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Michael Laurence Nyman, CBE (born 23 March 1944) is an English composer, pianist,
librettist A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major ...
,
musicologist Musicology is the academic, research-based study of music, as opposed to musical composition or performance. Musicology research combines and intersects with many fields, including psychology, sociology, acoustics, neurology, natural sciences, f ...
, and
filmmaker Filmmaking or film production is the process by which a Film, motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, beginning with an initial story, idea, or commission. Production then continues through screen ...
. He is known for numerous film scores (many written during his lengthy collaboration with the
filmmaker Filmmaking or film production is the process by which a Film, motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, beginning with an initial story, idea, or commission. Production then continues through screen ...
Peter Greenaway Peter Greenaway, (born 5 April 1942) is a British film director, screenwriter and artist. His films are noted for the distinct influence of Renaissance and Baroque painting, and Mannerist painting in particular. Common traits in his films a ...
), and his
multi-platinum Music recording certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped, sold, or streamed a certain number of units. The threshold quantity varies by type (such as album, single, music video) and by nation or territory (see ...
soundtrack album A soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music directly recorded from the soundtrack of a particular feature film or television show. The first such album to be commercially released was Walt Disney's ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ( ...
to
Jane Campion Dame Elizabeth Jane Campion (born 30 April 1954) is a New Zealand filmmaker. She is best known for writing and directing the critically acclaimed films ''The Piano'' (1993) and ''The Power of the Dog (film), The Power of the Dog'' (2021), for ...
's ''
The Piano ''The Piano'' is a 1993 historical romance film written and directed by New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion. It stars Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, and Anna Paquin (in her first major acting role). The film focuses on a mute Sc ...
''. He has written a number of operas, including '' The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat''; ''
Letters, Riddles and Writs ''Letters, Riddles and Writs'' is a one act opera for television by Michael Nyman broadcast in 1991. The story is devised by Nyman, with a libretto by Jeremy Newson and Pat Gavin that incorporates Emily Anderson's English translations of cor ...
''; '' Noises, Sounds & Sweet Airs''; '' Facing Goya''; '' Man and Boy: Dada''; ''
Love Counts ''Love Counts'' is a 2005 opera in two acts by Michael Nyman to a libretto by Michael Hastings. Performance history The opera premiered 12 March 2005 at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, Germany, directed by Robert Tannenbaum. It was perfo ...
''; and ''Sparkie: Cage and Beyond''. He has written six concerti, five
string quartet The term string quartet refers to either a type of musical composition or a group of four people who play them. Many composers from the mid-18th century onwards wrote string quartets. The associated musical ensemble consists of two Violin, violini ...
s, and many other chamber works, many for his Michael Nyman Band. He is also a performing pianist. Nyman prefers to write opera over other forms of music.


Early life and education

Nyman was born in Stratford, London, to a family of secular Jewish furriers who immigrated from Poland. Nyman was educated at the Sir George Monoux Grammar School, Walthamstow. He studied from 1961 until 1967 at
King's College London King's College London (informally King's or KCL) is a public university, public research university in London, England. King's was established by royal charter in 1829 under the patronage of George IV of the United Kingdom, King George IV ...
, and at the
Royal Academy of Music The Royal Academy of Music (RAM) in London, England, is one of the oldest music schools in the UK, founded in 1822 by John Fane and Nicolas-Charles Bochsa. It received its royal charter in 1830 from King George IV with the support of the firs ...
until 1967 with Alan Bush and Thurston Dart, focusing on piano and seventeenth-century
baroque music Baroque music ( or ) refers to the period or dominant style of Classical music, Western classical music composed from about 1600 to 1750. The Baroque style followed the Renaissance music, Renaissance period, and was followed in turn by the Class ...
. He won the Howard Carr Memorial Prize for composition in July 1964. In 1965–66 Nyman secured a residency in
Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...
to study folk-song, supported by a
British Council The British Council is a British organisation specialising in international cultural and educational opportunities. It works in over 100 countries: promoting a wider knowledge of the United Kingdom and the English language (and the Welsh lang ...
bursary.


Career


Work as music critic, 1968–1976

Nyman says he discovered his aesthetic by playing the
aria In music, an aria (, ; : , ; ''arias'' in common usage; diminutive form: arietta, ; : ariette; in English simply air (music), air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrument (music), instrumental or orchestral accompan ...
"
Madamina, il catalogo è questo "" (also known as the Catalogue Aria) is a bass (voice type), bass catalogue aria from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Mozart's opera ''Don Giovanni'' to an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, and is one of Mozart's most famous and popular arias. It is ...
" from Mozart's ''
Don Giovanni ''Don Giovanni'' (; K. 527; full title: , literally ''The Rake Punished, or Don Giovanni'') is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. Its subject is a centuries-old Spanish legen ...
'' on his piano in the style of
Jerry Lee Lewis Jerry Lee Lewis (September 29, 1935October 28, 2022) was an American pianist, singer, and songwriter. Nicknamed "The Killer", he was described as "rock 'n' roll's first great wild man". A pioneer of rock and roll and rockabilly music, Lewis m ...
, which "dictated the dynamic, articulation and texture of everything I've subsequently done." It subsequently became the base for his 1977 piece ''In Re Don Giovanni.'' In 1969, Nyman provided the
libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...
of
Harrison Birtwistle Sir Harrison Birtwistle (15 July 1934 – 18 April 2022) was an English composer of contemporary classical music best known for his operas, often based on mythological subjects. Among his many compositions, his better known works include '' T ...
's opera '' Down by the Greenwood Side'' and directed the short film ''Love Love Love'' (based on
the Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatle ...
' " All You Need Is Love"). He then settled into music criticism, where he is generally acknowledged to have been the first to apply the term "
minimalism In visual arts, music, and other media, minimalism is an art movement that began in the post-war era in western art. The movement is often interpreted as a reaction to abstract expressionism and modernism; it anticipated contemporary post-mi ...
" to music, in a 1968 article in ''
The Spectator ''The Spectator'' is a weekly British political and cultural news magazine. It was first published in July 1828, making it the oldest surviving magazine in the world. ''The Spectator'' is politically conservative, and its principal subject a ...
'' magazine about the English composer
Cornelius Cardew Cornelius Cardew (7 May 193613 December 1981) was an English experimental music composer, and founder (with Howard Skempton and Michael Parsons) of the Scratch Orchestra, an experimental performing ensemble. He later rejected experimental mu ...
. He wrote introductions for
George Frideric Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti. Born in Halle, Germany, H ...
's Concerti grossi, Op. 6, and interviewed George Brecht in 1976. His 1976 album '' Decay Music'' was produced by
Brian Eno Brian Peter George Jean-Baptiste de la Salle Eno (, born 15 May 1948), also mononymously known as Eno, is an English musician, songwriter, record producer, visual artist, and activist. He is best known for his pioneering contributions to ambien ...
. In 1974 Nyman published an influential book called ''Experimental Music: Cage and Beyond'', which explored the influence of
John Cage John Milton Cage Jr. (September 5, 1912 – August 12, 1992) was an American composer and music theorist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and Extended technique, non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one ...
on classical composers.


Founding of Campiello Band and collaboration with Peter Greenaway, 1976–1990

In the 1970s, Nyman was a member of the
Portsmouth Sinfonia The Portsmouth Sinfonia was an English orchestra founded by a group of students at the Portsmouth School of Art in 1970. The Sinfonia was generally open to anyone and ended up drawing players who were either outsider music, people without musica ...
– the self-described World's Worst Orchestra. He was the featured pianist on the orchestra's recording of " Bridge Over Troubled Water" on the 1979 Martin Lewis-produced ''20 Classic Rock Classics'' album, on which the Sinfonia gave their unique interpretations of the pop and rock repertoire of the 1950s–1970s. In 1976, he formed the Campiello Band, which became the Michael Nyman Band, for a production of
Carlo Goldoni Carlo Osvaldo Goldoni (, also , ; 25 February 1707 – 6 February 1793) was an Italian playwright and librettist from the Republic of Venice. His works include some of Italy's most famous and best-loved plays. Audiences have admired the plays ...
's ''Il Campiello''. Originally made up of old instruments such as rebecs and
shawm The shawm () is a Bore (wind instruments)#Conical bore, conical bore, double-reed woodwind instrument made in Europe from the 13th or possibly 12th century to the present day. It achieved its peak of popularity during the medieval and Renaissanc ...
s alongside more modern instruments like the saxophone to produce as loud a sound as possible without amplification, the band later switched to a fully amplified line-up of string quartet, three saxophones, trumpet, horn,
bass trombone The bass trombone (, ) is the bass instrument in the trombone family of brass instruments. Modern instruments are pitched in the same Bâ™­ as the tenor trombone but with a larger bore, bell and mouthpiece to facilitate low register playing, and u ...
, bass guitar and piano. Many of Nyman's works are written for his ensemble, with the lineup variously altered and augmented. One of his earliest film scores was the 1976 British sex comedy '' Keep It Up Downstairs'', followed by numerous films, many of them European art films, including eleven directed by
Peter Greenaway Peter Greenaway, (born 5 April 1942) is a British film director, screenwriter and artist. His films are noted for the distinct influence of Renaissance and Baroque painting, and Mannerist painting in particular. Common traits in his films a ...
. Nyman drew frequently on
early music Early music generally comprises Medieval music (500–1400) and Renaissance music (1400–1600), but can also include Baroque music (1600–1750) or Ancient music (before 500 AD). Originating in Europe, early music is a broad Dates of classical ...
sources in his scores for Greenaway's films:
Henry Purcell Henry Purcell (, rare: ; September 1659 – 21 November 1695) was an English composer of Baroque music, most remembered for his more than 100 songs; a tragic opera, Dido and Aeneas, ''Dido and Aeneas''; and his incidental music to a version o ...
in '' The Draughtsman's Contract'' (1982) and '' The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover'' (1989) (which included
Memorial A memorial is an object or place which serves as a focus for the memory or the commemoration of something, usually an influential, deceased person or a historical, tragic event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects such as home ...
and Miserere Paraphrase),
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber correctly ''Biber von Bibern'' ( bapt. 12 August 1644, Stráž pod Ralskem – 3 May 1704, Salzburg) was a Bohemian-Austrian composer and violinist. Biber worked in Graz and Kroměříž before he illegally left ...
in '' A Zed & Two Noughts'' (1985),
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...
in '' Drowning by Numbers'' (1988), and
John Dowland John Dowland ( – buried 20 February 1626) was an English Renaissance composer, lutenist, and singer. He is best known today for his melancholy songs such as "Come, heavy sleep", " Come again", " Flow my tears", " I saw my Lady weepe", " N ...
in '' Prospero's Books'' (1991), largely at the request of the director. He wrote settings to various texts by Mozart for ''
Letters, Riddles and Writs ''Letters, Riddles and Writs'' is a one act opera for television by Michael Nyman broadcast in 1991. The story is devised by Nyman, with a libretto by Jeremy Newson and Pat Gavin that incorporates Emily Anderson's English translations of cor ...
'', part of ''Not Mozart''. In 1987 Nyman composed the opera '' Noises, Sounds & Sweet Airs'', for
soprano A soprano () is a type of classical singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hertz, Hz to A5 in Choir, choral ...
,
alto The musical term alto, meaning "high" in Italian (Latin: '' altus''), historically refers to the contrapuntal part higher than the tenor and its associated vocal range. In four-part voice leading alto is the second-highest part, sung in ch ...
,
tenor A tenor is a type of male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. Composers typically write music for this voice in the range from the second B below m ...
and instrumental ensemble (based on Nyman's score for the ballet ''La Princesse de Milan''); the opera '' The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat'' (1986), based on a case-study by
Oliver Sacks Oliver Wolf Sacks (9 July 1933 – 30 August 2015) was a British neurology, neurologist, Natural history, naturalist, historian of science, and writer. Born in London, Sacks received his medical degree in 1958 from The Queen's College, Oxford ...
; and five
string quartet The term string quartet refers to either a type of musical composition or a group of four people who play them. Many composers from the mid-18th century onwards wrote string quartets. The associated musical ensemble consists of two Violin, violini ...
s. He also recorded pop music with the Flying Lizards; a version of his ''Bird List'' from the soundtrack to Peter Greenaway's '' The Falls'' (1980) appears on their album ''Fourth Wall'' as "Hands 2 Take".


1990s

In 1990 he composed ''Ariel Songs'' for soprano and band; in 1993 MGV (Musique à Grande Vitesse) for band and orchestra; concertos for saxophone, piano (based on the score for ''The Piano''), violin,
harpsichord A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a musical keyboard, keyboard. Depressing a key raises its back end within the instrument, which in turn raises a mechanism with a small plectrum made from quill or plastic that plucks one ...
, trombone, and saxophone & cello recorded by John Harle and Julian Lloyd Webber; In 1991 Nyman composed ''The Michael Nyman Songbook'' based on poetry by Paul Celan, Arthur Rimbaud,
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...
and
William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
. His ''Six Celan Songs'' off this collection were composed for Ute Lemper, with whom he recorded the album. Ute Lemper also performed in the 1992 concert film of the same name, directed by
Volker Schlöndorff Volker Schlöndorff (; born 31 March 1939) is a German film director, screenwriter and producer who has worked in Germany, France and the United States. He was a prominent member of the New German Cinema of the late 1960s and early 1970s. He ha ...
. In 1993, Nyman's popularity increased after he wrote the score to
Jane Campion Dame Elizabeth Jane Campion (born 30 April 1954) is a New Zealand filmmaker. She is best known for writing and directing the critically acclaimed films ''The Piano'' (1993) and ''The Power of the Dog (film), The Power of the Dog'' (2021), for ...
's award-winning 1993 film ''
The Piano ''The Piano'' is a 1993 historical romance film written and directed by New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion. It stars Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, and Anna Paquin (in her first major acting role). The film focuses on a mute Sc ...
''. The album became a classical music best-seller, selling over three million copies. His soundtrack won an
Ivor Novello Award The Ivor Novello Awards, named after the Welsh entertainer Ivor Novello, are awards for songwriting and Musical composition, composing. They have been presented annually in London by the The Ivors Academy, Ivors Academy, formerly called the Britis ...
, a
Golden Globe The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Januar ...
, a
BAFTA The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA, ) is an independent trade association and charity that supports, develops, and promotes the arts of film, television and video games in the United Kingdom. In addition to its annual awa ...
and an
American Film Institute The American Film Institute (AFI) is an American nonprofit film organization that educates filmmakers and honors the heritage of the History of cinema in the United States, motion picture arts in the United States. AFI is supported by private fu ...
award, and nominated for a British Academy Award and a
Golden Globe The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Januar ...
. He produced a soundtrack for the silent film '' Man with a Movie Camera'', which largely reworked material he wrote for the soundtrack of the 1996 video game '' Enemy Zero''. His forays into Hollywood were ''
Gattaca ''Gattaca'' is a 1997 American dystopian science fiction film written and directed by Andrew Niccol in his List of directorial debuts, feature directorial debut. It stars Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman with Jude Law, Loren Dean, Ernest Borgnine, Go ...
'' (1997), '' Ravenous'' (1999) (with musician
Damon Albarn Damon Albarn (, ; born 23 March 1968) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as the frontman, main vocalist, and lyricist of the rock band Blur (band), Blur and the co-creator and primary musical con ...
), and '' The End of the Affair'' (1999). ''Gattaca'' was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Music. In 1999, Nyman created a group called Foster's Social Orchestra, which specialised in the work of
Stephen Foster Stephen Collins Foster (July 4, 1826January 13, 1864), known as "the father of American music", was an American composer known primarily for his parlour music, parlour and Folk music, folk music during the Romantic music, Romantic period. He wr ...
. One of their pieces appeared in the film '' Ravenous'' and an additional work, not used in the film, appeared on the soundtrack album.


21st century

In 2000, he produced an opera on the subject of
cloning Cloning is the process of producing individual organisms with identical genomes, either by natural or artificial means. In nature, some organisms produce clones through asexual reproduction; this reproduction of an organism by itself without ...
on a
libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...
by Victoria Hardie titled '' Facing Goya'', an expansion of their one-act opera '' Vital Statistics''. The lead, a widowed art banker, is written for
contralto A contralto () is a classical music, classical female singing human voice, voice whose vocal range is the lowest of their voice type, voice types. The contralto's vocal range is fairly rare, similar to the mezzo-soprano, and almost identical to ...
and the role was created by Hilary Summers. His newest operas are '' Man and Boy: Dada'' (2003) and ''
Love Counts ''Love Counts'' is a 2005 opera in two acts by Michael Nyman to a libretto by Michael Hastings. Performance history The opera premiered 12 March 2005 at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, Germany, directed by Robert Tannenbaum. It was perfo ...
'' (2005), both on libretti by Michael Hastings. From 2002 to 2005 he was a composer-in-residence at the
Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe The Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe is a theatre and opera house in Karlsruhe, Germany. It has existed in its present form and place at Ettlinger Tor since 1975. Achim Thorwald became the Theater manager, Intendant in summer 2002 and held that ...
, Germany. He composed the music for the children's television series '' Titch'' which is based on the books written and illustrated by Pat Hutchins. On 7 July 2007, Nyman performed at
Live Earth Live Earth was an event developed to increase Environmentalism, environmental awareness through entertainment. Background Founded by producer Kevin Wall, in partnership with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore. Live Earth 2007 The 1st series ...
in
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
. Nyman began a long-term artistic collaboration with the filmmaker Max Pugh which resulted in many short art films, three experimental feature documentaries and a number of video installations. In 2008 Nyman realised, in collaboration with the cultural association Volumina, ''Sublime'', an artist's book that unified his music with his passion for photography. In October 2009, Nyman released '' The Glare'', a collaborative collection of songs with David McAlmont. The album – recorded with the Michael Nyman Band – finds McAlmont putting lyrics based on contemporary news stories to 11 pieces of Nyman music drawn from different phases of his career. In 2012, he made a soundtrack for film, '' Everyday''. Keith H. Yoo in 2012 commissioned Nyman to write a 26-minute piano quintet in four
movements Movement may refer to: Generic uses * Movement (clockwork), the internal mechanism of a timepiece * Movement (sign language), a hand movement when signing * Motion, commonly referred to as movement * Movement (music), a division of a larger c ...
titled ''Through the Only Window''. It premiered at the gala dinner for his father Yoo Byung-eun's photographic exhibition "Through My Window" in the
Tuileries Garden The Tuileries Garden (, ) is a public garden between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France. Created by Catherine de' Medici as the garden of the Tuileries Palace in 1564, it was opened to the public in ...
of
The Louvre The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is a national art museum in Paris, France, and one of the most famous museums in the world. It is located on the Rive Droite, Right Bank of the Seine in the city's 1st arrondissement of Paris, 1st arron ...
in Paris on 25 June 2012. The work has been recorded by Nyman Quintet in the
Abbey Road Studios Abbey Road Studios (formerly EMI Recording Studios) is a music recording studio at 3 Abbey Road, London, Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of ...
, and has been released on Nyman's record label. In 2013 Nyman was again commissioned to compose a piece for Yoo Byung-eun's exhibition in the Orangerie Hall of the
Palace of Versailles The Palace of Versailles ( ; ) is a former royal residence commissioned by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, Yvelines, Versailles, about west of Paris, in the Yvelines, Yvelines Department of ÃŽle-de-France, ÃŽle-de-France region in Franc ...
, and wrote the 32-minute-long symphony in four movements, Symphony No. 6"AHAE", representing the four seasons in nature as depicted by Ahae, a pseudonym for Yoo Byung-eun. The
London Symphony Orchestra The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London. Founded in 1904, the LSO is the oldest of London's orchestras, symphony orchestras. The LSO was created by a group of players who left Henry Wood's Queen's ...
premiered both pieces at L'Opéra of the Palace of Versailles in Paris on 8 September 2013 under the baton of the composer. They were also recorded. In 2015 he performed in Dziga Vertov's '' Man with a Movie Camera'' at the Potemkin Stairs. The show was part of the 6th
Odesa International Film Festival The Odesa International Film Festival () is an annual film festival held in the middle of July in Odesa. Since 2016 the festival program has consisted of three parts: the International competition, National competition and European Documentary ...
and gathered approximately 15,000 spectators.


Personal life

He was married to Aet Nyman (
née The birth name is the name of the person given upon their birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name or to the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a births registe ...
Toome), with whom he has two daughters, Molly and Martha. His first string quartet quotes "
Unchained Melody "Unchained Melody" is a 1955 song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. North wrote the music as a theme for the prison film '' Unchained'' (1955), hence the song title. Todd Duncan sang the vocals for the film soundtrack.Robert ...
" in homage to Aet, who appears in Greenaway's '' The Falls'', for which he also composed music. Molly is also a composer and in collaboration with Harry Escott has written several film scores, including for '' The Road to Guantanamo'' by her father's frequent collaborator
Michael Winterbottom Michael Winterbottom (born 29 March 1961) is an English film director. He began his career working in British television before moving into features. Three of his films—''Welcome to Sarajevo'', ''Wonderland (1999 film), Wonderland'' and ''24 ...
. Martha is a development researcher for the
BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
. In 2005, Nyman reported that he had been a supporter of Queens Park Rangers F.C. for 33 years.


Honours

Nyman was appointed
Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...
(CBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours. Nyman was awarded an honorary doctorate (DLitt) from the
University of Warwick The University of Warwick ( ; abbreviated as ''Warw.'' in post-nominal letters) is a public research university on the outskirts of Coventry between the West Midlands and Warwickshire, England. The university was founded in 1965 as part of ...
on 30 January 2007. At the degree ceremony, the University of Warwick Brass Society and Chamber Choir, conducted by Paul McGrath, premiered a specially composed procession and recession fanfare by Nyman. In 2015, he was awarded the Golden Duke for Lifetime Achievement, the special award of the 6th
Odesa International Film Festival The Odesa International Film Festival () is an annual film festival held in the middle of July in Odesa. Since 2016 the festival program has consisted of three parts: the International competition, National competition and European Documentary ...
.


Works

Besides his compositions Nyman is also a filmmaker, having made over 80 films, his first shot in 1968. * 1963 – Introduction and Allegro Concertato for Wind Quartet (lost) * 1963 – Divertimento for Flute, Oboe and Clarinet * 1965 – ''Canzona for Flute'' * 1974 – '' Bell Set No. 1'' (multiple metal percussion) * 1976 – '' 1–100'' (4–6 pianos) * 1976 – (First) Waltz in D (variable) * 1976 – (Second) '' Waltz in F'' (variable) * 1977 – '' In Re Don Giovanni'' (for the Michael Nyman Band) – arranged for string quartet (1991), string quintet (1997), and orchestra (2010) * 1977 – ''A Walk Through H'' (film music) * 1978 – ''The Otherwise Very Beautiful Blue Danube Waltz'' (multiple pianos) * 1978 – '' Vertical Features Remake'' (film music) * 1979 – '' 'The Masterwork' Award Winning Fish-Knife'' (for the Michael Nyman Band) * 1979 – ''Four Ostinatos'' (bass clarinet) * 1979 – ''Masterwork Samples'' (for the Michael Nyman Band) * 1980 – ''A Neat Slice of Time'' (choir) * 1980 – ''A Neat Slice of Saraband'' (clarinet, trombone, piano and cello) * 1985 – '' The Falls'' (film music for the Michael Nyman Band) * 1980 – ''Act of God'' (film music) * 1981 – ''Think Slow, Act Fast'' (for Hoketus) – reworked into soundtrack for '' A Sixth Part of the World'' in 2010 * 1981 – ''Five Orchestral Pieces for Opus Tree'' (band) (based on
Anton Webern Anton Webern (; 3 December 1883 – 15 September 1945) was an Austrian composer, conductor, and musicologist. His music was among the most radical of its milieu in its lyric poetry, lyrical, poetic concision and use of then novel atonality, aton ...
's Five Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 10) * 1981 – '' M-Work'' (for the Michael Nyman Band) * 1981 – ''Two Violins'' (two amplified violins) * 1982 – ''Four Saxes (Real Slow Drag)'' (saxophone quartet) * 1982 – ''A Handsom, Smooth, Sweet, Smart, Clear Stroke: Or Else Play Not At All'' (orchestra) * 1982 – '' The Draughtsman's Contract'' (film music for the Michael Nyman Band) * 1983 – ''Ballet Mécanique'' (ensemble) * 1983 – ''Time's Up'' (Gamelan ensemble) * 1983 – ''I'll Stake My Cremona to a Jew's Trump'' (electric violin and viola, both players also simultaneously singing) * 1983 – ''Love is Certainly, at Least Alphabetically Speaking'' (soprano and ensemble) * 1983 – '' Ballet Mécanique'' (film music for ensemble) * 1983 – '' Nelly's Version'' (film music) * 1983 – ''Frozen Music'' (for the Michael Nyman Band) * 1984 – ''The Abbess of Andouillets'' (choir and percussion) * 1984 – ''Bird Work'' (for the Michael Nyman Band) * 1984 – '' The Cold Room'' (film music for chamber orchestra) * 1985 – '' Nose-List Song'' (soprano and orchestra)
opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...
setting of Laurence Sterne's ''The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman'', which Nyman has repeatedly cited as his all-time favourite book] * 1985 – ''Lucinda Childs, Childs Play'' (2 violins and harpsichord or ensemble) * 1985 – '' String Quartet No. 1'' * 1985 – '' A Zed and Two Noughts'' (film music for ensemble) * 1985 – ''
Memorial A memorial is an object or place which serves as a focus for the memory or the commemoration of something, usually an influential, deceased person or a historical, tragic event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects such as home ...
'' (orchestra) * 1985 – '' Zoo Caprices'' (violin) * 1986 – ''Basic Black'' (ballet for orchestra, reduced for piano duet as '' Taking a Line for a Second Walk'' in 1994) * 1986 – '' The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat'' (opera; libretto by Christopher Rawlence; adapted from the
Oliver Sacks Oliver Wolf Sacks (9 July 1933 – 30 August 2015) was a British neurology, neurologist, Natural history, naturalist, historian of science, and writer. Born in London, Sacks received his medical degree in 1958 from The Queen's College, Oxford ...
case study A case study is an in-depth, detailed examination of a particular case (or cases) within a real-world context. For example, case studies in medicine may focus on an individual patient or ailment; case studies in business might cover a particular f ...
by Nyman, Rawlence, and Michael Morris) * 1986 – '' And Do They Do'' (for the Michael Nyman Band) * 1986 – ''The Disputation'' (film music) * 1987 – ''Touch the Earth'' (two sopranos, violin, and viola) * 1987 – ''Vital Statistics'' (opera; libretto by Victoria Hardie) – withdrawn and revised into '' Facing Goya'' in 2000 * 1988 – ''Orpheus' Daughter'' (opera; libretto by Gerrit Timmers) – withdrawn * 1988 – '' String Quartet No. 2'' * 1988 – '' Drowning by Numbers'' (film music for the Michael Nyman Band) * 1989 – '' Out of the Ruins'' (choir) * 1989 – '' La Traversée de Paris'' (for the Michael Nyman Band, soprano, and choir) * 1989 – '' The Fall of Icarus'' (for the Michael Nyman Band) – reworked into '' The Commissar Vanishes'' in 1999 * 1989 – '' L'Orgie Parisienne'' (soprano or mezzo-soprano and ensemble) – originally part of La Traversée de Paris * 1989 – '' La Sept'' (for the Michael Nyman Band) * 1989 – ''Death in the Seine'' (film music) * 1989 – '' The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover'' (film music for the Michael Nyman Band) * 1990 – ''Shaping the Curve'' (soprano saxophone, string quartet or piano) * 1990 – '' Six Celan Songs'' (contralto and orchestra) * 1990 – Polish Love Song (soprano and piano or two clarinets, viola, cello and bass) * 1990 – String Quartet No. 3 * 1990 – ''Men of Steel'' (TV episode music) * 1991 – ''Where the Bee Dances'' (soprano saxophone and orchestra) * 1991 – ''Fluegelhorn and Piano'' * 1991 – '' Prospero's Books'' (film music for the Michael Nyman Band), ''Concert Suite'' for chamber orchestra arranged in 1994 * 1991 – ''Letters, Riddles and Writs'' (3 voices and the Michael Nyman Band) * 1991 – ''Masque Arias'' (brass quintet) * 1991 – ''The Final Score'' (film music for the Michael Nyman Band) * 1991 – '' I am an Unusual Thing'' (contralto and the Michael Nyman Band or piano) * 1992 – '' Time Will Pronounce'' (violin, cello, and piano) * 1992 – '' For John Cage'' (brass ensemble) * 1992 – '' Self-Laudatory Hymn of Inanna and Her Omnipotence'' (alto and string orchestra or countertenor and viol consort) * 1992 – '' The Convertibility of Lute Strings'' (solo harpsichord) * 1992 – ''Anne de Lucy Songs'' (soprano and piano) * 1992 – '' Le Mari de la Coiffeuse'' (film music) * 1992 – ''The Upside-Down Violin'' (orchestra/ensemble) * 1992 – ''Mozart on Mortality'' (soprano and 6 players) * 1992 – ''
The Piano ''The Piano'' is a 1993 historical romance film written and directed by New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion. It stars Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, and Anna Paquin (in her first major acting role). The film focuses on a mute Sc ...
'' (film music for orchestra), arranged for concert suites in 2003 and 2005 * 1992 – '' Ariel Songs'' (soprano and piano, also for voice and string quartet, or saxophone and piano) * 1993 – '' MGV: Musique à grande vitesse'' (band and orchestra) * 1993 – '' The Piano Concerto'' (piano and orchestra) * 1993 – '' Noises, Sounds & Sweet Airs'' (1993; opera-ballet setting
William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
's ''
The Tempest ''The Tempest'' is a Shakespeare's plays, play by William Shakespeare, probably written in 1610–1611, and thought to be one of the last plays that he wrote alone. After the first scene, which takes place on a ship at sea during a tempest, th ...
'') * 1993 – '' Yamamoto Perpetuo'' (violin solo) * 1993 – ''Songs for Tony'' (saxophone quartet) * 1993 – ''On the Fiddle'' (violin or cello, and piano or strings) * 1994 – ''To Morrow'' (soprano or soprano saxophone, organ) * 1994 – '' 3 Quartets'' (ensemble) * 1994 – '' Concerto for Trombone'' (trombone, orchestra, and steel filing cabinets) * 1994 – '' A La Folie'' (film music for the Michael Nyman Band) * 1994 – '' Carrington'' (for the Michael Nyman Band) * 1994 – '' Three Quartets'' (for the Michael Nyman Band) * 1995 – '' String Quartet No. 4'' * 1995 – ''Tango for Tim (In memoriam Tim Suster)'' (harpsichord) * 1995 – ''The Waltz Song'' (unison voices) * 1995 – ''Viola and Piano'' * 1995 – ''Grounded'' (mezzo-soprano, saxophones, violin, piano) * 1995 – ''HRT igh Rise Terminal' (chamber ensemble) * 1995 – '' Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings'' * 1995 – '' Double Concerto for Saxophone and Cello'' (saxophone, cello, and orchestra) * 1995 – '' The Diary of Anne Frank'' (film music for the Michael Nyman Band, also orchestral suite) * 1996 – ''
After Extra Time Overtime (OT) or extra time (ET) is an additional period of play to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a Tie (draw), tie or draw where the scores are the same. In some sports, this extra period is played only if the game is ...
'' (ensemble) * 1996 – '' Enemy Zero'' (game music for soprano and orchestra) * 1996 – '' The Ogre'' (film music for the Michael Nyman Band) * 1996 – ''Elisabeth Gets Her Way'' (harpsichord) * 1996 – ''Knights at School'' (brass ensemble) * 1997 – '' Enemy Zero – Original Soundtrack'' * 1997 – '' Strong on Oaks, Strong on the Causes of Oaks'' (orchestra) * 1997 – ''
Gattaca ''Gattaca'' is a 1997 American dystopian science fiction film written and directed by Andrew Niccol in his List of directorial debuts, feature directorial debut. It stars Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman with Jude Law, Loren Dean, Ernest Borgnine, Go ...
'', orchestral suite in 2001/2003 * 1997 – '' Titch'' (worked on the main opening/closing piano theme). * 1998 – ''Cycle of Disquietude (Coisas, Vozes, Lettras)'' (soprano, mezzo-soprano, and band) * 1998 – ''Orfeu'' (band) * 1998 – ''De Granada A La Luna'' (band) * 1999 – '' The End of the Affair'' (film music, also orchestral suite) * 1999 – '' Wonderland'' (film music for the Michael Nyman Band) * 1999 – ''Balancing the Books'' (choir) * 1999 – ''Strange Attractors'' (piano quintet) --> * 2000 – '' Facing Goya'' (opera; libretto by Victoria Hardie) * 2000 – '' Act Without Words'' (film music) * 2000 – '' The Claim'' (film music for the Michael Nyman Band) * 2001 – ''a dance he little thinks of'' (orchestra) * 2001 – ''Fourths, Mostly'' (organ) * 2001 – ''Free for All'' (brass ensemble) * 2001 – ''Mosè'' (choir and string quartet) * 2001 – '' Ballad of Kastriot Rexhepi'' (soprano and string quartet or string orchestra) * 2002 – '' 24 heures de la vie d'une femme'' (film music for orchestra) * 2002 – ''Beckham Crosses, Nyman Scores'' (string quartet and tape), derive '' Exit, No Exit'' for bass clarinet and string quartet in 2005 * 2002 – ''Dance of the Engines'' (orchestra) * 2002 – ''Mapping'' (video art music for string quartet) * 2002 – '' Sangam: The Meeting Point'' (mandolin and the Michael Nyman Band) * 2002 – '' The Actors'' (film music for the Michael Nyman Band) * 2002 – ''Yellow Beach'' (piano trio) * 2002 – ''Zeit und Ziel 1814–2002'' (for the Michael Nyman Band) * 2003 – Violin Concerto (violin and orchestra) * 2003 – '' Man and Boy: Dada'' (opera; libretto by Michael Hastings) * 2003 – ''A Child's View of Colour '' (choir and strings) * 2003 – ''Manhatta'' (for the Michael Nyman Band or bass clarinet or soprano and bass clarinet) * 2004 – ''24 Hour Sax Quartet'' * 2004 – ''Flicker'' (electronic guitar and electronics) * 2004 – '' The Libertine'' (film music for orchestra) * 2004 – ''Photography of Chance'' (piano trio) * 2005 – ''
Love Counts ''Love Counts'' is a 2005 opera in two acts by Michael Nyman to a libretto by Michael Hastings. Performance history The opera premiered 12 March 2005 at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, Germany, directed by Robert Tannenbaum. It was perfo ...
'' (opera; libretto by Michael Hastings) * 2005 – ''Melody Waves'' (Chinese orchestra) * 2005 – ''Revisiting the Don'' (Chinese flute and the Michael Nyman Band) * 2006 – ''gdm for Marimba and Orchestra'' (concerto) * 2006 – '' Acts of Beauty'' (song cycle for soprano and 6 players) * 2006 – ''For Kiyan Prince'' (choir) * 2006 – ''I was a Total Virgin'' (orchestra) * 2006 – ''That's the Lover'' (voice and 5 players) * 2007 – '' A Handshake in the Dark'' (choral piece with orchestra; text by Jamal Jumá orld premiere 8 March 2007, Barbican, London, performed by the BBC Symphony Chorus and Orchestra, John Storgards conducting * 2007 – ''Interlude in C'' (expansion of a theme from '' The Libertine'' for Accent07 touring ensemble) * 2007 – ''Warwick Fanfare (Parts 1 & 2)'' (procession and recession fanfares used for graduation ceremonies at the
University of Warwick The University of Warwick ( ; abbreviated as ''Warw.'' in post-nominal letters) is a public research university on the outskirts of Coventry between the West Midlands and Warwickshire, England. The university was founded in 1965 as part of ...
) * 2007 – ''50,000 pairs of feet can't be wrong.'' (for the Michael Nyman Band) * 2007 – ''A New Pavan For These Sad, Distracted Times'' (cello concerto) * 2007 – '' I Sonetti Lussuriosi'' (soprano and ensemble or orchestra) * 2007 – Piano Concerto No. 2 * 2007 – Violin Concerto No. 2 * 2007 – ''Taking it as Read'' (violin and piano) * 2008 – ''Yamamoto Perpetuo for Solo Flute'' (arranged by Andy Findon) * 2008 – ''Something Connected with Energy'' (ensemble) – reworked into soundtrack for ''The Eleventh Year'' in 2010 * 2008 – ''For Ennio'' (cello and strings) * 2009 – ''Sparkie: Cage and Beyond'' (opera with Carsten Nicolai) * 2009 – ''The Musicologist Scores'' (for the Michael Nyman Band) * 2009 – ''Banjo & Matilda'' (for the Michael Nyman Band) * 2009 – ''Kino'' (3 accordions and the Michael Nyman Band) * 2009 – ''Ombra mai fu'' (countertenor and orchestra) * 2009 – ''Secrets, Accusations and Charges'' (for the Michael Nyman Band) * 2009 – ''Underneath the Hessian Bags'' (for the Michael Nyman Band) * 2010 – '' 2Graves'' * 2010 – ''Body Parts Songs'' (song cycle) * 2010 – Concerto for Flute and Strings * 2010 – ''Milton Songs'' (voice and the Michael Nyman Band) * 2010 – ''Poczatek'' (piano trio)fPolish Love Son * 2011 – ''Prologue to Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell'' (opera, libretto by Vera Pavlova) * 2011 – '' Battleship Potemkin'' (film music for the Michael Nyman Band) * 2011 – ''Doing the Rounds'' (orchestra and choir) * 2011 – ''On Languard Point'' (soprano and the Michael Nyman Band) * 2011 – ''Let's not make a song and dance out of it'' (String Quartet No. 5) * 2012 – ''Through the Only Window'' (piano quintet) * 2012 – ''Devoción'' (orchestra) * 2013 – Trumpet & String Quartet * 2013 – ''Goldberg Shuffle'' (piano) * 2013 – Symphony No. 2 * 2013 – Symphony No. 5 * 2013 – Symphony No. 6 * 2013 – ''Water Dances'' (Symphony No. 8) * 2014 – ''Symphony of sexual songs'' (Symphony No. 3) * 2014 – ''War Work: Eight Songs with Film'' (song cycle commissioned to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the
First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
) * 2014 – ''Hillsborough Memorial'' (Symphony No. 11) * 2014 – Symphony No. 12 * 2014 – ''Two Sonnets for Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz'' (choir or voice) * 2015 – ''Chromattic'' (saxophone, accordion, marimba and double bass) * 2015 – ''Empresa Cines Merida'' (piano quintet) * 2015 – Symphony No. 4 * 2016 – ''As You Watch The Athletes Score'' (for the Michael Nyman Band) * 2016 – ''No Time In Eternity'' (countertenor and viol consort) * 2019 – Flute Concerto No. 2 (flute and strings) * 2019 – ''Neat Slice of Tango'' (piano) * 2019 – ''When Ingrid Met Capa'' (string quartet)


Collaborations

In addition to his composing and filmmaking activities, Nyman has a full international touring schedule with the Michael Nyman Band as well as a series of unique one-off performances with a variety of collaborators. They include musicians from outside the western/classical/experimental traditions such as the Orquesta Andalusí de Tetuan, Rajan and Sajan Misra, U. Shrinivas, Estrella Morente, Seijin Noborakawa, Ute Lemper, Evan Parker, Peter Brotzmann,
Paolo Fresu Paolo Fresu (; born 10 February 1961) is an Italian jazz trumpet and flugelhorn player, as well as a composer and arranger of music. His unique trumpet sound is recognized as one of the most distinctive in the contemporary jazz scene. Fresu pla ...
, Mike Giles, The Flying Lizards, Dagmar Krause, Sting,
Damon Albarn Damon Albarn (, ; born 23 March 1968) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as the frontman, main vocalist, and lyricist of the rock band Blur (band), Blur and the co-creator and primary musical con ...
, David McAlmont and Alva Noto.


Select discography


Studio albums

* '' Decay Music'' (Obscure, 1976) * ''
Michael Nyman Michael Laurence Nyman, Order of the British Empire, CBE (born 23 March 1944) is an English composer, pianist, libretto, librettist, musicologist, and filmmaker. He is known for numerous film soundtrack, scores (many written during his lengthy ...
'' (Piano, 1981) * '' The Draughtsman's Contract'' (Charisma, 1982) * '' The Kiss and Other Movements'' (Editions EG, 1985) * '' A Zed & Two Noughts'' (That's Entertainment, 1985) * '' The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat'' (CBS, 1987) * '' Drowning by Numbers'' (Venture, 1988) * '' La Traversée de Paris'' (Criterion, 1989) * '' The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover'' (Venture, 1989) * '' String Quartets 1–3'' (Argo, 1991) * '' Prospero's Books'' (Decca, 1991) * '' The Michael Nyman Songbook'' (Decca, 1992) * '' Time Will Pronounce'' (Argo, 1993) * ''
The Piano ''The Piano'' is a 1993 historical romance film written and directed by New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion. It stars Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, and Anna Paquin (in her first major acting role). The film focuses on a mute Sc ...
'' (Venture, 1993) * '' The Piano Concerto/MGV'' (Argo, 1994) * '' Noises, Sounds & Sweet Airs'' (Argo, 1995) * ''
After Extra Time Overtime (OT) or extra time (ET) is an additional period of play to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a Tie (draw), tie or draw where the scores are the same. In some sports, this extra period is played only if the game is ...
'' (Venture, 1996) * '' Concertos'' (EMI, 1997) * '' The Suit and the Photograph'' (EMI, 1998) * '' Wonderland'' (Virgin Venture, 1999) * '' Facing Goya'' (Warner, 2002) * '' Sangam: Michael Nyman Meets Indian Masters'' (Warner, 2003) * '' Man and Boy: Dada'' (MN, 2005) * '' Acts of Beauty/Exit no Exit'' (MN, 2006) * ''
Love Counts ''Love Counts'' is a 2005 opera in two acts by Michael Nyman to a libretto by Michael Hastings. Performance history The opera premiered 12 March 2005 at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, Germany, directed by Robert Tannenbaum. It was perfo ...
'' (MN, 2007) * '' 8 Lust Songs: I Sonetti Lussuriosi'' (MN, 2008)


See also

*
List of ambient music artists This is a list of ambient music artists. This includes artists who have either been very important to the genre or have had a considerable amount of exposure (such as those who have been on a major label). This list does not include little-known ...


References


External links


Michael Nyman official site

Michael Nyman's homepage at Chester Music
* *
The Power of the Cadence: Michael Nyman in conversation with Robert Davidson


* * ttps://web.archive.org/web/20100429020445/http://www.bafta.org/access-all-areas/videos/an-evening-with-michael-nyman,1082,BA.html An Evening with Michael Nyman
BAFTA The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA, ) is an independent trade association and charity that supports, develops, and promotes the arts of film, television and video games in the United Kingdom. In addition to its annual awa ...
event video


Listening


Michael Nyman audio at Internet Archive
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nyman, Michael 1944 births Living people 20th-century English musicians 20th-century English classical composers 21st-century English classical composers Jewish classical composers Alumni of King's College London Alumni of the Royal Academy of Music Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Composers for piano Contemporary classical music performers EMI Classics and Virgin Classics artists English classical pianists English male classical pianists English male classical composers English experimental musicians English film score composers English male film score composers English musicologists Ivor Novello Award winners Minimalist composers People from Stratford, London Postmodern composers Virgin Records artists English people of Polish-Jewish descent New-age pianists English male pianists English filmmakers Composers for saxophone