Steve martland biography

Steve Martland (10 October 1954 – 7 May 2013) was an English composer.
Steve Martland was born on 10 October 1954 in Liverpool and studied composition in Holland with Louis Andriessen.
Steve Martland, who has died of a heart attack aged 58, was one of the most vibrant, unconventional and dynamic forces in British music.

•

The late lamented Steve Martland wrote the first version of Dance Works in 1993 apparently as part of a collaboration with the London Contemporary Dance Theatre. The piece was scored for an amplified ensemble featuring alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, flügelhorn, trombone, keyboard, violin, electric guitar and bass guitar. Martland subsequently wrote a version for two pianos and as good as the first version is, I think the second is the more effective – it’s leaner and packs a real punch, helped considerably by the interplay of the two pianos acting as two equal forces.

The piece is in the Minimalist style with strong elements of jazz and rock and is dominated by a strong – and, at times, pounding – rhythm throughout. Overall the piece has a tonal feel but consonant and dissonant harmony constantly do battle which adds to the excitement of the piece. The influence of Steve Reich is easy to discern but Martland had his own personal style and this is no pale imitation but a unique and distinctive piece in its own right.

It is in four parts – the

•

Martland, Steve

Martland, Steve, English composer; b. Liverpool, Oct. 10, 1958. After graduating from the Univ. of Liverpool (1981), he studied composition with Louis Andriessen at the Royal Cons, of Music at The Hague (1982–85) and with Schuller at the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood (summer, 1984). He was active with his own Steve Martland Band, finding inspiration in the world of pop and rock music in pursuit of his own fiercely independent course as a serious composer.

Works

dramatic:Ghost Story, incidental music to a television play (1989); The Task, incidental music (1989); Home, Away from Home, incidental music to a television play (1989); Cult, soundtrack to a dance-theater piece for television (1990). orch.:Lotta continua for Jazz Band and Orch. (1981; rev. 1984); Babi Yar (1983; Liverpool, Nov. 22, 1985); Orc for Horn and Small Orch. (1984; Amsterdam, Jan. 14, 1985); Dividing the Lines for Brass Band (1986); Crossing the Broder for Strings (1990–91; also for String Quartet and Tape). chamber:Remembering Lennon for 7 Players (1981; rev. 19

•

Steve Martland

English composer

Steve Martland (10 October 1954 – 7 May 2013) was an English composer. He helped to curate the Factory Classical label of Factory Records, featuring contemporary British composers.^[1]

Life and music

Martland was born in Liverpool, and studied composition at Liverpool University and in the Netherlands with Louis Andriessen. He worked almost exclusively with artists outside classical institutions—Dutch and American groups, freelance musicians and especially his own Steve Martland Band^[2] which toured his music internationally. He also worked with the King’s Singers and Evelyn Glennie for whom he wrote Street Songs. Martland was composer in residence at the ETNA Music Festival in Sicily in 2006 and 2007. His music was published by Schott Music.

Usually amplified, muscular and powerfully rhythmic, his music was 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 Vid