Matthews, Colin

Matthews, Colin (b London, 1946). English composer. Awards for comp. incl. BBC chamber mus. prize 1970, and Ian Whyte award 1975. Taught at Sussex Univ. 1972–3 and 1976–7. Author of study of Mahler and authority on Berg. Collab. with D. Cooke on perf. version of Mahler's 10th Sym. (1964–74). Worked for Britten in composer's last years, 1971–6 and subsequently ed. several of Britten's early and unpubd. scores. Prin. works:ORCH.: Fourth Sonata (1974–5); Night Music (1976–7); Little Suite No.1 (1979), No.2 (1979); Sonata No.5 (Landscape) (1977–81); vc. conc. (1983–4); Night's Mask, chamber orch. (1984); Cortège (1988); Chiaroscuro (1990); Machines and Dreams (Toy Symphony) (1991); Broken Symmetry (1991–2); Hidden Variables (orch. vers.) (1992).INSTRS.: Ceres, 3 fl., gui., perc., 2 vc., db. (1972); Specula, fl., keyed perc., hp., va. (1976–7); Rainbow Studies, fl., ob., cl., bn., pf. (1977–8); Suns Dance, picc., ob., bcl., dbn., hn., str. quintet (1984–5); Hidden Variables, 15 players (1988–9); Quatrain, wind, brass, perc. (1989); Contraflow, 14 players (1992).VOICE & INSTR(S).: Un colloque sentimental, v., pf. (1971–8); 5 Sonnets: to Orpheus, ten., hp. (1975–6); Shadows in the Water, ten., pf. (1978–9); Cantata on the Death of Antony, sop., chamber ens. (1988–9); Strugnells Haiku, v., pf. or chamber ens. (1989); Aubade, v., pf. (1990).UNACC. VOICES: Second-hand Flames, 5 vv. (1982); A Rose at Christmas (1990).CHAMBER MUSIC: str. qt. No.1 (1979), No.2 (1985), No.3 (1993–4); Partita, vn. (1975); Little Suite, hp. (1979); ob. qt. No.1 (1981), No.2 (1988–9); Divertimento, double str. qt. (1982); Triptych, pf. quintet (1984); 5 Duos, vc., pf. (1987); 5 Untitled Flute Pieces, fl. (1987–9); 3-Part Chaconne, str. trio, pf. (left hand) (1989); Duologue, ob., pf. (1991); To Compose without the least Knowledge of Music …, wind sextet (1991); Palinode, vc. (1992).PIANO: 5 Studies (1974–6); Suite (1977–9); 11 Studies in Velocity (1987).