John Oliver (composer)

Edward John Clavering Oliver (born September 21, 1959 in Vancouver ) is a Canadian composer .

Oliver studied composition with John Adams at the San Francisco Conservatory , with Steven Chatman at the University of British Columbia, and with John Rea and Bruce Mather at McGill University . He was also a student of Philippe Boesmans in Brussels in 1988/89 .

In 1983 Oliver was one of the founding members of the Group of the Electronic Music Studio (GEMS) in Montreal , of which he was co-director until 1987. In 1988 he received the first prize and the Grand Prize of the Canada Council at the CBC National Radio Competition for the electroacoustic work El Reposo del Fuego . In the same year he received the prize of the City of Varese at the 11th International Luigi Rossolo Competition in Italy for this composition (which was later recorded by Sergio Barroso ) . In the following year he was awarded in the PROCAN competition for young composers in two categories for the orchestral work Anamnèse amnésique and the chamber music composition Aller-Retour .

In 1990/91 he was composer in residence with the Canadian Opera Company . During this time he wrote his first opera, Guacamayo's Old Song and Dance, based on a libretto by his mother, the dramaturge Melissa Cameron , which premiered in Toronto in 1991 and was broadcast on the radio that same year. In 1999, the European Broadcasting Unions Network broadcast the symphonic work Raven Steals the Light to all 21 member stations as part of the Myths and Music series .

Oliver composed chamber music and electroacoustic works, operas, orchestral works and a number of solo pieces for guitar.

Works

• 1980: Halloween for prepared piano
• 1982: like the sea at sunrise for piano
• 1984: Devolution for orchestra
• 1986–2005: Mini music for classical guitar
• 1986: Rainsongforest for soprano, oboe, guitar, piano, synthesizer and audio
• 1987: El Reposo del Fuego for synthesizer and audio
• 1988: Through Night for piano
• 1988: Creations for sixteen-part mixed choir
• 1989: Anamnèse amnésique for orchestra
• 1991: Wild Time for vibraphone and synthesizer
• 1991: Guacamayo Suite for tenor and piano
• 1991: Guacamayo's Old Song and Dance , opera
• 1992: Off the Edge , electro-acoustic composition
• 1993: Touch! for cello and orchestra
• 1994: In the Flesh for baritone and piano
• 1996: Unseen Rain for mezzo-soprano and piano
• 1996: Millennial Moments for orchestra
• 1997: Forging Utopia for orchestra
• 1999: Raven Steels the Light for orchestra
• 1999: Raven's Cry for one or more voices, piano and CD
• 2000: Chase the Money for alto saxophone and string orchestra
• 2001: La Abuela for guitar and string sextet or orchestra
• 2004: Up wind for orchestra
• 2005: Over the edge , electro-acoustic composition
• 2005: Nylong Symphony for guitar, synthesizer and computer
• 2005: Marimba destruido , electro-acoustic composition
• 2005: Copper Singing for guitar, computer and electronics
• 2006–2007: Faces , symphony in three movements
• 2007: Alternate Visions , Opera

Web links

• John Oliver's homepage