of Exercise, 4 toy pianos, 4 reed organs; Oxford Street Walk, oboe, clarinet, trombone, any drum; Rhythm Walk, percussion; Sad Lost-F Mantra, 3 toy pianos, woodblocks; Scriabin Readymade, 4 toy pianos; Straight off the Top, oboe, bass clarinet, trombone; Trio, 3 percussion; 12-bar Blues Machine, 4 toy pianos; Two Doomsday Machines, 4 pianos/reed organs; Two 15^th Century Roll-Offs, 4 toy pianos, 4 reed organs; With the Ascending Modulation, His Fame May Rise, 3 reed organs, percussion; Woman Has Naught to Do with Fame (text from an anonymous source), 4 speakers, 4 reed organs; Working Notes, 3 toy pianos, reed organ

WORKS FOR THE HOBBS-WHITE DUO, 1973-76: Another Exercise, 2 percussion; Daughter of Luna, 2 toy pianos (both + reed organ, percussion); A Fair Lick, 2 percussion; Festival Machine, 2 reed organs (both + bell metronome); Heavy Viking Systems, 2 percussion; Intermezzo 1, 2 toy pianos (both + percussion); Intermezzo 2, 2 toy pianos (both + percussion); Knight's System, 2 percussion; Lincoln E. Moses Comes down from the Mountain, 2 percussion; A Mother's Son, 2 percussion; Mummers are Coming, 2 toy pianos (both + reed organ); Number Piece 1, 2 percussion; Number Piece 2, 2 percussion; Number Piece 3, 2 percussion; Preludio alla Reminiscenza, bassoon, toy piano (+ reed organ); Slow Swing, tuba, toy piano (+ reed organ); Steady Pace Journey, 2 percussion; Systemic Mettle, 2 percussion; Timpani Studies, 2 percussion; Village Organist Roll-Off, 2 toy pianos (both + reed organ)

(Last updated on August 7, 2003)