This post features music composed by Edinburgh based music student Jamie Dunnett. He writes as follows.
“Night Music was written specifically for OCA tutor and professional flautist Carla Rees to play at the composition workshop in November 2011. The brief was to write a piece, up to 3 minutes long, for unaccompanied flute.
“The workshop provided...
Read more »
Tags: Aldous Huxley, Composition, Music, Phrygian mode
Posted in Music | 4 Comments »
Just before we turn off the lights and lock the door on 2011, here are the musical highlights - as chosen by members of the OCA music team.
Duncan Druce: For about a decade, each June, I’ve been spending a week (sometimes longer) in Bridgn
Read more »
Tags: Alban Berg, Berlioz, Britten, Duncan Druce, Haydn, Mozart, Patric Standford, Robert Levin
Posted in Music | No Comments »
We are pleased to announce the launch of an enhanced Learner Support Scheme. Trustees have set aside a budget of up to £15,000 in each financial year to underpin this important development.
The new scheme will ensure the continuation of the e
Read more »
Tags: assistance, Bursaries, course fees, support, university fees
Posted in Art & Design, Education, Music, Photography, Textiles, Writing | No Comments »
I was in Grange-over Sands the other weekend. In keeping with its somewhat old world charm, it has a bandstand where live music is performed on summer Sundays. It had to be relocated from a previous site near the railway station since ladies compla
Read more »
Tags: bandstand, BBC Proms, BBC radio 3, Light Music, melody
Posted in Music | 1 Comment »
Music composition - and indeed other - students may be interested in an event on Saturday 4 June at 2:00pm in London. Harpsichordist Jane Chapman will be performing a selection of new pieces for harpsichord and electronics by composition studen
Read more »
Posted in Events, Music | 2 Comments »
We are delighted to announce the launch of our exciting new music course, entitled Music 1: From the Present to the Past, developed for us by OCA tutor Carla Rees. This course starts with the present day, including contemporary ‘classical’ c
Read more »
Tags: carla rees, classical music, Dmitri Shostakovich, jazz, jazz music, music course, Shostakovich
Posted in Music | 1 Comment »
You Tube has a fascinating clip of Paul Simon discussing where the melody and harmony for the song Still Crazy After All These Years should go after the initial verse and chorus. Even if you are not into music theory, do listen to this – and
Read more »
Tags: John Barry, melodies, music composition, Paul Simon, Vivaldi
Posted in Music | 1 Comment »
Does a composer write his or her best music at a time of joy, tragedy or tranquillity? There are persuasive cases to be made for all three.
Indeed we should probably add a fourth option i.e. none of the abov
Read more »
Tags: Bertold Brecht, composing music, Music, pathos
Posted in Music | 7 Comments »
One of the vivid memories of my youth is sitting down on a chair on which my father had placed a much treasured vinyl (78 rpm) recording of Purcell’s Trumpet Voluntary. Needless to say, it was smashed to smithereens (a technical term). The key qu
Read more »
Tags: 78rpm, gramophone, Prince of Denmark’s March, purcell, Purcell’s Trumpet Voluntary
Posted in Music | 2 Comments »
Good news for current and potential music students at the OCA! We have commissioned Carla Rees to write a new Level 1 Music course. Gareth’s recent interview with Carla gives some fascinating background on her interests, including her pioneerin
Read more »
Tags: carla rees, history of music, Music, music course, music history
Posted in Music | 5 Comments »