Gavin Bryars, born1943, studied philosophy but became a jazz bassist and pioneer of free improvisation with Derek Bailey and Tony Oxley. Early iconic pieces The Sinking of the Titanic and Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet achieved great popular success. Works include five operas, twenty ballets, a large body of chamber music, several concertos - most recently for harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani, for whom he is currently writing a harpsichord quintet. He has composed a large amount of choral and vocal music, much of it for early music singers, including 54 Laude and 7 books of madrigals. Performers include The Hilliard Ensemble, Trio Mediaeval, Red Byrd, Latvian Radio Choir, Estonian National Male Choir, Singer Pur, The Song Company and The Crossing. He taught for a number of years in art colleges and collaborated with many visual artists such as Bruce McLean, David Ward, Tim Head, James Hugonin, Bill Woodrow, Will Alsop, the Quay brothers, Juan Muñoz, Massimo Bartolini. He has made installations/performances for the Liverpool Tate Gallery, Tate St. Ives, and Chateau d'Oiron. He has collaborated with choreographers (William Forsythe, Merce Cunningham, Edouard Lock, David Dawson, Carolyn Carlson), and theatre directors (Robert Wilson, Atom Egoyan). He has also worked with non-classical performers such as Charlie Haden, Bill Frisell, Tom Waits, Natalie Merchant, Gavin Friday, Iarla O’Lionaird, Father John Misty, Bertrand Belin, Mocke. He lives in a Leicestershire village and on Vancouver Island. He is a Transcendent Satrap and Regent of the Collège de ’Pataphysique and has made many recordings - for ECM, Point, Philips, Naxos, Decca, Navona and his own label GB Records. His work is published by Schott Music International.

www.gavinbryars.com