Music makers

Philip Mead and Rob Goodman: electronic explorations

UHR will offer an opportunity for students to participate in the making of a professional production. The label will present non-standard repertoire featuring professional artists and will be produced by an experienced professional producer. Students will participate in the recording process and contribute to all aspects of production as sound technicians, designers or managers.

The November launch includes four initial releases. There are plans for a further six CDs by the end of 2007, after which UHR will release up to nine albums per year. The label will provide both a forum for staff and student composers, and for recordings of lesser-known modern and contemporary music. Three of the first releases are showcase recordings of compositions by staff within the School of Music.

Tim Blinko and Ealing Abbey Choir: choral works by contemporary composers

Recordings will be available worldwide, downloadable via CD Baby from early November.

First releases

Philip Mead and Rob Godman, Piano and Electronics

Piano and electronics and electro-acoustic works by the composers and performers Philip Mead and Rob Godman. Philip Mead is Founder and Artistic Director of the British Contemporary Piano Competition, and has recently been appointed a research fellow at the University of Hertfordshire. Much of Mead’s work explores the possibilities of combining the piano with various brass and percussion ensembles.

Rob Godman, senior lecturer in Music Technology at Herts is a composer, sound designer and programmer. He has developed a number of techniques that control ‘virtual spaces’ – the creation of acoustic spaces that are capable of evolution with potential for responsive control. His work has been performed by groups and artists including the Siobhan Davies Dance Company, The BBC Singers, Evelyn Glennie, Gemini, Philip Mead, Kate Romano, Andrew Sparling and the QuintEssential Sackbut and Cornett Ensemble.

Ealing Abbey Choir conducted by Tim Blinko, Reflection

Tim Blinko is Head of Music at University of Hertfordshire, and former Director of Music of Ealing Abbey. The CD offers a range of choral works performed by Ealing Abbey Choir, including Blinko’s own acclaimed The Seasons.

Dave Smith plays Dave Smith

Dave Smith has been a Lecturer in Music at Herts since 1997. He has written over 100 piano pieces assembled into a series of recital-length ‘piano concerts’. The CD includes a selection of his piano compositions including his 30-minute bravura work ‘On the virtue of flowers’.

Aylwin String Quartet, Wurzburger string quartets

The CD comprises three string quartets by the German Nazi exile Walter Wurzburger including the very technically demanding 4th quartet. Having escaped Germany, Wurzburger eventually lived in Surrey. The three quartets cover a period of almost 50 years from 1944. He died in 1995 aged 81.