Gavin Bryars
Upcoming Performances
About Gavin Bryars
The music of Gavin Bryars falls under no category. It is mongrel, full of sensuality and wit and is deeply moving. He allows you to witness new wonders in the sounds around you by approaching them from a completely new angle. With a third ear maybe...
- Michael Ondaatje
Gavin Bryars studied philosophy at Sheffield University and became a professional jazz bassist and a pioneer of free improvisation, working especially with Derek Bailey and Tony Oxley. In the late 1960s he worked with John Cage and this influenced early works such as the indeterminately scored The Sinking of the Titanic (1969) and the iconic Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet (1971). From 1969 to 1978 he taught in departments of Fine Art at Portsmouth College of Artand Leicester Polytechnic, where he founded the department of music. He collaborated frequently with visual artists such as Bruce McLean, Tim Head, James Hugonin, Bill Woodrow, Will Alsop, and Juan Muñoz with whom he wrote A Man in a Room, Gambling (1992), and made installations and performance art for Tate Liverpool, Tate St. Ives, Chateau d'Oiron and other galleries.
Bryars’ catalogue includes an extensive body of works for dance. Numerous choreographers have been drawn to his music, and he has collaborated on new works with the likes of Lucinda Child, Laurie Booth, William Forsyth, and David Dawson. In 1999 he wrote BIPED with Merce Cunningham, and in 2002 he worked with Carolyn Carlson on Writings on Water for the Venice Biennale, which included The North Shore (2004) for solo viola, piano and strings, In Nomine (after Purcell) (1995; 2002) for strings, and the Violin Concerto "The Bulls of Bashan" (2000) among other works. In recent years Bryars has worked with Edouard Lock on a number of projects including The Third Light (2009), Amjad (2007) which toured internationally for two years, 11th Floor (2014) for Cullberg Ballet, The Heart of August (2017) for Ballet Vlaanderen and Trick Cell Play (2019) premiered by Sao Paulo Dance Company. Most recently, Bryars Requiem (2018), for chorus and orchestra, was premiered by the Dutch National Ballet and Matthew Row with choreography by David Dawson in 2019.
Bryars’ opera Medea (1984) premièred at the Opéra de Lyon and Opéra de Paris and directed by Robert Wilson). It achieved critical success and led Bryars down a new compositional path. He has since written three further operas, two with libretti by his long time collaborator Blake Morrison: Doctor Ox's Experiment (English National Opera 1998, directed by Atom Egoyan, & also at Theater Dortmund, 1999), and G (2001-2, directed by Georges Delnon), commissioned by the Staatstheater Mainz for the Gutenberg 600th anniversary. Bryars’ has written two chamber operas: The Paper Nautilus (2006) which was premiered by Theatre Cryptic, with further productions at Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and Long Beach Opera, and Marilyn Forever (2010-13), presented by Aventa Ensemble in autumn 2013 in Victoria, Canada, with further productions at the Adelaide Festival where he was Composer in Residence in February 2015 and at Long Beach Opera the following month. Bryars’ most recent opera The Collected Works of Billy the Kid (2018) premiered in March 2018 presented by Percussion Clavier de Lyon in production with Théâtre de la Croix-Rousse, and subsequently toured through France, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Hungary.
Bryars is particularly drawn to music for voice, resulting in a rich catalogue of choral and vocal works. Several fruitful collaborations with the Latvian Radio Choir and Estonian Male Voice Choir resulted in recordings on Bryars’ own label, GB Records. For many years he has worked with early music performers on successive Books of Madrigals: Book One (1998-2000) for The Hilliard Ensemble (texts by Blake Morrison), Book Two for (2001-02) the Trio Mediaeval Sextet (Petrarch sonnets), Book Three (2003-05) for Red Byrd (Petrarch, translated by Synge), Book Four (longer Petrarch poems), Book Five (‘I Tatti’ madrigals) in 2013, Book Six in 2015 plus two books of Irish Madrigals. He has written a large number of Laude (2008-12) for soprano Anna Maria Friman based on medieval Italian chants and set Faroese saga poetry in Tróndur í Gøtu (2008) for the Faroese bass Rúni Brattaberg following their work together on settings of old Icelandic saga poetry. His collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company and Opera North, Nothing Like the Sun (2007), toured the UK in 2007. Amongst his more substantial works for chorus is the recent Requiem (2018), written as part of a large-scale ballet collaboration with choreographer David Dawson for Dutch National Ballet. The Fifth Century (2014) for choir and saxophone quartet was premiered by The Crossing and Prism Saxophone Quartet and an ensuing recording with ECM went on to win a 2018 Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance. A Native Hill, Bryars’ second work for The Crossing, was premiered and recorded in 2019. New to his list of vocal works includes his arrangement Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet (2018) for choir and pre-recorded tape which received its premiere by The Song Company and Antony Pitts in 2021.
2023 sees the 80th birthday year of Bryars which has seen performances by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Estonian National Male Choir, Kammerchor Berlin, and the world premiere of Harpsichord Concerto (2023) by Mahan Esfahani and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
Bryars has produced a large body of chamber music, much of it written for his own ensemble, and works for string orchestra. His catalogue includes concertos for violin, viola, cello, double bass (plus one for jazz bass), saxophone, bass oboe and piano. His work has been widely recorded on labels including ECM, Hyperion, Point, Philips, Argo, Touch, Mode, and his own GB Records. In 2020, Le Mot et le reste published Jean Louis Tallon's Gavin Bryars: En paroles, en musique.
Worklist
Gallery
Chronology
Richard Gavin Bryars born, January 16, Hook (near Goole), East Yorkshire
Encounters the work of Jules Verne
Cyril Ramsay introduces Gavin Bryars to music of John Cage
Studies philosophy at the University of Sheffield
Meets guitarist Derek Bailey (1930-2005), drummer Tony Oxley (b.1938) and pianist Gerry Rollinson (b.1938)
Studies bass at Northern School of Music
Studies composition with George Linstead (1908-1974)
Improvising group, AMM, formed by saxophonist Lou Gare (1939-2017), percussionist Eddie Prévost (b. 1942) and guitarist Keith Rowe (b. 1940)
Sees Merce Cunningham (1919-2009) Company at Saville Theatre, London, and meets John Cage (1912-1992)
Studies composition with Ben Johnston (1926-2019)
Album release of AMM's The Crypt by Matchless Records
"Marvellous Aphorisms are Scattered Richly Through These Pages" premieres in Cardiff
"Serenely Beaming and Leaning On A Five Barred Gate" premieres at Portsmouth College of Art
Marries Angela Margaret Bigley (b. 1948), January 22
World premiere of "1, 1, 1-2-3-4" in Liverpool
London premieres of "The Sinking of the Titanic" and "Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet"
Records "The Sinking of the Titanic" and "Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet" for Brian Eno’s (b. 1948) newly established Obscure Editions
World premiere of "Ponukelian Melody" at Lucy Milton Gallery, London
World premiere of "White To Play (and Win)" in Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels
"Garden furniture" concert organised by John White at Air Gallery, London, inspires "Poggioli in Zaleski's Gazebo".
"My First Homage" premieres in New York by Dave Smith and Gavin Bryars
"The Cross-Channel Ferry" premieres in Paris
"The Vespertine Park" premieres in Paris
Meets director Robert Wilson (b. 1941) and begins collaboration on sketches for the "CIVIL WarS", intended for the 1984 Olympics
Birth of second daughter Orlanda, December 4
"Les Fiançailles" premieres in Vienna
Works at Opéra de Lyon on production of "Medea" for Lyon and Paris
"Effarene" premieres at St John Smith's Square
"String Quartet No 1" (Between the National and the Bristol), premieres in Vienna
ECM recording "Three Viennese Dancers" released
First official performance of Gavin Bryars Ensemble, in Gent, Belgium
Awarded personal chair in music at Leicester Polytechnic
"The Old Tower of Löbenicht" premieres at Almeida Festival
Performs "Invention of Tradition" at opening of Tate Liverpool
"Glorious Hill" premieres at Hilliard Festival of Voices, Lewes
"Cadman Requiem" premieres at the Conservatoire de Lyon
Delta Saxophone Quartet premieres "Alaric I or II"
Performs "The Sinking of the Titanic" in converted water tower, Printemps de Bourges Festival
Channel 4 broadcasts television documentary on Bryars' work, produced by David Rowan
Balanescu Quartet premieres "String Quartet No 2" at Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival
"The White Lodge" premieres at London's Nettlefold Festival
Makes first visit to Canada for concert with Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, creates installation at Chateau d’Oiron, Deux-Sèvres
Point Recording of "Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet", with vocals by Tom Waits (b. 1949) is nominated for Mercury Music Prize
"Wonderlawn" is premiered Gardner Arts Centre, Brighton
"Cello Concerto" (Farewell to Philosophy) is premiered by the English Chamber Orchestra
"The Adnan Songbook" premiered by Gavin Bryars Ensemble at Almeida Theatre
Premieres of "And so ended Kant’s travelling in the world" and "Thee Poems of Cecco Angioleri" in Cambridge
English National Opera performs world premiere of "Doctor Ox's Experiment"
Death of mother Miriam Appleton, December 25; Bryars writes "A Time and A Place" performed at her funeral
Premiere of "BIPED" by the Merce Cunningham Dance Company
Marries Anna Tchernakova (b. 1968)
Birth of son, Yuri
Creation of GB Records
World premiere of opera "G..." in Mainz
"Double Bass Concerto" premieres by Duncan McTier and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
"Third Book of Madrigals" premieres at Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival
"From Egil's Saga" premiered by London Sinfonietta and Cambridge University Chamber Choir
"The Stones of the Arch" premiered by the Kronos Quartet & Theatre of Voices at Barbican Hall, London
Premiere of "To Define Happiness" commissioned by von Krahl Theatrein Tallinn
World premiere of "Cadman Requiem" with John Potter, The 24, and Gavin Bryars Ensemble in York
World premiere of "The Third Light", commissioned by Koninklijk Ballet van Vlaanderen
"The Open Road" performed by Streetwise Opera as part of their interactive opera "The Answer to Everything" involving homeless people from all over the UK
Premiere of "After the Underworlds" performed by the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain at the BBC Proms
Featured composer at the Canberra International Music Festival
"Marilyn Forever" premieres at the McPherson Playhouse, Victoria, Canada, performed by Aventa
"Pneuma" is premiered by the Ballet de l'Opéra National de Bordeaux with Philip Jeck, turntable maestro and choreography by Carolyn Carlson
PRISM Saxophone Quartet, The Crossing, and Donald Nally premieres "The Fifth Century" in Philadelphia
Premiere of "The Stopping Train" with Gavin Bryars Ensemble and Blake Morrison, narrator
ECM New Series album The Fifth Century wins Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance
"The Collected Works of Billy the Kid" premieres at le Théâtre de la Croix-Rousse with Claron McFadden, soprano, Bertrand Belin, baritone and Percussions Claviers de Lyon
Dutch National Ballet and Matthew Rowe premieres "Requiem" in Amsterdam
Publication of Jean Louis Tallon's Gavin Bryars : en paroles, en musique
The Song Company premieres choral arrangement of "Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet" in Melbourne
"Wittgenstein Fragments" premieres with Juliet Fraser, soprano, Silvija Ščerbavičiūtė, flute, and the Esposito Quartet
World Premiere of "Harpsichord Concerto" by Mahan Esfahani at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Products
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for instrumentalists/vocalistsComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance material
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for ensembleComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: ensemble
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music for a site-specific installationComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance material, recorded musicInstrumentation: ensemble
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In stock€16.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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for harpsichordComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Sheet musicInstrumentation: harpsichordProduct number: ED 12607In stock€14.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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for septetComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: bass clarinet, electric guitar, electric keyboard, 2 violas, cello and double bass
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for electric guitar and stringsComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: electric guitar and strings
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for brass bandComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: brass band
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for soprano saxophone or clarinet and ensembleComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: clarinet or soprano saxophone and ensemble
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for soprano saxophone or clarinet and string orchestraComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: clarinet or soprano saxophone and string orchestra
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for percussion quintetComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: percussion quintet
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for ensembleComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: ensemble
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for ensemble and pre-recorded tapeComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: ensemble and pre-recorded tape
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for ensembleComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: ensemble
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for solo double bass and ensembleComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: solo double bass, electric guitar, piano, 2 violas and cello
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for solo double bass, bass clarinet, percussion and stringsComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: solo double bass, bass clarinet, percussion and strings
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for mixed choir (SATBarB) and ensembleComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: mixed choir (SATBarB) and ensembleLanguage: Latin
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for 4 male voices (ATTBar), 2 violas, cello and optional double bassComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: 4 male voices (ATTBar), 2 violas, cello and double bass (ad libitum)Language: Latin
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for 4 male voices (ATTBar) and viol consortComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: 4 male voices (ATTBar) and viol consortLanguage: Latin
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for four male voices (ATTBar) and low string quartetComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: ScoreSeries: Cadman Requiem
Instrumentation: 4 male voices (ATTBar), 2 violas, cello and double bass (ad libitum)Language: LatinProduct number: ED 12475In stock€23.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
(Farewell to Philosophy)Composer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Piano reduction with solo partInstrumentation: cello and orchestra
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for chamber ensembleComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: chamber ensemble
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A collection of new pieces for pianoMedia Type: Sheet musicInstrumentation: pianoLanguage: EnglishProduct number: ED 21470In stock€10.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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in memoriam Steve LacyComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: E-score PDFEdition: Separate editionInstrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 13516 Q11237In stock€2.99Incl. Tax
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Opera in 2 acts adapted from a novella by Jules VerneComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Piano reductionSeries: Doctor Ox's Experiment
Language: EnglishProduct number: ED 12570In stock€74.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
for soprano and ensembleComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: soprano and ensembleLanguage: English
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for soprano, countertenor and ensembleComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: soprano, countertenor and ensembleLanguage: English
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for soprano, mezzo-soprano, pianos and percussionComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: soprano, mezzo soprano, pianos and percussionLanguage: French
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for soprano and chamber orchestraComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: soprano and chamber orchestraLanguage: German, English
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for bass-baritone, organ and stringsComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: bass-baritone organ and stringsLanguage: English
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for bass-baritone and chamber orchestraComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: bass-baritone and chamber orchestraLanguage: German, English
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for viola, cello, double bass and electric guitarComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: viola, cello, double bass and electric guitar
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for double bass choir and pianoComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: double bass ensemble and piano
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for solo viola and cello, electric guitar (or piano, or harp) and stringsComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: solo viola and cello, electric guitar (or piano, or harp) and strings
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for unaccompanied voices (TTBar)Composer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Choral scoreSeries: Choral Music of Our Time
Instrumentation: unaccompanied male voices (TTBar)Language: EnglishProduct number: ED 12623In stock€7.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
(The "I Tatti" Madrigals)Composer: Gavin BryarsEdition: Choral scoreSeries: Choral Music of Our Time
Instrumentation: mixed voices (STTTBarB)Product number: ED 13303Product TypeIn stockAs low as €13.99Incl. Tax -
for large ensembleComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: ensemble
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for solo bass voice, chamber orchestra, optional electronics and mixed chorusComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: solo bass voice, chamber orchestra, optional electronics and optional SATB chorusLanguage: Icelandic
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List of Published WorksIn stock€0.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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"Busoni's Chickering"Composer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: harpsichord and orchestra
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No. 1 from 'Three Canadian Songs'Composer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: low female voice and chamber orchestraLanguage: English
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for solo baritone, solo double bass, male choir and low stringsComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: solo baritone, solo double bass, male choir and low stringsLanguage: English
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for string orchestraComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: string orchestra
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for piano and stringsComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: piano and strings
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for pre-recorded tape and orchestraComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance material, Fixed instrumentation, 30 minutes durationInstrumentation: for pre-recorded tape and orchestraLanguage: English
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for pre-recorded tape and instrumentsComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Orchestral material, Duration is flexibleInstrumentation: digital tape / CD and ensemble / orchestraProduct number: ED 12480In stock€420.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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for tenor, bass clarinet, electric guitar, viola, cello and double bassComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: tenor, bass clarinet, electric guitar, viola, cello and double bass
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for tenor, bass clarinet, viola, cello and double bassComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: tenor bass clarinet, viola, cello and double bass
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for soprano, tenor and ensembleComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: soprano, tenor, trumpet, electric guitar, viola, cello and double bass
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for soprano, tenor, electric guitar, viola, cello and double bassComposer: Gavin BryarsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: soprano, tenor, electric guitar, viola, cello and double bassLanguage: Italian