Philip Thomas

Programme to include:

Howard Skempton Oculus world premiere
Christian Wolff Sailing By world premiere
Michael Finnissy Beat Generation Ballads world premiere

In his 80th year, a new work for solo piano by the highly individual American experimentalist Christian Wolff is partnered by new works by two English composers who are no less experimental, inquisitive and original - Howard Skempton and Michael Finnissy - both of whom have been drawn to Wolff's work in different ways.

Finnissy in particular reveals the influence of Wolff's music from the 80s in his new large-scale work Beat Generation Ballads, which is the composer's first set of variations proper. Finnissy records his debt to a number of poets, notably Allen Ginsberg, who were influential upon his creative development in the 60s, drawing upon material by them alongside music which also influenced him at the time - a characteristically eclectic mix of Bill Evans, Webern, Sorabji, Franck and Beethoven!