Role

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Composer

Birth

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1973 in Hong Kong

 

Raymond Yiu is a British composer of classical music, born in Hong Kong in 1973. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a conductor and his mother a pianist. Yiu began playing the piano at a young age and later studied composition at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Yiu's music is known for its eclectic style, blending elements of classical, jazz, and popular music. He has composed works for a variety of ensembles, including orchestras, chamber groups, and solo performers. One of Yiu's early works, "The London Citizen Exceedingly Injured," was inspired by a 19th-century pamphlet about a man who was falsely accused of a crime. The piece features a narrator and a small ensemble, and incorporates elements of jazz and cabaret music. Yiu's "Symphony No. 1" was commissioned by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and premiered in 2012. The piece is divided into three movements, each of which is inspired by a different aspect of Welsh culture. The first movement, "The Welsh Landscape," evokes the natural beauty of Wales, while the second movement, "The Welsh Language," incorporates Welsh folk melodies and poetry. The final movement, "The Welsh People," celebrates the resilience and spirit of the Welsh people. In 2015, Yiu composed "The World Was Once All Miracle," a song cycle based on the poetry of Thomas Traherne. The piece was commissioned by the BBC and premiered at the Proms that year. The songs are set for soprano and orchestra, and feature lush harmonies and intricate textures. Yiu's "The London Citizen Exceedingly Injured" was revived in 2016 as part of a program of Yiu's works at the Wigmore Hall in London. The concert also featured Yiu's "The London Citizen Exceedingly Injured" and "The London Citizen Exceedingly Injured." In addition to his work as a composer, Yiu is also a musicologist and has written extensively on the music of the 20th century. He has published articles on composers such as Benjamin Britten, Igor Stravinsky, and Gyorgy Ligeti. Yiu's music has been performed by orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. He has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Royal Philharmonic Society Composition Prize and the British Composer Award. Overall, Raymond Yiu is a versatile and innovative composer whose music reflects his diverse influences and interests. His works are characterized by their rich harmonies, intricate textures, and imaginative use of musical forms and structures.

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