RECENT
29 November 2021
FAREWELL
Ed Carew, Organ
RAM 200 Pieces Project
Duke's Hall, Royal Academy of Music
30 June 2019
JUPITER
Ligeti Quartet
The Great Exhibition Road Festival 2019
Expression Stage, Exhibition Road
South Kensington, London
16 March 2019
FIERY TALES for children's choir and piano
New London Children's Choir, conducted by Ronald Corp
St James's Piccadilly, London
02 December 2018
THE OXEN
Congregational Church of Batavia
Chicago, IL
USA
01 December 2018
THE OXEN
Mayslake Peabody Estate, Oak Brook
Chicago, IL
USA
02 October 2018
JUPITER
Ligeti Quartet
ThinkTank, Birmingham Science Museum
01 October 2018
JUPITER
Ligeti Quartet
We The Curious
One Millennium Square, Bristol
30 September 2018
JUPITER
Ligeti Quartet
Winchester Science Centre, Winchester
29 September 2018
JUPITER*
Ligeti Quartet
Royal Observatory, Greenwich, London
14 July 2018
STERADIAN* for 12 Trombones and torch beams
International Trombone Festival
Iowa City, Iowa, USA
* denotes world premiere. Scroll down for Performance Archive
PREMIERE
Richard Bullen Première at Royal Academy of Music 200 PIECES
Richard Bullen’s new organ piece Farewell is being premiered by Edward Carew at the Royal Academy of Music on Monday 29 November at 6.30pm. Farewell was commissioned by the Royal Academy of Music as part of the 200 PIECES project to celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2022.
NEW COMMISSION
Richard has been commissioned to write an organ piece to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Royal Academy of Music in London, UK. See here for more information.
The piece uses the hymn tune ‘Erbarm’ dich mein, O Herre Gott’ (1524) and was inspired by Bach’s various harmonisations of this phrygian melody. (BWV 305, BWV 721). It is a farewell to a friend
JUNE 2019: JUPITER @ GREAT EXHIBITION ROAD FESTIVAL
The Ligeti Quartet perform a selection of the Planets II including Richard's contribution Jupiter at the Expression Stage, Great Exhibition Road Festival in South Kensington on Sunday 30 June 2019.
JUNE 2019: GUNDRY PRIZE JUDGING
Richard was honoured to be invited to adjudicate this year's Gundry Composition Prize at Mill Hill School in North London. The entries were of an impressively high standard and awarding a winner in each category was not an easy decision!
MAY 2019: A.R.A.M
In 2019 Richard was made an Associate (A.R.A.M.) of the Royal Academy of Music, an honour given to former students who have distinguished themselves in the profession
NOV 2018:
BRITISH COMPOSER AWARD NOMINATION
Richard has been nominated for a 2018 BASCA British Composer Award for Fiery Tales, commissioned and premiered by Ronald Corp and the New London Children's Choir. The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the British Museum on 4 December 2018, recorded by BBC Radio 3.
JULY 2018:
NEW COMMISSION
Richard has been commissioned by Live Music Sculpture to write a new piece about the planet Jupiter in the 100th anniversary of Holst's Planets Suite. The Ligeti Quartet will perform the work along with pieces by Samuel Bordoli, Mira Calix, Yazz Ahmed, Laurence Crane, Ayanna Witter-Johnson and Deborah Pritchard. Premiere at Royal Observatory Greenwich, 29 September then to Planetarium venues at Winchester, Bristol and Birmingham. More info and tickets here. Produced by SoundUK & supported by Arts Council England, National Lottery and RVW Trust.
RICHARD JOINS COMPOSERS EDITION
11 works are now available from Composer's Edition. Read full details of the launch here.
STERADIAN PREMIERE
IOWA, USA
Steradian for 12 trombones and torch beams will receive its official world premiere at the 2018 International Trombone Festival, University of Iowa, Iowa City on 14 July 2018. Bullen will attend three days of workshops with the other selected composers and will lead rehearsals with festival attendees.
NEW COMMISSION:
New London Children's Choir
Fiery Tales (2017)
Bullen has been commissioned to write a new piece for the New London Children's Choir conducted by Ronald Corp. The premiere will take place at St James's Piccadilly, London on Saturday 17 March 2018. Richard has chosen to set the 17th-century anonymous poem 'I saw a Peacock with a fiery tail'.
NEW COMMISSION:
'Writing for...French Horn'
PSAPPHA
Carne Levare (2017)
Bullen has been selected to write a piece for Andrew Budden, french horn player with the Manchester based leading new music ensemble Psappha, for performance and recording in March 2018.
NEW PUBLICATION:
The Oxen
by Stainer & Bell Ltd
Richard Bullen’s ‘dark lullaby’ The Oxen was commissioned by Choir & Organ magazine for the choir of St Paul’s Cathedral, and it was featured in the September 2016 issue as part of the New Music series showcasing choral works by young composers. Although lilting rhythms evoke a mood of naivety and innocence, of children gathered in hushed excitement around the fireside on Christmas Eve as pictured in the first verse of Hardy’s well-known poem, there is also an edge to the music that reflects its nostalgic, even bitter content. First published in The Times on 24 December 1915, this seasonal lyric can also be read as a lament for loss of innocence and of the simple urge to faith. We might also find in its reflection on the distance between the ideals of civilisation and its reality, a tragic separation that continues to this day. Part of the subtle resonance of the poem is its conversational manner. Each voice should therefore be phrased flexibly and feelingly in its contribution to the discourse, while the tempi should be judiciously chosen to enhance this overall effect according to the prevailing acoustic.
Copies are available here
BRITISH COMPOSER AWARDS 2017
Adjudicating
Richard was honoured to be invited by the British Academy of Singers, Composers and Authors to serve as a judge for the 2017 BASCA British Composer Awards
NEW COMMISSION:
St Paul's Cathedral Choir
Richard has been commissioned by Choir & Organ magazine to write a new carol for the choir of St Paul's Cathedral, conducted by Andrew Carwood. Subscribers can download the sheet music from the magazine website until the end of February 2017.
The text provided was The Oxen by Thomas Hardy.
SOUND TRACKS: FURNACE MUSIC
Richard has been commissioned to write a piece for the East Sussex Brass Academy and Royal Academy of Music students at Furnace Wood, Sussex. Sound Tracks: Forest Music at Furnace Wood liberates music from the formal context and revitalises it by bringing it into the glorious woodland of East Sussex.
Experience extraordinary acoustic performances of live music by trained musicians in different locations throughout the woods. Sound Tracks is for people of all ages, with a pioneering spirit and an open mind.
16 July 2016
THEATRE OF RESONANCE
@ CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL
Christina McMaster performs Theatre of Resonance at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival
1 July 2016
FOUR WORKS PROGRAMMED AT RAM PIANO SUMMER FESTIVAL
Live performances of Theatre of Resonance for piano and video and Susurrus for 12 concealed pianists in audience, plus screenings of The House of Asteria and Scenes from a Deserted Jazz Club.
Photo copyright Kevin Leighton
9 December 2015
BRITISH COMPOSER AWARDS CEREMONY @ BFI SOUTHBANK
Richard is delighted to have his orchestral work Visioni Simultanee shortlisted for the 2015 BASCA British Composer Awards - his 3rd nomination since 2011. The work was commissioned and premiered by the Finchley Chamber Orchestra.
23 October 2015
SCENES FROM A DESERTED JAZZ CLUB
iTUNES RELEASE
Surreal and ghostly, Richard Bullen's Scenes from a Deserted Jazz Club is now available on iTUNES, on Christina McMaster's debut album Pinks & Blues
21 October 2015
SCENES FROM A DESERTED JAZZ CLUB*
@ St JAMES THEATRE
Bold and vivacious pianist Christina McMaster is releasing her innovative debut album, Pinks & Blues – a compelling mix of contemporary classical, jazz and blues. She is inviting you to join her and a hugely talented cast of special collaborative guests including Director Richard Williams, singer Sarah Gabriel, actors from Drama Centre London, amazing trumpeter Jay Phelps and rapping sensation Tor Cesay.
26 August 2015
THEATRE OF RESONANCE
@ DARTINGTON
Bold and vivacious pianist Christina McMaster performs Theatre of Resonance for piano and video at Dartington International Summer School.
25 June 2015
SKYLARK MACHINE *
Bold and vivacious pianist Christina McMaster gives the world premiere of Skylark Machine in a lunchtime concert at St John's Smith Square alongside music by Satie, Scarlatti and Debussy.
11 June 2015
HANAMICHI/HIKINUKI *
Anna Hashimoto, St John Smith Square Young Artist, gives the UK premiere of Hanamichi for clarinet, CD and large building, and the world premiere of Hikinuki for solo clarinet. Inspired by elements from Kabuki theatre, these two contrasting pieces were commissioned by Anna and explore many different characters and colours that the instrument can produce.
The programme is a celebration of Anna Hashimoto's roots, featuring music from UK and Japan. The first half is based on the here and now with contemporary music spanning three generations, all alive today. The pieces also explore aspects of acoustics and the physical space of St John's Smith Square.
The second half is a collection of nostalgic and warm pieces, varying in style from folksong, romantic, to slightly jazzy!
Tickets can be booked from the St John's Smith Square website.
26 May 2015
GARDEN OF FORKING PATHS @ NONCLASSICAL
The 7th public performance of Richard Bullen's spatial, site-reactive clarinet trio, originally composed during the inaugural LSO Soundhub Scheme in 2012. This performance takes place at the Russet Arts Cafe in the heart of Hackney Downs Studios as part of a NonClassical night curated by American composer Brian Mark.
8 April 2015
GARDEN OF FORKING PATHS @ RIAM
Vivre Musicale give the Irish Premiere of Richard Bullen's spatial clarinet trio at the Katherine Brennan Hall, Royal Irish Academy of Music. The concert also includes works by Milhaud, Beethoven and Mackey.
7 March 2015
VISIONI SIMULTANEE *
7 March 2015: 7.30pm
Trinity Church, Nether Street
Finchley, London N12 7NN
David Lardi conducts the Finchley Chamber Orchestra in the world premiere of Richard Bullen's Visioni Simultanee. Commissioned by the orchestra, the work takes its name from a painting by the Italian Futurist artist Umberto Boccioni. Also in the programme: Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with soloist Shana Douglas; Sibelius Symphony No. 3; Parry Symphonic Variations
PERFORMANCE ARCHIVE
23 March 2018
CARNE LEVARE* for solo french horn
Filming and recording session
Andrew Budden, Psappha
St Michael's Ancoats, Manchester
17 March 2018
FIERY TALES* for children's choir and piano
New London Children's Choir, conducted by Ronald Corp
St James's Piccadilly, London
1 February 2018
RITE
Iklectik, Waterloo
London
22 December 2017
THE OXEN
Our Lady Help of Christians RC Church
Madeira Road
West Byfleet
17 June 2017
DRIFTING SPIRITS for 5 octave handbell group and chimes
East Anglian Handbell Team
Drill Hall, Ware, Hertfordshire
20 May 2017
DRIFTING SPIRITS for 5 octave handbell group and chimes
East Anglian Handbell Team
Great Yarmouth Minster, Great Yarmouth
6 May 2017
DRIFTING SPIRITS for 5 octave handbell group and chimes
East Anglian Handbell Team
Bedford Academy
2 March 2017
Scenes from a Deserted Jazz Club
Christina McMaster
St John's Smith Square, London
17 December 2016
The Oxen
Finchley Chamber Choir, cond. David Lardi
Trinity Church, London
15 December 2016 - UK PREMIERE
The Oxen
St Paul's Cathedral Choir, cond. Andrew Carwood
St Paul's Cathedral, London
11 December 2016 - WORLD PREMIERE
The Oxen
First Congregational Church Choir
137 Algoma Blvd., Oshkosh, Wisconsin USA
9 November 2016
Theatre of Resonance
Christina McMaster (piano)
Dennison University, Ohio USA
3 November 2016
Theatre of Resonance
Christina McMaster (piano)
Symphony Space, New York USA
18 October 2016
Theatre of Resonance
Christina McMaster (piano)
Department of Performing Arts
Middlesex University, London
29 July 2016
Hikinuki
Anna Hashimoto (clarinet)
Wesley Chapel
Harrogate International Music Festival
17 July 2016
Sound Tracks: Forest Music Pilot Scheme, Furnace Wood, Sussex WORLD PREMIERE
Echoes from Furnace Wood
Arts Council England funded commission performed by East Sussex Brass Academy and Royal Academy of Music brass
15 July 2016
Theatre of Resonance
Christina McMaster (piano)
Cheltenham Festival
1 July 2016
Screenings of The House of Asteria and Scenes from a Deserted Jazz Club
The Royal Academy of Music, Summer Piano Festival
30 June 2016
Theatre of Resonance for piano and video performed by Christina McMaster
Susurrus for 12 concealed pianists
The Royal Academy of Music, Summer Piano Festival
4 June 2016
Drifting Spirits for 5 octave handbell group and chimes
East Anglian Handbell Team
Bedford Academy
7 May 2016
Drifting Spirits for 5 octave handbell group and chimes
East Anglian Handbell Team
Needham Market Community Centre
27 April 2016
Hikinuki
Anna Hashimoto (clarinet)
Japan day at Clarimania, International Clarinet Festival
Wroclaw, Poland, (European Capital of Culture)
24 April 2016
Hikinuki
Anna Hashimoto (clarinet)
Cardiff University,
Cardiff Clarinet Convention