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Colin Matthews

Composer

The Isambard Kingdom Brunel of contemporary music …

— Paul Griffiths, The Times

Eleven Studies in Velocity (1987). Piano

Cover of score for 11 studies in velocity

Although, as the title implies, these studies are all fast, they are not in the first place studies in pianistic virtuosity – I am no pianist myself – so much as studies in various ways of composing fast music.  All are short and concentrated, with few lasting more than a minute.

Since the order of performance and the number of studies played (there is no obligation to play them all) is largely up to the pianist, there is no point in attempting to describe them. Except to say that in a complete version one is a nocturne (which should be placed near the end), with the only slow textures of the eleven, and the final piece is in the nature of a toccata.

This work was commissioned by the Finzi Trust with funds made available by Southern Arts.

Categories: Piano

Recordings

Metier (2013)

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30 October, 2025 - Pluto the Renewer
Odense Symfoniorkester, Alpesh Chauhan (Conductor)
Carl Nielsen Salen, Odense Concert Hall, Denmark

31 October, 2025 - Pluto the Renewer
Odense Symfoniorkester, Alpesh Chauhan (Conductor)
Carl Nielsen Salen, Odense Concert Hall, Denmark

8 February, 2026 - Oboe Concerto (World Premiere)
London Symphony Orchestra, Olivier Stankiewicz (Oboe), Elim Chan (Conductor)
Barbican Hall, London

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Useful Links

Faber Music
NMC Recordings
The Holst Foundation

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