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Composing music is a bit like juggling whilst riding a unicycle: what a wonderful feeling to keep all the balls in the air and not fall off! But this is only possible after a few preliminaries have been taken care of. First one has to invent the wheel (not to mention the ball, and the rest of the unicycle) and there are so many concepts that must be understood and internalized, not least how gravity works and how it may be used. Much of the attraction with writing music is in going back to first principles: in theory anything can happen and the only limitation is the imagination of the composer. In other words it is not easy, but the challenge is irresistible. The best thing about composing is that after all of this hard work it really is a privilege to work with some of the finest musicians around.

Upcoming Events:

Thursday 26th Feb, 5.30pm: Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, University of Manchester, M13 9PL

Trio Atem: Made in Manchester.

The dynamic & versatile Trio Atem perform commissions by composers with strong links to Manchester, including premieres by Ian Vine, Camden Reeves, Richard Whalley & Chris Swithinbank, alongside recent works by Nina Whiteman & Mic Spencer.

Thursday 22nd April, 1.10pm: Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, University of Manchester, M13 9PL

Oliver Coates (Cello)

Emily Hall - Put Flesh On
Richard Whalley - Tachophobia
Larry Goves - The terminus wreck
Squarepusher Tommib - Help Buss

This concert includes the premiere of a solo acoustic piece by Richard Whalley, with pieces by Squarepusher, Emily Hall, maybe improvisation too.

Friday 23rd April, 7.30pm: Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, University of Manchester, M13 9PL

VAGANZA SOLOISTS : A Feast for the Senses

Nina Whiteman - Night Shining
Gavin Osborn - opens out into
James Stephenson - Weyland Air
Richard Whalley- Intoxicating Orchids

An evening of diversely and irresistibly sensuous music given by Vaganza Soloists: an elite group of current and recently graduated students of the University of Manchester and the Royal Northern College of Music. Three world premieres of especially composed works by recent PhD graduates of the university, plus an appearance of star saxophonist John Barker in Whalley’s Intoxicating Orchids.

Saturday 1st May, lunchtime concert at York Late Music Festival

Trio Atem: Made in Manchester
Repeat performance of 26th Feb concert.

Other News:

A CD of Richard Whalley’s music is being planned! This CD will comprise recordings of Intoxicating Orchids (Vaganza performers with John Barker on sax), Ad Infinitum (Caroline Balding, violin), Tachnophobia (Oliver Coates, cello) and new work that I’m currently working on for Ensemble 10/10. More details will be forthcoming.

Richard Whalley, January 2010

Website by Dan Goren