“I’ve never heard a sound which
didn’t interest me” John Cage.
Peter M Wyer is a composer and guitarist whose
diverse work is heard and performed in many parts of the world.
Recent commissions include Rain at Night,
a 20 minute score for spoken Voice (text also by PMW), chamber
ensemble and sound design, written for his role as guest artist
/ collaborator at the Juilliard Conservatoire in New York in December
2002. His work also featured on National Public Radio in New York,
and included a live performance of Sospira for solo classical
guitar.
His setting of Ben Okri’s poem An
African Elegy, commissioned by the Park Lane Group London
for voice, cello and semi prepared piano was premiered at The
Purcell Room on January 8th 2003, and he is currently in dialogue
with Ben Okri regarding a further collaboration.
A long term interest in the visual presentation
of new music has led to a series of collaborations with choreographers
and installation / film artists: a work for solo guitar with solo
dancer Flap, choreographed by Sarah Warsop is performed
at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London on February 8th and 9th 2003,
with further performances of other works by Alvin Ailey 2 Dance
Co, New York in March 2003, and Phrenic New Ballet Dance Co /
Network for New Music, Philadelphia in April.
Following a commission from the Japan 2001 festival,
his substantial setting of the 9th century love poetry of Ono
No Komachi If I had known I was dreaming.... was premiered
at the South Bank in February 2002. He was also artistic director
for the evening, bringing previously unheard Japanese composers
to the UK and using lighting design and costume by Issey Miyake
to broaden the concert experience.
Other dance / ballet scores for 2002 / 3 have
recently been commissioned by Carol Brown Machine for Living
and The View from Here, Emilyn Claid Nobody’s
Baby, Lisa Torun Triptych and Porch Time,
Phrenic New Ballet Imbalance, South East Dance Making
Moves, Surrey Dance Sorted! and Cologne Dance Theatre
Whose Planet Is It?
Peter is one half of performance duo Sharp Wyre,
with singer / cellist Matthew Sharp (Gogmagogs and Opera North),
and received a PRSF Commission in 2002 to write a series of works
for the duo. A record contract is in the pipeline in New York,
and the release of a first CD will be accompanied by a live show
using specially made film in collaboration with film artist J.
Tobin Rothliene.
Peter has written various scores for television,
notably the 26 part wild life series The Wild Ones for
the Discovery Channel and commercials including Orange
picture messaging and ASICS running shoes.
