Three Premieres for York Composer Simaku

Thomas Simaku talking at
Cervantes Institute in Vienna

Thomas Simaku's work Ed e' subito sera, based on the poem by the Nobel Prize-winning Sicilian poet Salvatore Quasimodo, was given its American premiere on 2 May 2010 at the University of Minnesota by Nickolai Kolarov (cello) and Jill Dawe (piano), whilst another new work Soliloquy IV was given its first performance at Cervantes Institute in Vienna on 3rd May 2010 by the Bass Clarinet player Carlos Galvez.

Simaku said: "As the title suggests, this is the fourth piece of a series of works for solo instruments. After the première of Soliloquy I for violin at the 2000 ISCM Festival, the idea of composing a series of solo works materialised – the cycle so far consists of seven works. The aim was to create different characters for each piece, but with the same protagonist who narrates in different languages, as it were. In this particular work, the linear contours based on 'white modality', but constantly 'surrounded' by chromatic inflections, are at the heart of the musical discourse. The idiosyncratic quality of the piece is perhaps to be found in the textural dynamism and the high degree of virtuosity, as well as the rich sonorities of the instrument."

Dr Thomas Simaku also gave a lecture on his award-winning works Radius – String Quartet No 2, and Soliloquy V – Flauto Acerbo at the Vienna Conservatoire on 5 May 2010.

As part of the York Spring Festival, Simaku's new song Locked Door, based on the poem of the same title by Visar Zhiti, will be premiered at the National Centre for Early Music by York postgraduate students Marja Liisa Kay and Mark Hutchinson on 14th May 2010.

Search all news items