Turnage, Mark-Anthony

Turnage, Mark-Anthony, English composer; b.Grays, Essex, June 10, 1960. He was a student of Knussen in the junior dept. of the Royal Coll. of Music in London (1974-78), where he continued his training as a senior student of John Lambert (diploma, 1982); he then studied with Schuller and Henze at the Berkshire Music Center in Tanglewood (summer, 1983). From 1989 to 1993 he served as composer-in-association with the City of Birmingham Sym. Orch., and from 1995 to 1998 of the English National Opera in London. In his music, Turnage has pursued an eclectic course in an accessible style which has found inspiration in various contemporary modes of expression, including rock and jazz.

Works

dramatic: Opera

Greek (1986-88; Munich, June 17, 1988); Killing Time,television opera (1991); The Country of the Blind,chamber opera (1996-97; Aldeburgh, June 13, 1997); The Silver Tassie (1999; London, Feb. 16, 2000). ORCH.: Let Us Sleep Nowfor Chamber Orch. (1979-82; Shape, June 14, 1983); Night Dances (1981-82; London, Feb. 1, 1982); Kind of Blue: In Memoriam, Thelonious Monk (1981-82; London, March 21, 1982); Ekaya: Elegy in Memory of Marvin Gaye (1984; Greenwich, March 29, 1985); Gross Intrusionfor Amplified String Quartet and String Orch. (Glasgow, Sept. 19, 1987); 3 Screaming Popes (Birmingham, Oct. 5, 1989); Momentum (1990-91; Birmingham, June 12, 1991); Drowned Out (1992-93; Nottingham, Oct. 20, 1993); Your Rockabyfor Soprano Saxophone and Orch. (1992-93; London, Feb. 23, 1994); Blood on the Floorfor 3 Jazz Soloists and Large Ensemble (1993-96; London, May 30, 1996); Dispelling the Fearsfor 2 Trumpets and Orch. (1994-95; Bedford, Oct. 29, 1995); Four-Horned Fandangofor 4 Horns and Orch. (1995-96; Birmingham, July 5, 1997); Tune for Torufor Jazz Ensemble (1996; also for Piano, Yokohama, April 10, 1996). CHAMBER: And Still a Softer Morningfor Flute, Vibraphone, Harp, and Cello (1978; rev. 1983; Montepulciano, July 31, 1984); After Darkfor Wind Quintet and String Quintet (1982-83; London, April 13, 1983); On All Foursfor Chamber Ensemble (1985; London, Feb. 4, 1986); Sarabandefor Soprano Saxophone and Piano (1985; London, Jan. 10, 1986); Releasefor 8 Players (1987; BBC Radio, Dec. 4, 1988); Kaifor Cello and Ensemble (1989-90; Birmingham, Dec. 18, 1990); 3 Farewellsfor Flute, Clarinet, Harp, and String Quartet (London, July 8,1990); Are You Sure?for String Quartet (1990; rev. 1991); Forty Bob Fanfarefor 10 Players (1992); Sleep on,3 lullabies for Cello and Piano (King’s Lynn, July 31, 1992); This Silencefor Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon, and String Quartet (1992; Cologne, Sept. 13, 1993); Set tofor Brass Ensemble (1992-93; Aldeburgh, Aug. 24, 1993); A Deviant Fantasyfor 4 Clarinets (London, Oct. 31,1993); 2 Elegies Framing a Shoutfor Soprano Saxophone and Piano (1994; Bristol, Jan. 12, 1995); Barries Deviant Fantasyfor String Quartet and Referee’s Whistles (London, July 3, 1995). P i - ano: Entranced (Huddersfield, Nov. 25, 1982); Tune for Tom (Yokohama, April 10, 1996; also for Jazz Ensemble). VOCAL: Lament for a Hanging Manfor Soprano and Ensemble (1983; Durham, Feb. 4, 1984); 1 Hand in Brooklyn Heightsfor 16 Voices and Percussion (Bath, June 3, 1986); Beating About the Bushfor Mezzo-soprano and 6 Instruments (London, June 14, 1987); Greek Suitefor Mezzo-soprano, Tenor, and Chamber Ensemble (Frankfurt am Main, March 20, 1989); Some Daysfor Mezzo-soprano and Orch. (1989; London, July 21, 1991); Leavingfor Soprano, Tenor, Chorus, and Ensemble (1990; rev. version, Birmingham, May 9, 1992); Her Anxietyfor Soprano and Ensemble (1991; London, Sept. 15, 1992); Twice Through the Heartfor Mezzo-soprano and 16 Players (1994-96; Aldeburgh, June 13, 1997).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire