Role

:

Composer Performer

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Chamber

 

Tim Souster was a British composer who was born on December 20, 1943, in London, England. He was the son of a composer and conductor, and his father's influence played a significant role in his musical development. Souster began his musical education at an early age, studying piano and composition with his father. He later attended the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied composition with Lennox Berkeley and electronic music with Tristram Cary. Souster's early works were influenced by the avant-garde music of the 1960s, particularly the work of Karlheinz Stockhausen and Pierre Boulez. He was also interested in the emerging field of electronic music and began experimenting with tape manipulation and other electronic techniques. In 1968, he co-founded the electronic music studio at the University of York, where he continued to work and teach for many years. One of Souster's most significant works from this period was "Music for an Imaginary Ballet," which was composed in 1969. The piece was a collaboration with choreographer Siobhan Davies and was performed by the London Contemporary Dance Theatre. The work was notable for its use of electronic music and its integration with live dance performance. Throughout the 1970s, Souster continued to explore electronic music and worked on a variety of projects, including film scores and installations. He also began to incorporate more traditional instruments into his compositions, such as strings and brass. One of his most significant works from this period was "The Return of Odysseus," which was composed in 1977. The piece was a large-scale work for orchestra, choir, and electronics and was based on the story of Odysseus from Homer's "Odyssey." In the 1980s, Souster's music became more focused on the use of technology and computer-generated sounds. He was particularly interested in the use of algorithmic composition, which involves the use of mathematical algorithms to generate musical material. One of his most significant works from this period was "The Persistence of Memory," which was composed in 1984. The piece was a collaboration with visual artist David Hockney and was performed at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. Souster continued to work on a variety of projects throughout the 1990s and 2000s, including collaborations with other composers and artists. He also continued to teach and mentor young composers, and his influence can be seen in the work of many contemporary composers. Tim Souster passed away on April 1, 1994, at the age of 50. He left behind a significant body of work that continues to be studied and performed today. His contributions to the field of electronic music and algorithmic composition have had a lasting impact on the development of contemporary music.

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