19th March 2026
I am delighted to announce a concert on the 9th October at the Steiner School, Fulford York with my Duo partner Simon-Mary Vincent. We will be playing Jatekok IV (Games) for 2 pianos by the remarkable 100 year old composer Gyorgy Kurtag. In addition to this 2 pupils from the school will also play 2 pieces from Book 2 by the composer.
The remainder of the programme will feature piano works written by us both. Here is a short film of highlights from our most recent rehearsal this month.
8th November 2025
On the 18th October I performed with the Electro-Acoustic ensemble at Hull Minster. I was delighted with my performance of ‘Piano Distance’ by Toru Takemitsu and how it was received. I love this composer’s work and have given a performance of his ‘Raintree Sketch II’ in the past.
3rd October 2025
As part of the wonderful ‘Coracle’ Chamber Singers concert on 28th September I gave the first performance of the whole of my ‘Pilgrimage of Grace’ pieces for solo piano which was very well received. It was lovely telling the story in words and music and I hope to give another local performance of the work next year.
3rd October 2025
I am delighted that the first performance was given of my new piece for choir ‘Heartwood’ in the York Cemetery chapel on 28th September by ‘Coracle’ chamber singers. We plan to studio record the piece next year and I’m very much looking forward to that. Here is the recording from a memorable concert and such beautiful light in the chapel!
25th September 2025
I have just created a new page for my work as a duo with my friend and wonderful musician Simon-Mary Vincent. We are called the Játékok duo after the volumes of pieces (some for 2 pianos) by the Hungarian composer György Kurtág. We very much hope to play volume IV of these pieces next year and have other projects and music in mind for the future.
8th September 2025
Much looking forward to our ‘Coracle’ Chamber Singers concert on the 28th September which includes 2 premieres of my work. I will be performing the whole of my ‘Pilgrimage of Grace’ suite for solo piano and the choir will be singing my latest piece for them ‘Heartwood’ (Rachel Davies solo sop. and Jonathan Tapp piano). In addition we are honoured to be giving one of the first UK performances of ‘There Will Come Soft Rains’ by Rebecca Dale.
Here’s a new live recording of my piece ‘The Spider’ for SATB choir and piano. First performed in 2023, this performance, given at the Unitarian chapel, York on 16th May is the best to date. The choir really captured the spidery activity in the way I intended it to be. I love working with ‘Coracle; great musicians and willing to meet the demands of my pieces. As always I am so grateful to Rachel Davies and the choir. Look forward to our next nature-themed project for performance in September.
19th May 2025
14th February 2025
I have just recorded and published Postcards II (from Bulgaria) on my projects page. It is lovely to finally have it under my fingers and can now start work on the final piece in the set (Postcards: III from Samos, Greece).
11th January 2025
I have just completed ‘Heartwood’ for SATB choir and piano for ‘Coracle’ chamber singers. It is a setting of a beautiful and stirring poem by Robert Macfarlane. Written in 2018 at the time of the Sheffield tree cutting protests and for the protesters, he encouraged it to be set to music as part of the campaign.
More details to follow but much looking forward to leading this with the choir.
In addition I am currently completing the second of my first set of ‘postcards’ for piano and prerecorded sound. This is a reworking for live performance of my earlier ‘At the gates of a Nessebar’ (2004). As with Postcard I the aim is for close integration of piano and sound and is suitable for chamber performance.
18th November 2024
On Saturday our choir ‘Coracle’ gave another performance of my ‘Lover’s Ghost’ Fantasy in the beautiful acoustic of Hull Minster. Some of the harmonies especially became really interesting in this environment. I am so grateful for their support for my works and I continue to learn so much as a composer. I am currently writing a piece for a forthcoming environmental project, more on this next year!
22nd October 2024
I have just completed and performed ‘Postcards:1 (from Mallorca) for solo piano with prerecorded electronics.
Click here for details and video performance.
27th September 2024
Last Sunday our chamber singers ‘Coracle’ gave the first performance of my ‘Lover’s Ghost’ Fantasy for SATB choir, ‘cello and pre-recorded sound. Here are 3 small highlights from the performance in the lovely Unitarian Chapel, York. I’m very much looking forward to another performance in Hull Minster on Saturday 16th November.
31st August 2024
Delighted to announce my work ‘The Lover’s Ghost‘ for SATB choir, ‘cello and prerecorded sound will get its first performance at the Unitarian chapel York. Rehearsal is going well with a few adjustments made in the ‘cello line to support the tuning of the choir. I’m hoping there will be a further performance in Hull this November (details to follow)
30th August 2024
On the 21st September I will be performing ‘ Fêtes Lointaines’ (Long Distance Celebration)by Frederico Mompou (1920) as part of an eae concert: ‘Another Mighty Angel’ in Hull Minster. https://hm.churchsuite.com/events/ogpq0hr
This suite has six pieces in total, and each has its own compositional character. The whole set is strongly influenced by the French style—presenting both Debussy’s impressionistic style and Erik Satie’s dream-like atmosphere. The six pieces are all based on minimal musical material, and each piece maintains a strong motivic connection between sections through the use of tempo, textures, articulation, harmony, and mood. An accurate performance of this work requires an acute attention to the musical markings in the score and an effort to draw attention to the remarkable sonorities that Mompou uses. For me pedalling decisions have been important particularly as Mompou does not include.
30th April 2024
Delighted to say that 2 of my works: The Spider (for SATB choir and piano) and part of my suite for solo piano ‘The Pilgrimage of Grace’ were performed at a Coracle Chamber Singers concert in St. Catherine’s church Barmby Moor, East Yorks on 28th April.
I am indebted to the choir for being willing to perform ‘The spider’ again and under Rachel Davies expert guidance gave an even better performance than last year. I was also pleased with my performance of movements from my Pilgrimage of Grace piano suite. All of which encourages me compositionally.
15th April 2024
Had a really enjoyable concert recently as part of the Electro-Acoustic Ensemble at Hull Minster. I performed Charles Ives ‘Three quarter-tone pieces for 2 pianos’ with Simon-Mary Vincent. A lot of hard work separately and together and I think it was an excellent first outing for our Duo. We hope to be able to add to our repertoire for 2 pianos in the future.
I also performed ‘Times of Day’ by Maltese composer Charles Camilleri. This is a very rarely heard work and it was a delight to spend a lot of time in this musical world which melodically has Maltese folk elements but brings the wider musical world into these lovely miniatures. Jazz, Eric Satie and other French elements can be heard and the pieces have become part of my repertoire and love of piano miniatures. (Further programme notes for both these works can be found on the page below.)
A gallery has now been added to the site. The Concert series on Saturdays at the Minster is excellent and we are hoping to perform again there in September.
1st March 2024
Happy to announce that my suite for solo piano ‘The Pilgrimage of Grace’ (2024) is now complete and there are recordings on my projects page. Much looking forward to a performance of these pieces in the future.
6th December 2023
Really enjoying being in the world of the piano at the moment. I am writing a suite of 6 short pieces entitled ‘The Pilgrimage of Grace.’ I will be talking about this in much more detail next year on my projects page. In particular detailing the composition methods I am using and to discuss the story behind the music and its local connections for me.
21st November 2023
A few short excerpts from a performance I gave this March as part of an Electro-Acoustic Ensemble concert in St. Mary’s church, Hull. I performed all of Chick Corea’s ‘Children’s songs’. It was a wonderful experience playing these diverse little pieces. Apart from the obvious jazz influences, Bartok, Satie, and Prokofiev seem to make appearances too.
Please follow the link to my piano recordings page for also brief excerpts from the second set 11-20.
I hope to perform the pieces again sometime in the future.
17th November 2023
I have just completed ‘The Lover’s Ghost’ for ‘Coracle’ chamber choir, live ‘cello and prerecorded sound. The piece will hopefully be part of our programme for next year.
Follow the link for more information about the piece. Very excited about this, especially playing my ‘cello with the choir.
14th November 2023
On Sunday ‘Coracle’ gave a memorable performance at the cemetery chapel, York which included a performance of ‘The Spider’ which I wrote for the group as part of our ‘Festival of Animals’ programme. This was the best of the performances we have given of the piece this year, not least because of the superb acoustic which really helped convey the meaning of the poems to the audience.
As a choir we continue to explore a wide range of exciting choral pieces celebrating this time a variety of non-human animals, and we have added John Tavener’s ‘The Lamb’ and ‘The Deer’s Cry’ by Arvo Part to our repertoire which I found particularly exciting.
5th November 2023
A couple of minutes from a recent rehearsal of Charles Ives: Three Quarter-tone pieces for 2 pianos. I am performing this as part of an eae concert next Spring (April 6th) with the wonderful pianist and composer Simon-Mary Vincent
We are much enjoying this challenging work with many rhythmic intricacies between the two keyboards. After the initial ‘shock’ of the quarter-tone mismatch between the two keyboards (I am using my Nord piano3 with changed global tuning) a rich and vibrant world is opened up for the listener. The contains many cultural references including ragtime piano, marching bands and in the final movement ‘My country ’tis of thee..’ which we know as ‘God save the King’. We will be continuing our rehearsals in February next year.
10th April 2023
I’m excited to be part of our ‘Coracle’ chamber choir performance in my home village (at St. Catherine’s church, Barmby Moor, 2pm Saturday 13th May). The concert will hopefully include 3 of my works; ‘The Maiden’s Prayer’ and ‘The Spider’ for choir, and a performance of ‘Warter Walks’ for piano solo. The piano piece and ‘The Maiden’s Prayer’ are part of my Wolds project, so it is lovely to be finally performing them locally. ‘The Spider’ is my contribution to the wild animal part of our ‘Wolds and Wilds’ concert with other pieces similarly about creatures, such as a Bluebird, a Nightingale and a Dormouse. There is also a piece written for the choir by John Gilham entitled ‘Where the Hares are’ which is about the hares on the Yorkshire Wolds!
3rd March 2023
Electro-Acoustic Ensemble ‘Bells Strings and Keys’ concert, St.Marys Church, Hull
I am much looking forward to performing with the Electro-Acoustic Ensemble in Hull on 28th March. Events are happening throughout the day and the event finishes with an evening concert. Full details are available on the site above.
I am performing ‘Duet’ for ‘cello and electronics by Artistic director John Stead. Rehearsals are going well, and this has been for me a fascinating exploration of ‘cello timbres and technique. The transformed sound will be heard via an 8 speaker installation and hopefully will provide a unique and stimulating immersive experience, enhanced by the resonances of this beautiful church. My other evening performance will be ‘In a Landscape’ by John Cage. I have so much enjoyed adding this piece to my piano repertoire. It draws the listener in to a unique world of beautifully affecting resonances, and again using the speaker system in this case to lift the sound, will provide an immersive experience.
Earlier in the day I am delighted to be performing Chick Corea’s ‘Children’s Songs’. I have wanted to perform these in their entirety for some time. They present many different compositional styles as seen through the very individual perspective of this important jazz musician and composer.
6th January 2023
I have just completed a choral piece entitled ‘The spider’ for ‘Coracle’. The music forms part of an animal -themed programme we are to prepare this term. I will post any concert dates once finalised.
https://nigelbartrammusic.co.uk/projects/
20th November 2022
Coracle chamber choir ‘Moon and Sea’ concert York Cemetery chapel (Excerpt)
11th November 2022
‘The Maiden’s Prayer’ (for choir) and ‘Warter Walks’ (piano)
On the 5th November I gave a concert as a member of the newly formed ‘Coracle’ chamber choir. the event took place at the York Cemetery Chapel and included the first performances of The Maiden’s Prayer for choir and ‘Warter Walks’ for solo piano.
It has been a great pleasure to sing and work as a composer with the group. Future compositions/performances include a version of ‘The Bells of Paradise’ and ‘The Spider’ for an animal-themed programme.
10th November 2022
Summer Performances of Karen Tanaka’s ‘The Song of Songs’
Further to my last post I gave 3 performance of this wonderful work for ‘cello and electronics as part of the Electro-Acoustic Ensemble ‘Natural world’ churches tour.
(https://eae.org/2022/04/26/the-natural-world/ )
The September concert in Welwick church was particularly memorable, as I was able to perform the work within an 8 speaker configuration, beautifully created and balanced by EAE Artistic Director John Stead. I have heard many recordings of the work but not one where the frequency component of Tanaka’s electronic pre-recorded material, was so carefully considered and balanced with the ‘cello. In addition, the different acoustic properties of the 3 churches gave different experiences for me as soloist and allowed me to develop a real relationship with this lovely work.
Here is a brief excerpt (for copyright reasons) from the Welwick performance.
21st June 2022
Oscar Peterson Transcription of ‘The Man I Love’
As it is world music day today I thought it would be great to upload some Jazz. Well, a transcription of a solo by Oscar Peterson of Gershwin’s ‘The Man I Love’. It has made me realise the extent of the rhythmic subtlety in Peterson’s playing. It’s almost like Chopin and it is improvised of course. I sequenced the Trio’s bass and drums beforehand.
13th June 2022
Electro-Acoustic Ensemble ‘Natural World’ Church Concert Tour
I am currently part of a small summer tour of Holderness churches as a member of the Electro-Acoustic Ensemble . ‘ The Natural World; 4 Concerts of New Music in 4 Churches’.
My work ‘Colours At Dawn’ is being performed as a multi-speaker version created by the Director of the Ensemble, John Stead. The first performance at St. Matthews church, Withernsea last weekend went very well in the beautiful acoustic of this church, complemented by bird song from the outside natural world of course!
I also performed Karen Tanaka’s ‘Song of Songs’ and I am delighted to have the opportunity to play this lovely work and meet the joys and challenges of the varying acoustics of the churches on the tour.
24th February 2022
‘The Maiden’s Prayer’ for choir
I have just completed ‘The Maiden’s Prayer’ for SATB choir. The text is taken from a version of a ‘died for love’ ballad written by Harold Sykes of Hull. I am writing the song as the final part of my ‘Warter Walks’ project. (The song would have been known throughout the East Riding of Yorkshire). I will say more once rehearsals are underway.
31st October 2021
‘Warter Walks’ for Solo Piano
On my projects page is a studio recording of ‘Warter Walks’ for piano solo written this year.
‘Colours at Dawn’ 2021
After the first lockdown (April 2020) I decided to go to Warter, East yorks to experience a dawn chorus. I filmed and recorded in various locations and I will shortly be sharing a composition for keyboard, ‘cellos and electronics written to accompany the film.
Dawn over Barmby Moor, East Yorks May 7th 2020
I have at various times got up to witness a dawn chorus. Here is one in my own village today. I chose 4 locations the first at 4.30am where already the birds were in full voice. I intend to film another in Warter East Yorks soon.
Jazz in ‘Lock-down’: ‘Moonglow’
One of the few nice things to emerge re the Covid19 crisis has been reconnecting with my friend and former band member Joe Martin who is now a prize winning and much sought-after fiddle player in London. ‘Moonglow’ is a laid back jazz Classic and I love the soulful feel especially Joe’s interjected violin phrases.
Jazz in ‘Lock-down’ : ‘Moonglow’
‘Over the Rainbow’ for the NHS
In response to a request for musicians to play ‘Over the Rainbow’ last week as a tribute to our brave NHS staff and carers in this health crisis I created my own studio version.
I was particularly struck by the fact that ‘Over the Rainbow’ despite being loved as a jazz theme, does not lend itself particularly to jazz. This suited the ‘cello, so with a few additions it plays the theme straight, allowing the piano to improvise around it.
Eae concert, Hull, 6th November to feature works by Karen Tanaka
As part of the eae concert on 6th November I will be performing two pieces by Japanese composer Karen Tanaka. I am playing her ‘Song of songs’ for solo ‘cello and electronics and movement III of ‘Water Dances’ for piano.(2008)
So why does this composer fascinate me?
I first became aware of her music as a result of learning and performing ‘Lavender Field’ from the ABRSM ‘Spectrum 3’ publication. She writes:
‘Imagine weaving colour and scent with sounds. The harmonic series on Eb appears and disappears into space at the end’.
I was intrigued by the use of the harmonic series (albeit it tempered to the tuning of the piano) as a compositional tool and a device to associate sounds with colour and scent. Also clearly here was a composer with a preoccupation with nature and concern for the environment which resonated with my own compositional outlook: In particular recalling in my music inspirational moments and encounters with Nature. My work ‘Shades of Blue-Green’ is one example of this.
A key work for me here is large ensemble piece ‘Water and Stone’ (1999) – Here the language described above and connectivity with movement (of water here) is clear but with a larger and constantly changing instrumental colouring.
I think the piece ‘Water Dances’ with its regular patterns gently disrupted from time to time as water does over stones etc. shares similar concerns. There is clearly an influence of the West coast American minimalist composers here.
The notes by the composer on the score say the title, Water Dance, suggests cool, transparent water flowing freely. The work is a joyful dance with pleasant feelings of a pulse, where the water occasionally whispers to us through its shimmering play with light. The music presents a rich, flickering and changing texture: just as the water flows constantly and never the same phase.
It seems that compositions like this achieve this connection with the natural world through a beauty in sound and making use of a movement in musical lines and textures seen similarly in Nature.
In that way there is clearly a relationship to such preoccupations in the music of Debussy and Ravel.
However, and interesting to me are Karen Tanaka’s works which are written for instruments and electronic media. This seems to me to open the palette further working with non- instrumental colours and sounds derived from samples or purely from electronic means.
The piece ‘Song of Songs’ (which is the biblical Solomon’s song of love) is written as a song projected onto the sound of the ‘cello. It must be played with tenderness and again the composer comment’s on her intention to weave colour and scent into the sound.
I hope to be able to play more by this fascinating composer in the future including all three of her ‘Water Dances’
I will be performing alongside composer and artistic director of the Electro-acoustic ensemble in his ‘Play 6’ on 6th November in Hull.
‘Play 6’ by John Stead
This is the last in a series of works by the composer. All the works have explored graphic notation, extended instrumental techniques and live electronics. I have been fortunate to have played in some of the series since the 1980’s and have used various keyboards at my disposal including an Ensoniq SQ 2, a Roland D series keyboard and now a nord piano 3 for ‘Play 6’. I was the ‘cellist in Play 4.1.1.
As the composer says the pieces begin with the instructions (graphic, written text, motivic ideas etc) and through rehearsal and strategies developed between the two performers during those rehearsals. This is very much part of the composer’s definition of ‘Play’ which is to play a game (strategic) play the instruments in challenging ways and to have fun.
The nord 6 with it’s dual sampler and keyboard pianos and the transformations such as the ring modulations, delays etc which can be carefully controlled by the performer have worked well in the piece so far. The exciting thing is that every performance is unique and we will be playing the space in terms of your we blend our sounds. There is a 4 loud speaker system which will spatialise and locate the sounds around true audience for an immersive and hopefully stimulating experience! I cannot wait!