My Life as a Composer
Audio Version (to download right-click and 'Save link as...')
- Speaker(s):
- Adam Gorb (Royal Northern College of Music), Chair: Giles Easterbrook (Independent scholar)
- Event date:
- Thursday 28 January 2010
School of Advanced Study, University of London
- Description
-
I started composing at the age of ten, but I was in my thirties before I became a professional composer. I will be talking about what made me want to be a composer, how I was turned off it as a young man, how the environment for a composer in the UK has changed in my lifetime and how my career has been affected by these changes. The issues that I will focus on will include: ‘Do we need any more new music?’ ‘Is making a living as a composer desirable?’ and ‘Artistic integrity versus the market place.’ I will play excerpts of pieces from various stages in my composing life and will end by giving a brief survey of Contemporary Music in the UK today.