About

I can’t express enough how much of an honour it is when a composer writes especially for you. It feels different. To feel them communicating with my voice through their music is nothing short of magical.

Tine Thing Helseth

The commissioning of new repertoire is a major stimulus for the young musicians that BBT supports and is a significant stepping-stone for many in the development of their professional careers. This creative collaboration between composer and performer results in new works that BBT artists can champion, and that in time find their place in an ever-growing repertoire. Commissioning offers BBT artists a unique chance to extend their instrument’s or their ensemble’s repertoire, whilst deepening relationships with co-commissioners that include orchestras, broadcasters, venues and festivals.

To date BBT has invested over £375,000 in supporting around 40 artists to commission over 50 new works from more that 40 composers. Many of these new works are performed regularly, not only by BBT artists, but by other musicians following in their footsteps.

We have made a short film, The Gift of Music, featuring a number of BBT’s commissions and archive footage of interviews with composers Kalevi Aho and Gavin Bryars, and artists Martin Fröst and Ralph van Raat, alongside conversations with the likes of Francisco Coll, Sebastian Fagerlund, Wim Henderickx and Kate Whitley.

Read Simon Holt’s blog about writing a table of noises for Colin Currie here

Read Anna Meredith’s blog about writing Origami Songs for Erik Bosgraaf here

Read Kalevi Aho’s blog about writing concerti for Martin Fröst, Jörgen van Rijen and Bram van Sambeek here

Read Bent Sørensen’s blog about writing Easter Concerto for Tine Thing Helseth here

The commissions featured in the film are as follows, with sources for the audio used:

Kalevi Aho Clarinet Concerto
World premiere London 22 April 2006
excerpt iv movement Adagio, mesto
Martin Fröst clarinet · Lahti Symphony Orchestra · Osmo Vänskä
BIS SACD-1463

Dave Maric Lucid Intervals
World premiere Verbier Festival 2006
excerpt ii movement
Håkan Hardenberger trumpet · Colin Currie percussion
excerpt from recording session for Onyx CD 4024

Sebastian Fagerlund Bassoon Concerto ‘Mana’
World premiere Lahti 6 December 2014
excerpt
Bram van Sambeek bassoon · Lahti Symphony Orchestra · Okko Kamu
BIS SACD-2206

Gavin Bryars Piano Concerto ‘The Solway Canal’
World premiere Utrecht 19 February 2010
excerpt
Ralph van Raat piano · Netherlands Radio Chamber Philharmonic · Otto Tausk
Naxos 8.572570

Mark Simpson ‘Darkness Moves’
BBT video premiere 25 October 2016
Mark Simpson clarinet

Bent Sørensen ‘Easter Concerto’
World premiere Bergen 18, 19 & 20 September 2013
excerpt
Tine Thing Helseth trumpet · Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra · Andrew Manze
(Courtesy of NRK Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation)

Francisco Coll Piano Trio
World premiere Madrid 24 January 2022
excerpt UK premiere at the Aldeburgh Festival 25 June 2022
Trio Isimsiz piano trio

Kalevi Aho Trombone Concerto
World premiere Den Haag 2 March 2012
excerpt ii movement Presto
Jörgen van Rijen trombone · Antwerp Symphony Orchestra · Martyn Brabbins
BIS SACD-2196

Wim Henderickx ‘Sutra’ Concerto for Basset Clarinet, Electronics and Orchestra
World premiere Glasgow 31 March 2022
excerpt iv movement Samadhi: intense spiritual union
Annelien Van Wauwe basset clarinet · NDR Radiophilharmonie · Andrew Manze
Pentatone PTC5186973

Works referenced but not excerpted:

Kelly-Marie Murphy Triple Concerto ‘When I Too Long Have Looked Upon Your Face‘
World premiere Paris 18 February 2022
Trio Sōra piano trio

Huw Watkins Flute Concerto
World premiere London 23 February 2014
[a recording is available on NMC D224]

Kate Whitley Opera Oratorio ‘Our Future in Your Hands‘
World premiere London 14 & 15 September 2021

Detlev Glanert Piano Concerto
World premiere Glasgow 15 March 2008
Simon Crawford-Phillips and Philip Moore piano duo

Image: Francisco Coll Piano Trio (Faber Music)