Role

:

Composer Performer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

1954

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Vocal

 

Benedict Mason is a British composer who was born on January 23, 1954, in Birmingham, England. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a professional violinist and his mother a pianist. Mason began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the violin and viola. He attended the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied composition with Harrison Birtwistle and Alexander Goehr. Mason's early works were influenced by the avant-garde music of the 1960s and 1970s, particularly the works of Karlheinz Stockhausen and Pierre Boulez. His first major composition, "Chamber Concerto No. 1," was written in 1978 and premiered at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. The piece features a small ensemble of instruments, including flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano, and is characterized by its complex rhythms and dissonant harmonies. In the 1980s, Mason began to incorporate elements of jazz and popular music into his compositions. His "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra," written in 1984, features a solo piano part that is heavily influenced by jazz improvisation. The piece was commissioned by the BBC and premiered by pianist Joanna MacGregor and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Mason's music is known for its complexity and unpredictability. He often uses unconventional instrumentation and incorporates elements of chance and improvisation into his compositions. His "Concerto for Orchestra," written in 1993, features a large ensemble of instruments, including saxophones, electric guitar, and percussion, and is characterized by its constantly shifting textures and rhythms. In addition to his work as a composer, Mason has also been active as a teacher and musicologist. He has taught at the Royal Academy of Music, the University of Sussex, and the University of York, and has written extensively on contemporary music. His book "A Basic Course in Music Composition" is widely used as a textbook in music schools around the world. Mason's most recent works include "Double Concerto for Violin, Viola, and Orchestra," which was premiered by the London Symphony Orchestra in 2016, and "Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra," which was premiered by the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 2018. Both pieces feature Mason's signature blend of complex rhythms, unconventional instrumentation, and improvisation. Overall, Benedict Mason is a highly respected composer who has made significant contributions to the field of contemporary classical music. His works are known for their complexity and unpredictability, and he has been a major influence on a generation of younger composers.

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