Patrick Nunn biography
"I regard myself more as an artist than a composer. For me, the word 'composer' holds those well-trodden associations such as the word 'contemporary' which, by its very definition, means something that has been recently created. It is my belief that music should cause a reaction, a stirring in the soul a tingle down the spine a sound that excites the ear.
An artist's work should respond to their surroundings with a language that is reflective of the world they find themselves in. And because the world is a constantly evolving entity, so an artist's work should be constantly changing. I respect any artist who constantly re-invents themself - those artists who are brave enough to write whatever they feel is appropriate to the situation they find themselves in whether it is complex, stylised, inspired by other musical cultures, tonal, atonal whatever, as long as its written with integrity. This is why I disagree with anyone who tries to place music into meaningless categories.
As an artist, I treat every work as an individual creation. Perhaps this is why I often write so slowly! I take a concept and subject that idea to a musical treatment that is real and engaging not alienating or needlessly complex and intellectual. My work has been described as idiosyncratic, emotional, energetic, flavoured, multi-cultural, unusual, fun. My ultimate aim is always to create something new, unexpected, engaging and entertaining for the audience." Patrick Nunn
Patrick Nunn has been described as "...one of the most talented composers to have emerged in recent years" (Peter Reynolds, PM Ensemble). Born in 1969, he studied with Frank Denyer at Dartington College of Arts and with Gary Carpenter at the Welsh College of Music and Drama returning once again to Dartington in 1995 to study with the Dutch composer Louis Andriessen. He was the featured artist in the 2nd Ural Music Festival in 1999 and his works has been performed at numerous festivals in the UK and abroad.
His music is extremely diverse and is reflected in the types of projects that he has been involved with. The Western Mail describes him as having "...none of the modern music baggage behind him" (May 99). Visual art has always been the strongest source of inspiration. In 1995, he was awarded the Gregynog Festival prize for his work Colour Cycle a synaesthetic interpretion for violin and piano. Works inspired by paintings include Merry-Go-Round (Mark Gertler, 1916), Black Strokes 1 (Kandisnsky, 1913) and his latest commission Hextych for PM Ensembles 10th anniversary concert. This theatrical six-movement work based upon the paintings of the late Philip Core uses devices such as a gramophone player to create an unusual and highly entertaining visual and aural concept in the performance.
He has worked extensively with other disciplines including film, theatre, dance and performance art. His sensual and dramatic score for Genet's silent film 'Un Chant d'amour' toured the country in 1998 and has subsequently been taken up by the BFI for future DVD release. Yet, the diversity continues. In 1999, SPNM selected Patrick as one of the composers to work with designers from St Martins fashion school. One of the works for catwalk was later featured on the cover CD of Avant magazine along with an extensive interview. When Peter Reynolds wrote "One of the most interesting new works to hit Cardiff this year", he was referring to the controversial music-theatre work Rents which follows the life of an Edinbrough rent boy. Based upon the play by Micheal Wilcox the work was performed at Chapter Arts Centre and Pride Arts Festival, London.
Since being awarded the Composing for Children prize as part of the BBC's Fairest Isle festival in 1995, the work Songs of our Generation has been recorded by the New London Orchestra and Children's Choir and has been broadcast on Radio 3. The New London Children's Choir has subsequently commissioned several more new works. He now rehearses regularly with the choir and participates in their summer school residency running workshops and conducting the orchestra. In addition to being awarded a commendation by Classic FM for his work in schools, he has recently completed the score Our Town Story, commissioned by the Millennium Dome/Westminster Council for Trinity College of Music's junior department. He has been invited back to give a masterclass in composition to student artists.
His interest in music outside the classical arena has brought his work to the attention of groups such as The Gogmagogs, Charlie Barber and Band, Auckland Chamber Orchestra, Delta Saxophone Quartet and Icebreaker. More recently, Patrick has worked alongside Killing Joke's, Jaz Coleman on the Doors Concerto featuring Nigel Kennedy, which is due for release in October. He is now working on a second album with Coleman and Kennedy for EMI.