Christian Mason
Compositeur britannique né en 1984 à Londres.
Christian Mason studied musicology at the University of York and composition with Sinan Savaskan, Nicola LeFanu, Thomas Simaku, Brian Ferneyhough, and Julian Anderson. During this time, he also attended summer sessions at Stockhausen in Germany, Dartington in England, Royaumont and Acanthes in France, and Takefu in Japan.
Mason was composition assistant to Harrison Birtwistle before writing his thesis at King’s College London under the direction of George Benjamin. He has been composer-in-residence at Eton College, Villa Concordia, Civitella Ranieri Foundation, Experimentalstudio, Südwestrundfunk, and Orchestre National d’Auvergne.
He has received commissions from Wittener Tage für neue Kammermusik, Donaueschingen Festival, Louvre Auditorium, and Wigmore Hall, and from ensembles such as the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, London’s Philharmonia Orchestra, the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, and the Ligeti Quartet. His works have been performed at the Ultraschall, Witten, and Lucerne festivals and by Ensemble Recherche, Vienna Philharmonic, Munich Chamber Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Ensemble Modern, Ensemble Remix, Asko-Schönberg Ensemble, Orchestre National de France, and Ensemble Intercontemporain.
Mason is interested in unusual sounds such as the harmonica and the musical saw, and he is a keen theremin player. Strangeness and the remote generally play an important role in his work. He is thus fascinated by anything that is difficult to apprehend, motivated by a desire to better understand his own limits. Stars and eternity, for example, dominate the titles of his pieces, such as Zwischen den Sternen (Between the Stars, 2019), Eternity in an hour (2019), and An Ocean of Years (2020). He is also interested in relationships with inanimate living beings, which, rather than provoking despair, bring him a comforting feeling of permanence. An avid walker and ecologically minded, he has also written pieces on nature and the relationship that humankind maintains with it, such as in Man Made (2018).
In his instrumentation, he explores space in unorthodox ways. In Layers of Love (2015), the two violins are placed on opposite sides of the ensemble. In Aimless Wonder (2017) and Zwischen den Sternen, the musicians move about the stage, leaving and entering. For Mason, the traditional concert creates an almost spiritual division between the spectator and the performer. He sees concerts as rituals where each must play their role, with listening as important as performing. Mason traces his first awareness of the relationship between music and space to a performance he attended in his teens of Le Visage nuptial (The Bridal Face, 1946) by Pierre Boulez. He later paid homage to Boulez in Open to infinity: a grain of sand (2015), commissioned for the French composer’s ninetieth birthday. In this piece, Mason uses the same structure and instrumentation — piano, harp, and vibraphone — as Boulez’s sur Incises (on Incises, 1998).
Mason is guest professor of composition at the University of Cambridge and founder and artistic co-director of the Octandre Ensemble, alongside the English conductor Jon Hargreaves, who promotes contemporary music through regular performances throughout the UK. Mason is also a mentor for the patron scheme at the London Symphony Orchestra’s Panufnik Young Composers Project.
His works are published by Breitkopf & Härtel.
Awards and Scholarships
- Composer Prize from the Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung, 2015
- Mendelssohn Scholarship, 2012
- British Composer Award for Learning Self-Modulation, 2012
- Royal Philharmonic Society Composition Prize, 2009
© Ircam-Centre Pompidou, 2023
Sources
Site du compositeur, Breitkopf & Härtel, BabelScores, France Musique
- Solo (excluding voice)
- ...just as the sun is always... for piano (2006), 8 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- When joy became mixed with grief for violin (2007), 8 mn, édition du compositeur
- Efflorescence for violin (2008), 9 mn
- Incandescence for cello (2011), 15 mn, édition du compositeur
- Remembered Resonance for piano and Japanese carillon (2014), 8 mn, édition du compositeur
- In a world of invisible waves: a butterfly for piano (2016), 5 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Bird learning to fly for cello scordatura (2017), 7 mn
- The Singing Sea for tuba (2018), 5 mn
- Inner Landscapes for piano (2018-2019), 17 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- elec Lost in the Horizon for solo piccolo and pre-recorded bass flutes (2022), 7 mn
- Chamber music
- Equinoxes of the Infinite for two pianos and two percussions (2008), 8 mn
- TRIO: In Time Entwined for bass flute, English horn and viola (2008), 7 mn, édition du compositeur
- The lamp light in the willow trees for saxophone and cello (2009), 9 mn
- Heaven's chimes are slow for flute and piano (2010), 7 mn
- Learning self modulation for violin and piano (2011), 22 mn, édition du compositeur
- On love and death - 5 Rossetti Songs for saxophone and piano (2011), 25 mn
- Isolarion II for brass quintet (2012), 7 mn
- Sai Ma / Racing horses for string quartet (2012), 5 mn, édition du compositeur
- TRIO: In Space Enlaced for flute, oboe and clarinet (2008-2012), 10 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Lahara for percussion sextet (2015), 13 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Isolarion III for piano duo (2016), 14 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Tuvan Songbook for string quartet (2016), 19 mn, édition du compositeur
- Remembered Radiance for piano and percussion (2018), 18 mn
- Sardinian Songbook for string quartet (2018), 21 mn, édition du compositeur
- Inner Landscapes version for quintet with piano (2018-2019), 20 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- This present moment used to be the unimaginable future... for string quartet (2019), 20 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Zwischen den Sternen for eight instrumentalists (2018-2019), 40 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Shadowy fish homage to Schubert, for quintet (2020), 17 mn, édition du compositeur
- Instrumental ensemble music
- Aspects of Radiants for symphony orchestra (2005), 10 mn, édition du compositeur
- ...from bursting suns escaping... for symphony orchestra (2006), 3 mn, édition du compositeur
- Under Heaven: sometimes... for shakuhachi, sho, oboe d'amore, clarinet, viola, harp and two kotos (2006), 7 mn
- Seeking sweet springs for flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, percussion, guitar, violin, viola, cello (2007), 7 mn, édition du compositeur
- Clear Night for symphony orchestra (2007-2008), 5 mn, édition du compositeur
- In time entwined, in space enlaced for flute, English horn, clarinet, three percussions, violin, viola, cello and 36 harmonicas in the audience (2008), 10 mn
- Noctilucence for flute, clarinet, glockenspiel, piano and string quartet (2009), 12 mn
- Looking for the Land that is nowhere homage to Horatiu Radulescu, for theremin and scordatura string octet (2010), 14 mn
- Isolarion - Rituals of Resonance for symphony orchestra (2012-2013), 20 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Remember the Golden Age? for twelve harmonicas and one percussion (2014), 7 mn
- Layers of Love for thirteen instrumentalists (2015), 11 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Open to infinity: a grain of sand for fifteen instrumentalists (2015), 10 mn
- Sympathetic Resonance for symphony orchestra (2015), 10 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- In the midst of the sonorous islands for sixteen instrumentalists and audience (2016), 30 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Eternal Return for symphony orchestra (2018), 7 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Eternity in an hour for symphony orchestra (2018-2019), 14 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- elec I wandered for a while... for piccolo flute, cello, bells, piano and electronics (2018-2019), 7 mn
- An Ocean of Years for symphony orchestra (2019-2020), 21 mn
- elec Somewhere in the Distance (Lost in the Horizon) for spatialised orchestra with ondes martenot and tape (2021), 19 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Voix Céleste for string orchestra (2021), 15 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Concertant music
- Aimless Wonder for two horns and string orchestra (2016-2017), 30 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Vocal music and instrument(s)
- On love and death - 5 Rossetti Songs for soprano and piano (2009-2011), 25 mn
- Today and tomorrow for mezzo-soprano, flute, clarinet, piano, violin and cello (2011), 7 mn
- Fragments of eternity for seven to nine instrumentalists (2012), 7 mn, édition du compositeur
- In late late night I thank Cage for soprano, alto, two alto flutes, harp, viola and cello (2014), 3 mn, édition du compositeur
- elec Somewhere between us... for amplified mixed vocal quartet and Paetzold bass flute (2014), 7 mn, édition du compositeur
- The Years of Light for two voices and large mixed ensemble (2013-2014), 14 mn, édition du compositeur
- stage The place between [workshop version], for three voices, three actors and three instrumentalists (2017), 10 mn
- Man Made for soprano and chamber orchestra (2017-2018), 20 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- The people's council sends a message to the viceroy for tenor and piano (2018), 7 mn
- The Singing Tree for vocal quintet, children's choir and large ensemble (2018-2022), 50 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- invisible threads for string quartet, vocal sextet, bass clarinet and accordion (2022-2023), 1 h 12 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- A cappella vocal music
- stage As if it was my first and last... for breathing sounds of three dancers (2008-2009), 15 mn
- Unseen seasons for eight-part a cappella choir (2013), 17 mn, édition du compositeur
- elec stage Triptych: Reunion for five voices and tape (2014), 20 mn
- elec stage Remnants for four live voices and pre-recorded choir (2016-2017), 1 h 10 mn
- Electronic music / fixed media / mechanical musical instruments
- elec stage BLOB electronic music (2008-2009), 15 mn
- elec stage A Kingfisher dives into the sun… electronic soundscape with video (2019), 24 mn
- Unspecified instrumentation
- stage Another door closed music for the text by Peter Gill, directed by him (2009)
- stage The breath of life music for the text by David Hare, directed by Peter Gill (2009)
- stage Making noise quietly music for the text by Robert Holman, directed by Peter Gill (2012)
- stage As good a time as any music for the text by Peter Gill, directed by himself (2015)
- 2023
- invisible threads for string quartet, vocal sextet, bass clarinet and accordion, 1 h 12 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- 2022
- elec Lost in the Horizon for solo piccolo and pre-recorded bass flutes, 7 mn
- The Singing Tree for vocal quintet, children's choir and large ensemble, 50 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- 2021
- elec Somewhere in the Distance (Lost in the Horizon) for spatialised orchestra with ondes martenot and tape, 19 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Voix Céleste for string orchestra, 15 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- 2020
- An Ocean of Years for symphony orchestra, 21 mn
- Shadowy fish homage to Schubert, for quintet, 17 mn, édition du compositeur
- 2019
- elec stage A Kingfisher dives into the sun… electronic soundscape with video, 24 mn
- Eternity in an hour for symphony orchestra, 14 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- elec I wandered for a while... for piccolo flute, cello, bells, piano and electronics, 7 mn
- Inner Landscapes for piano, 17 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Inner Landscapes version for quintet with piano, 20 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- This present moment used to be the unimaginable future... for string quartet, 20 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Zwischen den Sternen for eight instrumentalists, 40 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- 2018
- Eternal Return for symphony orchestra, 7 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Man Made for soprano and chamber orchestra, 20 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Remembered Radiance for piano and percussion, 18 mn
- Sardinian Songbook for string quartet, 21 mn, édition du compositeur
- The Singing Sea for tuba, 5 mn
- The people's council sends a message to the viceroy for tenor and piano, 7 mn
- 2017
- Aimless Wonder for two horns and string orchestra, 30 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Bird learning to fly for cello scordatura, 7 mn
- elec stage Remnants for four live voices and pre-recorded choir, 1 h 10 mn
- stage The place between [workshop version], for three voices, three actors and three instrumentalists, 10 mn
- 2016
- In a world of invisible waves: a butterfly for piano, 5 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- In the midst of the sonorous islands for sixteen instrumentalists and audience, 30 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Isolarion III for piano duo, 14 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Tuvan Songbook for string quartet, 19 mn, édition du compositeur
- 2015
- stage As good a time as any music for the text by Peter Gill, directed by himself
- Lahara for percussion sextet, 13 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Layers of Love for thirteen instrumentalists, 11 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Open to infinity: a grain of sand for fifteen instrumentalists, 10 mn
- Sympathetic Resonance for symphony orchestra, 10 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- 2014
- In late late night I thank Cage for soprano, alto, two alto flutes, harp, viola and cello, 3 mn, édition du compositeur
- Remember the Golden Age? for twelve harmonicas and one percussion, 7 mn
- Remembered Resonance for piano and Japanese carillon, 8 mn, édition du compositeur
- elec Somewhere between us... for amplified mixed vocal quartet and Paetzold bass flute, 7 mn, édition du compositeur
- The Years of Light for two voices and large mixed ensemble, 14 mn, édition du compositeur
- elec stage Triptych: Reunion for five voices and tape, 20 mn
- 2013
- Isolarion - Rituals of Resonance for symphony orchestra, 20 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Unseen seasons for eight-part a cappella choir, 17 mn, édition du compositeur
- 2012
- Fragments of eternity for seven to nine instrumentalists, 7 mn, édition du compositeur
- Isolarion II for brass quintet, 7 mn
- stage Making noise quietly music for the text by Robert Holman, directed by Peter Gill
- Sai Ma / Racing horses for string quartet, 5 mn, édition du compositeur
- TRIO: In Space Enlaced for flute, oboe and clarinet, 10 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- 2011
- Incandescence for cello, 15 mn, édition du compositeur
- Learning self modulation for violin and piano, 22 mn, édition du compositeur
- On love and death - 5 Rossetti Songs for saxophone and piano, 25 mn
- On love and death - 5 Rossetti Songs for soprano and piano, 25 mn
- Today and tomorrow for mezzo-soprano, flute, clarinet, piano, violin and cello, 7 mn
- 2010
- Heaven's chimes are slow for flute and piano, 7 mn
- Looking for the Land that is nowhere homage to Horatiu Radulescu, for theremin and scordatura string octet, 14 mn
- 2009
- stage Another door closed music for the text by Peter Gill, directed by him
- stage As if it was my first and last... for breathing sounds of three dancers, 15 mn
- elec stage BLOB electronic music, 15 mn
- Noctilucence for flute, clarinet, glockenspiel, piano and string quartet, 12 mn
- stage The breath of life music for the text by David Hare, directed by Peter Gill
- The lamp light in the willow trees for saxophone and cello, 9 mn
- 2008
- Clear Night for symphony orchestra, 5 mn, édition du compositeur
- Efflorescence for violin, 9 mn
- Equinoxes of the Infinite for two pianos and two percussions, 8 mn
- In time entwined, in space enlaced for flute, English horn, clarinet, three percussions, violin, viola, cello and 36 harmonicas in the audience, 10 mn
- TRIO: In Time Entwined for bass flute, English horn and viola, 7 mn, édition du compositeur
- 2007
- Seeking sweet springs for flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, percussion, guitar, violin, viola, cello, 7 mn, édition du compositeur
- When joy became mixed with grief for violin, 8 mn, édition du compositeur
- 2006
- ...from bursting suns escaping... for symphony orchestra, 3 mn, édition du compositeur
- ...just as the sun is always... for piano, 8 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
- Under Heaven: sometimes... for shakuhachi, sho, oboe d'amore, clarinet, viola, harp and two kotos, 7 mn
- 2005
- Aspects of Radiants for symphony orchestra, 10 mn, édition du compositeur
Liens Internet
- Site du compositeur : www.christianmason.net
- BabelScores : www.babelscores.com
- Breitkopf & Härtel : www.breitkopf.com
- SoundCloud : www.soundcloud.com
- « Si loin si proche ! … avec Christian Mason », dans Carrefour de la création sur France Musique le 26 février 2023.
- Sympathetic Resonance pour orchestre de Christian Mason dans Création mondiale d’Anne Montaron sur France Musique le 8 septembre 2019.
(liens vérifiés en juin 2023).
Bibliographie
- Arnold WHITTAL « A sense of space: recent chamber works by Christian Mason », in The Musical Times, Autumn 2022, Vol. 163 Issue 1960, p. 39-58.
- Arnold WHITTAL, « Motives for Music: London, May 2018 », in Tempo, January 2019, Volume 73, Issue 287.
- Arnold WHITTAL, « Questioning the sound: the music of Christian Mason », in The Musical Times, Summer 2017, Issue 1939, p. 85-99.
Discographie
- Christian MASON, « Zwischen Den Sternen », Ensemble Recherche, 1 CD Winter & Winter, 2020, 910 267-2.
- Christian MASON, The lamp light in the willow trees, dans « Carosello di Fantasie », 1 CD Stradivarius, 2016, STR 37063.
- Christian MASON, Clear Night ; Learning Self Modulation ; The Years of Light ; Isolarion: Rituals of Resonance ; Layers of Love, dans « Unseen Light », 1 CD col legno, 2016, WWE 1CD 40415.
- Christian MASON, _In time entwined, in space enlaced _, dans « The Jerwood Series 6 », 1 CD London Sinfonietta Label, 2009, SINF CD2-2009.