updated 27 March 2023
© Heidi Solander

Nico Muhly

American composer born 26 August 1981 in Vermont.

As a child, Nico Muhly was a chorister at Grace Episcopal Church in Rhode Island, and he began to learn piano at ten years old. He studied English literature at the University of Columbia, New York, and completed his master’s degree in music at the Julliard School, where he attended the composition classes of John Corigliano.

Muhly began his career alongside Philip Glass. On arriving in New York at age eighteen, he fed Glass’s manuscripts into musical notation software. He spent eight years in this role, which allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of Glass’s process. Eventually Muhly joined the lineage of American minimalist composers, along with Steve Reich and John Adams, whose influence can be heard in his operas.

A prolific writer, in his twenty-year career he has already built up a catalog of over 260 pieces. His repertoire is mainly comprised of vocal music, sometimes with instrumental accompaniment, sometimes a cappella. Indeed, pieces from the Anglican liturgy, foundational to the musical experience of his childhood, strongly influence his compositions. Muhly has sung many pieces from the Tudor period, including works by Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, and John Bull, as well as twentieth-century works by Tudor-influenced composers such as Herbert Howells and Gerald Finzi. Passionate about the textures and moments of ecstasy that characterize the Anglican choral tradition, Muhly has made Tudor music a focal point. It is the body of work most referenced in his own compositions. A great number of his works are themselves destined for the liturgy, having been commissioned by institutions such as King’s College, St. John’s College, and Cambridge, such as First Service (2004), Bright Mass with Canons (2005), Second Service (2014), Spiral Mass (2014), and Westminster Service (2022).

In his catalog of vocal music, Muhly has achieved a rapprochement between art music and pop. Having been an arranger for Björk, Antony and the Johnsons, and Sufjan Stevens, among others, he has also composed soundtracks for Hollywood films such as The Reader (2009) and Kill Your Darlings (2013), and televised series such as Howard’s End (2017) and Pachinko (2022). In 2023, he composed the music for David Hockney’s immersive art installation in London, David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away). Muhly has also composed music for four ballets, following commissions from the American Ballet Theatre and the Paris Opera, among others.

Muhly has written four operas. Two Boys (2010) and Marnie (2017) were commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera, Dark Sisters (2011) by the Gotham Chamber Opera and the Opera of Philadelphia, and Sentences (2014) by Britten Sinfonia. All of these pieces are inspired by real human tragedies. Two Boys recounts the tale of a murder and the relationship of two young boys who met on the internet. Sentences is based on the story of Alan Turing’s prosecution for committing homosexual acts, while Dark Sisters focuses on polygamy in the Mormon community. In Marnie, Muhly adapts Winston Graham’s novel by the same name through the lens of the #MeToo era.

He revisits the Book of Lamentations in the chorus a cappella piece No Resting Place (2022), starting a dialog between Jeremiah’s work and the Windrush scandal. Muhly draws comparisons between the experience of the exiled Hebrews and that of members of the Afro-Caribbean community from the United Kingdom who were arbitrarily detained and deported by the state in 2018. This process reflects the composer’s fascination with liturgical music and its ability to shed light on the contemporary world.

His works are produced by St. Rose Music Publishing, and his music has been recorded by Decca, Nonesuch, and Bedroom Community, a label of which he is a member. Bedroom Community also released Muhly’s first monographic disc, Speak Volumes, which was recorded in Philip Glass’s personal studio.


© Ircam-Centre Pompidou, 2022

Sources

Site du compositeur, France Musique, The Guardian, Opéra online, Church times

  • Solo (excluding voice)
  • Chamber music
    • Look for me for wind quintet (), 7 mn, Chester Music
    • Beaming Music for marimba and organ (2002), 11 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Duet No 1 (Chorale Pointing Downwards) for viola and cello (2003), 8 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Flexible Music for soprano saxophone, marimba, guitar and piano (2003), 8 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Time After Time for soprano saxophone, marimba and percussion (2003), 8 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Ta & Clap for four percussions (2004), 9 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Clear Music for cello, harp and celesta (2005), 9 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • elec Pillaging Music for percussion, piano and pre-recorded audio (2005), 9 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Stride for string quartet (2005), 8 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • How About Now for flute, clarinet, piano, electric guitar and double bass (2006), 7 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Farewell Photography for five violas (2007), partition retirée du catalogue
    • I know where everything is for flute, clarinet, violin and cello (2007), 5 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Common Ground for piano, violin and cello (2008), 9 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • I Shudder to Think for five percussionists (2008), 8 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • elec Triade for trombone, bass trombone, piano and electronics (2008), 20 mn 45 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Gibbons Suite pour clarinet, piano, two violins, viola and cello (2009), 11 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • elec Green Aria for keyboard, synthesizer and tape (2009), 17 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Motion for clarinet, piano, two violins, viola and cello (2009), 7 mn 30 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Diacritical Marks for string quartet (2011), 15 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Drones and Violin for violin and piano (2011), 12 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Big Time for percussion, two violins, viola and cello (2012), 9 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Compare Notes for violin and piano (2012), 9 mn 35 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Doublespeak for ensemble (2012), 10 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Moving Parts pour clarinet, violin and organ (2012), 25 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Balance Problems for flute, clarinet, trumpet, violin, viola and cello (2013), 8 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • The Reader: Three Arrangements for Viola and Piano (2013), 8 mn 30 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Aston Magna for harpsichord, two violins and viola da gamba (2014), 12 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Fast Dances for two harps (2014), 12 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Four Studies for two violins and drone (2014), 12 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Slow for viol ensemble (2015), 8 mn, Chester Music
    • elec Comfortable Cruising Altitude for small ensemble and electronics (2016), 4 mn 30 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Fast Patterns for two pianos (2016), 5 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Clip for flute, clarinet, trumpet, violin, viola and cello (2017), 10 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Lean for two violas and drone (2017), 3 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • No Uncertain Terms for percussion, two pianos, violin, viola and cello (2017), 16 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Short Variation on Mulier, ecce filius tuus for string quartet (2019), 4 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Measured to Fit for small ensemble (2021), 14 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Pressure of Speech for saxophone, percussion, kayboard and string quartet (2022), 10 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
  • Instrumental ensemble music
  • Concertant music
    • Seeing is Believing chamber orchestra version (2007), 25 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Double Standard for two percussions and orchestra (2012), 16 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • stage Fast Changes for three clarinets, piano, string quartet and string orchestra (2012), 24 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Seeing is Believing orchestra version (2014), 25 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Viola Concerto (2014), 24 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Register concerto for organ and orchestra (2017), 23 mn, Chester Music
    • Four Studies for two violins and strings (2018), 12 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Honest Music for two violins and strings (2018), 6 mn, Chester Music
    • Reliable Sources for bassoon and orchestra (2018), 18 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Cello Cycles for cello and orchestra (2019), 10 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Shrink for violin and string ensemble (2019), 20 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • In Certain Circles concerto for two pianos and orchestra (2020), 21 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
  • Vocal music and instrument(s)
    • Set Me as a Seal for choir and piano (2003), 8 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • First Service (Magnificat & Nunc dimittis) for mixed choir and organ (2004), 8 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Like as the Hart for mixed choir, violin and percussion (2004), 6 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Bright Mass with Canons for choir and organ (2005), 13 mn 30 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Bright Mass with Canons for choir and orchestra (2005), 13 mn 30 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Bright Mass with Canons for choir, two pianos and percussion (2005), 13 mn 30 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Expecting the Main Things From You for choir, percussion, organ, two violins, viola and cello (2005), 24 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Keep in Touch orchestral version (2005), 12 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • The Elements of Style for soprano, tenor and ensemble (2005), 24 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • The Place of Understanding for tenor and organ (2006), 13 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • The Sweets of Evening for children's choir and piano (2006), 7 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Mothertongue for mezzo-soprano and ensemble (2007), 18 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Principles of Uncertainty for countertenor, piano, banjo, violin and cello (2007), 26 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Principles of Uncertainty baroque instrument version (2007), 26 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Principles of Uncertainty trio version (2007), 26 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Syllables for upper voices, synthesizer and piano (2007), 7 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • elec Wonders for male vocals, trombone, percussion, harp, keyboard, bass and electronics (2007), 15 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • A Good Understanding for choir, percussion and organ (2008), 6 mn 33 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Confessions for voice, soprano recorder, archlute and ensemble (2008), 40 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Senex Puerum Portabat for choir and ensemble (2008), 10 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Senex Puerum Portabat for choir and organ (2008), 10 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • The Adulteress for soprano and piano (2008), 15 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • The Adulteress for soprano and piano (2008), 15 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Drones on "Oh Lord, Whose Mercies Numberless" for countertenor and orchestra (2009), 4 mn 42 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • elec I Drink the Air Before Me for children's choir, ensemble and playback tape (2009), 59 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Impossible Things for tenor, violin and string orchestra (2009), 27 mn 30 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Preservation for mixed choir and ensemble (2009), 10 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Vocalise on Al lampo dell' armi for countertenor and orchestra (2009), 5 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • 'I'm only sixteen!' (from Two Boys) for tenor and piano (2010), 3 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • A Hymn on the Nativity for mixed choir and organ (2010), 3 mn 31 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Bright Star Carol for children's choir, mixed choir and organ (2010), 4 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Let the Night Perish (Job's Curse) for tenor and string orchestra (2010), 4 mn 26 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Short Prayers in Respect of a Storm for treble choir, percussion, piano, two violins, viola and cello (2010), 5 mn 30 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Stabat Mater Dolorosa for soprano, baritone, flute, harp, violin, viola and cello (2010), 12 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • The Mezzo-Soprano Song for mezzo-soprano and piano (2010), 3 mn 9 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • stage Two Boys opera for voices, mixed choir and orchestra (2010), 1 h 30 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • stage Dark Sisters opera in two acts for seven voices and orchestra (2011), 1 h 30 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Four Traditional Songs for countertenor (or baritone) and piano (2011), 15 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • How Soon? for choir and ensemble (2011), 13 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Luminous Body for nine voices and orchestra (2011), 26 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Show Us Thy Mercy for mixed choir and organ (2011), 5 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • The Map of the World for high voice and piano (2011), 3 mn 34 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Far Away Songs for soprano and ensemble (2012), 15 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • stage Fast Changes for three clarinets, piano, solo string quartet and string orchestra (2012), 24 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Hymns for Private Use for soprano and ensemble (2012), 20 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • M.A.R.Y. for baritone and piano (2012), 5 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • My Days for voices and string ensemble (2012), 16 mn 50 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Three Songs for Tenor and Violin (2012), 15 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Two Hearts for voice, violin and orchestra (2012), 20 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Next for high voice and piano (2013), 5 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Old Bones for countertenor and lute (2013), 11 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Reynardine for voice and ensemble (2013), St. Rose Music Publishing
    • So Many Things for mezzo-soprano and piano (2013), 15 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • So Many Things ensemble version (2013), 15 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • The Brown Girl for voice and orchestra (2013), 6 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • The Two Brothers for two-part children's choir and piano (2013), 3 mn 30 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Dominus Regnavit for mixed choir and organ (2014), 6 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Fielding Dawson in Franz Kilne's Studio for female choir and instrumental ensemble (2014), 6 mn, Chester Music
    • Let all the world in every corner sing for mixed choir, cello and organ (2014), 4 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Object Songs for soprano, clarinet, trumpet, violin and viola (2014), 6 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Our Present Charter for three voices, mixed choir and treble semichorus and organ (2014), 16 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Pleasure Ground for baritone and orchestra (2014), 20 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Second Service (Magnificat & Nunc dimittis) for mixed choir and organ (2014), 14 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Second Service (Magnificat & Nunc dimittis) for mixed choir and orchestra (2014), 14 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • stage Sentences for countertenor and chamber orchestra (2014), 30 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Spiral Mass for mixed choir and organ (2014), 15 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • The Beatitudes for mixed choir and organ (2014), 4 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Thy Kingdom Come, O God for mixed choir and organ (2014), 4 mn 30 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Whispered and Revealed for mixed choir and harp (2014), St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Byzantium for soprano and piano (2015), 6 mn, Chester Music
    • Friday Afternoons for upper voices choir and piano (2015), 18 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • How Little You Are for mixed choir and three guitar quartets (2015), 40 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Lorne Ys My Likinge for countertenor, tenor and piano (2015), 14 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • stage Sentences for countertenor and ensemble (2015), 30 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • The Last Letter for baritone and piano (2015), 11 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Lord, keep us modest when we claim for mixed choir and organ (2016), 3 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Malmesbury Motets for mixed choir and viola da gamba (2016), 8 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • St John's Service for mixed choir and organ (2016), 7 mn 30 s, Chester Music
    • Strange Productions for mezzo-soprano and piano (2016), 14 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Two Songs for soprano and orchestra (2016), 7 mn 30 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Good Night for baritone and piano (2017), 3 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Hymn for countertenor and ensemble (2017), 5 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Looking Up for mixed choir and orchestra (2017), 20 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • stage Marnie for fifteen solo voices, choir and orchestra (2017), 2 h, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Land in an Isle for soprano, organ and strings (2018), 8 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Old Bones for countertenor and chamber orchestra (2018), 11 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • The Faire Starre for choir and ensemble (2018), 20 mn, Chester Music
    • The Last Letter for baritone and chamber orchestra (2018), 11 mn, Chester Music
    • Time In Music Is Much for soprano and piano (2018), 3 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Time Stands Still for countertenor, bass clarinet, harp, piano and strings (2018), 4 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Beauty of the Day for mixed choir and organ (2019), 17 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Death in Venice for countertenor and ensemble (2019), 19 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Exeter Service (Magnificat and Nunc dimittis), for choir and organ (2019), 8 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Friday Afternoons for children's choir and orchestra (2019), 18 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • My Pretty Saro for voice and ensemble (2019), 3 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Only I for female choir and piano (2019), 5 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Stranger for tenor and string quartet (2019), 15 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • elec The Only Tune for voice and chamber orchestra (2019), 15 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • The Right of Your Senses for soprano, children's choir and orchestra (2019), 25 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Unexpected News for baritone and chamber orchestra (2019), 10 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • A Great Many Things for soprano, choir and keyboard (2020), 4 mn 30 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • De Profundis for two tenors, choir and organ (2020), 6 mn 30 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Inward Things for mezzo-soprano and piano (2020), 4 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Oculi omnium (Jesus College) for trebles, drones and keyboard (2020), 2 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • THROUGHLINE for six soloists and orchestra (2020), 17 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • A New Flame for tenor, choir and ensemble (2021), 8 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • The Street (14 Meditations on The Stations of the Cross), for choir, narrator and harp (2022), 1 h 15 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • With Eys Lift Up for mixed choir and organ (2022), 5 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
  • A cappella vocal music
  • Electronic music / fixed media / mechanical musical instruments
  • Unspecified instrumentation
    • Kill Your Darlings soundtrack of the 2013 film (), 30 mn, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • Cricket Head music for the film by Grant Greenberg (2006), 4 mn 10 s, St. Rose Music Publishing
    • elec An Outrage for voices, choir and drones performed by any combination of instruments or pre-recorded electronics (2013), 11 mn 34 s, St. Rose Music Publishing

Liens Internet

(liens vérifiés en mars 2023).

Discographie sélective

  • Nico MUHLY, Viola Concerto ; Keep In Touch, dans « Keep In Touch », 1 CD Bedroom Community, 2016, HAVLUR26CD.
  • Nico MUHLY & Teitur, « Confessions », 1 CD Nonesuch, 2016, 556783-2.
  • Nico MUHLY, « Two Boys », Metropolitan Opera Chorus ; The Metropolitan Opera ; David Robertson : direction, 2 CD Nonesuch, 2014, 07559795602.
  • Nico MUHLY, « Drones », 1 CD Bedroom Community, 2012, HVALUR16CD.
  • Nico MUHLY, Bright Mass With Cannons ; First Service ; Senex Puerum Portabat ; A Good Understanding ; Expecting the main things from you, dans « A Good Understanding », 1 CD Decca, 2010, 478 2506.
  • Nico MUHLY, Fire Down Below ; First Storm ; Salty Dog ; Varied Carols ; Music Under Pressure 1 - Flute ; Music Under Pressure 2 - Piano ; Jagged Pulses ; Music For Boys ; Music For Gino ; Music Under Pressure 3 - Ensemble ; Storm Center ; One Day Tells Its Tale To Another, dans « I Drink The Air Before Me », 1 CD Bedroom Community, Decca, 2010, HVALUR10CD.
  • Nico MUHLY, Mothertongue ; Wonders ; The only tune, dans « Mothertongue », 1 CD Bedroom Community, 2008, HVALUR 5CD.
  • Nico MUHLY, Clear music ; It goes without saying ; Honest music ; Quiet music ; Pillaging music ; A Hudson cycle ; Keep in touch, dans « Speaks Volumes », 1 CD Bedroom Community, 2006, HVALUR1.