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Oscar Bettison is a contemporary classical music composer who was born on October 22, 1975, in the United Kingdom. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a classical pianist. Bettison started playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the guitar and bass guitar. He attended the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, where he studied composition with Anthony Gilbert and guitar with Craig Ogden. Bettison's early works were influenced by the music of Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart, and other experimental rock musicians. He was also interested in the music of contemporary classical composers such as György Ligeti, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and Iannis Xenakis. Bettison's compositions often combine elements of rock, jazz, and classical music, and he is known for his use of unconventional instruments and extended techniques. One of Bettison's early works is "O Death," a piece for electric guitar and ensemble that was premiered in 2002. The piece is based on the traditional American folk song "Oh Death" and features the guitar playing a distorted, bluesy melody over a driving rhythm section. The ensemble provides a backdrop of dissonant chords and angular rhythms, creating a tense and dramatic atmosphere. Another notable work by Bettison is "Livre des Sauvages," a piece for chamber ensemble that was premiered in 2006. The piece is inspired by the drawings of French artist Jean-Jacques Lequeu, who created a series of fantastical architectural designs in the late 18th century. Bettison's music reflects the surreal and whimsical nature of Lequeu's drawings, with playful melodies and unexpected harmonies. The piece also features a variety of percussion instruments, including marimba, vibraphone, and glockenspiel, which add to the colorful and imaginative sound world. Bettison's music has been performed by a number of prominent ensembles, including the London Sinfonietta, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Ensemble Intercontemporain. He has also been commissioned by organizations such as the Fromm Music Foundation and the Koussevitzky Music Foundation. In addition to his work as a composer, Bettison is also a professor of music at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. One of Bettison's most recent works is "Presence," a piece for orchestra that was premiered in 2019. The piece is based on the idea of "presence" in music, or the sense of being fully engaged and immersed in the sound. The music is characterized by a sense of tension and release, with moments of quiet introspection followed by explosive bursts of sound. The piece also features a solo cello, which serves as a kind of guide through the shifting textures and moods of the music. Overall, Oscar Bettison is a composer who has made a significant contribution to the world of contemporary classical music. His music is characterized by its eclectic influences, unconventional instrumentation, and imaginative sound world. Through his work, Bettison has explored a wide range of musical styles and techniques, creating a body of work that is both challenging and rewarding for performers and audiences alike.

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