Oscar Bettison Explained

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Alma Mater:	Guildhall School of Music and Drama

Oscar Bettison (born 19 September 1975) is a British-American composer known for large-scale chamber and large ensemble works. He has been described as possessing "a unique voice". His work has been described as having "an unconventional lyricism and a menacing beauty"^[1] and "pulsating with an irrepressible energy and vitality, as well as brilliant craftsmanship."^[2] He is a member of the composition faculty at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore.^[3] Bettison was named a 2017 Guggenheim Fellow by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.^[4]

Early life and education

Bettison was born in 1975 in Jersey to a British father and a Catalan mother. He started playing and composing music at an early age, and at the age of nine joined the Purcell School for Young Musicians in London. After completing an undergraduate degree at the Royal College of Music with Simon Bainbridge, he studied with Robert Saxton at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In 2000, he went to the Royal Conservatory of The Hague to study under Louis Andriessen and Martijn Padding, which he has described as a "formative experience." He stayed in The Hague to complete another master's degree, and then went to Princeton University for his PhD, studying with Steven Mackey.^[5]

He has been the recipient of a number of awards, including a 2018 Fromm Commission, Chamber Music America Commissioning Award (2013), the Yvar Mikhashoff Commissioning Fund Prize (2009), a Jerwood Foundation Award (1998), the Royal Philharmonic Society Prize (1997), the first BBC Young Composer of the Year Prize (1993) as well as fellowships to both the Tanglewood and Aspen music festivals. Since 2009, he has served on the composition faculty at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. His music is published by Boosey & Hawkes.^[6]

Selected works

^[7]

• O Death (2005–07) for ensemble^{[8] [9]}
• B & E (with aggravated assault) (2006) for ensemble^[10]
• Gauze Vespers (2008) for ensemble
• The Afflicted Girl (2010) for ensemble^[11]
• Apart (2012) for percussion ^[12]
• Livre des Sauvages (2012) for large ensemble^{[13] [14] [15]}
• An Automated Sunrise (for Joseph Cornell) (2014) for ensemble^{[16] [17]}
• Threaded Madrigals (2014) for solo viola^[18]
• Sea Shaped (2014) for Orchestra^[19]
• String Quartet (2015)^{[20] [21]}
• Presence of Absence (2016) for mezzo soprano and large ensemble^[22]
• Pale Icons of Night (2018) for violin and ensemble ^[23]
• Remaking a Forest (2019) for Orchestra ^[24]

External links

• Oscar Bettison's page at Boosey & Hawkes biography, works list, recordings and performance search.
• Oscar Bettison's Peabody Institute faculty profile video
• Oscar Bettison on Livre des Savages
• Oscar Bettison interview on Composition Today
• Oscar Bettison on New Music Box
• Oscar Bettison interview on The Huffington Post
• Oscar Bettison's Profile at the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation
• Oscar Bettison's Official Website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Soundcheck CD Picks of the Week | Soundcheck. WNYC. 21 July 2020.
2. Web site: Stockhausen, Cage, and Bettison at Green Umbrella concert – by Bachtrack for classical music, opera, ballet and dance event reviews.
3. Web site: Oscar Bettison.
4. Web site: John Simon Guggenheim Foundation - Oscar Bettison. Gf.org. 22 August 2018.
5. Web site: Oscar Bettison - Composer: Biography. Oscarbettison.com. 21 July 2020.
6. Web site: Oscar Bettison. Boosey.com. 21 July 2020.
7. Web site: Oscar Bettison - Composer: Works. Oscarbettison.com. 21 July 2020.
8. Web site: SONiC Snapshots: Oscar Bettison and Rebecca Stenn/Konrad Kaczmarek. Daniel J.. Kushner. Huffingtonpost.com. 19 October 2011.
9. Web site: O Death - Oscar Bettison, by Ensemble Klang. Ensembleklang.bandcamp.com. 21 July 2020.
10. News: Ensemble ACJW and Brooklyn Rider - Music Review. Vivien. Schweitzer. The New York Times . 14 June 2011 . 22 August 2018.
11. News: Work by the People and for the People. 26 February 2010. The New York Times.
12. Web site: Apart by Oscar Bettison. Cathy van. Eck. 19 June 2017. Microphonesandloudspeakers.com. 21 July 2020.
13. Web site: Odd instruments are music to composers' ears. Rick. Schultz. 8 April 2012. Los Angeles Times.
14. Web site: LA Phil New Music Group Opens the 2011/12 Green Umbrella Series. BWW News Desk.
15. Web site: Oscar Bettison on 'Livre des sauvages' - CSO Sounds & Stories. Csosoundsandstories.org. 21 July 2020.
16. Web site: Fall preview: the (classical) music of our time. James. Chute. Sandiegouniontribune.com. 5 September 2014 .
17. News: James Baker Leads the Talea Ensemble at Roulette. Vivien. Schweitzer. 28 September 2014. The New York Times.
18. Web site: Threaded Madrigals. Nyphil.org. 2020-07-22.
19. Web site: Music review: Elgar rescues Berkeley Symphony's season opener. Sfchronicle.com. 3 October 2014. 21 July 2020.
20. Web site: Family ties bind final Festival of Contemporary Music concerts - The Boston Globe. BostonGlobe.com. 21 July 2020.
21. News: At Tanglewood, Premieres Aplenty. Allan. Kozinn. 28 July 2015. The Wall Street Journal.
22. Web site: The Presence of Absence. Dagindebranding.nl. 21 July 2020.
23. Web site: Bettison Writes Violin Concerto for Courtney Orlando and Alarm Will Sound. Boosey.com. 21 July 2020.
24. Web site: Brahms' Second | Official Oregon Symphony Tickets | September 28, 29 & 30. Orsymphony.org. 21 July 2020.