Steve Martland

Steve Martland (born Liverpool, England, October 10, 1959) is an English composer.

Martland studied composition at Liverpool University and in the Netherlands with Louis Andriessen. He works almost exclusively with artists outside classical institutions - Dutch and American groups, freelance musicians and especially his own Steve Martland Band which tours his music internationally. He has also worked with the King’s Singers and Evelyn Glennie for whom he wrote "Street Songs".

Usually amplified, muscular and powerfully rhythmic, his music has been extensively choreographed: "Dance Works" commissioned and premièred by London Contemporary Dance Theatre has received many new productions around the world, and "Remix" was awarded the SACD Prize for Video Dance Choreography Music.

His "Principia" was adopted as the theme music for the BBC radio programme The Music Machine, "Dance Works" is also used as the title music for a Dutch TV programme. He also wrote and directed A Temporary Arrangement with the Sea, a film about Louis Andriessen. In August 1998 he collaborated with the band Spiritualized on a project for the Flux Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Martland’s preoccupation with the function of the composer in society is reflected in his commitment to music education. He has directed many composition projects in schools both at home and abroad and he initiated and runs Strike Out, his own annual composition course for school children.

His music is published by Schott.

elected Works

*1982 - Duo, trumpet and piano
*1983 - Babi Yar, Large orchestra in 3 groups
*1985 - American Invention, 13 players in 3 groups
*1986 - Shoulder to Shoulder, wind ensemble
*1989 - Birthday Hocket, two pianos
*1989 - Principia, ensemble
*1989 - Skywalk, for unaccompanied chorus (SSATB)
*1990 - Crossing the Border, string ensemble
*1992 - Patrol, string quartet
*1992 - Toccata and Fugue, BWV 565, string quartet (J. S. Bach, arr. Martland)
*1992 - Full Fathom Five, brass quintet
*1993 - Dance Works, two pianos (arrangement of work for ensemble)
*1995 - Beat the Retreat, 11 players
*1995 - Horses of Instruction
*1997 - Street Songs, marimba and vocal ensemble
*1997 - Jenny Jones, unaccompanied chorus (SSAATTBB)
*1997 - Summer Rounds, unaccompanied chorus (SSAATTBB)
*1998 - Hard Times, soloists and string ensemble
*1998 - Fantazia 6, saxophone quartet (Henry Purcell, arr. Martland)
*1998 - Fantazia 7, trombone quartet (Henry Purcell, arr. Martland)
*1998 - Mr. Anderson's Pavane, two pianos (arrangement of work for ensemble)

Discography

*1989 - "Babi Yar/Drill" (Factory Classical)
*1990 - Orkest de Volharding. "Shoulder to Shoulder" (Attacca)
*1990 - "Glad Day" [featuring Sarah Jane Morris] . (Factory)
*1992 - "Crossing the Border" (Factory)
*1992 - "Wolfgang" (Factory)
*1994 - "Patrol" (Catalyst)
*1995 - "The Factory Masters" (Catalyst - reissue of "Babi Yar/Drill" & "Crossing the Border")
*1998 - The King's Singers and Evelyn Glennie. "The Street Songs" (RCA Victor Red Seal)
*2001 - "Horses Of Instruction" (Black Box)
*2002 - Onyx Brass - Pavanes Fantasias Variations. "Mr. Steve Martland after Mr. Henry Purcell: one note fantasy..." (Meridian)
*2007 - Wallace Collection - Hammered Brass. "Full Fathom Five" (Linn)

External links

* [http://www.schott-music.com/autoren/KomponistenAZ/show,3530.html Steve Martland page] from Schott site
* [http://www.musicontheedge.com/martland.html Steve Martland page] from Music on the Edge site

Listening

* [http://www.myspace.com/stevemartland Steve Martland audio]