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Matthews, Colin (b. February 13, 1946, London). British composer of orchestral, chamber, choral, vocal, and piano works that have been performed throughout the world; he is also active as a producer and scholar.
Mr. Matthews initially studied classics at the University of Nottingham, but then studied composition there with Nicholas Maw and Arnold Whittall. He earned his doctorate at the University of Sussex for his work on Gustav Mahler. He later received an honorary doctorate from the University of Nottingham in 1998.
His honors include the Ian Whyte Award from the Scottish National Orchestra (1975, for Sonata No. 4) and the Royal Philharmonic Society Music Award for Large-Scale Composition (1996, for Renewal). Recent commissions include ones from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.
As a producer, he founded NMC Recordings, which focuses on contemporary music, and remains its executive producer. He has also produced recordings for BMG, Bridge, Collins Classics, Conifer, Continuum, Deutsche Grammophon, Metronome, Nonesuch, and Virgin Classics. As a scholar, he and his brother David Matthews collaborated with Deryck Cooke on the revised performing version of the Symphonie Nr. 10 by Gustav Mahler from 1964-74. He also wrote a monograph on Gustav Mahler.
Mr. Matthews is also active in other positions. He worked with Lord Benjamin Britten and Imogen Holst at Aldeburgh from 1971-76, later served as a council member of the Aldeburgh Foundation from 1983-94 and continues to serve as co-director with Oliver Knussen of the Contemporary Composition and Performance Course at the Aldeburgh Festival. In addition, he is an administrator of the Holst Foundation, chairman of the Britten Estate, trustee of the Britten-Pears Foundation, and a long-time member of the Council of the Society for the Promotion of New Music. He also served as director of the Performing Right Society from 1992-95 and associate composer to the London Symphony Orchestra from 1992-99. He has served as composer-in-association to the Hallé Orchestra since 2001.
He taught at the University of Sussex in 1972-73 and 1976-77. He was later a visiting composer and teacher at Tanglewood in 1991 and is currently the Prince Consort Professor of Music at the Royal College of Music, a governor of the Royal Northern College of Music and the Distinguished Visiting Fellow in Composition at the University of Manchester.
Faber Music publishes his works.
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail address: cmatt@argonet.co.uk
E-mail address for consulting scores: promotion@fabermusic.com
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
STAGE: Pursuit (ballet), small orchestra (16-17 players), 1987 (version of Suns Dance)
ORCHESTRAL: Sonata No. 4, 1974-75; Night Music, 1976-77, revised 1999; Little Suite No. 2, 1979; Sonata No. 5, 'Landscape', 1977-80; Divertimento, double string orchestra, 1982 (version of work for double string quartet); Canonic Overture, 1983; Concerto No. 1, cello, orchestra, 1983-84; Toccata Meccanica, 1984 (also version for symphonic band, 1993); Variation on 'Sumer is Icumen in', 1987 (collaboration with Oliver Knussen, Robert Saxton, Robin Holloway, Judith Weir, Alexander Goehr, David Bedford); Monody, large orchestra, 1987; Two-part Invention, small orchestra (19 players), 1987-88; Cortège, large orchestra, 1988; Hidden Variables, small orchestra (15 players), 1988-89 (also version for large orchestra, 1991); Quatrain, 1989; Machines and Dreams, toy instruments, large orchestra, 1990; Chiaroscuro, 1990; Three Machines, toy instruments, orchestra, 1991; Broken Symmetry, large orchestra, 1991-92 (also incorporated into Renewal); Contraflow, small orchestra (14 players), 1992; Memorial, large orchestra (68 players), 1992-93; ...through the glass, small orchestra (16 players), 1994; M50, 1994-95; Threnody, harp, piano, 48 strings, 1995-96; Intrada, 1995-96; Renewal, mixed chorus, large orchestra, 1995-96 (incorporates Broken Symmetry); Concerto No. 2, cello, orchestra, 1996
ORCHESTRAL: Dowlandia, small orchestra (15 players), 1997; Elegeia, small orchestra (15 players), 1998; Two Tributes, small orchestra (16 players), 1999; Little Continuum, small orchestra (16 players), 1999; Unfolded Order, 1999; Fanfare in Sea, 1999; Pluto, the Renewer, off-stage female chorus, large orchestra, 2000; Concerto, French horn, large orchestra, 2001; Fanfare for the 2001 Proms, small orchestra (brass, percussion), 2001; The journey ends here, cello, small orchestra (17 players), 2001-02; Flourish, with Fireflies, small orchestra (16 players), 2002; Bright Cecilia: Tema and Tema Elaborata, large orchestra, 2002; Vivo, large orchestra, 2002; Reflected Images, large orchestra, 2002-03
CHAMBER MUSIC: Ceres, 3 flutes, harp, 2 celli, double bass, 2 percussion, 1972, revised 1985; Partita, violin, 1975; Specula, flute, harp, viola, percussion, 1976; Rainbow Studies, flute (+ piccolo), oboe (+ English horn), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), bassoon, piano, 1977-78; Little Suite, harp, 1979; String Quartet No. 1, 1979; Oboe Quartet No. 1, oboe, violin, viola, cello, 1981; Divertimento, double string quartet, 1982 (also version for double string orchestra); Triptych (tripartite inventions), piano, string quartet, 1984; Suns Dance, piccolo, oboe, bass clarinet, contrabassoon, French horn, string quartet, double bass, 1984-85 (also version as ballet Pursuit); String Quartet No. 2, 1985, revised 1989; Three Enigmas, cello, piano, 1985; Five Duos, cello, piano, 1987; Fuga, alto flute (+ flute), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), French horn, viola, cello, double bass, piano, percussion, 1988; Chaconne with Chorale and Moto Perpetuo, violin, piano, 1988; Five Untitled Pieces, flute (+ piccolo), 1987-89; Oboe Quartet No. 2, oboe, violin, viola, cello, 1988-89; Three-part Chaconne, violin, viola, cello, piano left hand, 1989; Three Studies, clarinet (+ bass clarinet), piano, 1989; Five Concertinos, alto flute (+ piccolo), oboe, E-flat clarinet (+ bass clarinet), French horn, bassoon, 1989-90; Cadenzas to Haydn C major Cello Concerto, 1990
CHAMBER MUSIC: To Compose without the least Knowledge of Music, flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 1991; Duologue, oboe, piano, 1991; Palinode, cello, 1992 (also version for 9 celli, 1999); Night Spell, oboe, piano, 1992; Omaggio, violin, piano, 1990-93; L, bent..., flute, oboe, bass clarinet, bassoon, French horn, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, 1993; String Quartet No. 3, 1993-94; Three Interludes, clarinet, viola, piano, 1994; 23 Frames, French horn, viola, cello, piano, 1994; Elegiac Chaconne, alto flute, bass clarinet, viola, cello, piano, 1997; Capriccioletto, violin, piano, 1998; Cadenzas to Haydn D major Cello Concerto, 1998; Oscuro, viola, piano, 1999; Introduction, Chaconne and Corrente, guitar, 1999; Calmo, viola, piano, 1999; A Quick Start, French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, 2001; Mechaniks Bench, amateur ensemble (any 7 or more players), 2002; Bassoonova, bassoon, 2003; Little Berceuse, clarinet, string quartet, 2004
CHORAL: Second Hand Flames (text from vowel sounds), mixed chorus, 1982; Prometheus Fragment (text by Aeschylus), 12 mixed voices, percussion, string orchestra, 1989; A Rose at Christmas (text by William Shakespeare), double mixed chorus, 1990; Metamorphosis (text by Ovid), mixed chorus, large orchestra, 1995-96; Aftertones (text by Edmund Blunden), soprano, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1999-2000; The Angels' Carol (text by Sara Teasdale), mixed chorus, 2002; Estrangement, mixed chorus, 2002
VOCAL: 5 Sonnets to Orpheus (text by Rainer Maria Rilke), tenor, harp, 1975-76; Un colloque sentimental (song-cycle), medium voice, piano, 1971-78; Shadows in the Water, tenor, piano, 1978-79; Night's Mask, soprano, alto flute (+ piccolo), bass clarinet (+ clarinet), French horn, harp, viola, cello, piano, 1984; La Virgen Lava Panales, female voice, English horn, harp, string orchestra, 1985; The Great Journey (text by Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca), baritone, flute (+ piccolo, alto flute), bass clarinet (+ clarinet), French horn, viola, cello, double bass, piano, percussion, 1981-88; Cantata on the Death of Antony (text by Dion Cassius), soprano, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, viola, cello, double bass, 1988-89; Strugnell's Haiku (text by Wendy Cope), female voice, piano, 1989 (also version for female voice, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, viola [+ 3 tam-tams], cello, double bass, 1989); Aubade (text by Paul Auster), high/low voice, piano, 1990; Pli de lin (text by Tom Paulin), soprano, piano, string quartet, 1965-94; Continuum (texts by Rainer Maria Rilke, Eugenio Montale), mezzo-soprano, small orchestra (23 players), 1999-2000; A voice to wake (text by John Davidson), soprano, flute (+ alto flute), oboe, clarinet (+ bass clarinet), French horn, harp, violin, viola, cello, piano, 2004-05
PIANO: Five Studies, 1974-76; Suite, 1977-79 (two sets of sections may be performed separately: Toccata, Nocturne and Scherzo, 1977; Berceuse and Sarabande, 1978-79); Eleven Studies in Velocity, 1987; Three Preludes, 2003
ARRANGEMENTS: Praise We Great Men (Lord Benjamin Britten), mixed chorus, orchestra, 1976-77; Paul Bunyan Overture (Lord Benjamin Britten), orchestra, 1977; Serenade, Hymn and Toccata (Hector Berlioz), small orchestra, 1978; Marriage (Modest Mussorgsky), 1981 (collaboration with Oliver Knussen); The Dream-City (Gustav Holst), female voice, orchestra, 1983; Ellens Drei Gesänge (Franz Schubert), voice, ensemble, 1984; Five Operetta Excerpts (various), 2 voices, ensemble, 1985; Movement (Lord Benjamin Britten), clarinet, orchestra, 1990; Mondnacht (Robert Schumann), oboe, violin, viola, cello, 1990; A Charm of Lullabies (Lord Benjamin Britten), voice, orchestra, 1990; Temporal Variations (Lord Benjamin Britten), oboe, string orchestra, 1994; Fantazia 11 (Henry Purcell), string orchestra, 1994; Fantazia 13 (Henry Purcell), any 4 players/string quartet, 1995; Seven Songs (Alma Mahler), medium voice, orchestra, 1996 (collaboration with David Matthews); Five Variations on 'Rule, Britannia!' (Ludwig van Beethoven), orchestra, 1980-97; Lento assai from Op. 135 (Ludwig van Beethoven), string orchestra, 1998
ARRANGEMENTS: Trois Poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé (Claude Debussy), soprano, 9 players, 1998-99; Vier Stücke (Alban Berg), clarinet, 7 players, 1999; Ich atmet' einen linden Duft (Gustav Mahler), voice, 10 players, 1999; Lieder und Gesänge (Gustav Mahler), medium voice, orchestra, 1964-2000 (collaboration with David Matthews); To a poet a thousand years hence (Gerald Finzi), voice, orchestra, 2000; Three Debussy Préludes, large orchestra, 2001; Two Debussy Préludes, large orchestra, 2002; Four Debussy Préludes, large orchestra, 2002-03; Four Debussy Préludes (La Puerta del Vino; Des pas sur la neige; Les fées sont d'exquises danseuses; La sérénade interrompue), large orchestra, 2003-04
DISCOGRAPHY (as composer; in chronological order, but without specific dates)
Five Concertinos. Haffner Wind Quintet (Ensemble: EML 006)
Eleven Studies in Velocity. Nicholas Unwin, piano (Metier: MSV CD 92009)
Broken Symmetry; Suns Dance; Sonata No. 4. Oliver Knussen/London Sinfonietta (Deutsche Grammophon: 447 067)
Cantata on the Death of Antony; Strugnell's Haiku. Mary Wiegold, soprano; Dominic Muldowney/Composers Ensemble (NMC: D003)
Concerto No. 1 (cello); Sonata No. 5, 'Landscape'. Alexander Baillie, cello; John Carewe/London Sinfonietta, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin (Unicorn Kanchana: UKCD 2058)
Five Studies. Anthony Goldstone, piano (Gamut: GAMCD526)
Three Enigmas. Alexander Baillie, cello; Andrew Ball, piano (NMC: D019)
The Great Journey; Night's Mask; Fuga. Patrizia Kwella, soprano; David Wilson-Johnson, baritone; Lionel Friend/Nash Ensemble (NMC: D033)
Variation on 'Sumer is Icumen in'. Jac van Steen/BBC Symphony Orchestra (NMC: D062)
Memorial; Hidden Variables (second version); Quatrain; Machines and Dreams. Michael Tilson Thomas/London Symphony Orchestra (Collins Classics: 14702)
Oscuro. Paul Silverthorne, viola; John Constable, piano (Black Box: BBM1058)
Palinode (original version). Lowri Blake, cello (Lowri Records: LOWRI2003)
Pluto, the Renewer. Mark Elder/Hallé Orchestra (Hyperion: CDA67270)
Pluto, the Renewer. David Lloyd-Jones/Royal Scottish National Orchestra (Naxos: 8.555776)
DISCOGRAPHY (as arranger; some information unavailable)
Lieder und Gesänge (Gustav Mahler; 4 excerpts). Ruth Ziesak, soprano; Daniele Gatti/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (BMG: 75605 51345)
Seven Songs (Alma Mahler). Iris Vermillion, voice; Riccardo Chailly/Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (Decca: 455 112)
Lieder und Gesänge (Gustav Mahler; excerpts). Jill Gomez, soprano; John Carewe/Bournemouth Sinfonietta (Unicorn Kanchana: DKP 9120)
Praise We Great Men (Lord Benjamin Britten)
Paul Bunyan Overture (Lord Benjamin Britten)
The Dream-City (Gustav Holst)
Movement (Lord Benjamin Britten)
A Charm of Lullabies (Lord Benjamin Britten)
Temporal Variations (Lord Benjamin Britten)
To a poet a thousand years hence (Gerald Finzi)
(Last updated on February 16, 2005)
