Smalley, Roger
Smalley, Roger
Smalley, Roger , English pianist, composer, and teacher; b. Swinton, Manchester, July 26, 1943. He studied piano with Antony Hopkins and composition with Peter Racine Fricker and John White at the Royal Coll. of Music in London (1961–65); also took private composition lessons with Goehr and attended Stockhausen’s Cologne course for new music (1965). With Tim Souster, he founded the contemporary music ensemble Intermodulation, with which he toured extensively in Europe until 1976. In 1968 he became the first artist- in-residence at King’s Coll., Cambridge; in 1974 he was named musician-in- residence at the Univ. of Western Australia, where he became a research fellow (1976) and then senior lecturer. As a pianist, he consistently champions avant- garde music. His compositions are steeped in electronic and aleatory techniques.
Works
DRAMATIC: Music Theater: William Derrincourt, entertainment for Baritone, Men’s Chorus, and Instrumental Ensemble (1978; Perth, Aug. 31, 1979); The Narrow Road to the Deep North, “journey” for Baritone and 6 Players (London, Nov. 29, 1983). ORCH.: Variations for Strings (1964); Gloria Tibi Trinitas (1965; rev. 1969; Liverpool, Sept. 30, 1969); Beat Music for Percussion, Electric Organ, Viola, Soprano Saxophone, and Orch. (London, Aug. 13, 1971); Strata for 15 Solo Strings (1971; London, Feb. 19, 1973); Konzertstück for Violin and Orch. (Perth, Feb. 23, 1980); Sym. (1981; London, Aug. 25, 1982); Piano Concerto (Swansea, Aug. 11, 1985); Strung Out for 13 Solo Strings (Perth, Feb. 20, 1988). CHAMBER : String Sextet (1964); Missa Parodia II, nonet (1967); Pulses for Brass, Percussion, and Live Electronics (1969; rev. 1986); Zeitebenen for Live Electronic Ensemble and Tape (1973); Echo II for Cello and Stereo Tape-delay System (1978), III for Trumpet and Stereo Tape-delay System (1978), and IV for Horn and Stereo Tapedelay System (1983); String Quartet (1979); Movement for Flute and Piano (1976–80); Impulses for Flute, Trombone, Percussion, Piano, Synthesizer, and Cello (1986); Ceremony I for Percussion Quartet (1987); various piano pieces. VOCAL: Choral music.
BIblography
J. Thönell, ed., Poles Apart: The Music of R. S. (Perth, 1994).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire